 Poster: A snowHead
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At our local ski shop's annual apéro last week I was chatting to the owner about his new stock (as you do) and these new "hybrid" boots look quite interesting. Does anyone have any opinions on them? How do they compare with alpine boots in terms of flex and precision? Are they the best of both worlds as the marketing blurb would have you believe, or actually the worst of both?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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eng_ch, I am looking for a Dynafit boot that skis hard so I've been looking in to this in some depth.
Of course, it always come down to what you want to do with them, there is always compromise. However, I think the holy grail of ski boots is coming closer now.
The ZZeus & the Black Diamond Factors are (the only) two boots which can be used with both touring soles (Dynafit compatible) and ISO / DIN soles. There are others which can be switched between touring (Vibram) and ISO / DIN soles - Scarpa Tornados / Typhoon, Garmont Adrenalin etc
The Radium is a touring only boot, it should not be used with alpine bindings.
They've been working on the hybrids for a while now and they are getting better. Of course they are not like skiing a race plug boot, but then again they're not like skining in Scarpa F1s.
I am tempted by ZZeus / Factors but as my true alpine boots are OK I might go for a Freeride touring boot like the Radium.
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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?
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parlor,
Looking at the Radium too but read it's only slightly stiffer than the G-rides so might go for the stiffer Axon instead. (Currently have Garmont adrenalins, the last on the other boots Scarpa, Black diamond etc would probably have too much volume for me)
http://www.feedthehabit.com/new-gear/garmont-radium-ski-mountaineering-boot-new-for-fall-2008/
PS guys, pretty sure you alread know that there's quite a bit of info on TGR about touring boots. What fits a fat yank most likely won't suit my skinny rump though.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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DB, I haven't had a good chance to go and try them on yet. Maybe I should now...
What's TGR? (It's down at the moment). 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm in the same way......
After starting the season skinning 2 days with my alpine boots with the dukes, my feet "recommend" me to think in a new thing. And this year the market starts to offer nice things...
So people, when you try all of this boots, please, write the impressions...
Surely I'll continue with my alpine boots now, and when I can spend some days in the alps (maybe late january, or march) do the buying, because here is quite difficult to found a shop with good sort of this boots, and more difficult that the people who buys know something about feet and boots, and for a man with wide and little flat feet....need a good bootfitter with good sort of boots..... (maybe the zoo.... )
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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AlTom, the Zoo is a great place to get some great boots.
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If you are after a good touring boot with good downhill performance I can recommend the Garmont G-Ride's - they have the dynafit inserts.
I currently use them with Fritschi Freeride bindings. As they have a walking sole they shouldn't of course be used with a normal alpine type binding.
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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.
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| marksavoie wrote: |
If you are after a good touring boot with good downhill performance I can recommend the Garmont G-Ride's - they have the dynafit inserts.
I currently use them with Fritschi Freeride bindings. As they have a walking sole they shouldn't of course be used with a normal alpine type binding. |
G-rides don't have dynafit inserts. Its the mega rides that do. Same boot otherwise.
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| parlor wrote: |
| Of course, it always come down to what you want to do with them, there is always compromise. However, I think the holy grail of ski boots is coming closer now. |
Interesting. I'm actually looking at them from a slightly different angle. I have very tight achilles from ankle injuries some years ago, and the permanent pull of the forward lean with no respite leaves me in agony. Without CEM's exercises I would be hobbling. Walking and standing around in ski boots is problematic, to the extent that it's beginning to impact on the enjoyment of the people I ski with  Rutschen got a pair of Endorphins last year and has hardly used anything else since - he's recommended I go and try on some touring boots. I got my current boots early March 07 so they've done about 60 days now - old enough not to be tragic if they're replaced, but still with some life in them if I'm skiing anything with alpine bindings. I'm thinking that the hybrid boots, being designed for walking but still heading towards alpine stiffness, may well be worth a look?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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OK, everything I wrote in the last post is still valid, but boy I got to get me some of these! Just been out for 2 hours with the dog, up the back lanes of Murschetg and over to Larnags, Rutschen put his Endo's on and took his skis with skins, I was stuck with ordinary (v good) street boots stomping.  So a certain person, mentioning no names, has got some powder turns in today despite lifts being closed, and I had an enjoyable stomp while going green with envy
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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.
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Sold out of BD already.
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Has any one got any views on the new Scarpa typhoon thermos, thinking of these for haute route trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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Nigel Brindley, Yep great boot, more freerando than the type of boot used for the Cham-Zermatt. The Spirit 3/4 is the boot for this, same shape, similar liner.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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..... this is another interesting comparison chart (prices are high as they are in dollars and they tend to pay more over the pond for ski stuff)
There are even pics so that one can pick the boots that best matches your bogner ski suit / fart bag.
http://www.telemarkski.com/html/how_at_compare_boot.html
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