Would you tell Kate Moss to get a face lift and go on a diet? Probably not but when there are younger and thinner models coming through the ranks a makeover might be tempting. For two years the carbon fibre XP 500 has been the supermodel of lightweight ski mountaineering boots but next season it faces competition from the fresh faced Sportiva Stratos, Dynafit Dy.N.A. and Scarpa F1 Carbon.
Developed over 15 years by Pierra Menta winner Pierre Gignoux the XP 500 was used by nine of the top ten world cup skiers this year. The boot actually weighs just 473 grammes. Compare that to 1250 – 1500 grammes for a normal ski touring boot.
So for next season the XP 500 is making room for the size zero XP 444. “444” because each boot weighs just 444 grammes in Mondo 25.5. Corners haven’t been cut. The boot has been undergoing extensive beta testing this spring, and it is stiffer and has better ergonmics compared to the XP 500. It is, of course, Dynafit binding compatible.
Pierre is also launching a normal boot, the XP Mountain for long distance ski tourers, you know, the kind of folks who do the Haute-Route in a couple of days. The price of the XP-444 is 1300 euros, but you do get the inner boots included.
http://www.pierregignoux.fr/
Press Contact: Cécile Eichinger
Telephone : +33 (0)6 18 46 39 59