La Sportiva Spectre 2.0 is easily one of the better power-weight ratio shoes out there.
La Sportiva Spectre 1 was a good effort. Low shell over the arch and a modicum of bulging during flex were downsides. Qubbles aside, they served a lot of backcountry skiers.
La Sportiva’s freshman “light beef” Spectra 4-buckle “1.0” ski touring boot was a solid performer from the start, what with a few fit glitches and since resolved first-run bugs. Version 2.0 is nearly identical. In our view, what’s said to be a “5 percent” increase in stiffness is real, though not something every skier needs to be concerned about.
A few other Spectre 2 changes and improvements are of interest as well, but nothing apocalyptic. Most importantly in my view, a bit more vertical toe volume is important, and the low shell above the arch of the foot has been fixed. We don’t mind the color scheme, but prefered the less garish motif of the original dark version. Cuff alignment rivet is gone; not an issue for most skiers and perhaps one less thing to fail, but some folks truly need cuff alignment. Overall, WildSnow kudos to Sportiva for well executed incremental improvements.
Weight is virtually the same, the liners are pretty much identical so for a more telling comparison I weighed without liners. Old is 41.4 ounces per boot, new is 42.7, a difference of 1.3 ounces, 37 grams. Where does that stand in the backcountry boot spectrum? We would not call Spectre THE lightest 4 buckle boot out there, but it’s in the exalted pantheon of several lightest. For example, we’ve got one well known brand here that weighs in at 41 ounces for their 4-buckle cabrio shell in the same size as our evaluation Sportivas.
Where is the beef? Ski touring boots such as Spectre depend on rear spine for forward-back stiffness in downhill mode. Problem is that forces are thus transferred to the cuff pivot points, with subsequent bulging reducing effective stiffness. Spectre 2.0 adds a bit more ‘yoke’ structure in that area thus reducing bulging and increasing stiffness with nearly no added weight.
Cuff spine is beefed by filling in a few of the skeleton holes.
Tongue attachment still includes interesting angle adjustment. This doesn’t add weight or durability issues, so why not?
Version 1 has a low area above your toes that required modification for some skiers, fixed here.
Area above foot arch has a bit more height, better fit for most skiers.
In terms of fit, we are mystified as to why the ver 2 power strap doesn’t locate as well as with version 1. It tends to locate so high as to possibly slip up and over the tongue, and clearly introduces a rather harsh transition from the top of the tongue to your shin. I did a bunch of measurements and couldn’t find anything that specifically dictated this. Boot fitting tip: it appears that simply flipping the power straps upside down would locate them about 5 mm lower (due to an indentation in the rear of the strap). Doing so would perhaps locate the straps perfectly at the front of the tongue. Indeed, one wonders, did Sportiva design these perfectly, and the factory printed and installed the straps upside down? Mysteries of ski touring never cease.
Spring loaded hinges that hold buckles open are obviously beefed, nice. We’ve always liked the innovative Sportiva buckles, nice to see improvements ongoing. That said, the adjustment barrels are identical to version 1, thus trouble with them gradually loosing will still be something to deal with. If you can work without doing much adjustment a bit of thread locker can help. Funny thing, the cables appear ever so slightly thicker than ver 1, but overall they measure out the same with my digital calipers. Perhaps it’s better quality cable with a tighter weave that makes it appear more substantial. Another mystery of the universe?
Standard generic tech fitting to left, tech-Trab fitting in ver 2 is interesting. Extensive testing in WildSnow Labs shows gives it a pass. See our instrumented testing.
Tech-Trab heel uses a totally standard tech fitting, combined with additional metallics to the side for compatibility with Trab TR2 ski touring binding.
Almost forgot the liners, as they’re pretty much clones. Version 2 has a slightly smaller flex zone at the instep. Presumably, that gives a small increase in beef or simply reduces tendency for the tongue to pinch down on your foot due to the softer flex-zone padding of ver 1. In my opinion, either liner is fine.
Shop for La Sportiva Spectre. Hint: Version 1 is on sale and still a viable choice.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
