Shiva, the "Auspicious", lives up to its name! A freeride boot with a shell construction especially for women that offers full downhill performance and doesn't stand in the way of good performance even on longer ascents.
In my opinion, the design of the 2009 model is very appealing; the shell itself is monochrome, in a subtle golden yellow and the buckles shine in a "pure" gold look. The current model, on the other hand, with its pink buckles, is probably more for Barbies.
The Shiva in freeride use
My Shiva has been with me for the third winter now and hasn't lost any of its strength or flexibility in that time. A season means around 40 to 50 days of skiing, mainly in the backcountry, a few days in the moguls and a few hours on the slopes.
The inner boot is almost perfectly "adapted" to the lower leg thanks to the BOA V-lock system. This means that the ski boot can be adjusted tighter or wider not only via the buckles, but also via the inner boot. A well-fitting inner boot is not only an advantage when skiing downhill, a liner that is too loose or too tight is particularly unpleasant on ascents.
Ski and walk mode are very easy to change - even when wearing thick gloves. All you have to do is tilt a lever above the heel up or down. In three seasons, the position has not even become independent. Why am I mentioning this? I've already had ski boots where the switching function switched from the walking to the riding position every now and then. Annoying!
Not only short ascents but also day tours are possible thanks to the comfortable walking function. Despite the high flexibility for the ascent, the Shiva offers the ideal stability for me on the descent. Changing the soles (alpine/touring sole) is tedious and can only be done with a lot of strength. For me, it's almost impossible!
A piece of a buckle broke off towards the end of the second season, but this had no effect on the holding function. The part was replaced by the retailer without any problems. I can't give any information on the warmth of the boot, as I retrofitted a ski boot heater (sole) immediately after purchase.
Conclusion
For me, the Black Diamond Shiva is an all-round successful freeride boot.
Rating:
Ascent characteristics: ***
Descent characteristics: ****
Ease of use: ****
Advantages
- wide range of use
- BOA closure system
- appealing design
Disadvantages
- high weight
- alpine sole had to be purchased separately (2009 model)
Other
- Price: approx. 480 EUR
- Weight: approx. 3.8 kg
- Walk mode: yes
- Tech inserts: yes
- Flex: 100
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