The longer you climb, the more you notice the low weight. Especially on long tours, you save a lot of energy for the descent. Almost the biggest difference, however, is walking without skis. When walking around, climbing, walking with crampons or even at the bar, the boot is really comfortable. Rumor has it that it is even suitable for driving...To summarize once again: The boot handles like no other (except perhaps the odd pure ski touring race model), it's definitely in a class of its own.
Switching from ascent to descent is also very quick. Push in the tongues, close the 2 buckles and powerstrap and you're done. Although the buckles take a little getting used to at first, you soon get the hang of them and can close them more quickly than with other boots.
Skiing characteristics
While the lightness and good ascent performance of the TLT5 were not really difficult to predict, the skiing characteristics are a different story. The first tests in fresh powder snow are followed by a surprise. You notice that you're not in a hard boot, but controlling the ski is no problem. Even at higher speeds, the boot is sufficient for me, even with long and wide skis. It's more the upright shaft position that bothers me than the comparatively low hardness of the boots.
The situation is similar in heavier but still soft snow, but you have to concentrate a little more here. Because as soon as a ski tip dives unexpectedly, for example, the soft boots make themselves surprisingly noticeable. In firn or hard conditions, the boots provide a little less security, especially at high speeds - especially with wide skis, although you still won't really have any problems.
Things get really bad in really bad conditions, i.e. slush, deep slush or icy moguls. Here you get the feeling that the boot is simply far too soft and gives way too much at the front. Skiing then becomes exhausting and you're pretty much skidding around.
Of course, you can still get all the way down the mountain, but it's not too much fun. I'm pretty sure that the TLT5 cuts a much better figure in combination with short and narrow skis, especially in poor conditions. In combination with wide and long freeride skis, however, it is more recommended for good conditions.
Conclusion
Advantages
+ Extremely light
+ Excellent walking mode for the weight
+ Super downhill performance (especially in good snow)
+ Overall simply great on the ascent
Disadvantages
- poor downhill performance in poor snow
- liners are not the best
Personal opinion
A very good boot for ascent-oriented tours, especially for good skiers and in good snow or when using light touring skis. Downhill performance exceeds expectations, but all in all it doesn't work miracles and the downhill characteristics are not as good as I would usually like them to be.
Technical data:
Available sizes: 22.5 - 30.5
Tested size: 28.0
Weight: 1225g (!) (in size 27.5 according to the manufacturer)
Shell: 3-piece with 2 buckles & 1 powerstrap
Position: 15° fix
Binding system: Exclusively TECH bindings according to the Dynafit concept
Link to the manufacturer's info page