My poor Alaskas...

[bgregoire]

Have a look under the insole, My EU45 boots have a 46 insole. If the same is true having a 44 inside the 43, perhaps Alpina sized the boots up one EU point to accomodate thicker socks in these backcountry babies. Can you get me the contact info for the peeps at Alpina Canada? That would be great if i could buy direct from them!

[bgregoire]

For the US peeps interested in the boot:

http://highpeakscyclery.com/product/alp ... -19358.htm

[MikeK]

bgregoire - I'd check with hp cyclery before ordering. I tried to get a NNN boot from them last year (yes I had this idea long before this forum haha) and they said no go. Maybe they have new stock. Garnet Hill near Gore Mountain also carries them, or did at least last year... haven't been yet this year.

Johnny - I don't see much difference except the front lace loop nearest the toe appear to be wider on the new boot. They may have started similar and you stretched the leather there by cranking them down.

All this talk about volume has me really confused. Mine feel so small in the instep and width but my foot is high volume and muscular (my foot can beat up your foot ). When I tried on a 43 I couldn't even get my foot in there - it's probably right for length but width is way too snug. My Crispi 43 fits perfect, both length, width and volume. If you tried a 43 of those you'd probably be swimming in them!

If the length is a little off and the width is right, you might be better off, that's how my 44's fit. You might find your feet cramping up if you try to work the super fat sock in there - I know mine do. I just deal with a little room at the toe.

[bgregoire]

Mike, the bottom lacing might look wider but that might only be because the lacing is done differently on both boots?

That sucks for Garnett Hill. Alpina reps gave me 3 US retailers and that now means none of them have the boot in stock. Anywho, i've got duck feet myself and from what you say i'm happy I did not order the Alpinas in my size, 43, afterall. Got the 45 for thick socks, but sounds like 44 would have been the better option as two sizes up does seem to cause to boot to bend too far back, at least on NNN BC. What are these crispis you have? Sounds like that might be a better fit for my 6-toed foot. When i tried a pair in Sweden though they seemed narrow nevertheless though.

Well if this thread can also be about our favourite boots or the ones we fantasize about, how about these:

https://www.alfa.no/shop/skisko

Norwegian. Leather. xcD. XCd. Wide toe box. Its all there baby!

[MikeK]

The mighty Svartisen:

http://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=381

It's a very nice boot. I scoured around so much trying to find reviews and info about it and everything I found, which was minimal, was positive. So I started the 1 year order process - no seriously, it took me almost a year to get them!

They come in NNN as well, although I'm not sure the sizing would be the same (should be) and yes, they fit different than the Crispi Mountain Black I've tried before - much, much wider.

I can't complain about them, they don't have that slipper-like feel of the Alaska, but they are much stiffer, and IMO easier to ski a wider, heavier ski.

I bit the bullet and just ordered a pair for my wife from France... I couldn't wait another year! Anyway I might be out a few hundred if they don't fit!

PS Those boots you linked look sexy - like the Crispi but nicer.

[MikeK]

bgregoire - WOW!

I just looked through your trip. I guess when you mentioned it before it didn't click. That is AWESOME!

I've always wanted to do some kind of ski/pulk expedition/trip. My wife would never go for it - I even contemplated a SnowTrekker hot tent to entice to sleep out below 32F... and I guess that doesn't do much good if there is no wood around for fuel, such was your case most of the time.

Anyway, talk about go big or go home...

[bgregoire]

I'll soon be going to explore the Mont Groulx area in northern Québec. Taking wider skis and pins this time to work on my tele skills. I'll also be hot tenting for the first time. Maybe I could deliver some pics of the trip, in case that might help coax your wife into living the good life winter style!

[MikeK]

It may not help but I think you should def post a trip report.

[Johnny]

Hey, thanks for the info about the HH socks! It might be exactly what I need... I was thinking about trying Darn Tough socks but I'm just too freakin broke... All my boots have several shims/wedges and only one specific pair of socks that will fit them...

One thing I hate about myself (There's a lot!) is my feet. For some reason, they're always wet. No matter if it's XC shoes, heavy plastic boots, five fingers or Birkenstocks, my feet are always moist, summer or winter. I feel bad freezing all the time. I wasn't like that when I was younger, it only started a few years ago... Maybe it has something to do with my Scotch-and-candies diet...?

"These socks not only keep your feet warm but they also breathe eliminating foot moisture.Because they fit like a sock larger sizes boots are not required." Yep, exactly what I need! (But isn't that what they say about ALL the socks out there? ; )

Did you go ski Mt Groulx before? Will you use the hiking trails or there's some nice secret glades over there?

And about the boots, there cannot be a sexier boot than the Alaska. It's technically impossible.

[bgregoire]

Hey, thanks for the info about the HH socks! It might be exactly what I need... I was thinking about trying Darn Tough socks but I'm just too freakin broke... All my boots have several shims/wedges and only one specific pair of socks that will fit them...

One thing I hate about myself (There's a lot!) is my feet. For some reason, they're always wet. No matter if it's XC shoes, heavy plastic boots, five fingers or Birkenstocks, my feet are always moist, summer or winter. I feel bad freezing all the time. I wasn't like that when I was younger, it only started a few years ago... Maybe it has something to do with my Scotch-and-candies diet...?

"These socks not only keep your feet warm but they also breathe eliminating foot moisture.Because they fit like a sock larger sizes boots are not required." Yep, exactly what I need! (But isn't that what they say about ALL the socks out there? ; )

Did you go ski Mt Groulx before? Will you use the hiking trails or there's some nice secret glades over there?

And about the boots, there cannot be a sexier boot than the Alaska. It's technically impossible.

Hiya! The HH Socks should fill the void of your foot nicely. They are made of heavy pile. extremely durable. my gfriend has had hers for almost 20 years and she even uses them as slippers round the house. Its not magic now, they are socks as you say, they will make you feet warmer, so expect to sweat! If it can be a relief, I have the same problem, my feet sweat alot too. But hey, maybe that's the problem with being human? Big deal if you have to dry out the boots at the end of the day next to the fireplace sipping scotch with a mouthful of candy. To me, its only really a problem when winter camping for several days. Then the leather boots do show their weakness against plastic shell + intuition (closed cell foam) liners. To remedy that, campers need to look into a vapor barrier sock to prevent that sweet sweat from penetrating the boot insulation and eventually freezing hard like rock (and perhaps super-gaiters to protect from the snow). It works great but then your feet will feel and look like prunes at the end of everyday. I bet that is not your cup of tea LJ.

In the Groulx, their ain't really any hiking trails except for summer access trails. People usually hike up the frozen rivers to get to the plateau in the winter. It will be my first time there in the winter. But from what i saw last summer, the entire expansive plateau should in itself be the shangri-la of XCD!

Sexier boots than the Alaska? Perhaps not. But as pretty as they are, they are made of split leather. That stuff does absorbs some water from the outside. In some situations, full grain might be preferable, in others, a full-on integrated super gaiter might be the bomb. And coming back to those feet of ours we just LOVE, as relatively wide the Alaska may be, it still doesn't cut it for those requiring a wide toe box. I had to size up to accomodate my toes but in doing so, I have too much room at the ankle and a little too much flop up front. So there you go, sexy is one thing, but if it doesn't feel awesome once your inside, it's tempting to keep looking around!