Ski boot central Chris Haworth talks to some of skiing`s key

Ski boot central
Just Bootiful!
Chris Haworth talks to some of skiing's key manufacturers and
retailers about the latest trends in next year’s ski boots – and
of course contributes his own verdict!
I
f you’d like to boost your skiing performance, a new pair of boots
is the way to do it. As the direct interface with your skis, they’re
the most important equipment you own. Performance, comfort
and precision have changed remarkably over these past few years as
has the level of customisation. Footbeds and liners from the likes of
Superfeet and Conform’able are tailored to men, women, aggressive
skiers or blue-run cruisers. 100% customisation is available, and there
is no need to be skiing in anything but comfort.
As inventive ideas and new models come onto the market,
manufacturers seem to have regained their confidence. One
of the biggest stories is the ‘hike and ride’ sector: the revival of
walk-modes. You might think they’re about as trendy as a 1980s prawn
cocktail, but they’re back - having morphed into some of the coolest and most versatile
boots you’ll see on snow this winter. Tough and fit for purpose, they’re ideal for many
Ski+board readers who love to wander a little further from the T-bar.
Freestyle is huge in the UK, and no self-respecting ‘grom’ (teenage skier, skateboarder
or surfer) wants to be seen with a pair of race boots, so manufacturers now offer at
least a brace of freestyle boots. Cult favourites like Full Tilt and Dalbello are moving
mainstream and breaking the boundaries of the park-and-bumps field. Experienced
skiers love the progressive flex of the three-piece ‘Cabrio’ design that originated
from the Swiss brand Raichle, whilst ‘groms’ love the fact that they’re no longer
nearly hospitalised because of shin-bang.
Piste-performance boots have become more user-friendly as lasts, liners
and the manufacturers’ understanding of skiing biomechanics has evolved.
Race boots especially are no longer medieval torture chambers only
slightly comfier than a pair of concrete slippers.
A strong euro is tough in resort, but good for British retailers
who are at their most competitive for years. Our boot-fitters
are some of the best trained in Europe as they work and are
trained in-store throughout the year. As ever, make sure
you give yourself plenty of time when testing boots.
Wear appropriate gear, and discuss the runs you enjoy
now - and what you’d like to ski in future. A good
pair of boots should give you great feedback for
the snow and your skis, whilst offering nothing less
than comfort. Don’t buy high-performance boots
if you struggle down a black run. Conversely, if
you’re a competent skier, don’t undersell yourself.
Seek some skiing soulmates and remember,
comfort is paramount.
58 | skiclub.co.uk/skiboots
Ski boot central
vanessafry.com
Russel Quinn - Tecnica
Phoenix
Tecnica’s Phoenix range was voted “Ski Boot of the
Last - 102mm
Year” at ISPO this year. An innovative ‘Airshell’ feature
Medium - wide.
means enhanced fit, extra warmth and more response
Flex - 80+
as the inner air-shell pumps up to fill any gaps between
Price - from £249
shell and liner. Built into the shell’s interior, the ‘Airshell’ is
heat-formed. There are no hard edges or tough plastics
to hamper your feet. They’re lightweight but still
allow bootfitters to tailor the shell for major
adjustments. Prices start at £249 - a
lot of boot for the money and their
versatility is ideal for the advanced
recreational skier.
Haworth’s choice: Diablo Inferno
This new expert boot from Tecnica feels sublime. The last is
excellent, really hugs the foot in all the right places, the instep
Inferno
Dragon
doesn’t feel too deep, and the liners lace up really snugly.
Last 95 - 98mm
Last - medium,
They’re comfortable and secure - everything the expert
narrow to medium
medium to high
Flex - 110+
instep.
Price - £300+
Flex - 90+
seeks. A beefed-up ‘Power Chassis’ boosts the clog of the
boot with a carbon-steel base unit. This reduces torsion,
Price - £290+
giving the skier direct transmission. Advanced-toexpert skiers should also check out the svelt
Dragon range: excellent quality, performance
and a snug fit for all-mountain skiers.
Conform’able footbeds
and liners
Steve Couper is the
All skiers expect evolution in their
British distributor of
equipment’s performance and comfort. At
Conform’able, suppliers
Conform’able we’ve evolved our footbeds
of footbeds and
and liners to meet wintersports needs 100%.
orthotics for many of
Steve Couper - Conform’able
Our new ‘Transfoam’ liner has pushed
the worlds top skiers -
the boundaries of liner customisation and
and the French national
comfort. Foam enters via the front tubes,
football team!
giving fantastic hold around the ankle and
locking down the heel. A thermo-moulded
construction ensures there’s no leakage of
foam or hard edges. We have a new
asymmetric tongue that’s really slim and
comfy, giving a really snug fit. Used with a
custom footbed, you have a boot 100%
tailored to your foot shape.
Footbeds -
Footbeds remain key. There are different
from £50
levels of support - from ‘Flashfit’ pre-moulded
Boot heaters -
insoles for the occasional rider and the
from £120
‘Volcano’ range of heated insoles up to ‘Ski
Transfoam liners -
Race’ for the expert, along with specialist
£199
products for those with more demanding feet.
Ski+board | 59
Ski boot central
vanessafry.com
Russel O’Neill - Atomic
LiveFit
If you don’t want to break sweat hauling on your
boots, try the LiveFit – truly step-in convenience.
LiveFit
Last - 102 - 106mm
Atomic’s all-new range for 2011 are the epitome
( extra +2mm from
of accessibility, comfort and cruisy skiing.
LiveFit)
Instead of a heat-moulding process, the
Price - From £225
LiveFit constantly alters to your foot-shape
using soft materials in key areas of the shell
that maintain performance but greatly
improve comfort. A large-volume shell is
bolstered with support in the heel area
for excellent grip and the over-sized clips
mean you only need two rather than the
traditional four to buckle. An alternative for
advanced skiers are Atomic’s Hawx, built with
revolutionary i-Flex technology.
Haworth’s choice: Tracker
Pre-released last winter in Chamonix, the Tracker has some serious pedigree along with
rave reviews. They’re bred from the superb RT range but fitted with a ‘Power Control
Release’, a lever that resembles something built from Hummer spares, but allows
Tracker
Last - 98mm
narrow to medium.
you to walk in comfort, then lock down for skiing power. Intuition liners
Flex - 100+
are really warm and precise. They team up with a ‘Ridge Walker’ sole for
Price - from £350
improved walking grip and a total ‘hike and ride’ package.
Gregor Brearley - Nordica
Speedmachine X100 and 100W
Last - Medium
Nordica boots are still family-owned and we’ve evolved our current range
throughout.
drawing on some 70 years’ experience in manufacturing alpine ski boots.
Flex - 90 - 100
Speedmachine X100, and the women’s X100W are two excellent
Price - £299
boots for advanced-to-expert all-mountain performance. Whether arcing
your skis on groomed slopes or exploring the backcountry, the ‘Tri-force’
design helps direct your input straight to your skis, whilst the rubber boot
boards smooth out the ride.
Bi-injection, natural-foot stance on some models and full-faux fur liner
on the 100W combine with PFP, precision heat-mouldable liners, for a
secure, precise and cosy fit.
Haworth’s choice: Dobermann Pro EDT
Dobermanns are boiler-plate thoroughbreds - eternally popular for their
ferocious grip on ice and around your feet. A revolutionary EDT bootboard further improves the Nordica’s aggressive capacity on hardpacked snow. By fixing the boot-board directly through key points of
Dobermann
the shell, a massive 40% reduction in torsion and a 15% increase in
Last - 95+ Narrow+
efficiency is achieved. Every expert should try a Dobermann once
Flex - 130+
in their skiing life. Nordica also has a great freestyle range: the funky
Price £400+
Ace of Spades heads the list.
60 | skiclub.co.uk/skiboots
Janette Jones - Fischer
Janette Jones is a
bootfitting expert with
the leading London
sports orthotics
specialist Profeet.
Fischer Soma MyStyle 100
Fischer’s boots all feature Soma-Tec, an off-set V-stance
which is ideal for those with a heel-in, toe-out stance: the
majority of skiers! Fischer boots feel very natural,
and give instantaneous edge feel, although for
experienced skiers the Soma-stance may take
a couple of runs to adjust to.
The 2011 MyStyle 100 features
a new liner with cork and oil pockets
SOMA
around the ankles to complement the medium-lasted
Last - 100mm
shell. Cork and oil has long been used in race boots as it
Flex - 110
gives great comfort, constantly adjusts to your anatomy,
Price - £290
and offers precise performance. Along with a preinstalled ‘Heat Frame’, a heater clips on for toasty feet all
day long, and dual-canting the Fischer offers excellent
all-mountain abilities. Profeet always tailor footbeds and
boots to your needs - our guarantee for blissful feet.
Haworth’s choice: Progressor
PROGRESSOR
Fischer’s Progressor is a great choice for the advanced
Last - 100mm
skier looking for a medium-lasted boot.
Flex - 110+
The latest model is boosted by ‘X-Rail’,
Price - £290
reinforcement down the spine of
the boot towards the big toe. This
gives a more precise feel and quicker
response to your input. Whether you
enjoy cruising groomed runs or more
challenging terrain, Progressors spare
you the superfluous, and stick with
excellent quality, fine performance
and classic good looks.
Ski+board | 25
Ski boot central
vanessafry.com
Scott Dobson - Lange
RS & RX
Lange have remained true to their roots with the new
Last - 97 or 100 mm
RS and RX ranges. The dynamics are based on the
Special order - 92mm
boots of champions: Maier, Tomba and Reich all skied
for professionals.
on Lange’s famous Race Blue boots for their greatest
Flex - 100 - 140.
victories.
Price
RS models are tamed for piste performance,
whilst the RX series are aimed squarely at the
Lange RX - £260
Lange RS - from £360
all-mountain skier. Both ranges are available with a
97mm narrow fit or a comfort-orientated 100mm
last and up to four flex options.
Lange scanned thousands of feet to
create the new lasts. We’re gunning for
the ultimate in the balance of comfort and
control with the most anatomically shaped
shells and mouldable liners.
Scott Dobson is an ex
British team skier, the
Haworth’s choice: Blaster
UK’s Lange-Dynastar
distributor and one of
Last - 102mm
Long known for their narrow, Italian-style lasts, the Blaster range brings all the
the finest tuners of skis
medium-wide
anatomical know-how of Lange to a broader foot-shape. One or two-
in the land.
Flex - 90+
week-a-year skiers will adore the support and forgiveness of the
Price - £240+
Blaster. Liners are heat-mouldable and the design is similar to
the expert RS range: there are no peripheral toggles or toys
as the last of the boot and the quality of materials perform
the job that’s required.
Davee Mercer - Salomon
Salomon Quest 12
Salomon’s Quest 12 model is a fantastic all-mountain boot for Ski+board
readers looking to explore the whole mountain. Grippy ‘Contagrip’ soles
combine with an advanced ‘Ride or Hike’ cuff for comfort and safety when
you’re walking to that perfect pitch of powder or just getting to the lifts.
Lock down the magnesium backbone and you get true alpine ski boot
performance, with lots of rebound and precision. Unlocked, the range of
movement is equal to a touring boot.
Last 100mm
Based on our hugely successful Impact range, the Quest has all the performance Flex - 120
of an Impact 10 CS advanced-to-expert model, with the ability to offer greater
convenience and security as you venture deeper into the backcountry.
Davee Mercer is an ex
Haworth’s choice: X3
Olympic skier who went
With a boot for everyone, it’s tough to pick a single model from such an
Last - X3 WC 95
on to help develop
extensive range. Intermediate skiers should try the Mission range, advanced
X3 RC 98 (104mm
the first monocoque-
skiers the Impact or Idol models. Freestyle skiers love the Kaos and Pro
with custom shell
construction skis. He
Model boots, whilst many professional skiers use the superb X3 WC boot.
option)
remains at the forefront
Although a race boot at heart, in the softer flex, many ski instructors use it
Flex - 130+
of the British ski
for its excellent last, progressive flex, and comfort. Hard-pack grip is superb,
Price - £375+
industry as a Salomon
and the boot is neutral enough to let you rip in the off-piste, carve on ice or
alpine manager.
shred the bumps...check out the images from Ski+board’s ski test for proof!
62 | skiclub.co.uk/skiboots
Price - from £349
Ski boot central
vanessafry.com
Ross McCloy Snow+Rock
Dalbello Krypton Pro
Last - Narrow forefoot
Low volume, high performance, all-
and heel, medium
mountain boots are rare. Race boots tend
instep.
to be low-volume yet limited to expert and
Flex - 100 - 140
professional skiers. But the Krypton is really
Price - Cross - £330
accessible with its ‘Carbio-design’. Ideal for
Pro - £420
slim feet (think long-limbed teenager or
just slim adult) and the progressive flex is
Ross McCloy has
suitable for the advanced-to-professional
worked world-wide in
skier. With interchangeable tongues,
the ski industry with
you can boost the flex from a highly
manufacturers, retailers
accessible 100 to a really supportive 140
and as a ski coach.
for aggressive skiing. Kryptons cosset your
He’s currently the ski
feet, have great heel-hold and snow-feel,
hardwear buyer for
and are one of the most versatile boots
Snow+Rock.
on the market. You’ll really notice your ski
technique leaping forward.
Steve Wells - Ellis Brigham
Lange RX100
Lange’s RX 100 is a pure design with perfect
functionality: a true classic. Based on the
traditional Lange last, this is an Italian boot with
great ergonomics, excellent advanced-to-expert
performance - and the matt black finish is like having
a pair of stealthy Ferraris on your feet.
Haworth’s choice: Dalbello
Raya 10 and Krypton
2010 really saw Dalbello upping their game
and we’ll see much more of their products
in the coming years. With great liners, the
Raya and Axion 10 feature a three-piece
construction as opposed to the traditional
two-piece. Pressure is eased over the
Dalbello Raya
Steve Wells is the
forefoot, and flex becomes very progressive
Last - 103mm - Medium
wintersport buyer for
when using a three-piece design. As it’s
to wide, average heel.
Ellis Brigham and is
Flex - 100 - 90
one of the key movers
Price - £275
in stocking freeride
easier to glide the foot into the boot, there’s
Last - 100mm Medium forefoot,
less concern about the use of stiff plastics in the spine. Great
narrow heel.
heel-hold and a natural flex are key benefits of Dalbello, with
and backcountry
Flex - 100
freeriders and freestylers favouring the Krypton as a modern
equipment.
Price - £260
cult-classic.
64 | skiclub.co.uk/skiboots
Ski boot central
vanessafry.com
Sally Bartlett - Bartletts
Full Tilt Soul Sister
Funky women-specific boots tailored for the female
foot and calf (writes Chris Haworth). Great all-round
capabilities for good intermediate-to-expert
skiers, the Soul Sisters are a classic design
refreshed for the freeride generation.
Fitted with cables, not clips, for a highlyprogressive flex, the medium-stiff flex
tongue offers plenty of support for
advanced skiers but with the ribbed
design they are so smooth and easy to
use that intermediate skiers will rapidly
progress into them.
RT CS
Last - 98 mm narrow medium
Haworth’s choice: Atomic RT CS
Flex - 130
Powerful, dynamic, agile, great fitting and updated. The new
Price - £340
RT CS Carbon features (a ski-boot first) ultra-lightweight, easyfastening, carbon-fibre buckles.
Apart from the bling buckles, I love the way the CS fits.
The last hasn’t changed but the liner feels very snug, and the
leather-microfibre really hugs your foot, giving great hold and a
Last - 99mm
superb interface for the performance-orientated expert. One for
Medium
the professionals, or wannabe pros!
Price - £300+
Matt Humphreys - Head
Vector 100 & 100 One
Head’s Vector range was established in 2009. Aimed at ‘pure
progression,’ the Vector 100 takes you from red runs to freeride
exploring with the latest technology and comfort.
With a tri-injected shell, the plastics offer support and
forgiveness exactly where the skier requires them. Vector 120
features Spineflex buckles that reduce pressure points around the
forefoot. Heat-mouldable liners are on all Vector models along
with double-canting, power-buckles and a tool-free ‘Supermacro’
ratchet that expands to reduce pressure on your calves.
Last - 103mm Wide
Flex - 90 - 100
Price - £250
Haworth’s choice: Dream
Matt Humphreys
Head’s Dream range is one of the most
is the manager of
extensive in the world of women’s boots.
Head Ski UK.
All lasts are 100% designed specifically for
women and their ski style. Softer flexes,
extra-leverage buckles and warmer liners are
standards within a range that spans from firsttime buyers, the i-Type One, up to the expert
or professional skier Dream 12.5.
66 | skiclub.co.uk/skiboots