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Touring boots that still perform well?

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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 268
Im looking for boots for my new touring skis with a cast system, I'll send my dalbellos in to get inserts so i can use those some, but i plan on getting a more lightweight touring specific ski setup in the future, so i figure i might get a boot thats a little more focused that will perform better for longer distance more serious touring days.

I'm new to these boots so i dont know much, i know they make some seriously lightweight boots, but so long as i can make it up comfortably and somewhat quick ill be happy, im more concerned how they actually ski.

I've got a wide foot and have had to stretch my il moros and full tilts to fit.

any recommendations?
Jan 4 2016 1:16AM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 268
And they need to work with alpine bindings, p18s
Jan 4 2016 1:37AM
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-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,581
You could try out k2 pinnacles, not sure how they'd fit your foot tho. They work with regular bindings+ tech setups, and have a pretty decent walk mode
Jan 4 2016 2:38AM
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
Not many options for boots that will work in tech bindings and alpine bindings without swapping soles. Pretty much K2 Pinnacles, Dalbello Lupo TI's, and Roxa Cliff Notes. The Lupos will be your best best for a boot that skis very well and walks well enough. They won't work in alpine bindings out of the box though. You need to get another set of soles. But once you switch the soles, they are good to go in both sets of bindings. And if you feel like swapping soles between alpine and tech, you can opt for a Waymaker, Freedom or a Cochise, which all ski pretty well.
Jan 4 2016 6:38PM
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sammy_JJ
Posts: 257 - Karma: 115
If you start doing longer tours might be wiser to have a resort pair of boots then a touring pair.
Jan 4 2016 9:26PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
If youre gonna go the cast route, the lange xt130s will would work well. Im thinking out getting the inserts in mine to work with kingpins. They are a great stiff boot for the down, are lighter weight than a normal boot, though not by much. They dont have the greatest range of motion for touring, but thats just one of the trade offs you have to deal with.
Jan 4 2016 9:27PM
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freeballer
Posts: 722 - Karma: 935
If you don't mind having to change out the soles from time to time, I really like my Scarpa Freedom SLs. You can have one sole for alpine, and one sole for tech fittings. They are pretty stiff, but much lighter than the Lange XT130 and have a way better tour mode. I have some Lange XT130s that ski better than any boot for me, but suck at touring more than 2 hours. They are just too heavy and the tour mode is kind of a joke with very limited range of motion.
Jan 5 2016 12:29AM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 268
Im liking the waymakers and freedoms, waymakers cause they're easy to find cheap, and the freedoms seem like they'd be a good all around more touring focused boot.
anything out there thats even more touring focused with swappable soles that would still work in an alpine binding?
Jan 5 2016 1:47PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
Dalbello Lupo/Lupe TI, though only one may have din sole avail. Theres a thread on TGR about em in tech talk.

Technica cochise are pretty damn sweet, a few diff models avail, great tour mode, swap-able soles, pretty light for how well they ride on the down.

This years XT130s is vastly improved over the old ones. Its a true 130, no more bulging of the lower shell eventually splitting it like I did. The tour lever is much more solid, no slop. The range of motion is a little better, but still no where like a mtn lab/dynafit/ect.

I know K2 has options, not too sure on if the soles are swap-able. Ive never gotten to try them on, so I have no details.
Jan 5 2016 4:40PM
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Mr.Penguin
Posts: 207 - Karma: 165
sammy_JJIf you start doing longer tours might be wiser to have a resort pair of boots then a touring pair.


This, depending on what kind of touring you're planning on getting into your best solution would be to look into a tech specific boot as well and a resort boot. For the most part touring is about give and take, you give up performance to lose weight. As far as boots go, the Dynafit Vulcan, and the Khion are kind of the better downhill performance while still managing good uphill performance boots out right now. Of course boots are all dependent on what fits your feet best. I Toured in Full-Tilts and guardians for two seasons.
Jan 5 2016 6:39PM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 268
Also i should add that im using the p14 WTR bindings, not sure what all the WTR compatibility adds in terms of boot options. all these standards get pretty confusing, but it'd be nice if i could run a more dedicated touring specific boot.
Jan 5 2016 8:14PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
XtRemE11Also i should add that im using the p14 WTR bindings, not sure what all the WTR compatibility adds in terms of boot options. all these standards get pretty confusing, but it'd be nice if i could run a more dedicated touring specific boot.


Get the MTN Labs if they fit your foot since you have the WTR FKSs.
Jan 5 2016 8:16PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
japanadaGet the MTN Labs if they fit your foot since you have the WTR FKSs.


2nd this. The WTR FKS just opened up your options a bunch, MTN Lab is totally the way to go.
Jan 5 2016 9:45PM
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sammy_JJ
Posts: 257 - Karma: 115
I recommend you wait till next season. There are several companies coming out with very nice "cross over" boots with Pin adapters in the toes (like the K2s and Dalbello lupos).
Jan 9 2016 12:56PM
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Sofo
Posts: 26 - Karma: 33
I was wondering how are full tilts for touring/freeriding say seth morrison model, its not exactly a touring oriented boot, but i was curious if anyone had some experiece with it...
Feb 9 2016 3:22PM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 268
Ok still havent bought a pair of boots, mostly cause i havent been able to afford anything decent. but im going in tomorrow to some shops to try some stuff on. I think its really between the Freedom SL or RS and the MTN lab. The RS is appealing because from what i've read, its a legit stiff charger, which might work better than my il moro's for everything non park, and if they do, i could see it being my go to boot for both touring and resort cruising/powder days.

I like the idea of MTN labs because while it may not perform quite as well as the RS on the downs, i feel like it could be all i need for a touring boot, so next year when i get a dedicated touring setup, i may be able to stick with the MTN labs for my dedicated touring setup as well. but I dont see it replacing my il moro's for anything resort related.

Anyway, my question now is, with my WTR bindings, will the Freedom SL or RS work for sure? researching online got me pretty confused. will they work with normal alpine bindings?
Feb 23 2016 2:05AM
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kirbstopper
Posts: 322 - Karma: 662
Next years Lupo T.I has a removable tongue. That boot is legit enough for all resort skiing. And now with the removable tongue it has a real walk mode unlike the previous years. And if you have the money you can get it in carbon and significantly lighter.

Also if Il Moros fit your foot, this boot would likely fit as well. It is the krypton shell.

http://www.epictv.com/media/podcast/dalbello-lupo-carbon-ti-review-%7C-best-new-ski-boots-ispo-2016/604262

Feb 23 2016 2:22AM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
depending on how they fit your foot, tecnica cochises sound like what you want. The 130 is stiffer than my lupos with the stiff tongue.

You can also run the tech toe block on the cochise with the p18 if you get the wtr afd and longer screws from the cast site, its about $20 extra dollars.

if you can wait to next year then you don't need to buy the tech block or the wtr afd since next year the cochise comes with alpine soles and tech fitting already installed.

There's also the zero G boot from them next year which is a lot lighter, but still claimed to be a 130 flex.
Feb 23 2016 9:40AM
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razors-chaz
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,250
freeballerIf you don't mind having to change out the soles from time to time, I really like my Scarpa Freedom SLs. You can have one sole for alpine, and one sole for tech fittings. They are pretty stiff, but much lighter than the Lange XT130 and have a way better tour mode. I have some Lange XT130s that ski better than any boot for me, but suck at touring more than 2 hours. They are just too heavy and the tour mode is kind of a joke with very limited range of motion.


OP if you can wait until next season lange are coming out with a new xt freetour line (pg 11 on here http://www.bretton.cz/assets/files/LANGE_CATALOGUE_1617_GB.pdf) these have tech inserts and a 43deg walk mode, (same walk mode as the new XT for next year). freetours weighing in at 1770g so lighter than current xts at 2058g. so both of freeballer's gripes about weight and rom seem to be addressed. Same good locking system and wtr rocker soles.

I'm liking the look of these and trying to eek out my rxs until next season and pick a pair of xt freetours to go everywhere on.
Feb 23 2016 9:59AM
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.[sanhedrin].
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 917
Mtn lab
Feb 23 2016 3:33PM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 268
tried some boots on today. I liked the fit of the pinnacles the most, with the freedom RS being very close. this is without any work at all being done, just being sized to a shell, seems like either could fit perfect with a little work.

If it were strictly an inbounds boot, I think the pinnacles would win purely because they just feel a little more park friendly. but i dont see them touring as well as the freedoms. and i'll always have park specific boots unless somebody comes out with some magical all rounder. the freedoms seem like they will be as good as any boot out there for an all around resort boot, just not what im looking for in a park boot.

Mountain labs seemed like the best touring boot, they'd probably work damn well for resort days too, but didnt have the smooth feel of the freedoms, I think i'd be disappointed if I tried using them for all my non park resort days.

So think i'm going with the freedoms. one question though, and i guess i can talk to the boot fitter about this, but can you do anything to flatten out the ramp angle much? that was the one thing i liked the least. I like a flatter stance.
Feb 24 2016 2:32AM
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