Roelant wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 1:56 pm
The sole type and construction has a big impact on how boots perform. So the Svartisen BC and 75 are different in practice. The Alaska BC is, supposedly, quite a bit stiffer than the 75.
The NNN-BC boot with the stiffest sole is according to UTE magasinet: the Crispi Stetind, followed by Alaska BC and Svartisen BC. The upper part and lacing system offers best overall control for Crispi Svartisen, then Stetind and Alaska BC (the latter two are not compared directly so the order between them may be reverse).
A stiffer sole can be detrimental for XC touring as well, but I liked my Stetinds before they earned their retirement. I tried on Alaska BC only once and I did not like the way they felt on my feet, but it was about 6-7 years ago so I don't remember why exactly. In any case the Alaska BC has excellent reputation and value for money.
3 years ago I went from NNN-BC to 75mm.
A few highlights from my thoughts:
- I never felt that icing up was a reason to step away from the NNN-BC system.
- The ergonomics (user friendliness) of NNN-BC as a binding system are overall better than 75mm, IMO.
- I felt that I had reached the limits of the the stiffest NNN-BC boots in terms of torsional stiffness, and 75mm had several options I could explore.
- I find 75mm boots much more comfortable and better to walk with.
- The most comfortable touring boots I tried for any system are Crispi Bre 75mm.
- DH control may be comparable between NNN-BC and 75mm with boots of equivalent stiffness (e.g. Crispi Bre and Stetind).
- A cable on the 75mm system can significantly help to add pressure to the front of the ski in telemark turns, especially with burlier boots.
- The burliest 75mm touring boots overall on the market now are Scarpa T4 and many people have fit problems with them, me included.
- the burliest 75mm leather touring boots on the market now are Fischer Transnordic 75, and they fulfill all my needs for DH oriented XC boot. Some others do not like them mainly because of problems with painful flexing points of the internal structure.
- I tried the Alico Ski March 75mm (new from Ebay) and have had bad luck with them in terms of QC (severely twisted sole out of the box) and reliability (delamination after 1-2 uses).
). I really like it. I have it NNNBC Magnum + Alaskas on a new set of Ingstads and I find the downhill control to be really good for the type of skiing I do. Yesterday on a heavily track, curvy downhill section, I let it rip and was easily able to get the edges down for quick confident turns. I was really impressed.
