ISPO Report 2017 | Ski touring boots and bindings

First things first: there haven't been too many fundamental new developments this season either. Most manufacturers are focusing on model maintenance and minor improvements. There also seems to be a trend towards offering entire series instead of individual models (e.g. different Z-values for bindings, different flex for boots).

In the following, we present a brief overview, whereby the innovative Scott S1, but also the solid-looking new offerings from Tecnica (Strider series) and Atomic (Hawx XTD series) caught our eye in terms of new developments in the boot sector. In terms of bindings, the new Tecton from Fritschi and the Pindung from BAM are the most interesting new products we can remember.

Bindings

ATK
The small Italian binding manufacturer ATK is expanding its range with the "Haute Route", which is basically a "smaller" version of the Raider 2.0 and covers a Z-value of 5-10.

Atomic
At Atomic and its sister company Salomon, little is happening in terms of bindings, although the Backland bindings will be available with stoppers from next season.

BAM
At the small innovation forge of BAM, the focus this year was of course also on pindings. Fortunately, successes can certainly be reported here. For example, a final, functional prototype was presented at ISPO, which was also able to demonstrate its functionality live in a binding release test device. The producers of the more than 50 individual parts made of various materials (plastic, other plastic, metal, more plastic, other metal...) have also already been finalized. Before series production can begin, however, there is still the assembly and, of course, the TÜV certification, which will be tackled over the summer. If everything goes smoothly, the finished Pindung should be delivered at the start of the coming season, with crowdfunders being served first, of course.

Plum
Little has changed in the bindings from the French company Plum, but they too now have stoppers on offer, which make a reasonable impression and will be available in different widths.

Salomon
As already noted with Atomic, the pin bindings from the Amer group (marketed by Salomon under the name "Mountain") will also be available with stoppers from next season.

Of course, there are several other suppliers of bindings, especially from ski touring racing, in practical use

Boots

Atomic
Atomic has reworked the successful Backland models (and expanded the series with an even lighter model weighing just 750g), but the bigger news is the new Hawx freetouring series. The boots are based on the successful Hawx alpine ski boots and, at a weight of just over 1400g, have good shaft rotation and an almost alpine boot-like flex. In the overlap ski touring boot segment, the highly adaptable Hawx Ultra XTD (in versions with flex 90, 110 and 130) is sure to be at the forefront next year.

Dalbello
Dalbello is expanding the freeride/freetouring segment of the Lupo series with several additional models for 2017. Starting with the top model Lupo T.I. Carbon, which is still available, almost all variants now have its extended rotation range in walk mode. There are several gradations in tongue hardness and, in addition to the original 98mm, there is now a 100m last width (AX models). There are also smaller shell sizes up to MP22 for some models and interchangeable contact points to the binding for all models to counter the "eating into" of some bindings in the somewhat softer - as lighter - plastic of the boots.

Dynafit
There are few new features in the Dynafit ski boots. However, the walking mode of the classic "Radical" has been revised and is now on the outside.

Hagan
With the "Core" series, Hagan has easy-to-use and comfortable ski touring boots in its range, which are aimed at comfort-oriented ski tourers.

La Sportiva
La Sportiva is revising its ski touring boots, especially in the details. The Spectre series is now called Synchros.

Movement
Movement continues to market ski boots from the Italian company Roxa, for example under the name "Alptracks".

Salomon
Salomon is expanding its successful boot segment for the coming season with a very light boot series. The X-Alp series is based on the "Procline" ski touring boots known from its sister company Arc'teryx, but the Salomon models are designed more for ski touring and are also very light, weighing just over a kilo.

In general, the number of interesting shoes, especially in the popular freetouring sector, is growing steadily. It is now hard to imagine that there is not a suitable shoe for every foot.