Alpina Alaska NNNBC

[connyro]

Thanks LC! Great info right from the horse's mouth. Looks like I'll need to research this type of boot a bit further.

[MikeK]

I got mine today - can't wait to ski with them. The sole on the NNN version actually does feel stiff, or possibly it's just that my 75mm version is well broke in... but I seem to remember them flexing like that when I got them. They never felt like they loosened up - felt soft right out of the box.

I bought 44s and they fit exactly the same as my other 44s (that's a good thing).

connyro - I plan on skiing these mostly with Fischer E89s, which are a bit narrower than your BC65s even. I might get another set of Glitts to use with these too.

[MikeK]

Skied these today.

I'll have more feedback later but off the cuff they feel different than the 75mm Alaska. Stiffer in the sole I believe. Either that or it's similar and the thin duckbill of the 75mm version adds to feeling softer.

I was very impressed at how good these boots feel. It's true, they aren't anything like the 1550 - that felt much floppier in the toe.

I had some slight cramping in my outer metatarsal (tight width hopefully stretches). Might be the way the sole flexes too putting more pressure on that area.

[snowrunner]

Hey MikeK, I'm currently looking for a new ski package for my wife (her first xcd skis), and I'm looking into the Alpina Alaska. Which one would you recommend, the NNN-BC or the 3-pin to drive some Eon ? What are the pros and cons of both ?

[MikeK]

Hey MikeK, I'm currently looking for a new ski package for my wife (her first xcd skis), and I'm looking into the Alpina Alaska. Which one would you recommend, the NNN-BC or the 3-pin to drive some Eon ? What are the pros and cons of both ?

Boy - tough call really. They both are pretty darn close in my book. Do you plan on doing more touring or turning?

I really like the Eon with the NNN Alaska, but I've not tried it with the 75mm (only other skis wider or skinnier).

I'd say if she is slightly tentative about hills, then go for a 75mm setup and maybe a bit stiffer boot (Fischer BCX or Crispi Svartisen). If you think she'll charge through then go for the NNN with the Alaska - in the long run she'll probably like that better for that ski.

My wife seems to think even the Svartisen is a bit soft for her Epochs - but she's very tentative about skiing hills and feels most comfortable with a plastic boot (excursion) because she can overpower the ski in any condition without thinking much about it. I think the Svartisen and a ski like the Epoch is a match made in heaven... so we all have different opinions on what boot goes good with what ski... it's more of spectrum I think.

[snowrunner]

It's really hard to say what she will prefer. She always skied on classic skinnies (Rossignol Evo Glade) with a standard nnn binding, but she ski them on quite hilly backcountry trail, way beyond what people would normally recommend with such skis, but always in a slow snowplow. I know she'll enjoy more control downhill, but I doubt she'll be t-turning anytime soon.

About the fischer BCX (6-75?), I was on the impression that the Alaska was beefier. Am I wrong ? I only have some experience with the BCX675 and Rossignol BC10 (nnn-bc) and excursion. How does it compare to those boots?

[MikeK]

I really don't have any experience skiing the Fischer boots. I've only been told they are beefier (cuff) and I believe thicker duckbill. I'm absolutely positive the Svartisen is stiffer as we both have a pair of those now (cuff is stiff, sole is torsionally stiffer and duckbill is 17mm).

The 75mm Alaska is quite floppy for good touring - the duckbill is only 15mm thick and the ankle is soft and completely free. The NNN version's sole feels quite stiff to me, but still very comfortable (same ankle support). The BC NNN and the Alaska will surely give more control and support than the regular NNN and those type of boots.

If she could handle those skinnies on NNN she will surely feel more stable on an Eon with NNN BC Magnum and an Alaska.

If you want maximum control and still good kick and glide a 75mm Svartisen and 3 pin binding would be the best. My wife would choose the Svartisen and 3 pin...

I can't help you with the comparison to the other boots, but the Alaska and Svartisen both feel like slippers compared to an Excursion. It's a big jump from full plastic to exo-skeleton leather and pure leather boots.

[snowrunner]

Thanks a lot for your help. I showed her your post, and see said : "I don't care about all those technicalities, but if his wife prefer this, that's what I want." Go figure !

[snowrunner]

I just received our Alaska NNNBC by mail today, and the boot is really uncomfortable at the front on ankle when flexing. The leather don't seem to fold properly and just push back on my feet. Is this something you guys experienced and that I can expect to break in, or I should consider it a bad fit for my foot ?

[bgregoire]

I just received our Alaska NNNBC by mail today, and the boot is really uncomfortable at the front on ankle when flexing. The leather don't seem to fold properly and just push back on my feet. Is this something you guys experienced and that I can expect to break in, or I should consider it a bad fit for my foot ?

I have a vague recollection of something similar happening. I played around tons with obsure knotting techniques to make it right. The tongue is quite soft. But otherwise, they should mostly feel like slippers. Unless you got very wide feet like mine that is, and wish you'd hacked that 6th toe off by now.