This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
Real reviews by real skiers. What a concept! Add your own today. Reviews only please, questions can be posted as replies but new threads looking for opinions should be posted to the main Telemark Talk Forum.
Lundhags are not made in Sweden anymore, they are made in low-wage Portugal. Alfa is not made in Norway anymore it is made in low-wage Romania.
Ditto Asnes- made in low-wage Czechia not Norway. Devold? not Norway but Lithuania.
All these companies have shifted their production from high wage Scandinavia to low-wage countries and have not passed on a dime of savings to their consumers.
They do still make some boots in Sweden. And the custom boots and all the repairs are all done at the mothership.
But yes, they're expensive, and er... well, they cost a lot of money. To buy. When you buy them, you're poorer afterwards.
Sorry I don't have much to offer to this conversation.
I have the exact same question. I have been skiing the Alpina Alaska for three or four seasons and they have increasingly pinched my toes in the toe-box (they are sized one-up from my normal boot size). This season I will to switch to another NNN BC boot, one with more room in the toe-box, but I want to retain the good characteristics of the Alaska which otherwise I liked a lot.
Would that boot be the Guide or the Guide Expedition?
I am leaning towards the Guide as it looks like a significant weight reduction over the Expe. I also tour long distances, and powering turns is not a big criteria. I ski with Yeti-gaiters (over-boots) so the lower boot height is not an issue.
Not wanting to confuse matters- but do Alfa boots have a large toe-box?
A propos this, the Guides are pretty great for longer tours. The removable liners are pretty awesome and all that, and the boots are very comfortable.
I'm getting more into going out specifically with turns in mind/ improving my turns, and increasingly wish I had the taller Expedition shaft. But I feel very secure with the Guides when you're on the way back down after a long day/ couple of days of whooshing around with a pack, and they're so comfy. Plus I got a new pair of skates for my birthday!
OMG, @Musk Ox and @Woodserson gushing on and on about these boots is going to be the end of me.
I am starting to feel that I NEED these boots, but I already have too much of everything.
OMG, @Musk Ox and @Woodserson gushing on and on about these boots is going to be the end of me.
I am starting to feel that I NEED these boots, but I already have too much of everything.
Lundhags are not made in Sweden anymore, they are made in low-wage Portugal. Alfa is not made in Norway anymore it is made in low-wage Romania.
Ditto Asnes- made in low-wage Czechia not Norway. Devold? not Norway but Lithuania.
All these companies have shifted their production from high wage Scandinavia to low-wage countries and have not passed on a dime of savings to their consumers.
They do still make some boots in Sweden. And the custom boots and all the repairs are all done at the mothership.
But yes, they're expensive, and er... well, they cost a lot of money. To buy. When you buy them, you're poorer afterwards.
Sorry I don't have much to offer to this conversation.
Thanks Ox, I think the Guide fits the bill for me, more interested in long distance touring comfort.
I haven't toured with the Expeditions so I can't actually say what they're like. The comfort of both is going to be the same down at the business end where your feeties are, and there's nothing wrong with having a few layers of leather strapped around your calves... and gaiters aren't going to be mandatory.... The Guides are adequate for me in deep snow for a few nights out with a load in gaiters, I can certainly say that. I'm not sure what I'd go for if I was doing ten nights in Greenland, for example.
Last edited by Musk Ox on Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:26 pm, edited 5 times in total.
