The Procline Carbon Lite from Arc'teryx is a boot for ski mountaineers who are looking for a combination of a mountaineering boot for rock and ice, but also a ski touring boot for fast ascents including good downhill performance. Arc'teryx achieves this with the revolutionary 360° Rotating Cuff, which offers unrivaled functionality for climbing and skiing. The unrivaled vertical and lateral mobility of the ankle supports fast and safe ascents in all types of terrain, not only with skis and skins, but also when walking on foot and climbing.
First impression
The ingenious system for fixing the shaft and the buckles and straps provide excellent support in the shoe. The carbon construction of the shaft provides the necessary stiffness and very good power transmission with the lowest possible weight. The thermoformable, ultra-light Procline Lite lining is extremely flexible and a full-length gaiter protects against snow and is also waterproof. At 1190 g for a size 27.5, the weight is fully competitive. Another advantage of the boot is that no additional tongues or other components are required to generate full downhill performance. So you can't lose anything and can also quickly and easily switch to the downhill position. The ideal boot for all those who prefer ascent-oriented to medium-width skis (center < 100 mm) and also ski in technically difficult terrain, as well as rock and ice. Arc'teryx has the cheaper and slightly heavier Procline Support model without a carbon shaft (Procline Lite) for all those who want to do without carbon or save some money, and the Procline Euphoria model for women.
Test conditions
The touring boot in size 28.5 was tested from the end of April to the beginning of June and again in October 2016. The boot was used on tours of varying lengths, some easy but also challenging, between 500 and 1600 meters in altitude from the Arlberg region to the Silvretta and the Venediger group. The snow conditions were also very varied and ranged from the finest powder snow and crushed snow to classic spring conditions with firn and wet and heavy slush snow. The boot was always used in conjunction with a Dynafit TLT Vertical with the Black Crows Camox Freebird ski (183 cm) or crampons. I myself am 176 cm tall and weigh just under 80 kg in the boots. After the first two days, I had the boot adjusted to my somewhat complicated feet.
So far I've been ski touring either with the Black Diamond Factor freeride boot or with more ascent-oriented boots such as the Dynafit TLT 5 Mountain and the Atomic Backland Carbon.
Test report
Shell
The shell is essentially limited to the lower part of the boot and extends to just above the ankle. The upper part consists of a waterproof gaiter with a zipper, which also extends over the inner boot. Above this is a carbon shaft, which consists of two parts that are only connected in the upper area at the back. In the front area, a sufficiently wide plastic strap ensures good pressure distribution of the upper buckle. The lower buckle is mounted at the top of the instep and the force is distributed via a thin steel cable. The locking mechanism is very easy to operate, very stable and provides a very good hold in all directions thanks to the combination of buckle, thin steel cable and a very good locking mechanism on the carbon shaft. A powerstrap provides additional support and is very easy to attach, close and open thanks to the innovative closure. This combination of lower shell, gaiter and compact closure system gives the boot unsurpassed mobility with a very slim shell, which is ideal for climbing or walking in difficult terrain.
I was initially concerned about the very low gaiter, which is already exposed just above the ankle, which could easily be injured with the edge when skiing. However, this was not a problem during the test.
Inner boot
Two different inner boots are available. One is the 180g lightweight "lite liner" and the still 250g lightweight "support liner", which was tested here. With the thermoformable liner, I didn't have cold feet even at low temperatures and with little movement, and I didn't get too warm at high temperatures either. The lacing is done with a single, approx. 12 mm wide strap, which is stretched twice over the tongue and then fastened at the back with Velcro. This simple system means that the inner shoe can be tied very easily and therefore provides a good hold in the shoe. If necessary, the strap can also be replaced very easily.
Fit
The fit is very suitable for narrow feet with a flat instep. With a high instep, the lower buckle area can quickly become a little tight. The heel area is comfortably shaped, but also narrow enough in the upper area, which ensures good support. The shell leaves enough room in the ankle area, even towards the front. After two days, I had the shell slightly bulged in the midfoot area. The inner boot is thermoformable and adapts well to the foot.
In terms of feel, the boot can be described as a cross between a heavy mountaineering boot and a ski touring boot. It is particularly light, flexible and comfortable to wear.
Accessibility
As expected, the boot is convincing across the board on the ascent. With the fixation open, the buckles and powerstrap can always remain closed during the ascent, as freedom of movement is not impaired. Thanks to the two-part carbon shaft, the boot has unparalleled lateral freedom of movement, which is particularly comfortable on steep traverses, climbing sections or with crampons. This gives you very good control over the boot and excellent feedback on the conditions in snow, ice and rock. The lateral mobility makes the ascent much more comfortable. Compared to other ascent-oriented shoes in the same weight class, the Procline is also characterized by greater mobility. Overall, you feel more like you have a mountaineering boot than a ski touring boot on your feet.
Descent characteristics
The big surprise came on the descent. Here, the feeling of having a ski touring boot on your feet definitely prevails. After the simple locking mechanism, you are already in the ideal downhill position and have very good stability in all directions. This also ensures particularly good and direct power transmission and the boot is convincing in all snow conditions and even in very changeable conditions. Depending on the snow conditions, the boot is also sufficiently stable with long, medium-width skis to guarantee full downhill enjoyment. There are slight limitations due to slightly too little stability with wider skis.
Quality
During the test, a few minor defects came to light, although it should be noted straight away that our test shoe was a pre-production model. One of the strap-like tabs, which serve as an entry aid, was torn off the inner shoe. Another problem, which was not a problem during subsequent use, was that the insole, which is located between the shell and the inner shoe, broke. I simply took the broken part out and didn't miss it during further use. On the top of the shell, I also had to re-glue the rubber seal after a few days. Otherwise, the workmanship of the entire shoe is good and it shows normal signs of wear after this test. We asked Arc'teryx about changes from the pre-production model to the production model and learned that the problems also occurred during internal tests of the prototypes.
In order to rectify the defects, Arc'teryx made the following changes:
"The tabs on the inner shoe are not only sewn on with a different seam, the fold into which they are sewn is also designed differently on the production models. Both are intended to prevent the tongue from tearing off.
An additional control step was introduced for the insole during production. This prevents soles with less than optimal durability (usually caused by bubbles in the plastic) from reaching the market.
In order to prevent the rubber seal from detaching from the plastic of the shoe, the gluing process and the corresponding equipment have been optimized.
Addition from February 2017
In addition to the pre-production model discussed in this test, we now also have a production model of the Arc'teryx Procline in use. We noticed the following changes to the pre-production model: the tabs on the inner booties are now double-stitched. The zipper has been designed slightly differently, as has the rubber seal at the bottom and the fastenings of the buckle cable on the shoe. The strap at the top is slightly longer, making it easier to operate and tighten with gloves.
Conclusion
Very comfortable and extremely versatile boots, especially in steep and high alpine terrain, in almost all conditions and as long as the skis don't get too wide.
Advantages & disadvantages
+Very light
+Very flexible
+Comfortable on the ascent (even without skis)
+Very good stability on the descent
+Also suitable for ice climbing, for example
Details from the manufacturer
RRP €700.-
Weatherproof construction (waterproof)
Lightweight: 1190 g in 27.5 (in the test: 1345 g in 28.5 incl. Support Liner" with 305 g)
Robust
Versatile - ideal for use in steep high alpine terrain
Forward lean: 14°
Vertical rotation: forward 50° / backward 25°
Lateral rotation: 23° inwards, 12° outwards
The hard-wearing Vibram® two-component sole with specially designed tread structure improves edge control and friction when climbing.
The CORDURA® gaiter with waterproof PVC coating provides full protection and keeps snow out.
The patented 360° Rotating Cuff offers mobility when climbing and skiing and can be set very easily and quickly in ski mode.
The lightweight Grilamid shell is durable and offers strength and stability.
The flat and minimalistically designed buckles ensure the smallest possible contact surfaces when climbing.
Tech binding compatible (Dynafit-certified inserts)
The patented Hybrid Closure System enables a secure, perfectly adjustable fit all over the foot without pressure points.
The thermoformable EVA lining Procline Support offers stability and flexibility.
Here is the Arc'teryx website with more information about the boot. Here you can buy the Procline Carbon (in the "Lite" version) from our partner store Bergzeit.de.
A prototype of this product was provided to PowderGuide free of charge by the manufacturer. Click here for our test statement.
