Dynafit Contracts Free Skier Eric Hjorleifson — Is Uphill Oriented Spirit Old-School?

by Louis Dawson
written by Louis Dawson

We think long and hard before re-printing industry press releases. But this one has a spin on Dynafit that’s worth pondering. To wit, Dynafit went ahead and worked out some sort of “contract” with free skier Eric Hjorleifson, to represent the company as well as work on product design. More, they’re saying “The brand’s reputation as uphill oriented is long over.” (Dynafit had a previous arrangement with Eric we reported on last year, so this must be some sort of re-up or extensive contract change.)

It is said Eric had a lot of influence on the design of the Dynafit Vulcan boot, and that he’s going to have similar involvement in binding design. Judging from what happened with the Vulcan boot (one of the most radical stiffness/weight/touring-comfort ratios out there), “Hoji’s” involvement with binding development could yield interesting results. Is this the start of tech binding 2.0 and more? Or will we simply see a massive DIN 25 Dynafit contraption attempting to interface with the same tired boot heel and toe fittings that were designed more than two decades ago for lightweight European uphilling?

As for the brand’s reputation changing from being uphill oriented, words are words. Until they start making bindings used by World Cup downhill racers, I think the jury is still out on that one. To be fair, I’m thinking they’re talking about simply being more well rounded and addressing more segments of the backcountry skiing market. But saying it that way is kind of boring (can you tell why I’m not writing press releases?).

Press release follows, lightly condensed. Your comments, oh esteemed WildSnowers?

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Scarpa Rush Backcountry Skiing Boots – Long Term Report

by Joe Risi
written by Joe Risi

Shop for Scarpa ski touring boots.

It is safe to say my summer missions spent searching for that 200 foot patch of Colorado slush snow are a done deal. Visions of waist deep untracked powder have faded almost completely as I find my bike shorts covered in mud instead of my trusty Scarpa Rush boots exhibiting signs of snow starvation. My Landcruiser has transitioned from transporting hunks of P-Tex to greasy bike gear, battered helmets, and countless worn out tires.

Sadly I have not found that Aspen cougar to fund my summer ski trip to Chile and Lou’s fiscal budget is locked in to supply his daily intake of Beluga caviar and imported Austrian beer. The ski stuff is packed away till winter. Maybe I can make it a year round ski year next year…

Scarpa’s 3-buckle boot offering, the Rush, in California-ticket-me-for-speeding-yellow had become a trusty boot for my escapades this past winter. I had fifty-plus days in them from chasing caffeine fueled groms whilst teaching skiing at the resorts (in & out of walk-mode) to making thousands of up and down vert in the White River National Forest.

The Scarpa Rush offered me a lightweight, moderately stiff, comfortable, and dependable boot day after day this season. Lee previously reviewed them and broke down the tech side here on Wildsnow.com, but this is our first “long term” report. Thus, I’ll skip the technical details and focus on what I loved about the boots, and what I didn’t.

Best place to ensure your boots stay fresh for next winter is right between the bratwurst and elk meat. According to Sir Dawson.

Best place to ensure your boots stay fresh for next winter is right between the bratwurst and elk meat. According to Sir Dawson.

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Dynafit Vulcan Free Touring Backcountry Ski Boots — On Snow Review

by Lee Lau
written by Lee Lau

Photos by Lee Lau unless otherwise noted

Toby S testing the Dynafit Vulcan

Toby S. testing Dynafit Vulcan.

Vulcan is part of Dynafit’s “Free Touring Line” which, as far as I can see, is ski-touring the way that I and many others would usually ride in British Columbia, i.e., with gear that is relatively big and oriented to touring for powder. Reading the marketing materials this Free Touring line (including Vulcan, Mercury, and One boots in that line) is in contrast to Dynafit’s generally perceived mission to be an obsessive gram-shaving product company.

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Dynafit ‘One’ Boots – Review

by Louis Dawson
written by Louis Dawson

Editor’s note: Due to the difficulty of using the word ‘One’ as a product model name, we took the liberty of writing it all caps in this review. Please know we’re not shouting the boot name in your left ear, we’re simply trying to make our writing easier to read.

One in hike mode, Scott Nelson in control.

ONE in hike mode, Scott Nelson in control. Click all photos to enlarge.

Yeah, it’s a weird name for a boot, but the moniker makes sense eventually. The idea: this is the “one” boot you need, and closes with “one” upper buckle that also latches the cuff in “one” motion. Ok, ok, enough with the PR hype.

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G3 Spitfire Ski, meet Maestrale RS Boot

by Lee Lau
written by Lee Lau

While this is primarily a review of Scarpa’s new 2012/13 version Maestrale RS backcountry skiing boot, I paired the shoes with new planks from G3. So this also became a review of next season’s G3 Spitfire LT skis. I was on production versions of these products made available for testing and review. (Photos and video by Lee Lau unless otherwise noted.)

Maestrale RS has already been previewed on Wildsnow here. The Maestrale RS is derived from Scarpa’s Maestrale alpine touring boot. Original Maestrale was wildly popular both for its Halloween pumpkin good looks (ha), performance, and for reasonable pricing (almost heretical in this very costly industry). This is Scarpa’s best-selling ever alpine touring boot. You can review Wildsnow’s review of Maestrale here as well as the long term review. To summarize my experience, you can think of the Maestrale RS as a stiffer, uglier version of the Maestrale with mounting hardware that isn’t problematic.

G3’s Spitfire LT adds an early rise tip to the older 2011 variant that ironically states in its G3 description that “you don’t mess with success”. I for one am glad G3 did mess with success. The new early rise tip made all the difference in the world for me in the characteristic variability of spring Coast Mountains skiing (powder interspersed with crust, glace, ice, and bushwhack). Yes, Spitfire LT is everything I look for in a spring ski – light, exceptionally quick and superior edge hold.

Scarpa Maestrale RS and G3 Spitfire in their natural environment.

Scarpa Maestrale RS and G3 Spitfire in their natural environment.

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Aliens Experimented on My Feet — Scarpa, That Is

by Louis Dawson
written by Louis Dawson

Or actually, my feet tested Scarpa Alien rando-race boots.

The boot, total.

You have to hand it to Scarpa for innovation. This thing is so different from most boots that the name works. Alien it is. From the Boa lacing to the minimalist cuff and tennis shoe fit, you can't believe this boot will ski. Surprisingly, it does. Look at the weight and you'll know why I was a skeptic: 32.4 oz, 918 grams per boot (size 28), liner is 7.5 oz.

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