Scarpa Maestrale Backcountry Ski Touring Boots – A Quick Unboxing

by Lou Dawson
written by Lou Dawson

I predicted it a few years ago: The panting race to make beef boots for “free riders” would make way for a raft of lightweight choices that still performed. It’s happening. One such offering I like much for this season is the Scarpa Maestrale. (My Italian spelling isn’t that good, so luckily they print the name of these shoes on the side of the cuff.)

Scarpa Maestrale backcountry skiing boot.

Scarpa Maestrale backcountry skiing boot.

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Take a Walk on Chris Davenport — More from the Trade Show

by Lou Dawson
written by Lou Dawson

I walked on top of Ed Viesturs during our Denali trip, but I think Chris will be better for that because he’s thinner.

No, not the guys. Rather, I’m talking about Ed and Dav’s signature insoles from Sole footbeds. Dav’s model is based on Sole’s Thinsport version, which is perfect for fitting in ski boots that you’ve sized conventionally.

Chris Davenport footbed from Sole.

Chris Davenport footbed from Sole.

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Radical of the Rad — Pierre Gignoux Carbon Fiber Boots & Bindings

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Michael Silitch

(Editor’s note: Michael submitted this guest blog just before our Denali trip. I tried to get it published but couldn’t quite do it. I felt bad about that, as if we’d published this back in May the timing for ordering Gignoux boots would have been better. But we do the best we can. Apologies to Michael for the delay. Sometimes I need to clone myself… At any rate, here it is, a guest blog regarding Pierre Gignoux XP 444 boot, and three other PG innovations including the Carbon Fiber Binding.)

Why make a ski boot out of carbon fiber? The obvious answer is to save weight and increase rigidity. Another reason, one that first attracted me to the Pierre Gignoux XP 500 alpine touring boot three years ago (besides the weight savings), was how incredibly sexy they looked!

For the price, they better look good!

For the price, they better look good!

Formula 1 racing, sailing, cycling, and many other sports use carbon fiber; even in skiing, you see it in ski poles and skis, so why not ski boots? Carbon fiber is high-tech, expensive, fast, strong, light, black, shiny and super cool looking. So if you are fond of your carbon fiber bicycle’s aesthetics, you might really enjoy a pair of the new XP 444’s.

It took a ski mountaineering race champion with a degree in biomechanical engineering to make the idea real. At the end of his illustrious ski mo career (wins in the Pierra Menta, European Championships, and a record up and down Mont Blanc), Pierre started tinkering with boots. His first all carbon fiber ski boot was released to the public in 2006, weighing half that of the existing race boots.

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Scarpa Shaka Backcountry Skiing Boot

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Words and photos by Sharon Bader and Lee Lau unless otherwise noted.

Scarpa Shaka

Scarpa Shaka

New for Fall 2010/Winter 2011 is the Scarpa Shaka described as downhill boots with touring features including the Skywalk active sole, tech fitting and of course the walk/ski mode. Based on the popular Skookum boot but with a female fit Scarpa introduced the Shaka for women who wanted a stiff boot but couldn’t find a fit with the Skookum. Weighing in at 1636g the Shaka will not weigh you down. Constructed of 100% Pebax with dual injection molding providing consistent stiffness where needed over a wide range of temperatures in a light material.

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Scarpa Maestrale — Light Stiff 4-Buckle Backcountry Skiing Boot

by Lee Lau
written by Lee Lau

Shop for Scarpa ski boots.

Four-buckle boots are viewed by many backcountry skiers as the minimum required touring boot for hard-charging downhill turns. While I can’t say I agree with this characterization (my Spirit 3’s were plenty of boot), at 1,510 grams Scarpa Maestrale will be the lightest 4-buckle boot made when it comes out next fall. Thus, we can have one more buckle with no weight penalty, so why not?

Lee testing the Maestrale backcountry skiing boot.

Lee testing the Maestrale backcountry skiing boot.

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PR — Garmont Introduces Proprietary Tech Inserts

by Lou Dawson
written by Lou Dawson

Editor’s note: This is cool. Everything they say is correct; the “standard” type of toe insert does allow for more sole rubber than Dynafit’s “Quick Step In.” What the press release doesn’t mention is that the “Quick Step In” is patented by Dynafit and costs a bundle for other companies to license and use. So be it. Garmont has perhaps improved on the standard insert, kept the cost down for themselves and hopefully their customers, and forward we go (instead of backwards). Lack of info about the heel inserts is interesting. They’re much easier to make and install in a boot than the toe inserts, so perhaps a non-issue. But it would be nice if Garmont improved on Dynafit and we didn’t have to keep tightening the heel fitting screw…

Shop for Garmont ski boots here.

GARMONT introduces new proprietary Tech Inserts in 2011 ALPINE TOURING BOOTS

(For immediate release ) — A major innovator in alpine touring boots, Garmont is pleased to introduce its own proprietary “Tech Inserts” for fall 2010.

Since introducing the Tech system in its alpine touring boots in 2000, Garmont has exclusively featured Dynafit-manufactured Tech Inserts. The program was hugely successful, as the combination of Garmont performance and Dynafit binding compatibility provided exceptional results for lightweight ski touring.

Garmont Tech Insert

The new Garmont tech (toe) insert for backcountry skiing boots. Similar to Dynafit OEM but said to be improved.

With the January 1, 2010 expiration of Dynafit’s patent on the design, Garmont has embraced the opportunity to bring a superior Tech Insert to the marketplace: one that is specifically manufactured to support the increasing number of skiers turning to the system for aggressive freeride performance as well as lighter ski touring.

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