Getting Xplore boots in the US, also XPLORE system question

[Ira]

Hello community,
I've been waiting for REI to get the XPLORE boots (checking every day) with no success. Does anyone know the best place to get XPLORE boots in the US if REI keeps not having them? Or if they will actually have them soon?

I was looking at Varuste but I don't know how much the customs charge is -- anyone now? Also, if the boots are only tried on, not used, do they accept returns (and do they require for the customer to pay return shipping)?

I'm considering the Alfa Skaget in 39.

Does that boot, in combination with XPLORE binding, offer both better control and better kick-and-glide than a 3-pin 75mm ST (free heel, no cables) with Alpina Alaska 75?

I do ok with 75mm but very poorly with NNNBC.

(I did read the reviews of XPLORE and the Alfa boots)

Has anyone tried XPLORE and not been happy with it after several excursions?

Thanks!

[Stephen]

Neptune has the Alaska XP.
There will not be any duty on orders from Varuste to the US.
For Varuste returns, the customer pays for return shipping costs, which could be high (more than Varuste charges the customer for shipping from Varuste).
Based on uncertainty, I’m waiting for REI, even if it’s next winter.
I might chance Neptune, since return shipping would be less expensive.

[Krummholz]

@Ira Bergs, limited sizes, but on sale?

MUST FIGHT GAS! Whew! I’m a 43 but my Alaska’s have gotten a little tighter….

[fisheater]

Ira, you’re not really pushing the limits of equipment,NNN-BC offers plenty of control as does 75 mm. There is a limit to equipment making us better skiers, but we all look for that gear that will take us to another level

[Dxmetal]

Over at REI it looks like a lot of negative reviews of the Alpina Alaska (non XP model) about the sole glue coming undone ?? Any review of owners of the Alaska boots from the users here on the forum ?

[randoskier]

Hello community,
I've been waiting for REI to get the XPLORE boots (checking every day) with no success. Does anyone know the best place to get XPLORE boots in the US if REI keeps not having them? Or if they will actually have them soon?

I was looking at Varuste but I don't know how much the customs charge is -- anyone now? Also, if the boots are only tried on, not used, do they accept returns (and do they require for the customer to pay return shipping)?

I'm considering the Alfa Skaget in 39.

Does that boot, in combination with XPLORE binding, offer both better control and better kick-and-glide than a 3-pin 75mm ST (free heel, no cables) with Alpina Alaska 75?

I do ok with 75mm but very poorly with NNNBC.

(I did read the reviews of XPLORE and the Alfa boots)

Has anyone tried XPLORE and not been happy with it after several excursions?

Thanks!

Aventure Nordique in France (Grenoble area) is very good and has fair shipping prices (they will not ship skis to USA but boots ok). This is their shipping costs- for USA https://www.aventurenordique.com/livraison

Note that their prices include VAT (sales tax) of 20% they subtract this when ordering from the states i.e. the Skaget at 350 EUR will actually cost you 290 EUR + shipping.

They are nice peopl and they accept Paypal.

Bonne chance!

[KDog]

Telemark-Pyrenees has the ALFA boots plus a 10% discount code until mid-February. The discount about covers shipping. I have ordered from TP for over a decade, called and spoken to staff (most speak English), and have never had an issue.

One thing I highly recommend, don't use DHL for shipping to the US! It's a little more to use UPS Express, but well worth it. DHL may work ok in Europe, but they can't make the final delivery to many parts of the US, especially to more remote areas. They pawn the last step off to the US Postal service, and that is where everything goes wrong! Especially with tracking.

I'm very tempted to order some ALFA's right now. I wish I could try on/size them to my extra wide feet. Got them in the website's cart for under $300 with shipping...
GAS!

[randoskier]

Hello community,
I've been waiting for REI to get the XPLORE boots (checking every day) with no success. Does anyone know the best place to get XPLORE boots in the US if REI keeps not having them? Or if they will actually have them soon?

I was looking at Varuste but I don't know how much the customs charge is -- anyone now? Also, if the boots are only tried on, not used, do they accept returns (and do they require for the customer to pay return shipping)?

I'm considering the Alfa Skaget in 39.

Does that boot, in combination with XPLORE binding, offer both better control and better kick-and-glide than a 3-pin 75mm ST (free heel, no cables) with Alpina Alaska 75?

I do ok with 75mm but very poorly with NNNBC.

(I did read the reviews of XPLORE and the Alfa boots)

Has anyone tried XPLORE and not been happy with it after several excursions?

Thanks!

If you buy it directly from Alfa then returns are only 12 bucks. Their shipping is free on orders over 350 EUR, not too bad for under. My wife got both her boots and the Xplore binding from Alfa, so express shipping was free. If you lurk on their site awhile you might get 20% off for signing up for email- we did.

"General information about return
Free return in Europe
We have free returns on all orders in Europe.
Customers outside Europe will be charged 10€ for return shipping. This amount will be deducted from the final refund."

https://www.alfaoutdoor.com/policies/refund-policy
https://www.alfaoutdoor.com/policies/shipping-policy

[Stephen]

@randoskier, I had not noticed ALFA's 10 Euro ($12) return fee from the US, and had assumed it would be much more.
$12 to try before buying such an expensive boot seems quite reasonable, even if they need to be returned.

[riel]

Over at REI it looks like a lot of negative reviews of the Alpina Alaska (non XP model) about the sole glue coming undone ?? Any review of owners of the Alaska boots from the users here on the forum ?

That issue seems to be limited to the 75mm version of the Alpina Alaska boot.