Bought these ski boots in 2004 to play with some ski touring blades, and have no idea what model they are (even after Googling). The manual seems to suggest Telemark T1.

Anyway, how suitable are they for standard piste stuff eg a week in Zermatt?

NB I have no idea about skiing….

They look OK to me but i am no expert.

Maybe a trip to Snow and Rock (or similar) under the guise of buying new skis? I am sure their suitability will be proved or disproved quickly.

http://www.bivouak.net/matos/fiche_produit.php?categorie=1&matos=18&id_sport=1

Scarpa Cyber, cheaper version of the Scarpa Laser without the Lowtec inserts apparently.

I’m far from an expert either but those don’t look like alpine ski boots to me, there is a bit of a clue in the name as well, so I’d go with no you need to hire yourself some boots as well as skis.

I’ve just been given some decent 2nd hand skis from the GF, took them into a ski shop for a service and apparently they are decent £300 piste skis in good nick, so I’m sorted there.

Just need to work out if I need to get new boots or whether these will do or not.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=337562

Those Telemark ski boots will be fine on ordinary skis. Probably more comfy than alpine boots and certainly easier to walk in, just by virtue of the tread.

They’re not alpine boots, but they will be OK for general skiing. If you want to push it at all then yoy may need to spend some money on some alpine boots.

main difference between “regular” and touring ski boots is that the touring boots are often lighter and easier to walk in – when you skied before, did you use some hire boots then instead of these?

Have you worn these Scarpas for any length of time? If they fit well, you should be okay for a weeks’ skiing.

btw, the Scarpa Cyber are not suitable for telemark bindings, not sure what the “telemark” comment in your manual is about…

Hmm, don’t think I’ll be pushing anything, not been skiing since I bought these in 2004 and that was just messing about on Blades in Coire Cas.

NB I don’t mind spending £ on decent kit, if I’ll benefit from it. But if what I have will do for an Intermediate skier with poor technique, then I’m happy.

I plan to get some lessons when I’m in Zermatt anyway..

These are “touring” boots, made lighter and more flexible for uphill and cross country trips, eg Haute Route.
It has become fashionable to wear them for piste skiing. For someone with good technique they will do the job, but a proper “alpine” boot will do it much better, and safer too.
I’ve got both and am well aware that the touring boots don’t give very good support when it gets difficult.
My advice?
Don’t use them, use the real thing.

Just a thought, always make sure that bindings are properly adjusted to the boots. Shop job really.

Agree with srrc, they’re touring boots, not alpine skiing boots. You will struggle on them unless you’re a very good skier.

Have seen a lot of people who were very good skiers have a right ‘mare on their first day on touring boots.

That rather depends on what the OP plans to ski. If he’s just sticking to blue runs they will be fine.
If he wants to get fast/steep/bumpy then some proper alpine boots will do the job better.

Basically footflaps, you have an XC hardtail boot. It will go downhill ok on easy stuff, but if you want to downhill proper then get a downhill bike (boot).

NB I don’t mind spending £ on decent kit, if I’ll benefit from it. But if what I have will do for an Intermediate skier with poor technique, then I’m happy.

I plan to get some lessons when I’m in Zermatt anyway..

I think if you want to improve your “poor technique” you might want to consider hiring/demo-ing some alpine boots – especially on hard pistes they’ll give you more support 🙂 When you’re a ski god at the end of the week switch to the touring boots 😀

Note: they’re not telemark boots as suggested somewhere up above. Designed for alpine skiing, just rather lighter weight and a bit softer than a normal alpine piste boot.

God what a lot of tosh is being spouted here! As above these are touring boots.

What hasnt been said is they WONT fit onto standard downhill bindings UNLESS they have an adjustable toe binding on them. Only very old d/h bindings have an adjustable toe as downhill boots have now been standardised. This is because these boots have more of a rocker on the sole which means the toe is higher tahn a standard downhill boot. It may fit OK but will greatly affect the safe release.

What he said ^^^^

And as the sole is made from vibram rubber rather than hard plastic they won’t release as easily or as predictably from your bindings. Really good way to break a leg or damage your knee.

As other posters have said, the lack of support won’t help your technique either.

Thanks for all the suggestions…

They do fit the ski bindings OK as I’ve checked that. Someone had mentioned extra friction with the release, but I can compensate for that by lowering the DIN setting.

As for the flexible bit / making things harder, that sounds more serious.

Any suggestions for Alpine boots or are they all much the same and it’s just down to fit?

Someone had mentioned extra friction with the release, but I can compensate for that by lowering the DIN setting.

That’s a good way to get unpredictable release (ie when you don’t want it, which can be just as dangerous as not coming out when you want to).

Foot flaps
those are scarpa ski touring boots, decent quality too , so sellable on e bay ….

2 routes,
get some decent fritchi freerides, made for a touring boot and some mid fat 85mm + waisted skis and you’ll have a nice set up to tour the mountain

or hire good kit, cheap overseas as they replace the fleet every season

for the records telemark boots have a bellows by the toe to allow the bended knee movements and heel up the telemark skiing ( aka free heel ) demands

ski blades are akin to the devil, 99% of ski schools/ outdoor centres have binned them due to injury

fwiw most scottish skiers are converting over to ski touring / mountaineering kit as it offers boots that are easy to walk in with little loss of support and control and removes any wear issues as you can get them re soled for about £35

bindings that allow you to tour / attach harchisen – ski crampons for ice and skins to get up hill

skis are a personal choice but fat is good 127-99-117 suits me fine @ glenshee and means from slush to pow i have a one ski fits all

happy hunting

Any suggestions for Alpine boots or are they all much the same and it’s just down to fit?

It’s all about the fit, not sure where you are in the UK but Lockwoods in Leamington Spa or Solutions4Feet in Bicester are both very good for these things.

FF

didn’t notice the later posts regards wanting to buy new alpine boots

i used to have these puppies
http://www.ellis-brigham.com/cgi-bin/psShowCategory.cgi?brand=Full%20Tilt&category=Ski%20Boots

very good boots, BUT dont go to the shop with a pair in mind as your foot will guide the specialist boot fitter as to which brands will work for you as some are made wide / narrow / low volume-high volume

there is a degree of change that can be made easily but be guided to a boot rather than this is my only choice type buying

also factor in about half a day ( prefer PM weekdays ) as your foot will have swollen to its “activity size” use good quality socks , smartwool ski lights are spot on and get a set of custom footbeds done at the same time -comformables are good circa £40-50

most ski boots are made as a blank canvas to allow a good fitter to fine tune through good footbeds / heat mouulding and if neccessary stretching or blowing out trouble spots ….. eg mortons toe …. 2nd toe longer than big toe

the footbeds will sort out pronation / super nation issues …and give your arches … behind the toes extra support

good luck …. decent boots and footbeds are a worth investment as you keep boots for a good 4-5 seasons minimum !!!!

Could you use these on a snowboard ,as i’m looking for one pair of boots for all ocassions and these look like they could fit the bill.

Iain

Elma

its possible with a plate binding and if you are off piste on a big board you’ll be fine, regards soft ( read strapped) binders then i wouldnt bother as you’ll get so much toe overhang it won’t work

alot depends on the angles and style you ride, if you run steeper angles say 23-35 degrees then be fine, if 5-15 degrees to overhang might be an issue

the boots are quite similar to hard boots for snowboard racing ,,, a real euro thing that died a death here a long while back 😉

OK decided to get some proper boots so this afternoon I bought these in Decathlon at under half price (they were the only boots to fit my skinny ankles properly).

Thanks for all the help…