I’m wearing a Scarpa Alien boot on my right foot and a Montrail running shoe on my left, and without looking, it’s hard to tell the difference. The Alien is the latest full-on race boot from Scarpa and one of the things I love about it is that it is so completely, apologetically specialized that it is hard to compare to anything else out there, including running shoes. For many years, the Scarpa F1 boot dominated the world of Ski Mountaineering racing to the point that the starting lineup at a race was referred to as “The Green Line” due to F1′s being green and everywhere you looked. At the time, the F1 was also a state of the art race boot, but as racers started to tweak the living hell out of their boots by slicing, drilling, milling and grinding them, new rules were put in place to ensure that boots were hitting a minimal level of safety by having a certain amount of tread on the bottom and would work with crampons. New boot makers started to get into the market and although the F1 was still popular, it took extensive home modifications to make it competitive. Continue reading ‘Scarpa Aliens’
Tag Archive for 'scarpa'
The people of the backcountry will now hear the case of Rush v. Maestrale. Please be seated.
I don’t think I toured a single day last year in anything but Scarpa Maestrale boots. For resorts, I have a pair of Scarpa Mobe boots, but I have yet to brave any touring with them. I come from a long line of Scarpa boots dating all the way back to the leather Tele Savauge (yes, tele…) and have been very happy with the Lazer/Matrix/Spirit line of three buckle boots. My first impression of the Maestrale was dismay as it was a four buckle boot – gasp – but it turned out to be lighter and toured better than the Spirit 3 it replaced, so I never looked back. But still, I secretly yearned for a three buckle boot as I seldom if ever adjust the toe buckle on a 4 buckle boot, so it is kind of vestigial and needs to be dropped. Continue reading ‘Rush v. Maestrale’
I’m happy to say that I haven’t had a ski boot related blister for years and the last one I did get came from trying to mold my own liners. Some things are better left to the pros.
Here’s the not-so secrets to my blister free success…
1) Go with boots that fit your feet. I’ve been skiing in Scarpa’s for years and am not sure if they fit my feet or at this point my feet have conformed to the boots, but whatever the case, Scarpa’s are a known and consistent entity for me. When I was into Alpine racing I wore a size 7 Lange, but for touring have gone up two full sizes to a size 9.
2) Use a thick, high quality sock like a Bridgedale, Smartwool or one of the new BC.com merino wool versions. They are pricey ($25ish a pair), but they last forever, or seven years – which ever comes first.
3) Find an insole that fits your foot. Some of the new boots come with substantial insoles (like the BD line), but I’ve found that SuperFeet fit my foot and are comfy. I have been rolling them over for about five years and take them out of my old boots, then use them again for my new ones.
4) Use a good boot fitter who knows how to fit backcountry/touring boots, as a BC fit is different than an Alpine fit. I’ve been going to Dennis Maw at Black Diamond in Salt Lake City who is a Liner Magician. Continue reading ‘Warm & Blister-free Boot Fitting’
