Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Warning about Andrew sizing:
I had an old pair of Andrew Rifugios in size 43, which is the size I use in most shoes, and they were so small I had to sell them. My big toe was touching the front end of the shoe all the time. It was especially painful when walking, but skiing was not that pleasant either.
So, unless they have changed their sizing, I suggest to size up in Andrew boots.

Boot size chats for some of the major hardshell tele (and alpine) boot brands:

https://www.gearx.com/blog/knowledge/sk ... -measured/

I have a number of comparable NNN-BC boots in our house right now:
- 41EU Alfa Kikut
- 41EU Alpina Alaska
- 41EU Fischer BCX6
- 41EU Rossignol BCX6
- 42EU Cripi Svartisen
- 43EU Alpina Alaska
- 43EU Fischer BCX6
- 43EU Rossignol BCX6

I think that the footbed length of all of these boots is consistent.

As far as width- from narrowest to widest: Rossi- Alpina/Crispi- Fischer- Alfa

As far as volume- from lowest to largest: Rossi- Fischer- Crispi- Alpina- Alfa

As far as heel-ankle fit- from none to the most: Svartisen- Rossi BCX6- Fischer BCX6- Kikut- Alaska
(this would vary for each individual boot design/construction and is independent of the footbed last)

lilcliffy wrote:I have a number of comparable NNN-BC boots in our house right now:
- 41EU Alfa Kikut
- 41EU Alpina Alaska
- 41EU Fischer BCX6
- 41EU Rossignol BCX6
- 42EU Cripi Svartisen
- 43EU Alpina Alaska
- 43EU Fischer BCX6
- 43EU Rossignol BCX6

I think that the footbed length of all of these boots is consistent.

Thanks for the info.
Have you actually pulled them out for comparison? As you know, footbed length is vital info but it gives little to no indication of volume or width, particularly the volume of the toe box, which in some cases might actually extend beyond the tip of the footbed.

For the fun of it, have you compared the outer sole length of these various boots (I'm assuming you don't actually fit in all of these!)?

Ha! No- the only 41EU that I can actually get on my foot and walk around in is the Alfa Kikut 41EU. Even this large volume boot is really too small for me, especially on my left foot. I am thinking that the Alfa will stretch a bit though- it is very soft Nubuck- I am thinking they will suit me quite well for a very light-duty touring boot.

Yes- did check the "footbed" or rather the insoles...Also just from watching and listening to people try them on.

I will measure the outsoles for comparison too.

From my recent experiences trying to fit the Crispi- update coming soon BTW, think I may have fixed at least the heel lift problem- I am realizing how big a deal-breaker it is- for me at least- for a boot to have a shaped, contoured heel-Achilles portion of the boot. Both the Alaska and Kikut are shaped-contoured around the heel and up onto the Achilles- this makes a MASSIVE difference in fit and comfort for me- the Fischer, Rossi and Crispi boot do not have this design and they all produce heel-lift problems for me.

Nothing to see here...

Bumped into a size issue for leather 75mm boots for my better half:
For normal shoes she uses EU36 and for hiking boots EU37.

Tried following 75mm leather boots:

-"Alpina by Crispi" EU36 (looks like a Varg Morgedal ; 2nd hand boots from Norway) : way too small, toes curled hitting the front.

-NEW Andrew Rifugio EU37: too big: inner sole at least 1.5cm linger than the foot when we took the inner sole out ; feeling "way too big".

-old Garmont leather boots EU38: way too big.

The inner soles of the 38 Garmont are only 3mm longer than the 37 Andrew.

Now the question is which sizes from which brands we could try without spending a fortune?

(EDIT: mistyped the Andrew size: corrected to 37 ; Aventure Nordique is selling off a pair of new Alfa Quest Greenland 75 ladies in size 36 but according to the Alfa tables as posted here they are bigger than the Andrew 37... just weird! )


@admin feel free to move this to another tread if necessary