Probably the most watershed moment on the boot was skiing an early season day at Alta. This along, with the race-inspired liner and the four buckles ensured that my foot was secure in the boot, ready for any descent.Ī simple switch to walk mode.
It is a true 130 flex, and the molding of the lower boot around a carbon fiber frame provided me with maximum stiffness. The double power strap is genius, providing enough rebound to transfer power on big arcing turns with complete comfort, and minimal pain points. I was using this to ski my BD Boundary 107 with Radical 2 FT bindings, and am absolutely estatic about this combination. On the downhill is where the Freedom RS's proves their value, and then some. Ryan Dunfee photo.įirst and foremost, this is an alpine boot that also comes with a touring capacity. The author attempts to get pitted off Glory. Transitioning was a breeze, just a simple satisfying click in the heel and you basically had an alpine downhill boot on your feet. Jonathan Desabris photo.Īnything consistently longer, or for consecutive long days, I would recommend other options.
The Vibram "mountain plus" sole can swapped for an alpine one. The range of motion meant was fine for shorter skins, and the fit led to no hotspots or blisters. At just under 2000 grams for a pair of 27.5 boots– one of the lightest offerings in this category – it easily crushed the 1,700-foot pre-work bootpack up Mt. On Teton Pass the boot performed like a champ.
I found that with the booster strap slack and the buckles open, there was adequate movement for shorter skins and bootpacks. It is known, however, that this boot was not designed for the lightweight-minded, high-alpine ski mountaineers. With only a modest 25º range of motion, there are definitely options on the market that will provide movement than the Freedom RS. Fortunately, I have natural flippers, so that coupled with the thermo-molded liner eliminated pressure points for a great fit around my heel and foot. The boot has a generous 101mm forward last, meaning that skiers with a narrow foot might be swimming. It can be swapped for the “Piste”, a straight-up alpine sole. The sole is a Vibram “mountain plus” that is compatible with tech style bindings. The liner is a custom collaboration with Intuition that is thermo-moldable in the lower with a race-inspired, reinforced upper. Overlap construction molds the lower part of the boot around a carbon fiber frame for additional stiffness. RELATED: Does Salomon's MTN Lab touring boot live up to the hype? Designed in collaboration with Booster, the strap has two pulley cams, instead of the traditional one, providing a great rebound, which is also adjustable, and a more secure fit. The Freedom RS is secured with four buckles and a clever oversized booster strap. Additionally, the forward flex was bumped up to a true 130 to better suit the more aggressive freeride skier. The major differences between the Freedom SL and RS is that Scarpa retuned the cuff with a stiffer polyamide material, which decreased the lateral flex, allowing for more control. The boot promises the best of every world, and according to Scarpa, “more control than your mother in law wants at Thanksgiving.” In short Scarpa, delivered on a their promises by designing a touring boot with a true downhill performance experience. To compliment this emerging trend, Scarpa has released theįreedom RS 130 as a stiffer follow-up to their popular Freedom SL 120. Tech bindings are available with DINS up to 16, the trend of skis with abnormally wide waists is starting to regress, and companies are putting in effort to deliver a variety of touring boot options. This is reflected in current gear and design trends.
One pair of skis, bindings, and boots that they can charge almost any condition the mountain will throw at them. Most skiers are looking for that one piece of gear that can do it all.
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