6/17/2023 0 Comments Spectre boots![]() ![]() Finally getting my hands on a pair of the new La Sportiva Spectre AT boots this fall I was quickly won over and am now a true believer that the Italians really do know how to make foot wear of all shapes and sizes. I had not owned a single product from that elusive euro brand La Sportiva, yet had been continually intrigued at trade shows by their shiny new innovations and ski-mo influenced design. Vertaba/Spine: Carbon-reinforced Grilamid Tongue: EZ Flex tongue for smooth touring/walking and progressive flex for skiingįorward Lean: 3 preset forward lean options (10˙, 14˙, 18˙)Ĭompatibility: Works with all "Tech-Style" and AT bindings, indicators help align boot in tech fittingsĪ close up of the walk/ski mode mechanism which provides 60° of cuff rotaion in walk mode! Liner: EZ Thermo Liners are plush and thermo-formable with optional lace system Tech fittings front and back (naturally).īuckles: Four Pegasus buckles are micro-adjustable without undoing the buckle Tech fittings in the toe and heel allow for pairing with ultra light tech bindings such as the Plum Guide Tech Bindings while still allowing use with more common frame alpine touring bindings. The liners are warm and comfy and the toe box has venting to allow your feet to breath.ĭual density Vibram soles (more rigid materials in high wear areas such as the toe and heel) provide hiking boot grip on rock and slippery ski lodge cafeteria floors alike. If you like the added security of a lacing system, it’s there, and if you don’t, thats ok too thanks to the minimal design. The optional single handed lacing system is super easy to use and stays out of the way with a velcro fastener. There is a flex zone in the liner to accommodate the 60° of cuff rotation that the shell allows for without having the liner bulge or buckle. While not Intuition liners the La Sportiva Spectre AT boot liners are made from dual density closed cell foam and are thermoform-able so that they can be customized to your feet. Note the micro-adjustment which you can adjust while still buckled into the boot. (If you are interested in reading about the La sportiva Adjuster Soft Shell Jacket and Prospector Pants, click on over here to those reviews.)īelow you can see the buckle engaged and below that releasesd. As well, getting in and out of the La Sportiva Spectre is not impeded by the buckles as they flip out of the way to provide easy access for your foot. There is no need to unclip the buckles to adjust them. My favourite feature of this buckle design has to be the micro-adjustability that’s available even when the buckles are engaged. The Pegasus clasp system is a unique cam design that does take some practice to get used to but after a few tries it becomes second nature. It also prevents rocks, trees and stumps from catchinfg the buckles and protects them from being damaged. This provides a clean lower profile for post holing or ski mountaineering. In Tour mode they are well out of the way on top of the boot and nowhere near the sides of the boots like other buckle designs. Not only are they lightweight, they also provide good leverage and holding power when ratcheted down. The four Pegasus buckles are very unique in their design and offer up some true innovation. Watch the following video review for the quick overview: More on this later in the verdict, first let’s look at a few features. However, weight savings means nothing if they ski like fuzzy bunny slippers. ![]() I had been in love with my ultra-light Dynafit One 3-buckle boots at just 1681 grams per boot until I was lured away by the promise of a weight savings of 110g per boot or 220g per pair. Weighing in at just 1570 grams per size 28 boot it proved to be lighter than most 3-buckle boots we have previously reviewed. Well, La Sportiva proved me way wrong with the new Spectre alpine touring boot. ![]() Wrap this up in a ski boot which is the lightest 4-buckler on the market and yet can still ski the resort as well as it tours. So, I was naturally skeptical when an alpine touring boot came to me promising a sixty-degree range of motion in walk mode with on-the-fly micro-adjustable buckles that provide a clean low profile shell. Most features are typically given techy, incomprehensible names and descriptions so you’re left dizzy, blindly believing what you are told. It’s rare that product accolades are as genuine as the marketing materials that hype the hell out of them. The La Sportiva Eclipse is the lightest 4-buckler out there and because of this and much more, it gets the “Gear of the Year” nod from the Backcountry Skiing Canada testing team for the 2013/2014 season. It's an alpine touring boot that has a true sixty degrees cuff rotation in walk mode along with the funkiest low profile buckles you'll ever see. ![]()
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