a t boots

[powpig2002]

anybody familiar with a t boots. i have read some opinions that they're not stiff enough and that they just wear their alpines. mine are race fit w/a softer flex. i can't imagine boot packing wearing them. i see pictures of doug coombs wearing them. i think if a t boots are stiff enough for him they would be still enough for the average man. opinions please.

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm not an expert, but they do make some these days that can match the stiffness of regular alpine boots.

 

[riverc0il]

AT boots range in stiffness from two buckle race style, to three buckle tour style, to a range of four buckle options from sloppy to nearly race stiffness. Of course, once you get that stiff, you begin sacrificing up hill comfort as you only gain slight weight decreases and range of motion may not be as good. On any given tour, you are likely to spend over 90% of your time not skiing so I accept a slight decrease in performance for better up hill comfort. It all depends what you are doing. One two hour tour? Probably anything will do. All day suffer fest or yo-yo'ing... you might want something that helps with up hill performance and endurance. Some guys hike with alpine boots. It all depends how much you want to sacrifice compared to how much performance you need in relation to what type of touring you will be doing.

For point of reference, I wear Garmont Radiums while touring and find them acceptable on the down though definitely notice a performance decrease compared to my alpine boots. But that does not stop me from skiing down BC routes which are steeper than anything you could find in bounds in the east. So that is my experience but it all comes down to your preferences.

 

[riverc0il]

Additional point: when you start looking into AT boots, fit is really important (as with any boot, but especially a boot you'll spend so much time walking around in) and different companies have radically different fits. For example, I can't wear Scarpa. Their boots are instant pain for my feet. So try before you buy.

 

[andyski]

Boots like Black Diamond Factors and Dynafit Titans are awfully close to mid-flex alpine boots in performance. I love my Factors passionately and have driven Katanas in-bounds with them...and done 6k volcano slogs in them. Salomon is also coming out with a touring boot, but fit is what matters most.

 

[snowmonster]

I use Black Diamond Factors for both resort and BC skiing (with Rossi B Squads and S7s). They're stiff for AT boots with a very good walk mode for skinning and bootpacking. I swapped in the AT soles for better traction when hiking. The downside is that they are heavy for AT but I've used them around Mt. Washington. Fit can be customized by baking the liners and using the boa closure system (similar to snowboard bootliners).

 

[bigbog]

As said...more and more ski really well...and walk-mode is nice, but last volumes/shapes can differ quite a bit(per Steve's info)..along with forward-flex stiffness. Not a lot of shops carry rival brands either.. If the material is Pebax, and if more than a minor shell stretch are needed....that material has a bit more "memory" than other materials...and will, say after 5 days or so, contract a bit..in its effort to return to original shape!...Not a lot, but just enough to maybe drive some people(ie Myself) bonkers. Something to think about, even if you've completed HeatGunology 101-104...imho.

$.01

 

[Moe Ghoul]

Been touring with a pair of Garmont Endorphins, molded liners, custom footbeds, unbelievably comfortable. Definitely a softer boot than a nordic, but easy enough to adjust to when ripping groomers and DH.

 

[tjf67]

AT boots are a luxury. I use my Nordica HotRods which are a super stiff boot. I don't buckle the top two buckles and they seem pretty comfy to me.

 

[powpig2002]

thanks to everyone for the input