Stiffer Boot for Xplore

[turnfarmer]

I used a pair of cuffs from a nordica boot to stiffen up a wimpy leather &5mm boot in the 90s. Worked well. Maybe do some DI shopping and see what you can find. I’ve heard you can find old At boots in SLC DI’s, that would likely be the way to go.
I used this cuff so it was easily removed to give you some ideas-

[turnfarmer]

Another idea might bee to get an upsized boot and add a thin intuition style liner, I think that would beef the boot up. Might have an issue with toe space though. Skimo.co has liners that are as thin as 5mm.

[Stephen]

I bought a pair of used Alfa Free this winter, even though the flex does not agree fully with my toes.
... but that will hurt my toes. Otherwise it is comfortable on my foot and does not give me blisters.

@telerat, I think it's possible to massage the area over the Free's toe hinge area to get a more comfortable "break" there. FWIW, it worked for me -- see pics.
https://telemarktalk.com/viewtopic.php? ... ase#p56876

[telerat]

Thanks @Stephen. I will try it out, and hopefully it will help enough. The construction of the boot is the reason though, with the stiff fabric around the BOAs forcing the flex point/zone forward and the rear bearing down on my toes. I would also prefer it to flex further back, but that will require extensive modification or a new construction of the boot.

[Capercaillie]

@JohnSKepler have you considered the Fischer BCX Traverse?

I have, and really like, the Alfa Skaget. It is not a stiff boot.

Another idea might bee to get an upsized boot and add a thin intuition style liner, I think that would beef the boot up. Might have an issue with toe space though. Skimo.co has liners that are as thin as 5mm.

I put together a "watermelon boot" (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2143) this past season from Alico Ski March boots and Intuition liners from a Scarpa T4. The Ski March boots felt really stiff when hand-flexing, but skiing they have a medium flex that is great for kick-and-glide. I think the oversize length acts as a lever and results in a softer boot. Which is perfect for an expedition double boot, but the result is too warm for skiing above -25°C, and I did have big toe bruising even with a baked liner (I think it is solvable with more liner modifications).

[fisheater]

@Capercaillie Did you use a toe cap when you baked your liners? If you did, that’s all I have to offer. If not, and for all other baking novices, myself included. Here is a link to some good instruction and some fitting supplies from Intuition:
https://intuitionliners.com/home-fitting/

BTW @Capercaillie I really think the “Watermelon Boot” is a great idea. I’m surprised more multi-day tourers haven’t adopted it.

[lilcliffy]

I doubt that the Xplore boot-binding interface will handle a tall stiff, plastic Telemark boot-
I think that even a boot like the Scarpa T4 would either snap out of the binding or perhaps even break it...

I think that the Xplore system is designed to withstand the forces of lightweight backcountry Nordic touring- and associated boots- not modern Telemark boots.

I have- and have thoroughly skied:
- Alfa Free XP
- Alfa Skaget XP
- Lundhags Abisku Expedition XP
- Crispi Futura Pro XP

The Abisku Exp/Futura Pro/Free are pretty close in terms of support-
the Abisku offering the best balance of flexiblility and stability when fully-laced up;
the Futura Pro/Free offering slightly more stability- but, need to be loosened up to offer XC flexibility without damaging your foot/ankle/shin.

I don't know how much tall-stiff boot-leverage one can get away with beyond these boots...
AND- if one truly wants a modern Telemark boot→ then mount an appropriate Telemark binding...

[telerat]

I think the Xplore binding is steel internally and can handle quite large forces, but I do not know how much. And not with the standard short screws in a regular ski. I'm not sure a plastic boot is a good idea though, but I actually want a higher and more supportive version of Alfa Free (without toe crunch and with better heel retention).

Interesting @lilcliffy that you rate the Abisku Expedition to approach Free and Futura Pro XP in support. Do they have any internal support in the shaft, or is it pure leather? My Skaget surprised me and is very supportive for a pure leather, but Free is significantly more supportive. How will you compare Abisku to Skaget? Is the difference in support about the same, larger or much larger compared with Abisku to Free?

Abiusku Expedition is tempting, but previously more for the waterproof lower. I know Guide Expedition had good support in tests, but that was compared to pure leather boots, as well as Crispi Svartisen with soft soles.

[lilcliffy]

but I actually want a higher and more supportive version of Alfa Free (without toe crunch and with better heel retention).

Agree with this-
the current Free is restrictive enough in terms of XC flexibility- it might as well offer even higher support and leverage.

Interesting @lilcliffy that you rate the Abisku Expedition to approach Free and Futura Pro XP in support. Do they have any internal support in the shaft, or is it pure leather?

The Expedtion construction does not have any internal skeleton- but they are remarkably supportive once fully-laced up.
Not quite as supportive as the Free/Futura Pro- but, the Expedition is a remarkably supportive Nordic touring boot.

My Skaget surprised me and is very supportive for a pure leather, but Free is significantly more supportive. How will you compare Abisku to Skaget? Is the difference in support about the same, larger or much larger compared with Abisku to Free?

I would place the Expedition in between the Skaget and the Free in terms of support.

[JohnSKepler]

I doubt that the Xplore boot-binding interface will handle a tall stiff, plastic Telemark boot-
I think that even a boot like the Scarpa T4 would either snap out of the binding or perhaps even break it...

I think that the Xplore system is designed to withstand the forces of lightweight backcountry Nordic touring- and associated boots- not modern Telemark boots.

I have- and have thoroughly skied:
- Alfa Free XP
- Alfa Skaget XP
- Lundhags Abisku Expedition XP
- Crispi Futura Pro XP

The Abisku Exp/Futura Pro/Free are pretty close in terms of support-
the Abisku offering the best balance of flexiblility and stability when fully-laced up;
the Futura Pro/Free offering slightly more stability- but, need to be loosened up to offer XC flexibility without damaging your foot/ankle/shin.

I don't know how much tall-stiff boot-leverage one can get away with beyond these boots...
AND- if one truly wants a modern Telemark boot→ then mount an appropriate Telemark binding...

There was a thread or two on the Abisku boots last year in which sizing was talked about. I found the thread but didn't find the sizing discussion. That discussion might have been in another thread that got hijacked.

The Abisku Explore is available in the US through Varuste. I figured I'd start out with however it matched up with the Alfa Free or the Alpina Alaska XP. What was the consensus on the Abisku Xplore? Did it fit like an Alfa Free or more like a Alpina Alaska? Those are the two boots that I remember comparing it to. And it apparently it has a wide last. I'm really hoping to replace the Free since I wasn't able to do much xcD last year with only the Alaska.

I haven't found a supplier for the Abisku Expedition though you may be able to order them directly from Lundhags.