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La Sportiva

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

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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.

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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:

Great Visit to La Sportiva Factory and Headquarters in Italy

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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

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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.
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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.
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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:

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:

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!

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).
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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!
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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.
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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.

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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

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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.

New Skimo Gear for 2015-2016 Season

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La Sportiva Sideral 2.0
La Sportiva Sideral 2.0
It’s that time of year when all the manufacturers are coming out with the newest products. Here we want to give you a quick overview of what is new this season. Frankly, it is a relatively quiet one, with very few truly new products. Several companies have given current products some big updates however.
The biggest change of the season is in skimo racing bindings. Weight continues to be shaved off despite new ISMF regulations that require race bindings to have manual locking mechanisms (pulling up on the toe piece to lock in). All the major brands now have a competitive (light weight) binding with a manual lock.

La Sportiva

No major changes to the La Sportiva ski line but the citizen race/ski touring boot – the Sideral – has been update to the 2.0 version. It features improved buckles (borrowed from the Spectre model) and an updated sole that offers compatibility with Tech, Frame and Trab TR2 binding systems.

Dynafit

Dynafit continues to improve its ski running line with the retail release of the 2.0 version of the DNA Race ski, boot, and Low Tech Race binding.

Dynafit Low Tech Race 2.0 Binding
Dynafit Low Tech Race 2.0 Binding
DNA 2.0 ski (and PDG 2.0) – The new DNA ski is 40 grams lighter than the black DyNA thanks to its carbon construction. It is also shaped a bit differently (similar to the Cho-Oyu or Denali shape) compared to previous version, while retaining the same dimensions (99-65-80) and turn radius (20m). The PDG 2.0 adopts the same shape and shaves 25 grams off its predecessor.
DNA Boot (PG RC-1 2.0) – Last year, Dynafit stepped away from their DyNA race boot and began licensing the Pierre Gignoux Morpho 400 as their RC-1 race boot. The 2015/16 DNA Boot is an improved RC-1 with a new color scheme (green and pink to match the skis) as well as an improved sole (way better than the RC-1!), and a new upper cuff strap system. Probably, it will be pretty difficult to find much stock in the US but if you find yourself in Europe it’s much more common over there.
Low Tech Race 2.0 Binding – With ISMF regulations requiring a race binding toe that does not auto lock, the Low Tech Race has taken an TLT Superlight toe piece with locking lever and trimmed it down to the essential material, pairing it with a Gignoux plastic heel piece to create a lightweight (around 100g) binding with a removable crampon attachment.

Plum Race 99 Bindings
Plum Race 99 Bindings

Plum

Race 99 Binding – This is an exciting entry into the game from Plum as the lightest all-metal binding on the market at a scant 99 grams. Mount these on any of the lighter skis and you might find yourself needing to add weight to meet the ISMF minimums! We got a chance to check them out at the 2015 Pierra Menta in March and at the Plum factory in Annecy, they are pretty cool!

Fischer

While racing the World Cup last season, Eric took mental note of all the broken skis that he saw throughout the year, and there were lots! The yellow Fischers topped the list but it looks like they have worked out the issues this year with their new Alp Attack Carbon skis. It has the same design as the (older) yellow version with a new construction and top sheet.
Race binding – Fisher is moving away from ATK as their bindings manufacturer and adopted the Dynafit Low Tech as its own re-branded binding for this season. Using the same toe as the Low Tech described above, it is slightly heavier with the older version Low Tech heel (metal rather than the current plastic Gignoux heel). This unit is likely much more durable for day-to-day use.

Fischer Profoil Skins
Fischer Profoil Skins
Profoil skins – Not really a skimo race quiver but worthy of a mention. The Fischer Profoil skins are just a thin sheet of plastic with no natural or artificial hair. Fischer claims the skins are just as effective climbing, have as good glide as mohair, but due to the material they literally can never ball up with snow (when wet to cold conditions occur). They cannot be trimmed and are only able to be used on a ski of a certain width (to allow room for a certain pattern on the base), but with their light weight and low bulk they could be especially useful on an ultra-wide ski.

CAMP Speed 2.0 Helmet
CAMP Speed 2.0 Helmet

CAMP

Speed 2.0 Helmet – CAMP is responsible for some excellent skimo accessories including their Rapid Racing Pack and their Race 290 crampons, and have now improved their venerable Speed helmet to be slightly lighter and with a new retention system. The Speed 2.0 helmet is comfortable for racing and does not to conflict much with sunglasses or a light light hat.

Ski Trab

Gara Titan binding – Ski Trab’s new binding comes in at just over 100g (slightly less than Dynafit Low Tech 2.0) and has all the required features plus a new design that allows the tech toe to close without coiled springs on the wings. Being completely new on the market, it may require some testing of the concept but it’s a possible worthy alternative binding.

Petzl Rad System
Petzl Rad System

Petzl

Rad Line – This is a special 30 meter, 6mm diameter ‘hyperstatic’ cord that can be used for rappelling and for glacier travel. The cord is pre-packaged by Petzl with three lightweight screw-lock carabiners, a double-shoulder length sling (can be used as an anchor or improvised harness), a micro traction (rope capture pulley (for a crevasse rescue), and a Tibloc (for rope ascent), all in a fancy Petzl bag.
The Rad Line is basically a ready-to-go ski mountaineering kit. Perfect for glaciers in the North Cascades, or Chamonix, or dropping into gnarly lines in the Tetons. Pair it with a thicker 30m lead line for harder terrain or use a skinny pull rope for 30m rappels.

For now, that’s all we have for new 2015-2016 skimo gear. We will have some more in-depth reviews of all of the above products soon! If we’ve missed anything, please give us a shout in the comments below or via our contact form.

Lindsay Plant (USA): Skimo Racer Profile Interview

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Lindsay racing through Verbier during the 2015 World Championships Vertical event.
Lindsay racing through Verbier during the 2015 World Championships Vertical event.
We caught up with Lindsay Plant, the leader of the Team USA at the 2015 Skimo World Championships and asked her a few questions about her training and racing season.
Lindsay had a great World Champs, finishing 14th in the vertical event, 20th in the individual event, and 6th overall in the teams event paired with Jessie Young.
Where are you based out of?
I am based out of Carbondale CO, so I train mostly at Sunlight and Aspen Highlands.
What do you do in real life? How does that impact your ability to train and race?
I work for a family practice doctor at Glenwood Medical Associates, full time. I am also a mom to my 18 month old daughter, so that absolutely impacts my training as my time is very limited and has to be pretty structured.
How long have you been skimo racing? 
This is my 3rd season of skimo racing, I had to take a year off when I was pregnant but kept on skinning while I was pregnant.
I grew up skiing, but I came into skimo racing through my passion for endurance training, I have been a runner most of my life and loved skiing, so the thought of putting the two together was extremely appealing to me which directed me into finding skimo racing.
In the summer I do a lot of trail running and have been getting more and more into mountain biking, with a little road biking on the side.
photo 4Can you describe your training routine?
Due to my job and wanting to be with my daughter as much as possible, most of my workouts are high quality and short, lots of intervals, race pace tempos and a lot of zone 2 base work. Every once in a while I will get out for a big day at a higher elevation and lots of vert.
You just skied at World Championships, how long has this been a goal?
I have had a goal of racing at the World Championships for 3 years now. I wanted to try to go the year I got pregnant but that obviously put an end to that, so I have had that goal in mind since then.
I did have to adapt my life to make the team and travel to Europe by intensifying my training a bit more and pushing some other “life things” aside for a bit while I did this.
Racing above the clouds.
Racing above the clouds.
How was your World Championships experience?
The experience at the World Championships was incredible and a once in a life time experience. I had such an amazing time, racing with the Europeans and experiencing their mountains and courses. It was incredible.
I am very psyched with my racing, I felt strong and felt properly trained for the races, however, I was a little bummed I got a really bad chest cold and wonder how well I would have done if I wouldn’t have been sick, but in any case, I gave each race everything I had and left nothing on the course, so I couldn’t be happier and more satisfied with that.
Do any of the races stick out in particular and why?
I have to say the vertical race sticks out, it was such a cool experience racing through town and in the clouds, breaking through into the sunshine and having so many people cheering you on throughout the entire course, it was something I’ll never forget.
Each course was really enjoyable though they were all fun and challenging. Comparing these races to the ones in North America, the thing that sticks out the most was the crowds cheering everyone on which intensified my excitement and motivation to push harder. And of course the double skin track was pretty awesome too.
What are your other racing goals for 2015?
I have 3 more races this season which I hope to do well in, I’m racing with Stevie Kremer at the Power of 4 in Aspen, I have high expectations for that race! Then I’ll be racing at the US Nationals in Crested Butte, and the Grand Traverse at the end of March. Hoping to place well in each of those.
As to right now, I would love to try to make the 2017 US team again and race in Italy, so we shall see.
What kind of equipment do you race on and how long are your poles?
I am currently racing on La Sportiva gear, I have the Stratos Cube boots, the RSR bindings and skis and poles. My poles are 130cm. I love my gear, especially my boots!
The top American men and women in the Teams race. (L-R) John Gaston, Max Taam, Jessie Young, Lindsay Plant.
The top American men and women in the Teams race. (L-R) John Gaston, Max Taam, Jessie Young, Lindsay Plant.

Race report: 2013 Irwin/La Sportiva Skimo Race

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The following race report was sent in by Jeremy Rietmann – steadily improving Colorado skimo racer – who has shared his racing adventures with Skintrack readers before. Thank you!

Enter Jeremy

So far for the 2013 season, the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup (COSMIC) races have been all about the one thing all of us love – Powder! The December 7th Irwin/La Sportiva Skimo Race provided a nice follow-up to the fantastic early season conditions enjoyed by racers two weeks ago at Wolf Creek.

Pre-race meeting room was packed with some big guns. (Photo credit Jeremy Rietmann).
Pre-race meeting room was packed with some big guns. (Photo credit Jeremy Rietmann).
Irwin provides a truly unique race experience on the COSMIC circuit with its backcountry setting, fairly complicated access logistics (made smooth by the great Irwin crew), late start time – and this year – great snow conditions. With nearly a foot of new snow, Irwin no doubt provided the highest concentration of smiles and spandex in Colorado on Saturday.

The race

Saturday’s race was a prime example of the huge growth in both interest and talent in the US skimo world. 70 racers toed the line between all race divisions this year – a nearly 30% increase in participation from the 54 racers that joined in the fun the last time this race was held in 2011.
Irwin attracted top talent on both the women’s and men’s sides with Stevie Kremer, Sari Anderson and McKenna Douglas taking the 1-2-3 podium spots for the women, and Stevie Kremer besting her 2011 winning finishing time by 5 minutes and 19 seconds with a finishing time of 2:20:48.
On the men’s side, heavy (light?) hitters like John Gaston, Tom Goth, Max Taam, Brian Smith and Marshall Thompson battled it out up-front with John Gaston taking the win in 1:58:39. This bested Marshall Thompson’s winning time in 2011 by nearly 7 minutes. Brian Smith and Tom Goth took the 2nd and 3rd podium spots for the men, fighting it out until the end and finishing with only 5 seconds between them.
John Gaston once again rocketed away on the downhills and he and Max Taam just couldn’t stop racing as they both found their way back to Aspen later that day to participate in the Summit for Life/Chris Klug Foundation uphill benefit race – which John also won.
Top talent aside, Team Crested Butte’s recent speaking tour in the Front Range (Boulder area) appeared to pay promotional dividends with a number of first timers taking on a new adventure and toeing the line to enjoy a new experience. For any of you out there for which Irwin was your first skimo race – Welcome!
In the rec race, Matt Clark of Gunnison took home the win with Amelia Poppe of Crested Butte finishing in the top spot for the women.
Full results
» Here’s a PDF with the 2013 Irwin Skimo Race results.

Left - Ram and Danny enjoying the cat ride. Right - racers hurrying to get ready for the start. (Photos by Jeremy Rietmann.)
Left – Ram and Danny enjoying the cat ride. Right – racers hurrying to get ready for the start. (Photos by Jeremy Rietmann.)

A number of highlights and some wisdom

  • Being towed to the race for nearly an hour behind a snowmobile in frigid temps may not sound like that bad of an idea (…yes it does) until you’re standing at the starting line with shot hip flexors, noodles for arms and lungs full of 4-stroke engine exhaust. My advice, take the cat-ride, it’ll be the cheapest cat-skiing you’ll do all year.
  • Irwin is one of the best opportunities on the COSMIC circuit to socialize and get to know your fellow racers. A couple of hours chatting in a 4mph snowcat is a quick way to get to know people better and the group-think associated with needing to pee is hilarious. If Crested Butte local Allen Hadley is in your snowcat – the stories will be wild and plentiful – and the extra entertainment is free of charge. Add it all up and the additional transport fee to the race start is worth it.
  • Don’t go out too hard – 5000 feet of climbing is just enough to make the last 4-500 feet fairly painful if you didn’t dial in the output perfectly on take off. If your working heart rate is on a continual downward slide throughout the race, try starting a little slower next time. “End of the Race You” will thank “Beginning of the Race You” for the adjustment.
  • Positive mental dialogue is always a good thing to cultivate during a hard race. But, if you don’t have it during the race, just keep on plugging. You’ll likely do just fine and probably better than you expect.
  • As goofy as skin suits are, they are incredibly functional and make racing much more logistically enjoyable. Heat regulation and skin, food and beacon storage are all vastly improved when wearing a suit. Just pretend you’re a young Elvis or Catwoman and get on with it.

A special thanks to race director Bryan Wickenhauser and the good folks at Irwin for making this race possible. Next up on the COSMIC circuit: Frisco Randocross on December 31st – New Year’s Eve! www.cosmicski.com
Jeremy Rietmann – @JeremyRietmann