Axon Unboxed — More Dynafit Compatible Beef

Shop for Garmont ski boots here.

Word is out. Garmont had a boot at the feed lot. The Axon is now nicely fattened up and looks delicious. Check it out:

Compromises with this shoe are few. For example, instead of using a high arch to gain more rocker and allow a more conventional hiking style sole configuration, Garmont molds this boot with a nearly flat footboard that’s similar to nearly any conventional alpine boot. Advantage of this is that fit and ramp angle (toe vs. heel height) are easily tuned by a boot fitter. More, and this is trick, as indicated in the photo above it appears the thicker part of the sole has been designed as an optional place to shave if you want to eliminate most of the Axon’s sole rocker, thus making it fit better in some ski bindings — and even more alpine-like. Hold that thought to the next photo.

Wow, reach into the Axon and what do we find? A footboard just like many alpine boots. Another thing to make your boot fitter smile.

A minor but nonetheless interesting issue with Dynafit compatible boots is that some have very little sole material in the area of the toe, under the binding fittings and at the end of the sole. Garmont uses the earlier style Dynafit fittings which allow for more rubber, and they design in plenty of sole rubber in the whole toe area.

Continuing the alpine theme. You probably won’t find this boot on a World Cup racer running the Hanenkam, but having a cuff cant rivet will be mightily appreciated by the percentage of population who need that sort of thing.

Spoiler (AKA rear upper cuff) is removable for customization, and height adjustable.

Another view of inside at cuff level. That elongated bump is a “flex limiter” that stops forward motion of the cuff at a certain point. These can easily be removed for a softer more progressive flex. Nice to have the option.

And, the G-Fit liner. Fairly conventional albeit nicely made. Optional laces are essential for a conventional tongue inner boot. Good to have them! We’d give this liner a medium flex rating, if you want more beef you could easily swap in a harder liner. Then go run the Hanenkam.

In all, we’re impressed by this boot. It will no doubt fill an important niche — that of a beefy alpine-like shoe that yes, does allow you to use the best binding in the solar system.
Shop for Garmont ski boots here.