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Best Touring boots for the piste?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
One of my old ski boots has literally fallen apart. I need to get some for the upcoming season. However I'm hoping to try some ski touring. Looking for a boot suitable for a beginners ski tour (eg Silvretta in Austria) that won't hold me up too much trying to keep up with my sons on or off the piste. Any advice? And which bindings do they use?
And also are skis to fit touring boots widely available in hire shops? I'd rather not splash out on skis straight away.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I have Scarpa Freedom SLs for my boots that (don’t quite) fit all option. They have interchangeable soles so can be used in hire skis*, tour surprisingly well, are super comfy and are stiff enough with a nice flex to enjoy the down, piste or otherwise. They are also great for running round in the snow chasing my children, playing snowball fights etc.

There are plenty of other similar books for other brands, just pick the one that fits your foot.

*though I only really use them with my one ski set up that (doesn’t quite) fit all, Soul 7s and Marker F12s.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
You probably want what's referred to as a "freeride" boot. I've had a great experience using these:

https://www.tetongravity.com/story/ski/teton-tested-scarpa-freedom-sl-ski-boot

Used for everything from the blues cruise through to some pretty steep off piste (including a hair raising sub-optimal icy chunky nightmare that I'm still trying to forget) around Chamonix and a few tours up to around 1500m ascent. In terms of balancing uphill usability with downhill performance they are about as good as it gets I think, I've never found them limiting in terms of power, stabiity and control. Interchangeable soles enable use with either "frame" bindings (basically a normal binding where the heel detaches for uphill) and the more touring focussed "pin" bindings.

They were renewed for last season but I'm not sure if a new edition will come out this year or not.

Another option I've heard good things about is the Tecnica cochise 130

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2016-2017-tecnica-cochise-130-pro/2

Hiring touring skis is pretty straightforward, especially in resorts where touring is popular. Hire shops in places like chamonix, st anton, zermatt, saas fee etc etc often stock carry touring skis equipped both styles of binding
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@BenTisdall, What size mondo feet are you? If you're 27.5 I've got a great pair of Dynafit Mercurys great condition second hand you can have for a steal, fantastic boots, I've got them too, bought 2 pairs they were that good!
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Salomon Quest Max does it for me, handles it all well but not as much control over GS or SL type skis than a race boot.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
@markymark, I might be interested in the boots. What sole length are they and price?
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Unfortunately I'm 29 @markymark
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Meltus wrote:
@markymark, I might be interested in the boots. What sole length are they and price?

They're 304mm
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@Meltus, Like Jon says 304mm, open to offers, i'm sure we'd sort something of they are the right price, MP27.5. Can send you photos if you think they'd fit PM me your email address?
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Some reviews here
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/snow-sports/best-backcountry-ski-boots
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I’d get boots with a gripwalk sole and bin binding inserts. As mentioned above, a freeride model rather than pure touring focused. I would think most hire skis for touring will have frame bindings, so they’ll be good with a gripwalk sole. The pin binding inserts will give flexibility in case a hire ski with bin bindings is available, or you later decide to invest in some skis and put pin bindings or Salomon shifts on them (most people, including me, happily ski both piste and offpiste with pin bindings).
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Roxa Rx3's. Really freeride boot with a walk mode, gripwalk and pins - simpler and lighter than most. Also stiffer than most.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Fit is very important …..

Quote:
I can tour longer and faster in the Roxa R3 130 not because it walks particularly well or is exceptionally light, but because my foot has yet to really hurt in it. That’s a huge deal to me. I’ve stopped mid-tour to take off both the MTN Explore and Spectre 2.0 to rest my feet. I’ve never been tempted to do that with the R3 130, and I haven’t made any modifications to the boot.


http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/roxa-r3-130-t-i-boot

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/roxa-r3-130-t-i-boot/2
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
It has to be "Red" ones
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
You need a boot with Pin Binding capability. As the Salomon Shift binding Out New later this year, will change the way people buy skis boots and bindings. You also need to know what make of boot fits your foot high or low volume ect. What last do you need?. Pure touring boots generally arnt as stiff as an alpine boot. If you want a stiffer boot for down hill, you generally go up a last size. Even then for me they aren't enough.
Freeride boots are generally all purpose. Not all have interchangeable soles but nearly all will fit in Alpine bindings. It's down to the boot sole. Touring soles are normally rockered and need the binding toe hight to be adjustable like a marker Griffon I.D Alpine soles are flat and will release in a non adjustable toe . . Most ski hire use frame bindings for touring, Marker f12 is standard. You don't need a specific touring boot for a frame binding. You can use an Alpine boot for short Slackcountry touring.
Most important is to get to a recommended boot fitter and get a boot that fits especially if your going touring. Go to the Telegraph ski and board show in October and get fitted. Go early, last year was manic if you go to a ski shop make sure they specialise. Lockwoods at Lemington Spa or Solutions 4 feet at Bicester. It's worth waiting for the new stock to arrive. And book an appointment.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Atomic Hawx Ultra XTDs take pin bindings and are well-regarded. I got a pair in March and I'm pleased with them.

IME Solutions 4 Feet are good, as are Sole Labs in Chamonix.
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