 Poster: A snowHead
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hello every one, I am looking at getting a new set of ski boots. I will tour, and ski down hill in my marker bindings. So I would like your 2 pence worth about:
The Black Diamond Factor (that fact that I could change the sole and ski normal bindings is tempting)
The Black Diamond Quadrant (the Maestrale is lighter but has less ankle moment and lower flex)
The Scarpa maestrale (has the RS improved over the normal, also lower flex than the BD boots)
The Scarpa maestrale RS. (is its worth the extra money, is it too stiff)
About me 169cm(5 foot  , 78KG(About 12 stone 3), I would say I am a type 2 skier (http://www.skis.com/Determining-Your-Skier-Type/article-determining-your-skier-type,default,pg.html) level 8 ski-ing and I like off piste more than ski areas. I will be trying to earn my skiing by walking up hill in the uk a LOT!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm pretty certain that Scarpa and Black Diamond boots have very different fits. You should hunt down a bootfitter with a reasonable range of boots for you to compare.
Swappable soles are done by several manufacturers... Tecnica Cochise, Salomon Quest and Scarpa Freedom spring to mind. If you aren't using alpine bindings or you already have some alpine boots, you're paying a bit of a premium for swappable soles and there's a weight penalty too.
AT boot flex numbers are definitely not comparable between manufacturers.
Get a boot with tech binding fittings in it. You won't regret it.
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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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HI Serriadh, I have stupid shaped feet. Wide shallow front, highish instep and VERY narrow heels. So that may explain why they seem to fit. I could not get comfort in any of the Garmont or salomon range. Good point about the weight of sole units. The BD factor is a weighty beast. I think I may order two boots and spent a pair back, so that should be the Maestrale RS and the Quadrant?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The Quadrant is made by ALDI, The Factor needs to be sent to the sun in order to be stretched, the Maestrale's walk mode WILL fail at some point, Garmont don't make boots anymore, they have a range of buckle up bathtubs, The Scarpa Freedome doesn't exist in our curret space and time continuum, the Coshise is the best all round boot ever made.
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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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| CH2O wrote: |
| the Coshise is the best all round boot ever made. |
So, you would recommend the Cochise over and above the Dynafit Titan ultralight (if I wanted a ski boot for both alpine and tech bindings, i.e.)?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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My new Cochise Pros feel pretty gotdamn good; light with all the stiffness I need.
Seem to have absorbed my high-instep problem with a minumum amount of hassle by the in-resort fitter over a couple of day. Also have accomodated my wide feet.
(Their lack of weight is bliss on a stick. Walk mode lovely. Somebody reckons they saw me "dancing" apres ski while wearing them but that simply cannot be true; like seeing Keith Richards in the gym).
It nice to know I can step up to tech bindings (very likely) next season or stay with my old Rotomat-style FKSs (unlikely) as I chose.
I was dithering over buying them when a recommendation by CH20 convinced me the Cochise were worth a punt and so it has proved.
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Zero-G, It's out of production, and yes the Cochise is way way better.
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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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| DB wrote: |
| I thought they were a narrow fit (98mm last) |
The 130 Pro is 98mm lasted, but the rest are 100mm I believe (or at least, they're all the same, and wider than the pro).
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| Serriadh wrote: |
| DB wrote: |
| I thought they were a narrow fit (98mm last) |
The 130 Pro is 98mm lasted, but the rest are 100mm I believe (or at least, they're all the same, and wider than the pro). |
That's correct. Don't forget that the last width is for a 26 mondo boot & then goes up/down with the sizes.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've got some Dynafit Zzeus, and while they are damned good boots, the flex rating of 85 means that they are only good for cruising when not touring as they get overpowered easily on proper downhill runs.
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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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This Tecnica plastic is among the easiest to stretch(burn) in the world, don't worry about you bootfitter being able to widen it by a good couple of cms.
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You know it makes sense.
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I should have done more research before I bought them then 
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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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+1 for the Cochise.
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Poster: A snowHead
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CH2O, you're havin a laugh, be lucky if it would last a typical season of abuse. You said it yourself "This Tecnica plastic is among the easiest to stretch(burn) in the world" that's because it's so damn flimsy!
It's a boot designed for the wannabe ski tourer, who might only venture uphill once or twice a year.
You get what you pay for, think the UK RRP is circa £240 nigh on £200 cheaper than most of the serious brands..........you only have to look at the bling elements of it, more poundland than Lidl 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Do they make a boot with 95mm width?
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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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Weathercam, wanna see some pics of a pair that have done a couple more outings than that? One of the best big mountain steep skiers there is, uses them every damn day. You want light? If not wait and see next years K2, practically the same boot, 500gms heaveir per boot, tougher for sure. I have to agree though, initially (last year) we were sceptical of how the plastic would hold up in Cham; new mountains, rocks and glacial stuff n that, seems we had no need to worry. Perhaps when you've sold 100 pairs you'll change your mind. I got mine as a; do all, no comprimse boot that I can run after my little one in, very pleased thankyou, merci, au revoir, bizous
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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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Grillamid vs Pebax vs Triax
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Weathercam wrote: |
| plus not Dynafit compatible. |
Bzzzt. You may have just invalidated all your previous complaints, by dint of not knowing enough about the boot  (hint: the tecnica touring soles are dynafit compatible)
The walk mode is fine for skinning. The sole is flat though and not rockered, so it probably isn't much fun for actual hiking on hard ground, but if you've slapped crampons on them they'll be no better or worse than any other ski boot in that regard. I can't speak about durability, I've only put 4 weeks into mine. Liner (last year's light liner; no idea what this year's are like) was a bit packed out after 3, which is a little disappointing.
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I've got a mate skiing on last years Cochise and he really likes them apart from the cuff coming loose and gaining quite a lot of lateral play. He needs to relatively routinely tighten it back down but that might be fixed in this years models. One boot also developed a tendency to find it's way into walk mode whilst we were skiing in Japan. He's a big guy though and has put over 80 days on them.
Personally I'm loving the Dynafit Mercurys I switched over too this year, super awesome walk mode, much stiffer than the Radiums I was previously on and beautifully simple design.
Weathercam, the Pro Light version has tech fittings.
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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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| Quote: |
Fall Line Magazine "Sitting firmly in the Freeride touring category, the Cochise brings the convenience of a walk mode to skiers who occasionally tour and don't need a super stiff boot for their everyday skiing".
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You read "Fallline" I understand everything now!
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| Quote: |
Of course what more would I expect from Freeride wannabe's in "Cham"
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Bless you!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Couple of additional pointers, sole on that boot not exactly suitable for scrambling around on shale and climbing with crampons, plus not Dynafit compatible.
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Is your head in your ass?
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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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Here's a photo of some non dynafit compatable boots, two years old, used everyday to open new Steeps in Chamonix by Pro Wannabee Skier Dave Rosenbarger, he climbs 800m 60° Couloirs, in crampons, on rock and "shale", of which theres a fair bit in L'egoland.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| Weathercam wrote: |
CH2O, you're havin a laugh, be lucky if it would last a typical season of abuse. You said it yourself "This Tecnica plastic is among the easiest to stretch(burn) in the world" that's because it's so damn flimsy!
It's a boot designed for the wannabe ski tourer, who might only venture uphill once or twice a year.
You get what you pay for, think the UK RRP is circa £240 nigh on £200 cheaper than most of the serious brands..........you only have to look at the bling elements of it, more poundland than Lidl |
It's designed for people who want to skin for a couple of hours to get to a line, then have no compromise on the way down - and use the one boot for all their skiing. No, not for weightweenies who want to do long tours, but that was never the point.
They are dynafit compatible.
They come in various flexes, stiffest being 130, so not exactly for people who 'don't need a super-stiff flex'
I've been using and abusing mine since November, no concerns re durability here, it's just not an issue.
You should have learned not to take Fall Line reviews seriously by now (c'mon dude!), but it sounds like you've been reading about a different boot anyway.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Cochise Light Pro Dyn and 130 Pro are our bag, albeit we've had to run nearly the entire range just to service demand by all the "Wannabees". Shell only the Cochise Light Pro Dyn are 200 grams heavier than a Vulcan, ok they don't have 60° ROM but that's a red herring in it's self, unless your legs are 120cm plus!! The Cochise out skis the Vulcan and as my photo's prove, they'll gain you access to anywhere. Proof of the pudding is in the eating, not sitting on a couch vommiting reworded marketing bullshite. Merci, Caio, Au revoir, merci. Bizous. xx
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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CH2O, I've definitely notice a big difference in the walk mode switching from the Radiums over to the Mercurys. The latter feel like you're swanning around in B3 boots. You might not ever need the full ROM but having it is night and day from the restrictive feeling of not having it and maxing out the rear travel. Also the much more rockered sole and shorter overall length help a lot IMO if you actually end up doing a lot of wandering around in them. The OP for example might have a lot more use for that.
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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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Mercury is certainly the best Pure Tourer, guides a gogo using them all day everyday, that said there have guides that can't get on with the Cochise due to the alpine feel, make your own judgements there.
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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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Whilst we're on the subject, where's the bloke that wears TLT5 and uses Lo Tec, the one that claims his set up skis better than alpine race boots and bindings, he's good for a wet crotched pair of jeans.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Done with you, you ill informed, you tube educated fop. I was a mountaineer before discovering skiing 18 years ago, Lived in L'egoland for 13 years, haven't skied more than 20 days in the last 4 as I launched a retail Bandwagon and made love to a female in order to prolong my DNA. I now keep busy educating retards such as yourself on boot physics/chemistry and human biomechanics. And yes, thanks, the Retail Bandwagon is currently growing like my son, faster than I can feed it. Are you in the Eagle ski club, bet a million you are! Merci, Caio, Au revoir, Bizous, Cnut
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The above is dedicated to my friend, Frosty the Postman
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Maybe you should so some simple searching to see what I've done and who I am, have skied with etc
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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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Now this dude on the left really knows his stuff and would tear your legs off !
Somehow that's my vision of you, and yes, he would tear my legs off when he finds out which Couloir I took his wife up.
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Weathercam, I couldn't give a toss, where you've been skiing and with whom. Many make the mistake of thinking that their skiing history validates their boot opinions, I speak with people everyday that ski masses and I listen, observe and combine it with my understanding of the products I sell to different people everyday, come back to me when your mind can be opened and you have some idea of how many boots I've fitted and to Who! Cnut
More for Frosty
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FAQ
I thought they were a narrow fit (98mm last)
up as possible.
