Is there a list somewhere of current and forthcoming Xplore boots?

[satanas]

There seem to be a few more manufacturers this year, but none that are especially likely to fit my feet; I'd like to think that Salomon might join the fold at some point but seriously doubt it will happen.

Unlike most people here I have a relatively narrow foot, and a narrow low volume heel, ankle and calf, so Alpina definitely wont fit, and I have my doubts about Alfa, although they claim the Free APS is less wide than their other boots; Rossi are also the wrong shape everywhere. That leaves Fischer, the Free APS, maybe Lundhags(?) - is there anything else out there or on the horizon?

[CwmRaider]

Alfa, Fischer, Alpina, Rossignol as you mentioned. Then there is Madshus:
https://madshus.com/en-no/p/panorama-ex ... boots-2023
Crispi is rumored to hop on the bus as well, but I have not seen any pictures anywhere yet.
I think those are the main producers of NNN-BC boots as well, in any case.

[wabene]

I called Telemarkdown a couple of weeks ago to ask about Crispi and XP. They said they've heard rumors, but nothing concrete yet.

[satanas]

Thank you - I'd forgotten about that one!

However, the cuff and heel counter appear to be moulded plastic, so I have my doubts they'd be stiff enough for my use. With the Salomon skating boots carbon fibre cuffs that small (or maybe smaller) actually work well, but the plastic ones not so much. It's also not reassuring that they don't mention turning or control at all, though I suppose the M78 and M68 skis linked below on their site are quite wide.

Since I have quite lax ankles after multiple sprains, unfortunately lateral support is crucial, and in our typically compact (firm!) snow here in Oz things respond much better with more boot rather than less as is doable in Northern hemisphere powder.

[turnfarmer]

There seem to be a few more manufacturers this year, but none that are especially likely to fit my feet; I'd like to think that Salomon might join the fold at some point but seriously doubt it will happen.

Unlike most people here I have a relatively narrow foot, and a narrow low volume heel, ankle and calf, so Alpina definitely wont fit, and I have my doubts about Alfa, although they claim the Free APS is less wide than their other boots; Rossi are also the wrong shape everywhere. That leaves Fischer, the Free APS, maybe Lundhags(?) - is there anything else out there or on the horizon?

Maybe try the Womens‘s Alfa Free if they make one big enough for you. If they actually use a different last rather than just different colors.

[Theme]

Lundhags, especially the Abisku Expedition is very high volume. The Abisku is lower volume and narrower, but still has a very high toe area. This boot is possibly not great for downhill, hard to compress the ball of foot - at lest initially before you break them in. They are very stiff. I still had some heel movement but no lift, in 1sz too small Abisku. The lacing made me not able to compress my ankle down as well, created a pressure point if tightened too much above the mid foot.

I have noticed the heel in Alaska XP is very large. Or I have a low volume heel. Or this is because of the poor lacing, so I cannot lock the heel in place. My heel slips sideways inside the boot, and there is heel lift. But the toes were too narrow and I sized up by one. This is amplified by the rather soft support and narrow skis I am on. I hope the Pioneer Pro is a bit stiffer and lower volume in the heel. Time will tell - currently some small and large sizes are available in Europe (Adventure Nordique), not my size yet.

Alfa will be making an Outback in Xplore, possibly next winter possibly later. But that is not of help, as it is a wide boot too. So are almost all Alfas, but Free was a bit tighter, still wide though. Skaget I think was almost identical fit - BUT, they had some very thick padding on the sides of the heel, which may help your low-volume heels stay in place. You also have the women's versions - if they have sizes, try them. A bit narrower. Now they came out with the Free in Women's version, too. I am curious to see if the Vista would fit me well. As it is based off the Guard, it is supposed to also be a bit wide. But I have tested Guard in Women's sizes, and that fit was narrower but still wide enough for me. Might resort to that myself, if the Pioneer Pro does not work for me.

[TheMusher]

Lundhags, especially the Abisku Expedition is very high volume. The Abisku is lower volume and narrower, but still has a very high toe area. This boot is possibly not great for downhill, hard to compress the ball of foot - at lest initially before you break them in. They are very stiff. I still had some heel movement but no lift, in 1sz too small Abisku.

Hey Theme!
This is interesting..

I studied an example of Abisku Expedition Xplore today. The sole seems incredibly stiff (like Alfa Free?) just like you say, especially when compared to Lundhag's BC and 75mm boots. I wonder how that translates to user experience in the field.

Do I understand correctly that it's the sole stiffness that makes it hard to compress the ball of the foot?

The lacing made me not able to compress my ankle down as well, created a pressure point if tightened too much above the mid foot.

This sounds like any Lundhags boot honestly, until you break them in
For me that typically takes 20+ hrs and starts in my living room..

As a side note, I've found that lacing Lundhags boots is an art in itself. I typically never lace my Guide Expeditions or hiking shoes all the way, unless there are steep downhills ahead. Instead, I typically pull the laces all around the ancle on a lower point, which improves ancle grip and comfort - at least for me personally.

[Theme]

Do I understand correctly that it's the sole stiffness that makes it hard to compress the ball of the foot?

The soles are supposedly all the same, made by Rottefella. But midsole/outer materials apparently make the difference here. The stiff midsole probably is to blame - but, also the very stiff leather upper they use. Fortunately it does not compress my toes much when skiing.

The feeling on K & G is possibly very close to Alfa Skaget, which has a flexpoint at the toes, but sole is very stiff. You don't really flex the ball of foot much while striding. I think this does make K&G more efficient - the foot does not tire, but you lose most of the feel. You need to learn a different technique of pressuring the wax pocket. With the Alaska XP I get perfect BoF pressure going down, but my feet get tired on the flats, and the support downhill is not very great. However, this is partly due to the lacing and softer shaft, not just the flex of the sole.

The lacing made me not able to compress my ankle down as well, created a pressure point if tightened too much above the mid foot.

This sounds like any Lundhags boot honestly, until you break them in
For me that typically takes 20+ hrs and starts in my living room..

As a side note, I've found that lacing Lundhags boots is an art in itself. I typically never lace my Guide Expeditions or hiking shoes all the way, unless there are steep downhills ahead. Instead, I typically pull the laces all around the ancle on a lower point, which improves ancle grip and comfort - at least for me personally.

Yup. I am not a fan of the pivoting lace hooks either. Lacing these boots requires some very strong shoulders, as one has to apply force to some very odd directions during the process...

[satanas]

I definitely don't have a high volume foot, so that leaves out all Alpinas I've ever seen, Lundhags, and all Alfas except perhaps the Free. Rossi boots I've tried are too tight in the forefoot and way too wide in the heel. Since I'd need a 46 or 47 boot, it's no go on anything in women's fit.

No Madshus boots have made it here so I've no idea of how they might fit, but I doubt there'd be enough support. That leaves the Fischer, which would probably fit well, and the Alfa Free, which appeals more, but might not fit. Sigh. It'd be nice to be able to try on the Free - or anything, really - but the only way I could do that would be to import them from somewhere on spec. That could get expensive fast...

Shoulda bought those Fischer Rebounds eons ago - they'd probably be narrow enough to work with NNNBC, where there's a much greater variety of boots. Sigh...

[riel]

Alfa, Fischer, Alpina, Rossignol as you mentioned. Then there is Madshus:
https://madshus.com/en-no/p/panorama-ex ... boots-2023
Crispi is rumored to hop on the bus as well, but I have not seen any pictures anywhere yet.
I think those are the main producers of NNN-BC boots as well, in any case.

There is also the Fischer BCX Traverse boot, which looks like an XPlore variation on their TransNordic boot.

With the flex point further back, and Xplore soles being stiffer than 75mm and NNN-BC, that might avoid the toe pinching issue people have reported on the TransNordic 75mm boot.

https://www.fischersports.com/us_en/bcx ... proof-3022