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Important Changes to 2017 ISMF Race Gear Rules

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nopiepsSeveral important rule changes were adopted in that will impact racers competing on the World Cup and at World Championships level in the upcoming 2017 season. Sources inside the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) say that a grace period was given to athletes last season with enforcement of the rules beginning this year.

Three-antenna Transceivers Will Be Required

All avalanche beacons must be a full three-antenna model. This will primarily impact racers using the lightweight Pieps Freeride which will no longer be compliant. Thankfully, Pieps showcased a new lightweight three-antenna beacon in January, called the Pieps Micro, weighing in at 150g (the Freeride was 110g).
We suspect that all but the most hardcore racers will opt to use their normal ski-touring beacon rather than dropping nearly $400 USD on a new beacon. However, every gram counts and the beacon will last many more seasons than a pair of skis or boots.

Zippered Transceiver Pocket

Another related change is the requirement that beacons must be placed inside an internal zippered pocket. Putting the beacon in a skin pocket is not allowed and even the dedicated beacon pockets found on more recent Dynafit and Crazy Idea suits with the two overlapping flaps of fabric will not be compliant.
Thus, right now it might be a good time to do some surgery on your suit to add a small zipper.

Double Helmet Certification

The other big change is the requirement that helmets must be certified to both climbing standards (UIAA 106/EN 12492) AND a ski standards (EN 1077). Most current helmets (Petzl Sirocco or BD Vapor for example) in use by racers are only rated for climbing. If you are unsure, check your helmet for a sticker that shows the EN 1077 designation. If you have that, you are good to go!
salomon-mtn-lab-helmet-matte-yellow-whiteAs far as we can tell, only a few manufacturers have released double-certified helmets:
Ski Trab Gara – 280g
CAMP Pulse (with the addition of the winter kit) – 339g
Dynafit DNA (we can’t actually find this for sale anywhere) – 290g
Salomon MTN Lab – 300g
There might be a slight chance that some of the currently non-compliant helmets might not have been tested for the ski certification before but manufacturers will pursue this in the future and become compliant if they pass. But it’s impossible to know.

Ventilation

We are very curious to see how the newly certified helmets will ventilate. While safety is a priority, in skimo we spend 95% of the time climbing and sweating heavily, with the surface of our heads being (one of) the most important areas through which the body cools.
Road cycling also went through this debate, however, the speeds reached on a bicycle while climbing are much greater than while skinning. We suspect that it will take a couple of years before a happy medium is found.
 

Review of Free Range Equipment Raven Pack

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The Free Range Equipment Raven. A high quality climbing and ski mountaineering pack from Oregon!

Quick overview:

  • Usual full price: $169 USD
  • Weight: 540 g (one size)
  • Volume: 25 L
  • Pros: versatile, durable, spacious, lightweight, 2 ice axe loops
  • Cons: back panel structure, no quick ski carry, not ideally sized for avalanche gear
  • Suitability: ski mountaineering day trips, summer alpine climbing/scrambling, winter alpine climbing

Bottom Line:

Not designed for racing but well built for day trips of technical ski mountaineering and alpine climbing, the combination known as ski-alpinism.

Product description and How we tested it:

With spring behind us and high quality ski mountaineering objectives getting ticked off, we’ve got a new pack reviewed for you that has been a long time coming. I’ve held off publishing this review to test the Raven in as many situations as possible. It started the season carrying my skis and boots to training sessions high on glaciers, then came with me on an early season trip to Chamonix, I used it more climbing and skiing on the Coast through the winter. Now, I’m looking forward to using it for some climb/ski projects here in BC.
Free Range is an American company hand-producing packs for climbers and adventurers. With strong roots in ski mountaineering, their lightest and most technical ski pack is the Raven. Optimized for technical ski mountaineering and while lightweight, the Raven sports a host of features that will appeal to those travelling with a little bit of extra gear.

Spring ski mountaineering mission on Kulshan, WA.
Spring ski mountaineering mission on Kulshan, WA.
The pack features a very streamlined shape, reminiscent of a bigger version of the Black Diamond Bullet pack. This means it sits a little higher (on me at least) and the hip belt does not help much to carry the load as just stabilize things while skiing. This is offset by the design of the shoulder harness – more like a running vest than a traditional pack. The wide shoulder straps each have a pocket (zip on one side, no closure on the other) and are made of neoprene. Our review version also included a neoprene bottle holder (sold separately it appears) that clips onto either shoulder strap and functioned well for carrying a soft-flask or bottle while the neoprene provides some insulation from freezing.
The main compartment of the pack is accessible using the zip off back panel. The panel itself is rather flimsy I found and unless it was packed perfectly it could become a bit lumpy. A bit more structure here might serve future versions well. The main compartment is spacious and without any dividers, is easy to pack a variety of tools depending on the goal of the day. Unfortunately, the compact shape of the pack makes it somewhat difficult to fit standard sized avalanche gear. I had to have my shovel handle running across the back panel rather than flush with one side like I normally would. There is a small key (or energy gel) pocket inside the main compartment as well as at the top of the pack on the outside.
Scraping down the Argentiere Glacier with a load of climbing gear in the Raven. (Nick Elson Photo)
Scraping down the Argentiere Glacier with a load of climbing gear in the Raven. (Nick Elson Photo)
The outside of the Raven sports a daisy chain piece of webbing, two basic ice axe holders, and a diagonal ski carry system. This uses a flexible tail loop like most race packs but a beefier tip attachment. The pack must be removed to attach the skis but the attachment strap is very solid. While it wouldn’t serve for a race, it is perfect for alpine climbing where taking your pack off for a moment is well worth the security of not possibly losing a ski.
The ski carry system is so secure that this was my first choice of packs for early season ski missions this year when carrying both skis and boots to the snow line. Even running with my skis and boots attached to the Raven, they didn’t bounce around like they would on a race pack. Normal race-style hooks are not secure enough for difficult vertical climbing so the secure, lasso type of attachment is ideal on this pack.
Approaching the 'shrund on the Aiguille du Argentiere with skis secured on the Raven. (Nick Elson Photo)
Approaching the ‘shrund on the Aiguille du Argentiere with skis secured on the Raven. (Nick Elson Photo)
It’s not my go-to pack for mid-winter skiing when the technical features are unnecessary and I’m carrying full-size avy gear – that’s just not what it’s designed for. However, if you need to carry crampons, ice tools, a rope and a small rack, plus some basics like a few layers and fuel/hydration then the Raven is perfect for fast and light ski-alpinism.
I will also note that I used the Raven as my primary pack for five weeks of skiing in Europe this season, except during races. It was my daily/travel backpack as I could slip my laptop into the hydration sleeve and carry a jacket and some books in the main pocket and a few Euros in the zippered valuable pouch. It was also what I used for skiing and training anytime my race pack was too small.
Overall, the Free Range Raven is not a skimo race pack and may not be ideal for winter touring when avalanche gear (or larger pack sizes) are needed but has been my first choice for climbing adventures and spring ski-alpinism when stability is good.

Pros:

  • Compact shape
  • Secure ski carry
  • Well designed harness
  • Simple axe attachments
  • Durable

What can be improved about this product:

An additional (optional) quick ski carry attachment and a bit more length to fit avalanche gear would make this a top choice for all season skiing. Some of the fixtures are a bit industrial and could be replaced with lighter weight options but durability might suffer.

Online stores that carry Free Range Raven pack:

Climbing steep neve on the Coleman Headwall. (Nick Elson Photo)
Climbing steep neve on the Coleman Headwall. (Nick Elson Photo)

Review of Adidas Terrex Skychaser Trail Running Shoes

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adidas-skychaser-1Quick overview:

  • Usual full price: about $160.00 USD
  • Weight: 325 g (single shoe)
  • Pros: Traction and Grip, Built quality, Breathable
  • Cons: Bigger heel, lacing system (depends on preference)
  • Suitability: Trail running in all conditions and terrain.

Bottom line:

Excellent traction and grip – whether on dry or wet – make Skychaser shoes a great training companion for any day.

Photos:

Product description and How we tested it:

Over the last decade, I have switched between couple of brands for trail & mountain running shoes in a search to find what works best for me. I place big priority on grip – the shoe must stick to dry and wet rock perfectly, otherwise it’s out of the window. That’s the main reason why I stopped running Salomon and totally dig La Sportiva shoes in recent years. The Adidas Skychaser fits in between the two overall but is actually on par with La Sportivas in the grip and traction department.
Adidas describes the Skychasers as stable and protective trail running shoes for rugged mountain runs. The Boost technology is supposed to return energy after every stride while the one piece Continental rubber sole provides ultimate traction and grip.
While it’s hard to say I “felt the boost” the other claims are certainly true. I have ran the Skychasers for over ten times now (1-2.5h sessions), over various terrain and in all conditions, and can honestly say I am very happy with the grip and traction. I mean, my best ever road bike and car tires were Continental so I am that surprised.
I can’t judge the fit very well as I ordered them blind and could definitely use a half-a-size smaller. Despite that they fit me well enough. I think the sizing is quite true but I thought to rather order them slightly bigger than smaller, and I got my wish.
The upper is well-built and has a clean look & feel. While breath-ability and draining are excellent the materials used for the upper appear to be strong and I am confident the shoes will last. The tongue features a “rubberized” top part that seemed stiff at the first glance but actually wraps my ankle very comfortably.
The sole features big lugs, is thicker than I am used to (23mm heel, 17mm forefoot) and with the beefy heel I definitely feel higher above the ground. Overall, the sole has a good solid yet comfortable feel while running. The heel is very stable and quite soft when descending but I would prefer if it was slightly narrower.
I won’t discuss the lacing system much as I think it’s a very personal preference – I simply like traditional laces more. I can certainly live with both the Adidas and Salomon speed lacing and while there are differences between the two I would say they are equally good.
To go a level higher from Skychasers definitely consider its GTX version or another model – Terrex Agravic GTX shoes. The Agravic shoes look similar except couple of small details that might make the difference depending on your preferences – traditional lacing, Gore-Tex membrane…

Pros:

  • Excellent grip and traction
  • Built quality
  • Different colour combinations

What can be improved about this product:

It’s difficult to poke holes into Adidas shoes as I was very happy with all of the three or four pairs I owned before. But if I could change two things on the Skychaser then I would:

  • Make the heel smaller – not thinner but less volume on the perimeter.
  • Replace the laces with traditional ones 😉

Product Specs:

  • Upper: Synthetic Textile
  • Midsole: TPU, Boost, Pro-Moderator
  • Sole: Continental Rubber
  • Insole: Molded OrthoLite
  • Drop: 6mm (23.5mm to 17.5mm)
  • Sizing: men’s US 6 – 12, 13, 14

Online stores that sell Adidas Skychaser shoes:

Fischer Profoil Skins Review: New way of skinning

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Fischer-profoil-review-3-edit

Overview:

  • Usual full price: $225 USD – (Skimo.co)
  • Weight: 230g/pair (for Fischer TransAlp 80 skis at 170cm)
  • Compatibility: Fischer TransAlp, Hannibal, and Ranger models
  • Pros: Light, flat, good grip/glide, pre-cut
  • Cons: Slightly slower transition, not trimmable
  • Suitability: ski touring, ski mountaineering

Bottom Line:

An innovative take on ski touring skins that works surprisingly well!

Product description and How we tested it:

To be honest, I have to admit to being a bit skeptical about the Fischer’s Profoil skins when I first saw them at the Pierra Menta expo last year. But now that I actually got them under my feet I have no more concerns.
The idea is a climbing skin-alternative that uses the technology of a classic crown (fish-scale) nordic ski to provide grip on the way up, rather than using hair like with traditional mohair or modern synthetic skins.

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Skinning on Profoils in the Alps during my recent Euro visit.
The Profoil skins are pre-cut for the exact dimensions of the skis (currently available for only Fischer skis – I tested them on the TransAlp 80) and they cannot be trimmed. This is because the pattern has scales that prevent both backward slipping and sideways movement (like traversing on a steep slope). If you trim these scales off, you lose significant grip. Similarly, like with any traditional skins, if you use them on a wider ski then the material may not be in contact with the snow where needed, thus, grip might be compromised.
The skin uses a special tip-clip system that works best with Fischer skis. This is similar to pre-cut Dynafit skins which also uses a unique tip attachment that is design to work well specifically with its skins.
During my recent trip to the French Alps, I had the chance to test them out in a variety of conditions from deep winter powder to firm spring melt-freeze. I expected good performance in powder but occasional slipping in firm or icy conditions. At the end, I was blown away! Profoils delivered great grip in all situations where I know traditional skins would grip as well.
Glide performance in most snow types was great as well, especially, where traditional skins lacking – on ice and refrozen snow. In good conditions – with a smooth track through fresh snow – glide is equivalent to a mohair skin.
Fischer-profoil-review-2-edit
Skin balling (ice and snow accumulation) seemed to be less of an issue with the Profoil skins than traditional synthetic ones. Occasionally, a ball formed when I lifted up my ski during a stride but it immediately released when I stepped-glide onto it. I had no big ice chunks stuck permanently to the bottom of my skins. I discovered that the balling can be reduced easily with some spray-on liquid wax.
The skin uses a special glue that is significantly stronger than standard glue. For this reason, you can’t fold the skin like usual, glue-to-glue. Instead, you need to carry a small piece of skin-saver plastic that you put on the skin before folding it onto itself (glue to scales). This adds a few seconds to transitions and requires some care so a bit of inconvenience here.
To sum things up, if you have a pair of Fisher skis (like the TransAlp), definitely consider using the ProFoil skin instead of a traditional skin.

Pros:

  • Light, no set-up, great grip and glide.
  • An interesting twist on traditional skins.

What can be improved about this product:

  • The strong glue requires the use of skin saver plastic at all times. This means a slightly slower transition, however, I this could be improved with future versions. And we are talking about only seconds here.
  • Hopefully, a trim-able version will be developed so more backcountry skiers can benefit than only those with Fischer skis.

New Ski Mountaineering and Skimo Racing Skis: La Sportiva, Fischer, Black Diamond, Dynafit, Salomon, Atomic, Hagan, Voile

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During my recent visit to Outdoor Retailer show I had a chance to touch, flex and discover new skimo racing and ski mountaineering skis that will be coming out in the fall of 2016.
My overall observation was that now most manufacturers, instead of just few, will have a light line of skis. And I do mean light, and I do mean a line of skis. This means that going forward, whether you will want a light pair of 80mm skis, or 90mm, or even wider, then you will have more choice than ever before.
» For current lightest skimo skis see our comparisons chart.

La Sportiva and Ski Trab skis

The most interesting finding while browsing the La Sportiva booth, and apart from the new Stratos Hi-Cube ski boots, was that starting next season Ski Trab is partnering with La Sportiva to bring their skimo racing and light touring models to North America.
Below you can see that they will be La Sportiva branded Ski Trab skis. On the left, it’s the Maestro LS (940g at 171cm, width 75mm) suitable for lots of spring ski mountaineering, and on the right, are the racing models Gara Aero LS for men and women (715g at 164cm, and 685g at 157cm).
la-sportiva-ski-trab-skis-2016
Here are some wider skis from La Sportiva, from left – Maximo LS men and women models (1310g at 178cm width 90mm, and 1205g at 164cm width 92mm)  that are intended for fun, light and fast ski touring. Then in contrast on the right you can see the new Vapor Float powder machines weighing only 1400g at 178cm while measuring 117mm in waist!
la-sportiva-skis-2016-fat

Fischer skis

Just like with the new great looking Travers Carbon ski boot, Fischer is disrupting the market with some light touring skis as well.
The photo below shows their full ski touring and skimo racing line. The first two from left are Hannibal 100 and Hannibal 94 (1500g at 180cm width 100mm, 1250g at 177cm width 94mm) for ski touring in powder and soft snow. Then I want to highlight the Transalp 80, in green and fifth from left, as highly suitable for any type of ski mountaineering whether that be steep faces, couloirs, or just enjoying corn in the spring, weighing only 950g at 163cm in width 80mm! The Ranger line is freeride oriented – wider, fun but still pretty light given the widths.
fischer-skis-line-2016
For ski mountaineering racing, Fischer is pushing the weight limits with their two models (photo below):

  • The VerticAlp (in black on the right) is a pure vertical race specialist – 580g in 161cm – and it features a substantial camber to mimic classic xc skis for improved kick, and almost no side-cut (82-64-72) to ensure the skis doesn’t glide sideways on any terrain. This is a great design given that modern vertical races are hosted mostly on groomed runs and roads.
  • The AlpAttack (in black on the left) is a super light skimo racing skis – 650g at 161cm – with what appears to be a stiff torsional construction, thus, it should ski well at high speed and in hard/icy conditions. The 99mm at the tip, in contrast with 65mm waist and 81mm tail, should make the ski float well in powder and crusty snow.

fischer-race-skis-2016

Black Diamond skis

While Black Diamond has been producing some light skis already, their new full Helio line is screaming ski mountaineering in all conditions. On top of that, Black Diamond has moved production of its skis from China to Austria which should result in greater durability than before.
All Helio models feature carbon reinforcements, ABS sidewalls and ultra-light balsa flax wood core. All skis feel very light yet strongly built, and are shaped and rockered exactly for the type of snow or skiing their widths predetermines them.

  • 116 model weighs 1550g in 176cm at 143-116-126 and features generous tip and tail rocker.
  • 105 model weighs 1450g in 175cm at 132-105-119 with slightly smaller rocker at both ends than the 116 model.
  • 95 model weighs 1250g in 173cm at 123-95-113 and slightly shorter rockers than 105.
  • 88 model is shaped a bit differently than any of the above. It seems to be built for spring, steep and hard snow ski mountaineering. Weighing 1200g in 168cm at 121-88-111 the ski feels torsionally stiff and has just enough rocker to make it a well rounded tool.

black-diamond-skis-2016

Dynafit skis

After liberating the world from heavy and clunky bindings in late 80s, Dynafit is now also known for its light skis in all kinds of widths and shapes. However, in last 2-3 seasons, the brand is poking into ever more into the freeride skiing. Here are couple of upcoming models from the photo below:

  • Third pair from left, the new Dhaulagiri, named after 8000m peak, appears to be suited for a variety of conditions but will mostly likely excel most in softer snow – weighing 1400g in 177cm with a side-cut of 130.5-99-114.
  • The purple Sphinx (1670g in 170cm at 124-96-114) is a woman-specific model while the green/yellow Meteorite (1820g in 177cm at 126-97-116) is for heavier or more aggressive skiers. Both versions should be suitable for higher speeds given their bigger mass.
  • The Chugach (1950g in 181cm at 107mm width) and Hokkaido (2100g in 182cm at 117mm width) models are big mountain skis and more traditional shape than other recent Dynafit models.

dynafit-skis-fat-2016
In skimo racing department, Dynafit is now using their flex tip technology and new side shaping (like in the above Denali and Dhaulagiri models) with different colours for let and right skis:

  • DNA model, the two skis on the left, is Dynafit’s lightest weighing 690g in 161cm with a side-cut of 99-65-80. 
  • PDG model, two skis in the middle, is a heavier version of the DNAs with the same side-cut and length but at 790g. Usually, also about half the price of the DNA.

dynafit-race-skis-2016

Salomon S-Lab Minim ski

With long tradition in ski edges, boots and bindings manufacturing, Salomon has only started to build their own full skis in around 1990.
I went to the Salomon ski booth to mostly check out their new light S-Lab Minim ski mountaineering ski as it was developed in collaboration with Kilian Jornet, who previously skied Atomics for a long time.
The Minim ski will weigh 720g in 160cm and is slightly wider than all other skimo racing skis – with a side-cut of 97-68.5-83 it is 3-4mm wider in the waist. It features Karuba woodcore and CFX Superfiber reinforcement.
Salomon-s-lab-minim-skis-2016

Atomic skis

Like Fischer, Atomic is an Austrian manufacturer and has been building skis for decades. Although they have couple of touring and freeride models I was mostly insterested in checking out their Backland Ultimate line (on the right side below) as they are the brand’s most suitable for light and fast ski mountaineering:

  • Backland UL 85 weighs only 1050g at 163cm with a 85mm waist
  • Backland UL 78 comes in 980g at 163cm with a 78mm waist
  • and Atomic’s skimo racing skis, the Backland UL 65, weighs only 680g at 162cm with waist of 65mm and a reshaped tip

atomic-skis-2016

Hagan and Voile skis

While Hagan has been manufacturing skimo racing skis for long time Voile entered the market only two years ago. However, both brands have a couple of lightweight models in various widths. I didn’t get any specifications for the below skis but both brands have improved their existing models and should not definitely not be overlooked when buying a new quiver next season.

Hagan's new racing models feel torsionally stiffer and tip's shape has been improved for skinning.
Hagan’s new racing models feel torsionally stiffer and tip’s shape has been improved for skinning.
All of the Hagan wider models feel very solid and lightweight.
All of the Hagan wider models feel very solid and lightweight.
Voile is a Salt Lake City manufacturer with reputation for well built yet lighter weight skis. Their skimo race skis have substantial rocker and can been clearly picked out in this photo.
voile-skis-2016

450 grams: New La Sportiva Stratos Hi-Cube Skimo Racing Boots

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“How much lighter can they get? How much longer to 300 grams?” That’s what I keep asking myself every year now since new superbly light skimo boots are born almost as often as I change oil in my car. What do you think? How long will it take?
la-sportiva-stratos-hi-cube-1
Now, a fourth generation of Stratos, the Hi-Cube must be one the best (if not the best) looking skimo racing boots ever produced! I don’t say that because I skied it, I say it because those are my impressions from the very first moment I saw them.
For reference, here is our coverage of the lightest boots evolution:

Many things become quickly apparent when you look at the Hi-Cube above and compare it to the previous three generations below:la-sportiva-stratos-evolution
As you can see, La Sportiva changed their design path somewhat, towards a more “open” boot, as the only way to make the Stratos lighter was to shed material. Also, the new boot comes only with a bikini liner for the foot  while for the cuff they opted to use foam padding that is glued in place. The open shell is something Pierre Gignoux (PG) and Scarpa were doing already, with PG also applying the hybrid liner solution. However, the new Stratos doesn’t look anything like the other boots.

Plenty of new and interesting solutions to observe.
Plenty of new and interesting solutions to observe.
According to La Sportiva, the new Stratos should weigh mere 450 grams per boot in size 27! It’s not clear whether this includes the bikini liner or not, but if yes then it will top the Race 400 from Pierre Gignoux that weighs 500 grams for size 26, thus, becoming the lightest skimo boot in the world. I suspect that Stratos’ weight will slightly increase with the actual production model, however, it shouldn’t be more than 20-40 grams.
Apart from incredibly low weight, the new shell is more tapered and should fit more snugly. Both the shell and cuff are fully carbon and feature reinforcement ribs for better power transmission and prevention against cracking.
Another novelty is a use of vibration “dampeners” that should absorb some of the big impact forces travelling upwards while skiing. These are commonly with carbon skimo boots and cause too much stress on the boots as well as on our joints.
With shedding material and creating a low volume shell, La Sportiva got rid off the heel step/ledge for crampons attachment and replaced it with a small hard plastic insert keeping the boots compatible with a variety of crampons.
La Sportiva's ski position locking mechanism is unique to the brand.
La Sportiva’s ski position locking mechanism is unique to the brand.
For all of us that like to experiment with different forward leans for skiing the Stratos Hi-Cube offers three positions to play with, ranging from 10 to 19 degrees.
As for the cuff ski position locking mechanism, I don’t thing much has changed from the previous version. The horizontal closing system looks updated and should be somewhat lighter but function the same way as before.
The Hi-Cubes should be available for retail in the fall of 2016 and their likely price will be around $2500 USD, which should be cheaper than new Scarpa 3.0 but more than PG Race 400 or Dynafit DNA (the word is Dynafit won’t even bring these to North America going forward).
Without much further information, I believe that ISMF technical commission is already thinking about rewriting a couple of the rules on skimo gear weights this summer. The current minimum weight limit for men is 500g per boot with a dry liner, and 450g for women. Size is not specified which means that a “race legal” boot has different implications depending on the size you wear.

Preview of new Fischer Travers Carbon ski mountaineering boots

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There were a couple of new ski mountaineering and ski touring boots that caught my eye at the recent Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. In this post, I would like to introduce you to a light and very good looking boot from an Austrian company with rich history in winter sports.
Fischer-factory
Fischer, founded in 1924 and family owned, is a traditional alpine skiing and cross-country skiing manufacturer with many wins on the World Cup circuits in both sports. Recently, the company is making more and more inroads into ski mountaineering and skimo racing with some well-designed and innovative products.
fischer-travers-carbon-3With the Travers Carbon boot, Fischer has done a fantastic job at delivering a very light, simple and functional boot. I am saying this without actually skiing the boots because it seems like they took the most effective solutions from other boots and combined them into one.
At the claimed 990 grams for size 26.5MP, the Travers Carbon will be challenging for the lightest ski mountaineering boot on the market apart from the obvious skimo racing models.
Cuff rotation, also known as ankle articulation, appears as good as on my Dynafit TLT6 and feels quite frictionless just as we have become used to with racing and light touring boots.
The choice and design of closing mechanisms is minimalistic and simple. Cuff locks into ski position with a lever that is located on its backside, just like on most skimo racing boots. The shin/calf closing buckle uses a tall velcro-style power strap, with the buckle being hollow, making it very light.

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There is a waterproof gaiter under the Boa lacing. The lever (on the right) flips up and down quite easily.
For adjusting forefoot tension and closing the lower shell Fischer opted to use a Boa Closure System. However, unlike on Scarpa Alien skimo boots where Boa was first used, the Travers uses small pulleys to reduce friction and wear on the Boa laces. The Boa tightening wheel is placed slightly higher than on Aliens and more on the outside of the boot, but doesn’t seem outside enough to be an issue while boot-packing.
Cuff forward lean in ski mode looks fairly neutral (not up right though) which is usually desirable for long days in the mountains. Steep and aggressive forward leaning boots can be tiring for your quads during long or multiple descents, although, it is an individual preference.
The boot’s cuff and shell are made out of Grilamid, very hard and abrasion resistant “plastic”, that is now more commonly used by other manufacturers as well. Bottom part of the shell is also reinforced with carbon fiber sole to create a no-torsion base with the goal of maximum power transfer.
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The Grilamid shell and cuff have nice matte, non-shiny look.
The Tech inserts seem to be directly from Dynafit and should offer good durability and fit with various Tech style bindings.
Width in the forefoot, or last, is 100 mm.
Overall, the Travers boot looks and feels well manufactured and finished. With Fischer now fully in the game, I believe this will benefit all ski mountaineering enthusiasts as the pressure for better gear will keep piling on.
Stay tuned as in the next post we will take a closer look at the new Arc’Teryx Procline Carbon ski alpinism boots.

Review of Arc'teryx Procline Comp Jacket: Breathable and super light hardshell for snowy ski mountaineering

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arcteryx-procline-jacket-azul

Quick overview:

  • Usual full price: about $399.00 USD
  • Weight: 405 g
  • Pros: Fit, Simplicity, Function, Breathable, Weight
  • Cons: Longer sleeves
  • Suitability: For ski mountaineering in snowy or wet conditions

Bottom line:

A well designed jacket for ski mountaineering in snowy to wet conditions. That mostly means to break trail to chase fresh lines while the storm is still dumping 🙂

Photos:

 

Product description and How we tested it:

I was very curious to see how this Arc’teryx “hybrid” jacket would perform because I seldom skin up in waterproof clothing due to limited breathability and “heat trapping”. Unless it’s snowing heavily, the best setup I figured out over the years is to climb wearing one or two thin base layers under a super thin and breathable windbreaker. Then at the top, depending on temperature, I throw on a puffy or a Gore jacket. With the Procline Comp jacket I was ready to test something new.
According to Arc’teryx website, the Procline Comp uses “N40p 3L Gore Fabric Technology with tricot in the hood, shoulders, around the hemline and on the front of the body” to provide protection from snow, moisture and wind where most needed. The back and under the arms panels, the sweating spots, feature stretchy “Fortius 1.0 softshell … for freedom while climbing and a level of air permeability that permits heat and moisture vapour escape”.
In the past two months, the Coast Mountains here in south British Columbia saw couple of storm cycles pass through. They are famous for their massive dumps, mostly occurring just below or around freezing temps, which makes conditions calling for a shell that would ideally be 100% waterproof yet 100% breathable. The Procline jacket gives it a great shot.
The first thing I noticed wearing it was how well it fit, leaving only just enough room for a light puffy.  I am 6′ 2″ with wide shoulders but got it in medium size as I am skinny otherwise. The jacket is sewn together from about 15 panels which helps a lot to achieve the athletic fit. The only thing I haven’t get used to yet are the long-ish sleeves. I feel like the extra length makes them “curl up” a bit around the elbows.
Materials used and minimalist design also make this jacket incredibly light. I am not too obsessed with my ski touring clothing weight but saving 300-500 grams with a jacket means that you can either a carry a bigger lunch or just simply enjoy the lightness you are wearing.
I used the jacket on couple of occasions now and overall I found it to perform as I expected – much better than my older Gore jackets on the up but with the same protection on the way down. On one specific occasion, while skinning up in moist, snowy weather and breaking trail up a steep forest there was no way avoiding to brush against snow covered tree branches. I spent most of the 3h of ascending wearing the hood, and zipping and unzipping the front to add ventilation as needed. Underneath, I only wore one thin base layer and didn’t get too hot or cold while the temps range about between -1 C to -6 C during the whole day. With couple of days like that, I can honestly say that the jacket breaths better then any other hard shell I ever had, however, don’t expect to fully break trail fully zipped up and not to sweat inside. That’s still to be invented 😉
The Procline Comp jacket has no inside skin pockets so you will either have to put your skins in your pack or use the two outside chest pockets. I am not sure whether those were designed to carry skins but if yes then they are not big enough for the widest/longest skins. Since I mostly put skins in my pack when touring (and the pockets easily accommodate race skins) I used the chest pockets to keep my extra buff, a hat, or a phone dry. They are placed at the right spots and don’t get covered by backpacks waist strap at all, and should be just below the chest strap for most as well.
The hood was designed to accommodate a ski mountaineering or a climbing helmet. It works well, although, I seldom wear a helmet on powder/stormy days. However, the hood works well even without a helmet thanks to the well thought out design and adjustment cords.
To finish, what I really like about this jacket is how the bottom is cut in a curve to gradually drop on the sides, making the back longer, thus, prevent my butt from getting wet. On the other hand, the front bottom is high enough to not curl up when I have to lift my thighs high when setting a steeper track.

Pros:

  • Works very well for conditions it was designed for
  • Fits great and weighs nothing
  • Very minimalist/stripped down design

Cons / What can be improved about this product:

  • I would propose that Arc’teryx cuts the sleeve length by about 1 inch, that would work for me.
  • If the chest pockets (not the zippers) were slightly deeper or wider then they can work more comfortably as skin pockets even for big skins (110+ mm, or split board).

Product Specs:

  • Materials: N40p 3L GORE® Fabric Technology, Fortius 1.0 softshell
  • Sizing: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL

Long-term Review: Dynafit RC-1 Skimo Boots

By 3 Comments

2015 Dynafit RC-1
2015 Dynafit RC-1

Quick overview:

  • Usual full price: $2150 USD
  • Weight: 507 g (size 27)
  • Cuff Rotation: 75 degrees
  • Forward Lean: 12/18 deg
  • Material: Carbon Fibre
  • Liner Type: Palu Race 400
  • Pros: lightweight, stiff
  • Cons: fragile, binding compatibility, liner quality
  • Suitability: high level skimo racing

Bottom Line:

The lightest boot on the market, they race well but are somewhat fragile. A big investment with big weight savings!

Photos:

Product description and How we tested it:

Departing from the tradition of developing their own lightweight boots in-house, Dynafit has begin licensing the work of renowned boot maker Pierre Gignoux (PG). The RC-1 is Dynafit’s lightest offering coming in at a svelte 507 grams per boot in size 27 – well below the options offered by competitors such as La Sportiva and Scarpa. The low weight of the all-carbon boot is immediately apparent when you slip it on.
One of the most noticeable features is the liner which only goes as high as to cover the ankle bones. Above, foam padding on the outer shell clamps onto the athlete’s shin, making an upper liner unnecessary. The liner is incredibly lightweight but this comes at a cost to durability. Several wear points exist at the heel and near the cuff pivots. It would be interesting to try the bikini-style liner available from PG or something similar to sock liner (but cut to ankle height) used in the Scarpa Alien 1.0. A tighter fitting sock liner might improve the fit as well as reduce wear.
The boot uses a simple vertical throw lever for locking the cuff into ski mode (similar to the Scarpa Alien lever). This is different from the ‘Ultra-Lock’ lever on previous Dynafit Dy.N.A. and PDG boots but requires less cutting of the skimo race suit bottoms and results in less snow making its way into the boot. The lever is easy to flick down and it accurately snaps into ski position without a need to guide it. Placing of the lever’s lock post (the bottom piece), skimo suit or pants don’t cover it, unlike with the Ultra-Lock system, making for a slightly faster/easier transition.
The foot-locking mechanism is a ratchet strap on the instep and a cord tightened by the throw lever to tighten the upper cuff. The 2016 version of the boot, called DNA now, features ratchet straps on around the upper cuff as well, to provide easier fit fine tuning (though, likely at a small weight penalty). Lower tightening is also accomplished with a quick lace system similar to that seen on many Salomon running shoes.
Early (black and white) versions of the RC-1 were sold with a relatively thin sole. This sole was poorly glued to the boot and was prone to damage. Inline changes (both to black/white and green/pink) brought a new, higher quality sole with better glue. Luckily, PG is friendly with warranty requests and will replace the old sole with a new one.
It is worth noting that no version of the RC-1 uses Dynafit’s proprietary toe tech fittings (which is odd but understandable given an independent manufacturer), but rather a custom fitting designed to be used with the RC-1 bindings (also engineered by Pierre Gignoux). I decided against mounting the RC-1 bindings on my race skis and instead went with the traditional Low-Tech Race. To make a good fit, this required a small amount of surgery to remove a few mm of sole on the bottom of the toe. Stepping into a Low-Tech, the binding snaps and locks but not quite as tight as it does with Dy.N.A. boots. Interestingly, when paired with Plum Race bindings, the binding does shut completely. Despite this being a bit disconcerting, I’ve never had a binding release and I am comfortable skiing them on steep terrain in a race.
The boot fits slightly wider and longer than traditional Dynafit boots. The sole is also perfectly flat and quite hard. I immediately put a custom insole into the liner to get the support my, generally not very picky, feet needed.
I used a variety of crampons with the RC-1. The only compatibility issue was with the front welt. Unlike most plastic boots with a well defined edge on the front welt, the RC-1 welt is very smooth and rounded (and made of carbon). This made any crampon with a toe bail feel less secure. Most commonly, I used the CAMP Race-290 crampons.  Strap-on crampons work fine as expected. While racing the Trofeo Mezzalama last spring, steel crampons were required for sections of exposed ice. I had only a pair of BD Sabretooth Pro crampons (clip-on version) which generally stayed attached despite the minimal welt. While I am suspect of any crampons on race boots, these boots are particularly insecure unless using a strap system – be careful.
My boots have seen about 70 days of use, mostly racing. My main durability issue has been the liner but my lower shell also developed a crack in the carbon that propagated out from the cuff pivot. PG was quick to replace the shell when I stopped in their tent at the Pierra Menta!
It is worthwhile to note that PG makes a slightly heavier version – called Black – that appears to be much more robust for training and mountain adventures (it has a covered tongue rather than being open) but is also plenty light for racing (600 grams).
Overall thoughts: If you want to race on the same boot as the best racers in the world (Laetitia Roux, Anton Palzer, Kilian Jornet, Emelie Forsberg, etc…) these are the right pick. They are the lightest available, ski well, and are fast in transitions. Just take good care of them!

Pros:

  • Lightest on the market.
  • They ski well.
  • I like the rear throw lever.
  • Excellent customer service/warranty service at PG.
  • Moderate crampon fit.

Things to be improved:

  • Fragile (but that comes with the territory).
  • Does not use the Dynafit Quick-Step toe fitting.
  • Warranty issues must go through PG in France.
  • Liner is quick to wear.

Salomon S-LAB X ALP 20 Backpack review: Day-pack for Fast and Light Travel

By 20 Comments

Quick overview:

salomon-x-alp-20-pack-main

  • Usual full price: $150 USD
  • Weight: 560 g (one size)
  • Volume: 20 L
  • Pros: versatile, durable, spacious
  • Cons: weight, bulk, single flask holder
  • Suitability: ‘citizen’ skimo racing, ski mountaineering day trips, summer alpine climbing/scrambling

Bottom Line:

A good all around ski mountaineering and adventure day-pack for fast and light travel.

Photos:

Product description and How we tested it:

The Salomon X Alp line is Salomon’s foray into serious mountaineering equipment and uses some innovative ideas from their top athletes. The X Alp 20 pack is one of the most interesting pieces in the line and worth checking out for any ski mountaineer.
Salomon worked a few interesting features into the pack. First is the back-side zipper. This isn’t particularly critical in a race environment when you are never opening your pack but in training or on an adventure day, it is more useful. I originally figured this was a bit of a gimmick but in practice this allows you access to your pack at times when it might be beneficial not to set it down – for example, when straddling the snowy summit of a peak or reaching for a water bottle midway up a 4th class ridge.
The ski carry system (a lasso type) is removable. It is essentially girth hitched to small loops on the pack but still works as a robust system. When you finally pack away the skis for the season you can remove the extra straps and use your pack for summer adventures. The upper ski carry (lasso) strap also functions as a rope strap in the summer (see photos above.)
The shoulder strap flask pocket allows quick access to fuel and liquids but is only on one side. I’d prefer that both straps had a pocket as it would be possible to carry a second flask up front when the ski carry was not attached. Similarly, the right hip has a zipper pocket that is useful for carrying food or a camera. The left hip belt could be equally equipped.
Like most skimo packs, the X-Alp includes a separate crampon compartment. However, the compartment is extra padded which, while being slightly heavier, prevents the crampons points from pressing into your back. Furthermore, unlike other skimo packs, the crampon pouch has a full zipper to keep your crampons absolutely secure inside.
I’ve been most impressed with how spacious the bag seems. This may partially be due to the extra long zipper but compared to other 20L packs (the Dynafit RC20 for example) it fits more gear – it seems to be more comparable with a pack like the Dynafit Broad Peak 28L. Climbing in the Tetons, I was able to carry a rap line, helmet, spare clothing, and a liter of water in my pack without having to strap things on the outside (though there is a spare set of clips on the pack body to attach a helmet).
Overall thoughts: The X-Alp 20 shouldn’t be considered a pure race pack though it will function in that purpose. It is better served as an adventure pack for ski and climbing days where light and fast features are valuable.

Pros:

Equally effective as a skimo pack and summer adventure pack. Large capacity. Secure ski fix. Durable.

Things to be improved:

It is slightly bulky but this likely just comes with the features. It also appears to be more resilient to abrasion than most race packs. I would prefer a second shoulder flask holder and a removable zipper pouch on the waist belt.