Alpina Alaska 75 boots

[Didier Lafond]

Somebody need to do a study and compare how many of the Alaska boots fail in Voile vs Rotta Super Telemark. Am I the only one to notice how extra strain is applied to various spots at the front of these boots in Voiles? Everything is smoother in the STs. My partners boot also failed in the Voiles of course.check it out, I’d love your feedback.

I bought a pair of Alaskas last november and here is what happened after two months (about 25 outings).

I use them with Voile bindings.

I must say that I'm very disappointed since it's the obvious breaking point. If I was the manufacturer and I cared about what I do, I would reinforce it. For the record, I mostly ski in rolling terrain and I don't have space to do teleturns.

The retailer will definitely reimburse me for this. I wonder if I'll buy another pair of Alaskas since I really liked them (comfy, warm, stiff enough) before they broke down or if I'll go towards something else like the Alfa Greenland even if they are very pricey. If anyone has an headsup on this, I'd be glad to hear it.

PS: a friend of mine just got into skiing this year and his Rossignol sole unglueded and he had to replace the zipper on his fischers after only one use. I don't know if we're damned but it doesn't inspire me to go towards these boots either.

[Musk Ox]

The retailer will definitely reimburse me for this. I wonder if I'll buy another pair of Alaskas since I really liked them (comfy, warm, stiff enough) before they broke down or if I'll go towards something else like the Alfa Greenland even if they are very pricey. If anyone has an headsup on this, I'd be glad to hear it.

If you have a large inheritance to burn through, Didier, I can recommend Lundhags boots.

https://www.lundhags.com/no/skisko-turs ... 8731743497

They are expensive at full price. But you can see why.

The bar of my NNN BC boots failed about three weeks ago so I emailed them. I got a reply from the actual man whose job it is to fix them, who asked for pictures, and then said 'Yes, that's a fault in the sole, send both boots to us and we'll replace the soles and rubber on both for free.' So you get back the comfortable, broken-in leather with new parts. They're designed to last forever and any part can be repaired.

[CwmRaider]

@Musk Ox
From the Lundhags website
"Guide Expedition 75 is made for telemark bindings. We advise against the use of 3-pin bindings, which can wear out the boot’s toe construction. Instead, we recommend like "Voilé Switchback", and "Rottefella Riva", 412, "Chili", and "Cobra R4"

Perhaps it would be OK but Lundhags themselves recommend against it.

Crispi ski boots still seem like the best new option. But the choice is pretty slim I must say...

[Musk Ox]

@Musk Ox
From the Lundhags website
"Guide Expedition 75 is made for telemark bindings. We advise against the use of 3-pin bindings, which can wear out the boot’s toe construction. Instead, we recommend like "Voilé Switchback", and "Rottefella Riva", 412, "Chili", and "Cobra R4"

Oh. Oh well. Oops.

[Nick BC]

Interesting that boot manufacturers like Lundhag are now recommending against three pins. Thinking back through all the leather boots I’ve skied since 1980, prior to moving to plastic, I never had a sole splitting issue. However, I did put smiley plates on some of my boots. The biggest problem with leather, in my view, was the tendency to really soften up with use so ski control suffers. Could it be a decline in quality in the Vibram soles, I assume there is just one manufacturer and all the boot makers buy their soles from them, like Rottefella and their NNN/NNN BC soles?

[fisheater]

@Nick BC i believe it’s just the Vibram thermomolded soles.
I have an Alaska 75, because I got a great summer deal, and my Alaska BC fit like custom made. My problem is now that I ski the Alaska 75, I can’t get by without a light soft flexing 75 mm boot. I hope the Alaska lasts (with my Voile bindings). If it doesn’t I sure hope I get a good fit in an Antarctic, because I will be going with a Norwegian welted sole

[Nick BC]

You obviously love them more Fish than your Ski Marches I have a pair of the Ski Marches, which I am really. really trying to love, but I feel there is kind of a disconnect with those boots. Admittedly I got sent, unasked, the Wide, and I have a narrow Scarpa foot. Even with the Chennabarre footbed and super thick insulated socks I can't get a secure fit and the ankle feels loose. My Alaska's are way better fitting from a snugness point of view and more fun given that they are softer.

I'm starting to come around to Al's view, that a T4 boot is probably as good as it gets for XCD unless you want to go mach schnell. I don't have a T4, but I do own a last generation T3 which I bought in 2008 when I heard they were being discontinued. They look pretty similar to T4's, they have two buckles, but they do have a power strap. I read on Telemarktips that they had the same scaffo (lower boot) as the old three buckle T2's, but with a lower cuff and one less buckle. I've always found them enough for skis up to mid 90's as long as it isn't too hard snow.

However, I've always wondered about the efficacy of that power strap. It's just above the upper boot strap. The original velcro power strap crapped out about five years ago so I replaced it with an Intermediate "Booster Strap". Two days ago I went for a tour and decided to ski one boot with the booster strap and one without. Lo and behold, I couldn't feel any difference. So the booster straps are gone. I guess there's a reason the T4 doesn't have booster straps. I'm guessing Scarpa felt in the oughties that a ski boot had to have a booster strap to be a contender.

[bgregoire]

Interesting that boot manufacturers like Lundhag are now recommending against three pins. Thinking back through all the leather boots I’ve skied since 1980, prior to moving to plastic, I never had a sole splitting issue. However, I did put smiley plates on some of my boots. The biggest problem with leather, in my view, was the tendency to really soften up with use so ski control suffers. Could it be a decline in quality in the Vibram soles, I assume there is just one manufacturer and all the boot makers buy their soles from them, like Rottefella and their NNN/NNN BC soles?

I used to think the Lundhags 3pin warning was specific to its 3pin compatible boots because they used their OWN soles. Looking at the Lundhags site and it current version of the Lundhags Guide 75, this no longer seems to be the case, or never was. They are currently using a Vibram outsole.

[fisheater]

Nick, my Ski March is for me much more tour friendly than my T-4. However the Alaska 75 is a better match for touring on my FT 62, especially in conditions that the FT 62 excels in. 3”-8” of fresh with a base, the Alaska 75 is just, lighter, better XC flex. Now I was breaking in trail in 12” of soft, cold, and dusty powder, on a base that varied from soft to firm on my Tindan 86. The Ski March was a lot of fun. I enjoyed better sole flex and ankle flex with the Ski March than I would have with the T-4.
I’m lucky, the thick wool insoles that came with my boot fill the extra volume. My boot also came as a W, and my foot is a perfect fit in Alaska boots, perfect with the stock cheesy insole. So I’m definitely not a wide. However sometimes I am lucky!

[Inspiredcapers]

I’ve had two really good seasons with this boot. I’ve used them snowshoeing, I’ve hiked in them, I’ve done a couple of 5 mile runs (on trails, not pavement), and I’ve skied them in a lot of different situations. They’re damn comfortable. I wouldn’t recommend running long distances/frequently in them (I don’t recommend footwear at all- I prefer barefoot running/hiking when the weather allows) but it was workable for the conditions. I typically leave them laced up loose until longer downhill stretches then I snug them up.

Luckily mine haven’t cracked at the toe. As I’ve grown into them I’ve found my confidence soar (I’ve been a fan of Telebry release plates, don’t feel that need any more). The only change I’d make is to go for a 44 instead of a 43 for trips if longer duration.

If Alpina makes a similar boot for the XPLORE system I’d be seriously interested.