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Hey all, last season I got good use out of my 125cm Altai Hok's with the universal bindings. This year I want to learn to do a few turns. Where do I start? I figured 75mm 3 pin would be best, but all the boots I keep reading about are discontinued; Fischer Transnordic's and Rossi BC X-12's are all out
I'm pretty sure you can have whatever bindings you want mounted to the hoks. I've seen them with AT bindings. It would require knowledge of mounting bindings or drop them off at a ski shop.
Some 75mm bindings on the U.S. market: alpina alaska, fischer transnordic, scarpa t4, altai skis sells some alicos on their site, aspinockwoods has some crispi 75mm.
A lightweight 2 buckle soft plastic boot like the scarpa t4 is going to be the most beginner friendly.
Re: Beginner boots for Kom/Hok's
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 5:11 am
by Lo-Fi
What’s your foot size? Used Scarpa T3 /T4 or Garmont /Scott Excursions.
Hey all, last season I got good use out of my 125cm Altai Hok's with the universal bindings. This year I want to learn to do a few turns. Where do I start? I figured 75mm 3 pin would be best, but all the boots I keep reading about are discontinued; Fischer Transnordic's and Rossi BC X-12's are all out
With the short Hok, 125cm, you can do 75mm binding or get the Altai binding adapter plates an go NNNBC. I do fine on my 145cm Hoks with Alaska 75 boots. My friend is going to borrow my Hoks as soon as I get his NNNBC bindings off his old Rossi BC80s an on the Hoks. He has the Fischer BCX Grand Tour boots, which should be fine. He’s looking to use them as SkiShoes on hiking trails. I’ll probably set him up with a Tiak / Lurk for the downhill. Have you watched the Altai videos?
Around 11:30 they demonstrate how to use a Tiak. The Hoks don’t really carve, you have to smear the turn.
What’s your foot size? Used Scarpa T3 /T4 or Garmont /Scott Excursions.
8.5/9 US mens. I should have mentioned that I'd prefer a leather boot at this point, especially since I'll be buying online, and I have had alot of issues with DH boots being too narrow.
I'm pretty sure you can have whatever bindings you want mounted to the hoks. I've seen them with AT bindings. It would require knowledge of mounting bindings or drop them off at a ski shop.
Some 75mm bindings on the U.S. market: alpina alaska, fischer transnordic, scarpa t4, altai skis sells some alicos on their site, aspinockwoods has some crispi 75mm.
A lightweight 2 buckle soft plastic boot like the scarpa t4 is going to be the most beginner friendly.
The Transnordic is probably my preference, since its nice and tall, and I assume it gives good control from that. Like I mentioned, my preference is leather atm. The problem seems to be that they never seem to have my size? 8.5/9 US Men's. Do they still make these boots and they just sell out of the common sizes immediately?
With the short Hok, 125cm, you can do 75mm binding or get the Altai binding adapter plates an go NNNBC. I do fine on my 145cm Hoks with Alaska 75 boots. My friend is going to borrow my Hoks as soon as I get his NNNBC bindings off his old Rossi BC80s an on the Hoks. He has the Fischer BCX Grand Tour boots, which should be fine.
Do the 145's work well with NNNBC? NNNBC boots and bindings are alot easier to find here, but I was under the impression that they don't have much feedback.
Re: Beginner boots for Kom/Hok's
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 3:48 pm
by Krummholz
If you’re looking to make some Tele turns, those 125 Hoks aren’t going to make it. They are very straight and very stiff (probably more than my 145s), and very wide for the length, 124\110\122 (mm). The only time they have any turn is in powder and it helps to sit on your heels like your about to sit in a chair and roll you knees over to the side, which is where the Tiak / Lurk comes in handy, it gives you a third point for balance. Using them in hard, crusty conditions you are going to have to have plastic boots, and then you might as well have different skis that carve. I found the Hoks to be best for bushwhacking. Trails? We don’t need no stinking Trails!
Re: Beginner boots for Kom/Hok's
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 5:43 pm
by phoenix
I think what Krummholz posted above is some pretty good feedback. He's skied 'em, and whle I don't know him from his presence here on the forum, my impression is he has sound experience.
I haven't skied the Hok's. Met a guy on the local trails last year, we chatted skis a bit and he said they were great for just jumping off into the woods & trails; I think he was using the Universal's and Sorel's,n and a Lurk. Either he or I would end up getting first tracks on the little hills that season, and I can tell you his tracks were not pretty. Goes back to what Krummholz said.
If you really want to make some decent turns, maybe think about the Kom's. They'll turn.
If you prefer the Hok's, and still want to make turns, I'd suggest the most solid boot you can find. For leathers, there's a link to some Transnordics above somewhere (sorry can't scroll back to see posted those 3); they look pretty good. I have 75mm Alaskas, and they're warm and comfy, but I don't find it adequate for turning wider skis in less than nice and easy conditions, skied with 3 pins. Fisheater has said the Rottefella Super Tele (with the cable) makes a world of difference on the Alaska's, and again, he's used 'em. I know I've made similar transitions with going to a simple cable (like old Riva's) provides a noticeable improvement over 3 pins on my own skis (referring here to my Objective's).
Re: Beginner boots for Kom/Hok's
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 6:53 pm
by stilltryin
What phoenix said:
"If you really want to make some decent turns, maybe think about the Kom's."
Potential problem for you: My experience skiing Koms is with old T3 boots, and you wanted to avoid plastic.
Others may respond on skiing Kom's with leather -- I expect a cable would help a lot.
Edit and a bit off-topic, but you might be able to turn the Fischer Sbound 112 and/or Madshus Panorama 78 easier with leather than the Kom's -- they are a bit narrower and lighter.
