Crispi Futura Pro feedback.

[Nick BC]

Forgive me if I’m missing something here. Various posts in this thread and others have talked about different XP boots having stiffer or softer soles. My understanding is that there is only one XP sole, which boot manufacturer’s then glue to their particular upper. So is it less the sole and more the upper composition that dictates the power to the edge? Sorry if I’m being a pedantic old bar steward.

[lowangle al]

Forgive me if I’m missing something here. Various posts in this thread and others have talked about different XP boots having stiffer or softer soles. My understanding is that there is only one XP sole, which boot manufacturer’s then glue to their particular upper. So is it less the sole and more the upper composition that dictates the power to the edge? Sorry if I’m being a pedantic old bar steward.

Very astute observation Nick, I have wondered the same thing. When I compared a couple models in the store I thought the Alfa Free got it's extra stiffness from the upper.

[telerat]

I read that there were two widths of the Xplore sole, but can not remember any mention of different stiffnesses. I have (pre Xplore) read about 75mm and NNN-BC sole having different stiffness due midsoles.

I once tested both Alfa Greenland 75 (or similar) and Alpina Alaska 75 in a shop, and I could easily twist the Greenland quite a lot with my hands, while Alaska was much stiffer. I assume part of it was due to the Alaska's complete rubber rand, but it might also have been due to a stiffer midsole and upper. Utemagasinet.no mentioned that Alaska BC was even more supportive than the 75mm version due to the sole. The stiffness of the whole boot will change with use, more or less depending on materials used, so testing an unused boot can be also be more or less misleading.

The Alfa Free sole does not seem stiffer than my Skaget, but the upper is reinforced with plastic internally and much more supportive. The soles flexes in different position though. Free flexes mostly on a single point/axis quite forward, on the only point where the soft fabric is not supported with rubber around the toe, or at the rear with the smooth and stiffer fabric. The smother fabric is also on the tongue and tends to bear down on my toes when the boot is flexed hard. Skaget flexes over a longer distance further back and feels better/more natural, but even though it is quite supportive it has much less support than Alfa Free.

[Jurassien]

Very astute observation Nick, I have wondered the same thing. When I compared a couple models in the store I thought the Alfa Free got it's extra stiffness from the upper.

Welcome back to the forum!

Did you bring your friend Manney back with you, by any chance?

[lilcliffy]

Forgive me if I’m missing something here. Various posts in this thread and others have talked about different XP boots having stiffer or softer soles. My understanding is that there is only one XP sole, which boot manufacturer’s then glue to their particular upper. So is it less the sole and more the upper composition that dictates the power to the edge? Sorry if I’m being a pedantic old bar steward.

Rottefella claims that their Xplore outsole construction is inherently more stable and supportive than NNNBC-
I will have to trust their claim.

I can say that (just like NNNBC/NN-3pin) there is variability in sole stiffness between XP boot models-
I am assuming that this must be a function of the midsole construction- just as it is with the variable sole-stiffness of NN-3pin/NNNBC touring boots.

At the moment- the lower cut Crispi Futura XP has the softest-flexing XP sole that I have had on my feet. I have read reports that the Alfa Vista XP has a softer sole as well (ie softer than the Free/Skaget).

[CwmRaider]

Im not sure yet if i am completely happy with these overall. I used them in a combined tour with steep climbs and descents mostly in powder and a bit on a hard snow, groomed slope. I liked the tour comfort a lot, but when I closed the power strap on the brace I got some nasty chafing on the downhill from the top of the boot. In addition I had the impression that they twisted on the hard snow section, resulting in difficulty to edge the skis. It could be that my forefoot was too loose. I'll need to try with an insole and/or thicker socks. This was on Ousland skis.
The overall performance was great for tours but I didn't yet get any benefit from the power strap.
The picture illustrates 30min worth of chafing. Can't imagine using that for a few hours just yet, unless I find a solution

[wabene]

Im not sure yet if i am completely happy with these overall. I used them in a combined tour with steep climbs and descents mostly in powder and a bit on a hard snow, groomed slope. I liked the tour comfort a lot, but when I closed the power strap on the brace I got some nasty chafing on the downhill from the top of the boot. In addition I had the impression that they twisted on the hard snow section, resulting in difficulty to edge the skis. It could be that my forefoot was too loose. I'll need to try with an insole and/or thicker socks. This was on Ousland skis.
The overall performance was great for tours but I didn't yet get any benefit from the power strap.
The picture illustrates 30min worth of chafing. Can't imagine using that for a few hours just yet, unless I find a solution
P_20240210_115138.jpg

I had the same problem in the same spot on my right foot with the Svartisens. I just shaved the spot and used moleskin or really even just a band-aid for the rest of that season. The next season the problem never returned.

[telerat]

@CwmRaider Ouch. This could also be from the boot tongue/fabric not laying properly. Make sure that the fabric connecting the tongue to the boot does not have wrinkles and lays as sooth as possible when lacing up to to avoid pressure or chafing. It might be harder to see than with laces since the power strap covers a larger area. I hope you get the boot to work properly for you.

I have managed to try my Alfa Free on a proper tour now (970 vertical meters/11.5km) and luckily it seems to work fine for my feet. I can feel the tongue/fabric bearing down on my toes, but it was not painful, and otherwise it seems to fit well.

Hopefully we now got two good Xplore boot alternatives with more support for steeper downhill xcd/backcountry skiing. Perhaps Alpina also will step in with a great alternative? Neither Pioneer/PI Pro, Tech nor Elite looks to me like a proper competitor to Free and Futura Pro/CXP.

[lilcliffy]

@CwmRaider
Ouch!
I haven't used the Futura Pro enough to have this experience yet-
and, was hoping that the wider powerstrap might reduce the chances of it...

I have severely injured my shins with the narrow plastic ratchet strap on the Svartisen-
I am very careful to back that strap waaaay off most of the time-
hence, the reason I would very much like to lace the damn boot up properly.

Your injury is concerning-
was the powerstrap very tight when this happened?

[Capercaillie]

On a related note about the Scott Excursions, while the cuff height is taller than the Crispi's, the "power" strap is about useless. I put power in quotes because I never understood why Scott had a velco "power" strap that was only connected to the liner and didn't engage the plastic cuff of the boot.. Seems that the boot would offer so much more control if it did...

I think that velcro strap is there in lieu of liner laces. Asolo double mountaineering boot liners had a very similar design. As a person with narrower ankles I appreciate it.