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Gear, Tech & Food

In-depth La Sportiva shoes review and comparison: Akasha vs Bushido vs Helios SR

June 22, 2019 By Stano Faban 12 Comments

la-sportiva-akasha-bushido-helios-sr

Overview:

  • Suitability:
    • Akasha – long distance trail and mountain running (lots of cushioning)
    • Bushido – technical mountain running and scrambling
    • Helios SR – trail racing and fast & light missions
  • Usual full price:
    • Akasha – around $130 USD
    • Bushido  – around $120 USD
    • Helios SR – around $120 USD
  • Weight (single shoe):
    • Akasha – 330g
    • Bushido – 298g
    • Helios SR – 230g
  • Colours vary between men’s and women’s models

Bottom line:

Despite few irritations, I like all these La Sportiva shoes a lot, with Bushido being my favourite. While each model was designed with different purpose in mind they all excel in an area that matters to me the most – exceptional grip in dry and wet conditions.

Review and Comparison – La Sportiva Akasha vs Bushido vs Helios SR:

As I mentioned in my previous review, I have switched between a couple of trail/mountain running brands over the last decade. After some time, I figured out that grip matters to me the most – the shoe must stick to dry and wet rock very well – because I like to visit technical trails and terrain the most.

Akashas cruising on an alpine trail above Whistler.
Akashas cruising on an alpine trail above Whistler.

How I tested them?

La Sportiva Akasha:
With about 20 runs (mostly between 1-2.5h) in Akashas over the last couple of months I used them on a variety of trails – smooth, rocks, roots. I have not taken them into the alpine for scrambling yet because 1) I use Bushido for that, and 2) the bigger lugs on Akashas (or any similar shoe) aren’t really suitable for that.

La Sportiva Bushido:
Being on my second pair, since I picked them up first two-and-half years ago, they have been my favourite model of all and I don’t even remember how many runs and adventures I took them out for. I put them through everything, especially, I literally abused the first pair – lots of alpine rock and technical terrain in any weather and ran them for two over 50km runs through high mountains. Once they were done, I had to buy a second pair because I enjoyed them so much.

La Sportiva Helios SR:
I exclusively bought them for trail running races and shorter fast training runs. I ran them about 15 times for a maximum of 2h (including 5 races) on a variety of trails in wet and dry over the last year. Since they are built very light I don’t use them too often and have never taken them out for an alpine/scrambling mission. While I don’t want to destroy them, as they are my racing shoes, they have been abused quite well during the races.

la-sportiva-soles-akasha-bushido-helios-sr

Grip/Stickiness comparison

Out of the three, the Bushido has the best grip in wet and dry on any surface except in lots of mud or dusty/gravel trails where the Akasha shoes perform better due to their lugs. For me, Bushido’s grip on rock and in the alpine is so reliable that I wear them even for overnight hiking with a big backpack. As for Helios SR, they grip well anywhere except mud (as they don’t really have any lugs) and I have no problem racing them on wet rocks and roots even after weeks of not using them at all.

Bottom line here is that all three have amazing overall grip/stickiness but each is superior in their specific application.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that La Sportiva makes such grippy running shoes given their history in climbing shoes and boots manufacturing. In my experience with grip, and for my type of running, these three models excel over any other shoes. The only close challenger being the Adidas Skychaser.

Lots of scree, snow and scrambling with Bushidos that day.
Lots of scree, snow and scrambling with Bushidos that day.

Fit & Comfort comparison

Fit and comfort is somewhat difficult to compare since we all have different feet and the three models are intended for different uses.

For me, the snug fit (but not too tight) and the rock-plate feature of the Bushidos provide the most comfort even after many hours of exercise. The shoe is very low profile, and the heal and lacing holds the foot inside very securely. Also, I like the design of the Bushido’s toe box protection which saved my thumbs many times.

The Akasha fits sligthly bigger/looser than the Bushido but still quite securely. Such fit design is no surprise as they are intended for longer runs and ultra-marathons during which our feet might swell. Overall, I find them comfortable and the sole being nicely soft. The lacing can be improved though, perhaps La Sportiva just needs to use the same lace holes/loops like on the Bushido. Although, not as stiff as on Bushidos, the Akashas have a great toe box protection as well.

Now, onto the Helios SR. I have to say they have a bit of a “funny” built, thus, they don’t fit me perfectly yet they are very comfortable on majority of trails. I think the toe box (or the very tip of the shoe) sticks out too much for no good reason. The lacing system is well designed and keeps the foot secure. Overall, the thick foam in the sole makes them very soft (or buttery-feel like), thus, very comfortable unless the trail is full of small sharp rocks – then the wave sole lets in some painful pokes.

6h hiko-run-scrambling mission over glaciers and ridges using Bushidos.
6h hiko-run-scrambling mission over glaciers and ridges using Bushidos.

Induced differences in running technique

Switching between the 3 shoes often in the last couple of months let me feel subtle differences in how they “make” me run:

  • Akasha – with a 6mm drop but a thicker sole than I am used to (heel: 26mm, toe: 20mm) I could feel I am higher above ground and that the shoe is easier to heel-strike than the other two. For me, as more of a neutral foot striker, this is fine on downhills but somewhat “gets” in the way on flat. It usually takes me couple of minutes to adjust my technique to strike them neutral-to-forefoot. I would prefer if the heel was slightly smaller and the sole there a bit thinner.
  • Bushido – with the same 6mm drop as Akasha but a fairly low-profile sole (heel: 19mm, toe: 13mm), they feel easier to run neutrally or front-foot for me. Also, due to their stiffer sole, they feel more like “road-racing flats”.
  • Helios SR – according to La Sportiva, there is only a 2mm drop (heel: 21mm, toe: 19mm) and they do feel quite flat. However, due to the very soft sole they definitely feel like having less cushioning than the Bushido. With all that, plus the extreme flexibility of the sole (which comes at a cost discussed further down), it is easy to run them any way you like.

Built quality comparison

Since all three models are designed and built for different purposes it is understandable their durability will differ as well.

I have yet to see really any wear & tear on my Akashas. The uppers look still almost like new while there are only superficial signs of wear on the soles.

The Helios SR is built for pure speed, thus, very light materials and design solutions were used. Everything is lasting well for me except the sticky black sole which seems to be shedding away rather quickly. That’s why I am using them mostly for racing only.

The two pairs of Bushidos I own (one is no retired) have been lasting well for me given the amount of abuse, although, they showed some weakness.With the sole being constructed of couple of layers and pieces I observed there were small separations appearing after about ten runs.

Initially, this scared me but with each pair the shoes kept that state from there on. It seems like that there is tension and forces between the glued layers/sections and the first couple of runs stress the shoe enough to release it. While it takes a bit of charm from the shoes it won’t stop me from getting another pair now that I know this does not affect the long-term performance and durability of the shoes.

Which one to choose?

By now, it should be quite obvious which model(s) you should choose given your objectives but lets recap:

  • Choose Akasha for regular training and high mileage on variety of trails, and long races. They are a work horse.
  • Choose Bushido if you do lots of technical running and even scrambling in the alpine. They are also great for technical races that feature lots of rocks/boulders.
  • Choose Helios SR for racing and light & fast speed missions in the mountains.

What can be improved about these shoes:

From my experience, there are two things I would ask La Sportiva to improve:

  • Adopt the Bushido lacing system/solution for Akasha.
  • Either insert a rock plate under the front-foot or cover the whole front-foot area on Helios SR with rubber sole instead of just certain sections like now. This would improve protection from small sharp rocks yet should still keep the weight low.

Stores that sell these La Sportiva shoes:

  • Backcountry.com
    • men’s
    • women’s
  • REI.com
    • men’s
    • women’s
  • CampSaver.com
    • men’s
    • women’s
  • MooseJaw.com
    • men’s
    • women’s

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: La Sportiva, mountain running, trail running

Where Innovation Meets History: Visiting CAMP Headquarters and Factory in Premana, Italy

May 6, 2019 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

As if from a mythical story book, there is a very specific charm to visiting traditional European outdoor gear manufacturers. They are often hidden high up in mountain valleys as if they were kept a secret.

C.A.M.P started in 1889 as a one-man metal shop. We maintain this heritage in the raw world of manufacturing where have passed the value of getting our hands dirty down through four generations of family owners. This is our heritage and it will always be our future.

Last year, we visited La Sportiva in a beautiful valley of Val di Fiemme in Italy and now it was time to pay tribute to another historically significant player in the climbing and ski mountaineering world.

With so many brands offering outdoor gear these days there are only a few with such strong roots and vision such as the family-owned CAMP. This 125 years old manufacturer has a lightweight gear manifesto that drives its decisions with every existing product and when designing anything new.

While lightweight is fundamental in CAMP’s product research and development they integrate it with other drivers such as product functionality, passion for work well done, the alpine heritage of the brand, and they see each product as an enabler for climbers and ski mountaineers that use it realize their goals.

If there is one thing we can do with any piece of equipment to improve its performance, it is to make it lighter. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL TRUTH and it is a driving force at CAMP where we start with purpose-built designs and then trim the fat for a result that has become the world’s lightest line of equipment for climbers, mountaineers, alpinists and ski mountaineers. In the mountains, we are obliged to be prepared for whatever may come our way. This means we cannot skimp on our selections when we choose the right tools for the adventure… – from CAMP’s Lightweight Manifesto

As with La Sportiva in Val di Fiemme, CAMP chooses to stay in a small charming mountain village of Premana not because it makes for a better story but because a handful of local families are part of its manufacturing process since the very beginning.

In fact, CAMP is short for “Concezione Articoli Montagna Premana”, and in English it means “Conceptions of Products for Mountains in Premana”.

Product Lines and Research & Development

For a small company, compared to La Sportiva or Scarpa, CAMP has an amazingly big selection of products, most of them in the hard goods segment (climbing gear) instead of relying only on clothing like most brands.

CAMP basically manufactures every imaginable gear of climbing, alpine climbing and ski mountaineering equipment, except ropes, while they clothing line is limited to a couple of highly functional pieces that are mostly available only in Italy for now.

True to its values, the company constantly pushes for improvements and innovation in a dynamic way.

At 246g in 50cm length, the Corsa Nanotech ice axe uses Nanoflex – special steel developed with nanotechnology – and is one of many examples how CAMP blends superb functionality with lightweight and minimalism.

With only about 10-15 designers and consultants, and a much smaller R&D budget than most outdoor brands, it is fascinating that CAMP is one of industry leaders.

CAMP Outdoor vs CAMP Safety

CAMP does not only develop and manufactures gear for outdoors but it also has tremendous amounts of know-how in the industrial safety gear design.

Druid Descender – a lightweight, compact auto-braking descender for rope access and rescue.

Determined by the differences in priorities, focus in outdoor products is a blend of light weight and function to enable absolute best athletic performance. With industrial products, the focus is primarily on safety, function, durability and compliance to various ever more stringent safety standards, often different by region or even country.

CAMP Headquarters and Factory Tour

After navigating narrow roads above a steep gorge we arrived to CAMP offices and factory in Premana to meet Isacco Codega – one of the fourth generation of the Codega family, that founded this highly specialized company back in 1889, and still leading it today.

Stylish handles on the front door to CAMP’s headquarters.

Designers and administration staff was busy at work while we went through a long hallway that displayed some of CAMPs gear and mountain photos.

Isacco brought us to their internal testing facility that allows them to collect lots of valuable data about their existing gear as well as to test new ideas. While light weight is very important for the company they also test durability by simulating the use of their gear thousands of times, for example opening and closing a carabiner gate many thousand times to learn how this might affect the its function over long periods of use.

One of the tests we witnessed was with the ski mountaineering Speed Comp helmet that has been significantly upgraded over the last two years to meet the double certification standard – for skiing and climbing – that is now required by ISMF, the International Ski Mountaineering Federation.

New CAMP Speed Comp helmet (in blue) has been considerably improved over the old model (white) to comply with EN 12492 and EN 1077/B certification standards in accordance with ISMF rules.

CAMP’s R&D engineer prepared for us a “Test of resistance to penetration EN 1077 class B of Speed Comp helmet” during which a 3 kg sharply pointed spike is dropped at the velocity of 2.71 m/s from the height of 375mm, and it should not contact with the head form.

After talking to one of the main designers and engineers, Isacco lead us to the bottom floor of the building to CAMP’s main manufacturing shop for crampons, ice axes and other various equipment.

Here you can watch one of many steps that are needed to manufacture a pair of mountaineering crampons:

These pipes will be reborn as ice axes soon.
CAMP’s manufacturing shop just after the workers left for the day.
Front parts of crampons waiting for polishing.

Relationship with Athletes and Other Companies

Robert Antonioli

CAMP deeply cares about its athletes and ambassadors, and many of them are very loyal in return.

Likewise, deeper relationships exist in Italy even among companies as CAMP occasionally cooperates with other brands such as La Sportiva.

CAMP will also play an integral part in the 2019 Arc’Teryx Alpine Academy in Chamonix in July by providing gear as well as running two climbing specific clinics. CAMP has also partnered with Arc’Teryx for their Jackson Hole Backcountry Academy.

Into The Future

There is no doubt that CAMP will keep pushing the limits of innovation for all of us to enjoy the benefits to let us move through the mountains safely and efficiently so we can focus on the beautiful experiences rather than equipment.

In the coming weeks, we will be testing some of CAMP’s finest ski mountaineering gear to weight its pros and cons so you can make more informed choices before your next adventure.

Filed Under: Gear, Tech & Food Tagged With: Camp, CAMP USA

New Scarpa Alien 1.0 vs Scarpa Alien RS vs Scarpa Alien 3.0

December 20, 2018 By Stano Faban 2 Comments

Here are a couple of close-up photos of the newly redesigned Scarpa Alien 1.0, now using a carbon infused Grilamid shell just like the Alien RS.
The new 1.0 really seems to be a blend of features of the old 1.0, the new RS, and the racing specialist boot 3.0.
We will add more details soon so check back to this page.
>> Visit our ski boots comparison page for more details on these boots.

Scarpa Alien 3.0 compared to new Scarpa Alien 1.0 (on the right).
Scarpa Alien 3.0 compared to new Scarpa Alien 1.0 (on the right).
Scarpa Alien RS compared to new Scarpa Alien 1.0
Scarpa Alien RS compared to new Scarpa Alien 1.0
Full image of Scarpa Alien 1.0 showing many new features. Because of these, the boot might be slightly heavier than previous model but should be a lot more comfortable, and of course less snow getting inside ;)
Full image of Scarpa Alien 1.0 showing many new features. Because of these, the boot might be slightly heavier than previous model but should be a lot more comfortable, and of course less snow getting inside 😉
Side and back look of Alien 1.0
Side and back look of Alien 1.0
Comparing Alien 3.0 and 1.0 from the back. They seem to be the same height but the 3.0 heel cup is considerably smaller.
Comparing Alien 3.0 and 1.0 from the back. They seem to be the same height but the 3.0 heel cup is considerably smaller.
New closing mechanism - there is no locking pin for the lever to clip into - used for Scarpa RS and Alien 1.0, but not yet on Alien 3.0
New closing mechanism – there is no locking pin for the lever to clip into – used for Scarpa RS and Alien 1.0, but not yet on Alien 3.0

Filed Under: Gear, Tech & Food, News Shorts Tagged With: Scarpa Alien 1.0, Scarpa Alien 3.0, Scarpa Alien RS

Review of Julbo Aero Sunglasses: Perfect for Ski Mountaineering to Cycling and Everything Between

October 23, 2018 By Stano Faban 1 Comment

julbo-aero-review-sunglasses

Quick Overview:

Usual Retail Price: $130-250 depending on the lens
Weight: 34g only!
Lens we tested: Zebra Light lens – category 1-3 photochromic lens
Pros: very light, transition lens (category 1-3), anti-fogging, fit
Cons: didn’t really find any

Bottom Line:

Thanks to their fit and transition lenses Julbo Aero sunglasses work very well for a variety of outdoor sports. Their “airy” design helps the lens to stay ventilated which makes the sunglasses especially suitable for high output but low speed activities such as breaking trail in the winter or trail running.

Product Description and How We Tested It:

I started using the Aero sunglasses last spring for ski touring and a bit of xc skiing. As the seasons went by I have been using them also for cycling, hiking, running, mountaineering.
I would say that the best features of the Aeros are their anti-fogging capability, the transition lens and fit, so I will focus mainly on these three aspects in this review.

Me, on the right, wearing the Julbo Aero on a very bright day but with lots of N facing skiing so I preferred the lighter lens compared to the Montebianco model. Eric used a darker lens.
Me, on the right, wearing the Julbo Aero on a very bright day but with lots of N facing skiing so I preferred the lighter lens compared to the Montebianco model. Eric used a darker lens.

We all know that when sunglasses fog up too often then their other features don’t matter much because the whole point of sport sunglasses is to enhance our sight in challenging conditions, and of course, to protect our eyes.
Julbo Aero combines anti-fogging coating on its lens and ventilation-friendly design to keep the lenses clear even while I was breaking trail on skis in warmer and humid conditions.
While you can choose from a variety of lenses for these glasses, I recommend to go with a type that provides transition from category 1 (very light) to category 3 (medium dark). My Aeros have the Zebra photochromic lens with the category 1-3 transition which I found to be super useful for everything I do.

Riding the 2,757m high Passo Stelvio on a cold October day wearing the Aeros.
Riding the 2,757m high Passo Stelvio on a cold October day wearing the Aeros.

Of course, for bright days on snow or on a glacier the Julbo Montebianco offer better eye protection – find our review here – with their lenses transitioning from category 2 to 4.
The Aeros design features light weight construction using only top frame. This makes for a wide viewing range, which I find essential for ski touring, and also saves on weight.
The stems are quite long and have lots of rubber coating. This makes them hold in place even during running and while keeping them on my ski toque or head when I am not using them. Width-adjustable nose pads help to customize and fine-tune the fit even more.
julbo-aero-review-sunglasses-2
Overall, I recommend these sunglasses for any sport. Their look is very sporty so if you are looking for something more stylish then check out the our review of the Julbo Montebianco model.

What We Think Could Be Improved:

There is not much I found that should be improved on these sunglasses as they work very well for the purposes and environments they were designed for. So it’s just about individual preferences and fit – I would say they probably fit better medium-to-larger faces.

Buying Julbo Aero online:

  • at Backcountry.com
  • at CampSaver.com
  • directly from Julbo.com

 

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Julbo, sunglasses

Review of Karpos Race Skimo Racing Suit: Faster transitions, Breathability, Comfort

October 20, 2018 By Stano Faban 4 Comments

karpos-race-skimo-suit

Quick overview:

Usual Retail Price: around $300 USD
Weight: 530g (size L)
Pros: Pockets, Fit, Comfort, Breathability
Cons: Could use warmer fabric panel on knees
Suitability: skimo racing
Colour Options: There are a couple of variations you can find in stores. Two designs on the left, in the picture above, are the 2017/18 colours.

Bottom Line:

Karpos skimo race suit features practical outside pockets for faster transitions and overall efficiency. This race suits is perfect for warmer/spring conditions but can be easily adapted for colder days by wearing underwear of various thickness.

Product description and How we tested it:

We have used the Karpos Race suit for over 20 times now in various conditions – from warm spring sunny days to -15 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit), and in wet snow and cold deep powder.
This well designed piece of skimo wear comes from Italian outdoor clothing division of the well-known Sportful brand that manufactures custom clothing for many professional cycling teams and some national teams in other sports.
The Karpos Race suit is used by Italian and Spanish skimo national teams so you have most likely seen them in many photos and videos over the years.
Sizing is accurate, just make sure to follow Karpos sizing guide when thinking of buying one.
The whole suit is predominantly made using Lycra Power fabric that is defined on Karpos website as “fabric with a high degree of stretch, thanks to 250g Lycra Power and 30% elastane. Offers maximum support and muscle compression while at the same time allowing complete freedom of movement. Tear-resistant and offers UV protection.”
At first glance and try, the Karpos suit feels thinner than most other skimo race suits. We can confirm that this makes it highly breathable, even providing a cooling-like feeling in warm conditions. On colder days (below -8C), we definitely had to wear a warmer underwear than with Crazy Idea NRG suit for example (which can get quite warm in the spring).
Now, starting from the top down, let’s take a look at various features this race suit has to offer.
When fully zipped up, the collar stands tall and fits tight, providing a good overall protection in windy conditions. Fleece lining inside the collar (and around wrists) create a warm and comfortable feeling.
Shoulder fabric is thicker for improved durability and features “rubberized” silicone anti-slip inserts that provide extra grip for race pack shoulder straps.
Chest area pockets are where Karpos suit differs from other suits on the market:

  • There are two large stretchable mesh pockets on the outside that can store skins (without the need of opening the suit), or other larger items such as a drink flask or glasses. These two big pockets allow for really fast transitions.
  • Then there are two smaller pockets – one on each side – with vertical zippers that are great for storing gels, energy bars, phone or your car keys during a workout.

The inside of the chest area has one zipper pocket for your avalanche beacon (big enough to snugly fit Pieps DSP) and features a larger horizontal pocket, across the belly, for warmer skins storage.
Another distinctive feature of the Karpos skimo suit is that the upper body (torso) portion of the suit is semi-separated from the bottom half (leg) portion. While the back side is sewn into one piece, the front side features an “invisible” horizontal gap that allows for quick access to the inside of suit (and makes for easy peeing for male athletes).
There is a large ventilating mesh panel on the back side that spans from the lower back all the way up to under the neck. This provides for great ventilation but does let in cold air in lower back area in tail wind conditions.
Suit’s fit around the hips, thighs, knees and calves will obviously depend from person to person but the stretchy fabric should easily accommodate for many body types, without looking loose even on skinny athletes.
While the whole front side of the suit (top to bottom) feels like it has some kind of a “wind-protective” finish, the knees area could benefit from an extra windproof panel, or a warmer fabric, to protect knee joints on colder days and during downhills. The crotch area has a Windstopper insert and does offer good protection in descents.
Boot “gaiters”, made of durable Cordura fabric, allow for cutting custom holes for various models of skimo race boots. Overall, they fit well over most boots and do a good job at preventing snow from getting in.
Our overall practical experience with the Karpos Race suit has been very positive but there a few small things that can be improved.

What can be improved:

As mentioned already, the knee area could benefit from a warmer fabric panel. This might make less sense in Europe but would be great for Scandinavian countries and cold North American states and provinces.
Then the bottom of the big back side mesh panel could perhaps end a little higher, thus, offering better wind protection on windy days and during descents. However, this is likely something that other race suit manufacturers are trying to figure out as well.

Buying Karpos Race skimo suit:

  • for $300 USD at Skimo.co
  • at various other stores outside of North America

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Karpos

Great Visit to La Sportiva Factory and Headquarters in Italy

October 8, 2018 By Stano Faban 2 Comments

la-sportiva-visit-12
Who would think that twisting mountain roads, climbing over high passes, would land me in front of a factory of one of the most recognized brands in the outdoor industry?
But we were in Italy so finding La Sportiva headquarters and factory in a small mountain town was quite fitting. The little town is Ziano di Fiemme and is situated in the famous Val di Fiemme valley.

History, Factory Expansion and Impact on Local Economy

The La Sportiva’s factory I visited is highly specialized for production of their climbing shoes and mountaineering boots while the rest of their products (running shoes, ski boots, clothing) is manufactured elsewhere in Italy and around the world.
Narciso Delladio started La Sportiva in 1928 while hand-crafting wooden leather boots for local lumber-jacks and farmers. After the war, the demand for his boots increased and he started to expand into climbing and mountain boots as well.
During the 1980s, La Sportiva set a firm foothold in the climbing market by releasing very innovative climbing shoes. These basically marked the start of modern rock climbing shoes. Since the product was so new they had to even invent and design some of the machinery so they could scale the production and deliver the desired quality.
la-sportiva-visit-1
With such rich history, local economy have depended on La Sportiva for close to a century and in 2018 the factory in Ziano have been expanded to double the production capacity. Today, the factory that also includes the headquarters employs around 250 people. This is a huge boost to the valley with only 15,000 residents.
» Here you can explore more about La Sportiva’s 90-year old history.

The La Sportiva Factory Tour

Since this main factory was recently undergoing an expansion I was not sure how much I would be able to see. Fortunately, most of the machinery was already moved when I showed up so I got a full tour. My guide was La Sportiva’s marketing manager Luca Mich who is native to the valley and is proudly with the company for over 10 years.
la-sportiva-visit-2
We started the tour by Luca explaining a couple of things around their manufacturing secrets and that he would let me know when it is fine to take photos and when not.
Then all of a sudden, after entering through a big door, we were inside.
la-sportiva-visit-3
Luca was saying something but I couldn’t pay attention as my eyes were all over the place trying to process what was going on. There were many workers, lots of machinery and unrecognizable pieces of gear everywhere.
Despite all the technology on the floor, human hand is still touches the product and doing most of the work in every single step of production at this La Sportiva factory! This approach allows La Sportiva workers to constantly check quality along the way.
la-sportiva-visit-10
Another cool things that I observed were:

  • many young workers around 25 years old, of which most live in the valley;
  • glues used in production are water based so irritating smells are very limited;
  • and that the factory building captures CO2 through its filtering system to prevent it from escaping into the atmosphere.
Arguably the most valuable asset for any shoe manufacturer are the molds.
Arguably the most valuable asset for any shoe manufacturer are the molds.

Production Steps

Since the factory I visited makes only climbing and mountaineering shoes the below describes the process I observed for this specific gear category.
Climbing or a mountaineering shoe consists of around 30-35 pieces of various materials that are glued and sewn together.
Also, the factory switches production of different models about once in two weeks.
The process:

  1. Raw materials – leather, rubber, fabrics, etc – are cut using machines into specific pieces for a model in production that week
  2. Soft material pieces are then sewn or glued into a shoe or a “sock”
  3. Rubber soles and other rubber and plastic pieces are glued into place on the “sock”
  4. Excess rubber is shaved and finished/polished
  5. Final quality check
  6. Shoes are packaged into a box and off they go into stores
Cutting the soles out of sheets of Vibram rubber.
Cutting the soles out of sheets of Vibram rubber.
Cutting leather pieces for climbing shoes.
Cutting leather pieces for climbing shoes.
This big computer-operated machine helps to minimize wast when cutting textile or very thin leather.
This big computer-operated machine helps to minimize wast when cutting textile or very thin leather.
A boot is coming together.
A boot is coming together.
Applying anti-abrasion coating.
Applying anti-abrasion coating.
Almost finished.
Almost finished.

 

Relationship with SkiTrab

Couple of years ago, La Sportiva started to venture into the world of ski mountaineering and ski touring. After some testing years, the company decide to partner with SkiTrab – another famed Italian brand – to help them with skis production.
I believe this is a great partnership for both sides – they are companies with similar values and both still family owned – and they can help each other compete with giants such as Salomon or Dynafit/Salewa.
la-sportiva-skis

La Sportiva Expects Good Growth

The two segments La Sportiva expects to rapidly grow in the near future are trail and mountain running, and rock climbing, whether that be outside or within indoor gyms. The company plans to focus on these two segments so we can expect many new great products here from this Italian brand.
As for winter sports, La Sportiva sees expansion for ski touring while it is probably not going to bet much on speed oriented ski touring and ski mountaineering.

Filed Under: Gear, Tech & Food, News Shorts Tagged With: La Sportiva

Review of Northern Playground Ziplongs: Underwear for Mountain Athletes

March 7, 2018 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

northern-playground-ziplongs-main

Quick overview:

Usual Retail Price: $90-110 USD depending on length and material
Material: Wool or Micro Fleece
Pant length: Available as full length tights or 3/4 knickers as well as other products (tops, underwear, socks)
Pros:  Warm and comfortable long-underwear that can be removed without taking one’s boots off!
Cons:  Ever so slightly short on me
Suitability:  Ski Touring, Ski Mountaineering, Alpine Climbing, Hiking

Bottom Line:

Temperature regulation is important but can be difficult. Especially, if you have to decide at the car and live with your choices for an entire day. Ziplongs are a full-zip, removable long-underwear and make temperature regulation easily adjustable.

Product description and How we tested it:

Eric Carter’s review.
I generally run quite hot when I am exercising. I am the guy who has sweat through his shirt within ten minutes of leaving the car. Choosing pants is a pain because I’m almost always hot at the start, sweat a bit, and then get cold at higher, colder or windier elevations. Either I dress warm and try to move slowly or I dress cold and try to move fast to generate heat! This is especially a problem when ice climbing or doing proper ski mountaineering where you might have periods of relatively intense effort on the approach or ascent, followed by periods of relative inactivity while belaying or otherwise not moving.
Traditional long underwear is not an option because it’s a huge pain to take off your harness, boots, and pants while on the side of a mountain. Zip-on over-pants are good but are generally quite bulky.
northern-playground-ziplongs-2
With the issues listed above, I decided to test a product from a Norwegian company Northern Playground, with their Ziplongs. Their motto is “Designed by hot Norwegians”. Ignoring the fact that it immediately brings to mind their beautiful, blond Scandinavians, it is perfect for hot British Columbians or anyone else 🙂
Instead of having to remove all your clothing and boots entirely while standing in the snow, all you have to do is loosen your harness and drop your pants. The long underwear zips right on! It sounds a bit ridiculous and there are some entertaining pictures on their website but it’s a small price to pay for being warmer at belays and not getting soaked in sweat on the approach.
northern-playground-ziplongs-3
Northern Playground agreed to send me a pair to test out so I’ve been playing with both the Microfleece and Wool options in the 3/4 length size. I’m almost universally a size medium at 6ft and 33in waist. This put me in a Medium for the Ziplongs as well.
My first impressions was that they are very comfortable. Both fabrics feel good against the skin. No itchiness from the wool. The length is slightly shorter than I was expecting. I didn’t want the full-length version because I figured it would be harder to fit on with pants around the ankles and high boot cuffs. The 3/4 version goes to just below the knee and only a few pairs of socks I own go that high. This means that sometimes, depending on my socks, there might be a gap between fabrics. This is really my only complaint and since I haven’t tried the full-length version, I can’t say for sure that they wouldn’t solve the issue.
Using Ziplongs in the field is no problem. For ice climbing, I wore my shell pant from the car and upon arriving at the first belay I dropped my pants and zipped on the Ziplongs. They kept me warm all day. Another day out ski touring, the morning was warm and windless so I started with just a light soft shell pant. Once we got high on a ridge in the alpine, I started to get really cold. I had to find a rock to hide behind to put my Ziplongs on but after a brief arctic blast, I was comfortable again and ready to continue on.
northern-playground-ziplongs-1
The difference between Microfleece and Wool seems negligible. Both are very comfortable and as far as I can tell, provide about the same amount of warmth. The wool is slightly less bulky so I’d choose that option in the future.
I should also mention that the construction of the underwear is very impressive. Clean stitching and obvious attention to detail. I was worried about having a harness on and that it would push the zipper into my skin. They have included nice fabric flaps over the zipper that make it unnoticeable. I haven’t had any issues with the zipper separating in use.
Coming from Norway, I expected the cost to be fairly high but comparing to other (non-zip) wool products, they are nearly equivalent – if you don’t mind paying for Patagonia or IceBreaker, the Ziplong is no more expensive.
I also tested a pair of their Wool Ski Socks. They perfectly overlap with the 3/4 tights and are a moderately padded sock. I am prone to heel blisters and haven’t gotten any wearing these. With about 25 days of use, the socks are not showing much wear-and-tear. I will reserve my conclusions on durability for a little longer though. In the mean time, I can sum up the socks by saying: they are warm, comfortable to wear, and they fit well.
Overall impressions on Ziplongs: In my opinion, Ziplongs are an awesome idea for the hot alpinist or ski tourer who wants an option to layer up or down their lower body without the hassle of removing boots. The Ziplong is high quality and comfortable, and after testing out their 3/4 tights and Wool Ski Socks, I wish I had asked for one of everything in their line.

What can be improved:

Sizing maybe just slightly smaller than most. Ziplong Tight might interact better with more sock combinations than 3/4 length.

Buying Northern Playground Ziplongs:

  • at Backcountry.com – Wool and Microfleece versions
  • directly from Northern Playground

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Northern Playground

The Lightest Ski Mountaineering and Ski Touring Skis in the World from Moonlight Mountain Gear

February 23, 2018 By Stano Faban 1 Comment

moonlight-skis
Out of nowhere and out of Norway comes a little known ski brand that is manufacturering a line of arguably the lightest skis in the world! Their ski weights either beat or match the lightest skis from established brands like Movement, La Sportiva or SkiTrab.
I didn’t know about Moonlight Mountain Gear until recently so I made sure to visit their booth at the recent 2018 ISPO show in Munich where they also won an award for their Eagle Carbon Race ski.
The company’s headquarters are in a small town of Burfjord in the very northern part of Norway.

Moonlight Skis

While Moonlight makes visually two very distinct lines of skis – Carbon and Carbon Race – the focus in both is on delivering the best performance through using latest high tech light-weight materials as well as some nature’s lightest woods.
The core of Moonlight skis is a blend of hybrid foam, Formula 1 graded carbon and company’s unique torsion box. For such low weights, this combination makes their skis feel quite stiff torsionally as well as strong overall – these were my impressions while flexing their skis at the show.
While “stiff” skis are desired in some conditions but not in others, Moonlight played with the shape of the skis to find the right balance. The stiffness should definitely help with edge hold in hard or icy conditions as their “LL Rocker System” (tip and tail rocker with some camber in the middle) should take care of easy floating in powder.

Detailed shot of moonlight skis reveal they utilize snowphobic topsheet, that helps to prevent snow from sticking, and very light yet strong bamboo sidewalls, all packaged into sandwich construction.
Detailed shot of Moonlight skis reveals they utilize snowphobic topsheet, that helps to prevent snow from sticking, and very light yet strong bamboo sidewalls, all packaged into sandwich construction.

Carbon vs Carbon Race

The two Moonlight lines mainly differ in the ski core construction, which creates the differences in weight, and the topsheet design. Otherwise, skis in both lines share the same dimensions and shape.
Let’s take a closer look and compare each pairing in two lengths.

All Mountain Carbon vs All Mountain Carbon Race:

The Carbon model (fun topsheet) was designed for big mountains and to ski all types of snow, while the Carbon Race (black topsheet) is one of the worlds lightest big mountain ski made to cruise in softer snow. We see both as great big powder days skis.
Different weights but same dimensions for both models:
179 cm | 132-106-121 with 26 m radius | 1390 g and 1090 g
169 cm | 129-103-118 with 26 m radius | 1220 g and 990 g
moonlight-all-mountain-race-carbon-skis

Eagle Carbon vs Eagle Carbon Race:

The beautiful Eagle Carbon is intended as “do it all” ski to perform well on and off-piste, while the Race version won 2018 ISPO Award and is a super light ski touring machine. Given their dimensions, both skis would be great “daily drivers” for western Canada and US snowpack with the added featherweight benefit.
Different weights but same dimensions for both models:
177 cm | 130-95-120 with 20 m radius | 1350 g and 1040 g
166 cm | 127-92-117 with 20 m radius | 1190 g and 960 g
moonlight-eagle-race-carbon-skis

Northern Light Carbon vs Northern Light Carbon Race:

Both models are light-weight speed touring and mountaineering skis for long days in the mountains. Plus, the Race version is the lightest ski in the world in its size. These should be the right tools for big ski mountaineering missions and spring skiing conditions.
Different weights but same dimensions for both models:
174 cm | 110-84-99 with 23 m radius | 1100 g and 900 g
164 cm | 107-81-96 with 23 m radius | 960 g and 700 g
moonlight-northern-light-race-carbon-skis

The Race 160 and 166:

And here’s the insanity for skimo racing enthusiasts. Moonlight went so far with the Race 160 skis that you have to mount it with a heavy binding to make it ISMF race legal 🙂
ISMF weight limit for men for ski + binding combo is 750 g. To fix this “mistake” they went back to a drawing board and managed to add 100 grams through fattening the ski a little.
166 cm | 95-70-85 with 26 m radius | 675 g
160 cm | 90-65-80 with 24 m radius | 570 g
moonlight-race-carbon-skis

Where Can I Get a Pair?

There aren’t many stores that stock Moonlight skis even in Europe as the brand is still very young so your best bet is to visit their website – www.moonlightmountaingear.com/en – and get your favourite pair directly from the weight obsessed Norwegians themselves.

Filed Under: Gear, Tech & Food Tagged With: ISPO Show, Moonlight Mountain Gear

New Remarkable Dynafit P49 Bindings and Pintech System: Videos and Photos

February 8, 2018 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

dynafit-p49-bindings-1
During my recent visit to ISPO outdoor trade show in Munich I was looking for a Dynafit booth to no avail. I headed to Pomoca instead, as both companies are owned by the same corporation, to find out where I can see the new Dynafit Pintech binding system and their new P49 binding…. and I found it there on display in a back corner.
It has been almost three decades since the revolutionary LowTech binding system was introduced to the market by Dynafit. First, Dynafit enjoyed the benefit of industrial patent protection which lead to their ski touring bindings market domination. After that they have been fighting competition from every direction with many brands “copying” the ingenious invention with only slight improvements.
Today, 30 years later, it looks like that Dynafit is going to try and set a completely new standard for ski touring bindings once again!

Dynafit P49 Heal Piece

Dynafit P49 Toe Piece

More about Dynafit Pintech and P49

Pintech "adapted" Dynafit DNA race boot (designed by Pierre Gignoux) clicked into the P49 toe piece.
Pintech “adapted” Dynafit DNA race boot (designed by Pierre Gignoux) clicked into the P49 toe piece.
The Pintech system is a “reverse” version of the LowTech – the pins are on the ski boot rather than on the arms of the toe piece. This design allows for a significant decrease in weight of the toe piece and offers an easier step-in.
Boot is about to click into the binding.
Boot is about to click into the binding.
Close-up of the Pintech adapted ski boot. The pins are spring-loaded.
Close-up of the Pintech adapted ski boot. The pins are spring-loaded.
At this time, we don’t have accurate and official information on how the binding releases but the functionality is perhaps already built into the design of the toe piece and the system as a whole.
The P49 binding weighs only 49 grams per foot and due to the completely new design will require a very specific boot.
To release from the binding, you just press the two side buttons with your fingers and pull the boot upward. It feels easy to do with gloves on as well.
To release from the binding, you just press the two side buttons with your fingers and pull the boot upward. It should be easy to do even with gloves.
Boot locked into the heal piece and in ski mode.
Boot locked into the heal piece and in ski mode.
The P49 heal piece design is quite remarkable as well. As you can see, the classic two pins have been replaced by a grooved slot where the new boot heal metal piece easily slides into.
Boot in climbing mode with the heal riser running through the middle of the heal piece.
Boot in climbing mode with the heal riser running through the middle of the heal piece in this position.
Obviously, we all have questions about how exactly does the binding release, when it will be in stores, how much will the whole system cost, and so on. While the binding might still need to go through changes before it hits the stores, it is definitely the most innovative piece of ski mountaineering/touring gear we have seen in long time.
The metal bar between the two rubber lugs is an attachment point for a new design of crampons.
The metal bar between the two rubber lugs is an attachment point for a new design of crampons.

Filed Under: Gear, Tech & Food, News Shorts Tagged With: Dynafit DNA, Dynafit P49, Pintech System

La Sportiva Sytron and Scarpa Alien RS: Boots Under 1 kg with Focus on Downhill Performance

January 1, 2018 By Stano Faban 7 Comments

There are two light ski mountaineering boots talked about these days – La Sportiva Sytron and Scarpa Alien RS – both weighing under 1,000 grams per boot yet promising previously unmatched downhill performance in this category.
In each case, focus during the design and development process was on creating a true light ski mountaineering boot that would descent as their much heavier cousins, and without the price tag of a Ferrari. This has been a goal of all boot manufacturers for many years but it seems that only now they are getting close to reaching such ever elusive target.
la-sportiva-sytron-scarpa-alien-rs-preview
One thing to keep in mind is that such light boots perform best with up to mid-fat skis (up to about 90 mm), however, when dry powder is plentiful then two boots can certainly drive a much bigger ski.
Overall, both Sytron and Alien RS are great improvements in the right direction, and we can’t wait to see the boot models that will succeed them in 2-3 years.

Backgrounds

Both of these boots draw heavily from features previously designed for and tested in other models, now creating a mix of the best ones into single pairs of boots.
La Sportiva Sytron combines features of the Syborg boot (image below) which borrowed some from La Sportiva’s top skimo racing platform, the Stratos Hi-Cube and its predecessors.
la-sportiva-syborg
As the name suggests, Scarpa Alien RS, also leverages race technology coming for the Scarpa Alien platform, and combines it with lessons learned on the F1 boot as well (image below).
scarpa-f1-ski-boot

La Sportiva Sytron ski mountaineering boot

While the overall look could imply that the Sytron is only slightly improved Syborg boot, actually it is those subtle changes that make the difference – in performance as well as durability.

La Sportiva Sytron men's version on the left, women's on the right.
La Sportiva Sytron men’s version on the left, women’s on the right.
The cuff locking and closing mechanism is similar, using La Sportiva’s unique CavoBike Pro Lever mechanism, but now the back lever flips all the way up, something we have been used to on Pierre Gignoux and Scarpa boots, which protects it in rocky boot-packs.
Feature that arguably improves the Sytron’s dowhill perfomance the most, compared to Syborg’s, is the completely new lower buckle that results in a tighter and much more customized fit around a foot. La Sportiva calls this “Spider Buckle Evo closure system” which combines the buckle with a newly added over-the-foot panel, instead of just a gaiter like on the Syborg.
Front and back view of the Sytron boot.
Front and back view of the Sytron boot.
Then there are a couple of smaller improvements like new gaiters and S4 toe inserts that help guide boots into bindings. These won’t have significant effect on performance but will add to overall skier’s comfort and better experience.
Specs:

  • Weight: 930g (size 27)
  • Forward lean in degrees: 14, 16, 18, 20
  • Last width (front-foot width): 100.4 mm
  • Shell: Grilamid
  • Cuff: Carbon reinforced Grilamid
  • Sole: La Sportiva Grip Guard

The La Sportiva Sytron comes at a very affordable price:

  • for $750 USD at Skimo.co
  • for $750 USD at CrippleCreekBC.com
  • for $880 CAD at SkiUphill.ca

Scarpa Alien RS ski mountaineering boot

We have been hearing from some reliable source that the Scarpa Alien RS has greatly surpassed their expectations as its downhill performance is very comparable to much more heavier descent-oriented boots. The Alien RS has a couple of unique and innovative features that contribute to its qualities along with some already proven functionalities.
scarpa-alien-rs-ski-boot
Carbon reinforced Grilamid – carbon fibers strands infused into Grilamid plastic – has been used for cuff manufacturing for a few years now, but the Alien RS utilizes this material in the lower shell as well, instead of pure Grilamid.
2-propulsion-techThe bottom portion of the cuff is further reinforced with a steel arch which reduces cuff’s expansion (widening) when lots of pressure is applied onto the cuff while skiing. Naturally, this solution improves force transmission to the boots which results in better control over skis. Think of it this way – the boot is a piece of gear where most force is lost and direction of this force is affect by the boot’s deformation.
A simple yet effective solution comes in the form of using a cam lock for tightening and loosening cuff’s closure. Simply loosen the cam and pull on a Dyneema cord to quickly adjust cuff’s tightness.

Yellow Dyneema cable running through the cam lock on the outside of the boot.
Yellow Dyneema cable running through the cam lock on the outside of the boot.
Alien RS uses a BOA closure system, instead of a buckle, for the foot part of the shell (like their racing models Alien 1.0 and Alien 3.0). The idea of enclosing the BOA cables behind waterproof gaiter, and leaving only the BOA wheel outside, finally sees the light of day and replaces those ugly florescent green fabric gaiters Scarpa has been supplying the Alien and Alien 1.0 with for years.
Molding/Punching the shell on Alien RS:
A comment from our reader (see comments section below this article) suggests that “The Scarpa Alien RS comes with a tag that specifically says not to heat mold/punch the shell.”
While most people should fit into a boot with 99 mm last width it really depends on shape of your foot, and sadly many might not fit in at all.
Specs:

  • Weight: 910g (size 27)
  • Forward lean in degrees: 7, 9, 11, 13
  • Last width (front-foot width): 99 mm
  • Shell: Carbon Grilamid LFT
  • Cuff: Carbon Grilamid LFT
  • Sole: Scarpa UFO RS

The Alien RS is about $100 more expensive than the Sytron:

  • for $870 USD at Skimo.co
  • for $870 USD at CrippleCreekBC.com

What’s next?

We are hopping to ski both boots soon so we can provide you with a more skis-on experience.
Overall, all manufacturers are really pushing for lighter and better skiing boots and we have much more to look forward to in the coming years!

Filed Under: Gear, Tech & Food Tagged With: La Sportiva, Scarpa

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Travelling through snowy mountains on skis is like flying… and experiencing life at its core.

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SkinTrack.com, created by Stano Faban, was born out of passion for ski mountaineering and ski touring. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular ski mountaineering blogs in North America.

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