boot rocker?
- lilcliffy
- Posts: 4114
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
boot rocker?
The Alpina Alaska BC boot has a rockered sole:
All of my other NNN-BC boots have a completely flat sole- including:
- Alfa Guard Advance
- Crispi Svartisen BC
- Fischer BCX6
- Rossignol BCX6
Here are some photos of a few of them for comparison: The Guard Advance is completely flat, the Svartisen BC has a very slight rocker.
The Rossi and Fischer BCX6s that I own have completely flat outsoles.
So- question- what do you think the effect is of that rockered sole? I have sole thoughts- wondering what others think...
I know one thing- unweighted, the Alaska sits with the highest heel off the ski: The Alaska BC also engages the flexor earlier than the other boots...
The Alaska BC also has the stiffest sole of all of these boots- by far...
What do you think? Does the sole rocker produce performance that is unique to the Alaska? OR- is the difference only in the stiffer sole flex of the Alaska BC?
BTW- I did not include any NN-75mm boots in this comparison because I have never seen nor heard of a 75mm boot with a rockered outsole.
It is rockered like a modern hiking/backpacking boot- like my Scarpa Kinesis backpacking boot:
It is the only ski boot I have ever seen with a rockered sole.All of my other NNN-BC boots have a completely flat sole- including:
- Alfa Guard Advance
- Crispi Svartisen BC
- Fischer BCX6
- Rossignol BCX6
Here are some photos of a few of them for comparison: The Guard Advance is completely flat, the Svartisen BC has a very slight rocker.
The Rossi and Fischer BCX6s that I own have completely flat outsoles.
So- question- what do you think the effect is of that rockered sole? I have sole thoughts- wondering what others think...
I know one thing- unweighted, the Alaska sits with the highest heel off the ski: The Alaska BC also engages the flexor earlier than the other boots...
The Alaska BC also has the stiffest sole of all of these boots- by far...
What do you think? Does the sole rocker produce performance that is unique to the Alaska? OR- is the difference only in the stiffer sole flex of the Alaska BC?
BTW- I did not include any NN-75mm boots in this comparison because I have never seen nor heard of a 75mm boot with a rockered outsole.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
- bgregoire
- Posts: 1511
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
- Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
- Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
- Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar
Re: boot rocker?
LC, What a special way or presenting your new pair of Alfa Guards to the world! lol
I am looking forward to your report, and more pictures of them!
I've noticed the "rocker" on my older Alpina Alaskas too but had assumed it was because they were well used and had been stretched by the glued on supergaiters that cover them.
By the way, all the plastic shell tele boots I own have significant "rocker" at the duckbill.
I am looking forward to your report, and more pictures of them!
I've noticed the "rocker" on my older Alpina Alaskas too but had assumed it was because they were well used and had been stretched by the glued on supergaiters that cover them.
By the way, all the plastic shell tele boots I own have significant "rocker" at the duckbill.
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM
- Cannatonic
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 9:07 pm
Re: boot rocker?
mmmmmm.....those Alfa boots do like nice!!
"All wisdom is to be gained through suffering"
-Will Lange (quoting Inuit chieftan)
-Will Lange (quoting Inuit chieftan)
- lilcliffy
- Posts: 4114
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: boot rocker?
The only plastic 75mm boots I own is a pair of Scarpa T4s- older gen. They have a very slight rocker right at the duckbill. Much less than the Alaska in terms of both height and length.
BTW- all of the Alaska BCs I have seen have this rockered sole- including the brand new set my close friend just bought.
BTW- all of the Alaska BCs I have seen have this rockered sole- including the brand new set my close friend just bought.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
- bgregoire
- Posts: 1511
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
- Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
- Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
- Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar
Re: boot rocker?
My 3 buckle Garmont shells have deeper rocker than my Excursions.lilcliffy wrote:The only plastic 75mm boots I own is a pair of Scarpa T4s- older gen. They have a very slight rocker right at the duckbill. Much less than the Alaska in terms of both height and length.
Coolio, neat. Keep on rockin' Gareth!
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM
- lowangle al
- Posts: 2741
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
- Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
- Favorite Skis: powder skis
- Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.
Re: boot rocker?
I'm surprised the heel isn't higher in the pic where it's mounted on the ski. Do those bindings ramp up?
- Leo Tasker
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2018 3:50 am
- Location: Oslo, Norway
- Ski style: Uncoordinated but enthustiastic
- Favorite Skis: Åsnes Gamme
- Favorite boots: Alfa Skarvet
- Occupation: Top Gun Bootfitter
Re: boot rocker?
I wonder if having a rocker sole and a flat binding would increase the likelihood of the toe section delaminating? Probably depends how stiff the sole flex is. Does the heel contact the binding when weighted? FWIW My Alfa Skarvet also have a flat sole. I imagine the Alaska may feel more natural to walk in...
- bgregoire
- Posts: 1511
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
- Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
- Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
- Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar
Re: boot rocker?
My guess is that rocker on NNN-BC boot has not perceptible effect on skiing. I mean, 185lbs of flesh and bones above it will flatten out that sole in no time.
Well that is just me thinking on my couch. I'd love to hear your theories about it LC!
Well that is just me thinking on my couch. I'd love to hear your theories about it LC!
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM
- phoenix
- Posts: 833
- Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:44 pm
- Location: Northern VT
- Ski style: My own
- Favorite Skis: Varies,I've had many favorites
- Favorite boots: Excursions, T1's
- Occupation: I'm occupied
Re: boot rocker?
Looks like the old T2 rocker, but probably has less effect, having a softer flex. I never liked the rocker much on the T2's... maybe with the BC toe rather than a duckbill the effect is different. I'm a little surprised they engage more quickly, I'd think it was the other way around. There's a reason Voile developed the wedge for 75mm's, to compensate for that rocker.
- lilcliffy
- Posts: 4114
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: boot rocker?
Master Phoenix- as usual- you hit the nail on the head...
Boot rocker is a liability when it comes to free-heel downhill skiing- exactly the reason why Voile risers have a backslope to them.
BUT- when it comes to XC skiing on soft snow?
Boot rocker is a liability when it comes to free-heel downhill skiing- exactly the reason why Voile risers have a backslope to them.
BUT- when it comes to XC skiing on soft snow?
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.