New Scarpa ski touring boots

There are no major changes for the Scarpa range for the 2006/7 season. The Tornado freerando boots, introduced this year, will once again available in a limited edition (L.E.) model and there are a couple of new touring boots, the Spirit 4 and Spirit both based around the Scarpa Spirit 3 chassis.

Scarpa Tornado LE

Scarpa told me they sold all 1000 Tornado L.E. models made for the current season. This L.E. has a special Booster powerstrap. This locks the cuff, stiffens the boot and provides better ski control. The boot also looks nice.

Spirit 4

The Spirit 3, which we have on long term test, gains a buckle over the top of the foot to become, logically, the Spirit 4. This adds noticeably to the weight, a claimed 3750grams in size 27 (42) even with the PlusFit® TT thermo liner. If you take the standard Cordura inner boot, as you will get in a hire shop, the boot is a pretty obese 4400 grams. In his weblog Wildsnow.com, Lou Dawson has already remarked on the trend for boots and other equipment to get heavier. We too would like to see some innovations and wider choice at the lighter end of the market, particularly with Dynafit compatible boots. It is not clear that the extra clip will add much to the performance of the Spirit 3, already a stiffer and taller boot than the Matrix. The Spirit 4 replaces the much loved Denali TT in the Scarpa lineup, something that will not please everyone.

Spirit

The Laser also disappears, replaced by the Spirit. This is essentially a Spirit 3 but lacks Dynafit inserts, something the Laser had. It also has not lightweight thermo inner boot and tips the scales at 4200 grams in size 27.

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