 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi,
I'm planning a week long ski touring trip in Iceland on the troll peninsula in a month's time. There's no resort there or even shops in the main cities, and I don't have my own equipment, so I'm looking to buy it where I live, in London.
I would need a pair of boots, if possible properly fitted (there's no room for error as I won't be able to try them on in real conditions before I go!), as well as a pair of skis and bindings.
Some more details:
- I'm a male with small feet (24.5cm) so it's usually quite difficult to find the right shoe size.
- I already own a good set of alpine boots and skis
I was wondering if anybody has recommendations for some good shops where I could find a reasonable range of ski touring gear and good advice/fitting? Also I'm not a backcountry gear expert so I have no idea of what criteria I should use to choose my skis and which types of bindings. If possible and not too detrimental to the main objective (multi day touring) I would love to be able to use them in resort while doing standard piste/off-piste mix. But no need to be amazing in pure piste conditions as I would use my alpine gear for that. Any advice welcome!
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Profeet might do for boots, but you're leaving things a little late in the season so you may find their range and the number of sizes stocked is a little smaller than it might have been a couple of months ago. Backcountry UK also stock a reasonable number of touring boots, but its a bit of a trek from London to their shop!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
a lot of companies don't make mens boots smaller than a 25, that combined with your chosen time of year to do this is going to make it tough, the other thing which would be a good idea is to test this kit out on some short day tours to get used to it and to make sure there are no fit issues, often they don't come to light until you have used the product for a bit, the no room for error comment is one which will probably cause you to go too big when you buy and then have problems with blisters in the long run
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Serriadh wrote: |
| Backcountry UK |
Me: My boots fit ok, but I could do with a little more room for my big toe on my left foot, can you punch them?
Backcountry UK: Let's do a shell fit....
Backcountry UK: Oh you only have 14mm behind your longest foot. Your boot are too small. We can't stretch them enough to make a difference, all you can do is get new boots.
I took the boots home, punched them myself (using instructions from Wildsnow.com) , and have done 5 weeks skiing in them since then, including a multi day tour. My toe nails remain intact. I'm very glad that I didn't follow their advice.
Also, Lockwoods is a lot closer to London than Backcountry UK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
dualmoo, All current boots are available in size 24. Dynafit, Scarpa, Garmont BD, Salomon, Tecnica.
I haven't however seen any store from the UK that actually fits these boots properly, they all seem to shy on the side of big, due to them thinking too much about you walking. The same principals as fitting high end Freeride boots can be follwed and the current crop of these boots can be easily stretched an modified. My conclusion, it's more than ever important to get these new types of boots fitted in resort by a fitter that sees many pass through their hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Maybe you could make a weekend shopping trip to Chamonix? (pretty doable if you live in London and can afford it).
If you do decide to take this option it would be worth getting in touch with Sole to make an appointment and make sure they have small boots in stock (0033450961163)
EDIT (Removed my comment about the OP considering buying a size 24.5 Scarpa Gea women's boot and an aftermarket men's liner. It seems that it is not just the liner that is different to the men's version, the cuff and instep on the shell are also different).
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 26-03-13 11:01; edited 4 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dualmoo, My advice would be to stick with your alpine boots and hire a pair of skis c/w skins/ crampons and Marker Duke/Baron or F10/12 type bindings, do some more research and then when you know exactly what you want hit the search button in summer, and/ or get yourself down to Sport Conrad in Garmisch for a long weekend in July/ August and get them to fit you up with boots. With a very small size boot you should be able to get boots at a v good price in the summer, equally you dont say what size skis you use but I guess these may be short too, in which case there should be plenty of cheap deals about?
I seriously wouldnt rush into a quick fix now, look about and plan it is my thoughts.
One specific - look at the Black Diamond Factor boots, I have them with Alpine soles and really rate them (can be swapped for touring pin type soles). I'm just getting into touring really, I use these with Marker Dukes and Volkl Mantra skis, c/w BD Glidelite skins. Common sense tells me that this rig is very heavy compared with an ideal set up of carbon skis, Fritschi bindings and lightweight touring boots and OK if I had a spare £2000 I'd probably take a punt but for now it works, I'm only doing max 2 hour skin-ups, and given that I've never skied on a lightweight set up I'll keep plugging away and look forward to the day my lottery numbers come in and I can reinvest, my fitness will be all the better for it and I'll then climb twice as fast! For now though I'm happy. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dualmoo, Also suggest a look at the Garmont Azula boots, my wife has these and I know they are a pretty much male fit (if the guy in the shop tells her right), she's happy with them and they are a touring based boot with alpine OR touring pin type soles. Saw some on line at Conrad recently in their sale. Sounds like you know what size you need, if the price is right I'd take a punt on line and have them fitted in UK by a proper boot fitter, can recommend Rivington, a fair ways from London but worth a day out to see Graham and Andy, they'll sort you.
Re skis I'm waiting for the White Dot Rangers to come out next season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
dualmoo, sad fact is that UK stores seem to be a season behind on ski touring gear. maybe it's getting a bit better than it used to be but I know that next time I am looking for an upgrade I'll be booking myself a sneaky early season weekend in Chamonix
it's probably worth phoning round a few places (Profeet and Lockwoods would be obvious candidates) and seeing who has what. as others have said, it's getting to the end of the season so stocks will be low. I'm assuming CEM hasn't much in or he would have mentioned it himself
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dualmoo, there are:
1) Ski shops here in Iceland, but they are expensive in comparison to the UK and lack the specialisation, so shop in the UK if you can. There are several ski and mountaineering shops in Reykjavik and Akureyri if you need to pick some odds and ends up though. Fjallakofinn (literally Mountain Hut) stocks Scarpa boots, no idea about their bootfitting prowess but you could shoot them an e-mail:
http://fjallakofinn.is/?webID=1&p=113&sp=193
They also rent kit but I have no idea of the quality or range.
2) Resorts, if you're up North by the Troll Peninsula you can check this one out:
http://www.hlidarfjall.is/is/vefmyndavelar
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
dualmoo,
I've sent you a PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Thanks all for your helpful advice!
I understand it will be difficult to find a good fit at this time in the season and with my constraints, but I'm really intent on doing this iceland tour so I will persevere and try to find something  It's unlikely I'll be able to go to any resort before then to look at what's in shop there or even try my gear unfortunately. But worst comes to worst I guess I'll have to plan a quick weekend in Cham as suggested.
I have booked a preliminary appointment at profeet tomorrow, they don't carry ski touring boots themselves, but hopefully they can help me find the right ones from another shop. From there I will look at the skis (I'm 165cm btw, and usually use skis somewhere between 160 and 165). Also FYI my alpine boots are women boots (Salomon Idol CS) and they fit me very well so I could also go down that route for my ski touring pair if needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Oceanic wrote: |
| Also, Lockwoods is a lot closer to London than Backcountry UK. |
There are lots of places closer, but none of them have a reasonable range of recent-model touring boots. Lockwoods mostly wants to sell you stuff thats a couple of years old, and touring boot technology has been moving at quite a clip in recent years. I've had no issues with BCUK myself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Serriadh wrote: |
| Oceanic wrote: |
| Also, Lockwoods is a lot closer to London than Backcountry UK. |
I've had no issues with BCUK myself. |
Did you buy boots from them and pay for fitting? If so, how big is the gap behind your heel (in mm) when you do a shell fit?
BackCountry UK told me that the gap should be >20mm, which is a bigger gap than Scarpa recommend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
I went to Profeet today. They measured my feet at 23.5cm sitting down, and 24.5cm standing up so I wasn't too mistaken. They recommended I buy a 25cm boot to be on the safe side (given my alpine boots are in 25 too)
They advised going for women's pair like the Garmont Azula or the Scarpa Gea RS. They didn't recommend Dynafit because they are usually narrow shaped which wouldn't fit me.
On the web I saw that the Garmont Azula wasn't apparently intended for multiday ski touring so after calling them back they also said I could look at the Garmont Celeste or the Black Diamond Swift.
Any feedback on these various boots or any general advice on how to choose between them? Or comments on the advice Profeet gave me?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
From what you have been measured, I'd say 23 or 24, remembering that Scarpa size split requires careful shell sizing as they make no sense. She'll fit is key, we no longer see the sizing as a guide at all, given some shells can be 8mm longer than others and some 6mm shorter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
dualmoo,
Are you sure you want the women's model ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
dualmoo,
Dynafit: Not all Dynafits are narrow. As you know the ZZero is available online in small mens sizes. There is a long article here which compares the fit of the ZZero against other AT boots and concludes that it is of average width.
http://www.wildsnow.com/more/backcountry-skiing-boot-dimensions/
Length: So you've got one professional boot fitter saying 25, and another saying 23 or 24. This article sheds a bit more light...
http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/ (see the bit entiteld 'noon today this came in from Scarpa')
BD Swift. My friend ended up returning her Swifts and getting a pait of (narrower) Gea RSs because the Swifts were much too wide. Did Pro Feet make any suggestion as to how wide your feet are?
Garmont Celeste: There are major compatability problems between the Celeste / Cosmos and some types of touring bindings. So buying these boots might limit your choice of bindings. Yet another Wild Snow link which explains more...
http://www.wildsnow.com/8655/garmont-cosmos-details-review/
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
IMO all the above boots are useless, either fit(too wide) or poor function. Having just made our selection for next year, it's hard to see past Dynafit. The three main references we have for next year are.........PM for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
^^^ sorry I don't agree. Love my Scarpa Gea RSs to bits. Went for a 23 which gives a performance fit and tighter than my alpine boots. Very snug but no issues with cold feet or more importantly blisters. I normally take a 23.5 in a Lange 110 SC. All other touring boots I tried on felt like buckets.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Thu 28-03-13 11:24; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
juliad, My girlfriend tried on Geas and couldn't get them to fit at all. Which kind of makes the point that internet boot fitting doesn't work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes completely agree. You need to be fitted properly by a pro. Just making the point that we've all got different feet and you shouldn't make generalisations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sorry, didn't see the Gea Rs mentioned, that's the exception!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
The Gea needs liners moulding with a proper footbed. Liner options and some shell tweaks should help get the Gea to fit!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He he. dualmoo is going to end up with a pair of Gea RSs He'll look great!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
If worried we can strip the shell and change the hardware so it's the same as the guys boot. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
That's the only downside of the boot IMO. Lipstick pink is not everyone's colour
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They will go down a treat at gayweek.
I take it dualmoo could change the buckles but at what cost ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
DB, if new, we'd change them for free as we can keep the pink ones which we've been putting on many other boots, all guys boots that said. For the work we charge a bottle of single malt, 12 years young minimum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
On the web I saw that the Garmont Azula wasn't apparently intended for multiday ski touring
|
Not true...........anyway who'se to say? "Oh I've used these happily for 3 days now, cant use them tomorrow" thats just bull**it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
True dat, that said they fit like a helmet on your hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Markymark29 wrote: |
| Quote: |
On the web I saw that the Garmont Azula wasn't apparently intended for multiday ski touring
|
Not true...........anyway who'se to say? "Oh I've used these happily for 3 days now, cant use them tomorrow" thats just bull**it! |
I would bet money that he read that on the BCUK website. That great source of authoritative advice on all things skiing 
I asked an acquaintance who is a UIAGM guide about his use of a freeride boot for multiday ski trips. He just said 'well if you're fit it's fine'.
That said though, the ski performance of lightweight boots is getting better with every model that comes out, so the advantage of using freeride boots seems to be diminishing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
We think there are 4 references next year, the ******* *******, the ****** *******, the ******* ***** ** and the ** ***********, all of which are amazing, you just need to chose your weight and biases.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Thu 28-03-13 15:55; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
CH2O,
Ok. I'll play...
Dynafit Vulcan.
Scarpa Freedom.
Salomon Quest BC.
K2 Pinnacle130.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Oceanic, not bad, not bad. See Charlie taking notes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Profeet on the Fulham road will have 3-4 models of touring boots which they would fit for you. Snow and Rock in Covent Garden have a reasonable range of touring skis ,bindings + skins. Lockwoods in the Midlands however have the best range in the UK (1.5 hour train ride from Euston)
I would seriously question earlier advice to use your alpine boots + get some Marker Barrons/Duke bindings. If you are planning any reasonable vertical ascent - ie over 500m - such a rig is way too heavy in my humble opinion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sansnom, depends how fit you are. you are correct for a desk jockey like me; my buddy likes the extra weight provided by dukes because they make him feel like he's had a half way decent work-out after 1200m climbing! plus he's a clumsy oaf and would no doubt smash dynafit bindings (and yes I know how strong dynafits are but I also know what this guy is like)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
http://www.47degrees.com/ are great - just got my Garmont Celeste boots 1 week ago and they will fit you as a king/queen
Make an appointment beforehand.
Last I checked the stock of touring boots at snow & rock covent garden was fairly low but the guys there are super friendly and would check for stock in the other stores
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
MissLaure, see you soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Oceanic wrote: |
CH2O,
Ok. I'll play...
Dynafit Vulcan.
|
I'd swap the Vulcan for the Mercury
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
