2017 was my first year at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. I was super stoked to attend the show and learn about upcoming technologies. I felt like a kid in a candy store…only the candy wasn’t edible, instead it was shiny, new and exciting! Trade shows can be overwhelming in many ways so I kept my focus narrow: backcountry ski touring boots for women. My quest: stick my foot into as many as I could find.
I wanted to figure out two things: new innovations and fit. Keep in mind that since I didn’t get to ski in any of these boots, this post is an overview of my initial take.
Two notes before I start:
My foot, with usual pressure points circled in red.
La Sportiva
La Sportiva has three new women’s boots coming out next season: Sytron W, Starlet 2.1 W, and Shadow W.
The Sytron W is a skimo race boot featuring a neat new ski/walk mode mechanism controlled by the top buckle — just don’t let your fingers get in there when you are mode switching.
The Starlet 2.1 W is a ski mountaineering boot with the “Fast Lock” system: La Sportiva’s cam closure system for fast transitions from ski to walk mode. A removable PU “Warmsole” insole increases the warmth of this 2 buckle boot.
The Shadow W is a freeride boot, La Sportiva’s stiffest women’s specific backcountry boot, 125 flex. A new tongue system interlocks, allowing both more flex during touring and aggressive performance during skiing. The fit of the boot is tight but not too snug. Unfortunately for me, after a few minutes in the Shadow, I did start to feel my usual pressure points, this means the boot is a bit too narrow for me. Overall, a good shell punch and a heat mold would most likely resolve the issues.
Sytron W (on the left), back of Sytron W (in the middle) and Shadow W (on the right) sporting a lovely blue green canvas.
La Sportiva Sytron W
Shell: Grilamid
Tongue: Grilamid
Cuff: Fiberglass reinforced Polymer (Grilamid/fiberglass)
Forward lean: 4 positions, 14°, 16°, 18°, 20°
Cuff rotation: 75° (35° back, 40° front)
Weight: 660g (one boot, size 25.5)
Sizes women’s: 23.5 – 26.5 (including half sizes)
Liner: thermo moldable, tongue style
Number of buckles: 2
MSRP: $749
Available: fall 2017
La Sportiva Starlet 2.1 W
Shell: Grilamid
Cuff: Polyamide/nylon
Forward lean: 3 positions, 12°, 14°, 16°)
Cuff rotation: 68°
Weight: 1150g (one boot, size 27.5)
Sizes women’s: 23.5 – 26.5 (including half sizes)
Liner: thermo moldable, tongue style
Number of buckles: 2
MSRP: $699
Available: fall 2017
La Sportiva Shadow W
Shell: Grilamid
Tongue: Grilamid
Cuff: Pebax
Forward lean: 3 positions, 12°, 14°, 16°)
Cuff rotation: 50°
Weight: 1550g (one boot, size 27.5)
Sizes women’s: 23 – 26.5 (including half sizes)
Liner: thermo moldable, overlap liner with no tongue
Number of buckles: 4
MSRP: $759
Available: fall 2017
Scott
Scott comes out with a brand new boot technology that Lou blogged about — no women specific version there yet, although the new S1 Carbon and S1 Carbon Longfiber will be available in sizes as low as 25.
Scott’s women-specific Celeste has an exciting update: Celeste III has a new rear hook ski/walk mode mechanism which prevents inadvertently switching between modes. The boot fit was amazing as this is probably the widest boot on the market right now. It almost felt like it had too much room (!) — which honestly I have never experienced before. Getting the boots molded is a must with a fit like this, since no one wants their foot swimming in a boot. Ladies with wide feet — this boot is your best friend.
Celeste III, Scott’s women’s boot with the upgraded ski/walk mechanism.
Scott Celeste III
Shell: Grilamid
Tongue: Bi-material
Flex index: 120
Last width: 103.5mm
Forward lean: 11.5° + free for walking
Cuff rotation: 60°
Weight: 1205g (one boot, size 24.5)
Sizes women’s: 23 – 27.5 (including half sizes)
Liner: thermo moldable, tongue style
Number of buckles: 4
MSRP: $749.99
Available: fall 2017
SCARPA
SCARPA comes in big this year with a redesigned Gea and Gea RS line. The lighter and stiffer boots features new construction, new ski/walk mechanism, new buckle system (YAY, only 3 buckles!) and new tongue attachments (no more broken hinges!). The construction has the new and improved carbon shell. Also new colors! — and no, the boot is not pink or purple. Good job SCARPA — way to take an already awesome boot and make it better!
As far as fit goes, Gea is a boot built for my feet. Also, can anyone ever say no to Intuition liners? I would probably need a small punch around my forefoot — but as far as comfort and performance together, Gea you win for me!
SCARPA Gea (left), SCARPA Gea RS (right).
SCARPA Gea
Shell: Grilamid
Cuff: Grilamid
Tongue: Pebax
Flex index: 100
Last width: 101mm
Forward lean: 14° +/- 2°
Cuff rotation: 60°
Weight: 1250g (one boot, size 25)
Sizes women’s: 22.5 – 27 (half sizes)
Liner: Intuition, thermo moldable, tongue style
Number of buckles: 3
MSRP: $695
Available: fall 2017
SCARPA Gea RS
Shell: Carbon Grilamid LFT
Cuff: Grilamid
Tongue: Pebax
Flex index: 120
Last width: 101mm
Forward lean: 16° +/- 2°
Cuff rotation: 60°
Weight: 1260g (one boot, size 25)
Sizes women’s: 22.5 – 27 (half sizes)
Liner: Intuition, thermo moldable, tongue style
Number of buckles: 3
MSRP: $795
Available: fall 2017
Salomon
Salomon MNT Explore W with its pretty purple and blue.
Salomon has one women’s touring boot on their line — the MTN Explore W, with 2 buckles, touring carbon spine, full rubber sole and a special women’s fit liner. I love the colors! The Explore isn’t a new boot, but worth highlighting for the fit. It has a comfortable liner, but for me felt too tight in the forefoot. It would require a big punch to achieve maximum comfort. It did fit well in the heel and arch areas.
“Sensifit” ergonomic shell technology allows Salomon to cut material from the shell without sacrificing integrity and flex of the shell. The carbon spine adds rigidity and stiffness to the boot without major weight gain.
For women that like a little stiffer boot, they can bump up to men’s
MTN Explore or the MTN Lab. These boots are stiffer and a bit heavier. Sizes go down to 24.5 and 25.5 sizes respectively.
Salomon MTN Explore Women’s
Shell: Grilamid
Cuff: Polypropylene
Cuff rotation: 63°
Weight: 1275g — per boot, size 24.5
Sizes range: 23.5 to 27.5
Liner: thermo moldable
MSRP: $725
Available: now
Dynafit
There are no new women’s specific boots coming out from Dynafit for 2017/2018.
Dynafit’s new TLT Speedfit boot is categorized as a unisex fit. As Lou mentioned, the TLT Speedfit is designed for uphilling at resorts mixed with the occasional moderate ski tour. Lower pricing and a simpler design is targeted for new users.
Dynafit Speedfit.
Dynafit TLT Speedfit
Shell, cuff and spoiler: Grilamid
Forward lean: 15°-18° + release for walking
Cuff rotation: 60°
Weight: 1190g (size 27.5)
Liner: thermo moldable (Dynafit oven recommended), tongue style
Sizing: 22.5-30.5
MSRP: $599
Available: fall 2017
I want to take a moment to highlight the Beast — Dynafit’s most alpine like touring boot. Currently available, the women’s boot is magenta colored with Pomoca soles for extra grip on icy surfaces. For ladies who don’t enjoy hot pink, consider the men’s version in black. The men’s and women’s boots are identical.
Unfortunately, Dynafit Beast is just not the the boot for my feet. I have trouble even getting my wide foot into the boot. For ladies with lower profile (narrow) feet who are looking for a high performance touring boot, the Beast is worth a try.
Dynafit Beast: men’s in the black and women’s in magenta — with a view of the ski/walk mechanism on the right.
Dynafit Beast
Shell: Grilamid Pebax
Cuff/spoiler: Pebax/Magnesium
Forward lean: 16° + release for walking
Cuff rotation: 45°
Weight men’s: 1460g size 27.5
Sizes men’s: 23 – 31.5
Weight women’s: 1300g size 25.5
Sizes women’s: 23 – 27.5
Liner: thermo moldable (Dynafit oven recommended), tongue style
MSRP: $799
Available: now
Dynafit Beast Carbon
Shell: Carbon fiber, Pebax
Cuff/spoiler: Carbon fiber, Pebax / Magnesium
Forward lean: 16° + release for walking
Cuff rotation: 45°
Weight: 1530g size 27.5
Sizes men’s: 23 – 31.5
Weight women’s: 1300g size 25.5
Sizes women’s: 23 – 27.5
Liner: thermo moldable (Dynafit oven recommended), tongue style
MSRP: $899
Available: now
Arc’teryx
Arc’teryx is coming out with a women’s version of Procline Carbon Support Mountaineering boot this year – easily the lightest ski boot I’ve ever tried on. Procline Carbon is a cross over between a touring and climbing boot.
Changes to the boot from the unisec version available last year: the Procline Carbon Women’s Support is made from a women’s last; the ankle zone has been adjusted to fit a women’s calf better and the boot is white.
The fit of the Arc’teryx boot is even tighter than the Dynafit. To fit into the boot, I had to go a size up – my toes didn’t end up having too much room when I did that. One handy feature that I really like about the boots is a built in gaiter — keeps the foot protected and snug.
Arc’teryx women’s Procline Carbon Support Mountaineering boot, showing the gaiter and the ski/walk mechanism.
Arc’teryx Procline Carbon Women’s Support
Shell: Grilamid
Cuff: Carbon fiber with over-injected Grilamid. 30% carbon fiber
Spoiler: Grilamid with 60% fiberglass
Gaiter: High density Cordura with TPU reinforcements
Tongue: Pebax
Flex index: 125
Last width: 101mm
Forward lean: 14°
Vertical rotation: forward +50°, backward -25°
Lateral rotation: 23° internal, 12° external
Weight: 1120g (one boot, size 25.5)
Sizes women’s: 23 – 27.5
Number of buckles: 2
MSRP: $1000
Available: fall 2017
To wrap up, let me introduce the best fitting boot of them all, a WildSnow “special”…so much toe room and even a bit of a breeze to avoid smelly feet! The only thing missing is waterproofing. Modification how-to coming soon.
It is thrilling to see the ever-growing variety of boot options for us ladies!
WildSnow Girl, Julia Dubinina, is a weekend warrior chasing snow in winter and sun in summer. A lover of long tours and steep skin tracks, she explores the Pacific Northwest and beyond. When she is not out adventuring, she is working away at her corporate desk job for a software company to make her next adventure happen.
