Touring Boots

A snowHead

Guys,

I'm looking to get into the odd bit of backcountry skiing, but at the same time I will be bombing it around occasional with family and friends.

So ... What are peoples experience with using Touring Boots for every day skiing?
Are they any good or would if be beneficial to have two sets of boots for different skis?

Thanks

A snowHead

There are 'touring' boots and, err, Touring boots. The issue with pure Touring boots is that they are not as substantial and, crucially, their soles do not fit in alpine (DIN) bindings, making hiring skis a bit tricky, for example. They are also pretty expensive. Sounds like you need some 'freeride' boots: downhill competent but lighter and with a walk mode. You can use these for the odd tour or 'hike and ride' days, but you'd probably want a proper lightweight touring set-up for multi-day tours. There are loads of freeride boots around these days and there used to be a few models with interchangable soles: I've been using a pair of Garmont Endorphins for a good few years and they've been brilliant, but Garmont sold out to Scott and I'm not sure they still have this sort of thing in their range. I'll be pensioning mine off and converting to AT bindings after my next trip. Not a cheap option, though!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I need to state that I am not an experienced tourer and have only done a few day trips

But I have recently bought a pair of K2 Pinnacles which are compatable to both bindings

http://k2skis.com/ski-boots/pinnacle-110

I've had a week skiing in them and they seem to perform well downhill and are a lot softer than my previous solomons

I am planning to do some touring with them soon (possibly next week) not sure if this helps at all snowHead

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Dynafit Mercury boots are my everyday boots and I'm very happy with them. They have a booster tongue that provides a whole lot of stiffness for downhill and is very easily slipped out for uphill. The boots can also be used with some alpine bindings (I used them with Marker Squires) as well as tech bindings.

There's no faffing around with levers or switches to change from ski to walk mode and back, it's just a matter of undoing or doing up the top buckle. Simples. Means you don't accidentally ski in walk mode, like I often used to do with my Garmonts, wondering in vain why I couldn't get propely forward Embarassed

My whole set up is geared toward the 'hike and ride' end of the touring spectrum. Short skins to get to good snow away from the crowds, because I'm all about the downhill!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Stevo,

Cheers Stevo, I do remember hearing something vaguely on the subject of them not fitting in DIN bindings.
Basically I was looking at a pair of Tecnica Cochise 110 from last season and wasn't really sure on it all.
Still not sure if they would fit my fat feet, but just wanted to see if they could cope with it all.

I ll have a look into freeride boots.

You'll need to Register first of course.

I use a pair of Technica Cochise Pro Lights for everything, and am very happy with them.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Zero_G, @Johnor,

Thanks, guys.
Love the tongue idea, never even heard of them before. Ill have a look into them, just need to find some boot at a reasonable price now.
Why does skiing cost so much rolling eyes

After all it is free

@clarky999,

What's the fit like? Ive heard they are quite narrow around the calf which may be a problem for my muscular legs Laughing

Another vote for Dynafit Mercury. Excellent boot, good on the up and the down. And compatible with quite a few other bindings.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Yes you can use touring boots for everything. They've come on massively over the last couple of years. Loads of choice now to find the best set of compromises for you and get something that won't kill your feet.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snow reports

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Cheers.

This is going to make me sound ridiculous now, but its only a stop gap.

Simply if I was to go with something like a Scarpa, Tecnica, Dynafit boot how likely would they be to fit the current bindings I have (movement freeski - rental set up, don't ask).
In time these will go but just curious as to if it will work as a stop gap?

A snowHead

A snowHead

Hey Dzmarc, some great suggestions made already I am sure and probably by more experienced skiers than me but, like you, I am a 'larger' chap, 5'10" and 15 stone but more rugby player shape than dounut. Point being by legs and calf's need some room and I am a wider fit foot. I have just done my 7th week in a new pair of touring boots that I bought off season last year having done my first six weeks in Salomon piste boots.

The new ones are Atomic Waymaker 110 Tours, came with touring blocks which I did ski on once in a snow dome in standard bindings but swapped for a set of piste blocks that I bought for he trip. They are super light, loads of adjustability and space for the fuller foot. I haven't made the leap yet to big time off piste so used them in anger on piste with very satisfactory results and am confident they will meet my needs for many seasons to come. Might want to check em out? wink

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Help!!

Touring Boots

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