Yes, it has been an amazing snow year so far. I hope you get some fresh snow and have a great season. Thanks for tuning in and I appreciate the feedback.
Your skiing looks ok to me. Sounds like a very nice boot and binding but I just can't get over the price! Together they are nearly $1000. But then again the price of ski equipment in general has gotten out of hand with inflation.
I agree, especially on the price of the boots. I think a fair price for the binding should be about $150 US and $375 for the boots. As more boot choices enter the market, hopefully the price will come down and I hope someone will make an equivalent boot at a better price point.
People want the control of a ATN binding if I have that correct…everything setup has its purpose but not the best of both worlds..my thoughts Hope you and family had a good Xmas Tom
Great footage and technique tutorial! Very curious about how big of ski you personally think the Xplore tech can handle. That volle replaced your sbound 128s?
Great question. I picked up the Voile Objectives as a replacement for my S-Bound 125's. I skied them for a couple of years with a Voile Traverse 3 pin binding, mostly with leathers and a few times with my Scarpa T2's when the conditions were more challenging. I remounted them last year with the Xplore binding and use them mostly for Cross Country Downhill with the Alfa Free boots. I think that the Xplore and Free would work just fine on a wider ski as a powder or soft snow setup on moderate slopes. My Objectives are 117-84-102 @178. I also ski a set of Voile Hyper V6's, 129-98-110 @173. I ski the V6's with the Switchback X2 and Scarpa T2 boots. The V6's are so easy to turn that I'm pretty sure that I could ski them with the Xplore and Frees in soft snow, but that is just conjecture as I haven't skied that combination.
Maybe, but I don't think that Rottefella's intent was to create a binding to replace the NTN / plastic boot resort and deep and steep setups. I know the lines are often blurred as to where XCD stops and Downhill telemark begins, but I think they have managed to create a system that fits nicely between the two.
Thank you Tom for the excellent reviews. I am looking at the Alfa Free Xplore boot but have heard for proper fit to select one size down from your normal fit. Since my size is 43 that would mean 42 for me. What has been your experience with Alfa and this boot in particular?
If you are in the US, check out the sizing recommendations on REI's website. I think they give a pretty accurate measure based on US shoe size. www.rei.com/product/203280/alfa-free-aps-gtx-cross-country-ski-boots. I've found that ski boot sizes vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, so if someone suggests sizing down, that will depend on which boots you are using for a reference. If your reference is the Alpina Alaska, then I'd say size down from what you are used to. If you are skiing Alfa boots, then I'd stay stick with the same size. One thing to keep in mind in regard to this boot is that many people are not happy with where the toe creases and it can cause toe pinch on some feet, so pay particular attention to that when you try them on for size. If you are in the US, one good thing about buying them from REI is that you can return or exchange them after you have skied in them if you are not happy with the fit or the performance. These boots are so expensive that I don't think it is worth taking a risk on a poor fitting boot. I'm not sponsored by REI, but I do like that they want the customer to be completely satisfied and I think is very important with this boot.
Wow Nice looking snow.
Better the what we are getting here in the Alberta Rockies
Yes, it has been an amazing snow year so far. I hope you get some fresh snow and have a great season. Thanks for tuning in and I appreciate the feedback.
Your skiing looks ok to me. Sounds like a very nice boot and binding but I just can't get over the price! Together they are nearly $1000. But then again the price of ski equipment in general has gotten out of hand with inflation.
I agree, especially on the price of the boots. I think a fair price for the binding should be about $150 US and $375 for the boots. As more boot choices enter the market, hopefully the price will come down and I hope someone will make an equivalent boot at a better price point.
People want the control of a ATN binding if I have that correct…everything setup has its purpose but not the best of both worlds..my thoughts
Hope you and family had a good Xmas Tom
Thanks Andrew and I appreciate the thoughts.
Great footage and technique tutorial! Very curious about how big of ski you personally think the Xplore tech can handle. That volle replaced your sbound 128s?
Great question. I picked up the Voile Objectives as a replacement for my S-Bound 125's. I skied them for a couple of years with a Voile Traverse 3 pin binding, mostly with leathers and a few times with my Scarpa T2's when the conditions were more challenging. I remounted them last year with the Xplore binding and use them mostly for Cross Country Downhill with the Alfa Free boots. I think that the Xplore and Free would work just fine on a wider ski as a powder or soft snow setup on moderate slopes. My Objectives are 117-84-102 @178. I also ski a set of Voile Hyper V6's, 129-98-110 @173. I ski the V6's with the Switchback X2 and Scarpa T2 boots. The V6's are so easy to turn that I'm pretty sure that I could ski them with the Xplore and Frees in soft snow, but that is just conjecture as I haven't skied that combination.
Rotefella seemed to have missed a trick by not going NTN/reverse duckbill sole/Cross Country-hybrid.
Maybe, but I don't think that Rottefella's intent was to create a binding to replace the NTN / plastic boot resort and deep and steep setups. I know the lines are often blurred as to where XCD stops and Downhill telemark begins, but I think they have managed to create a system that fits nicely between the two.
Thank you Tom for the excellent reviews. I am looking at the Alfa Free Xplore boot but have heard for proper fit to select one size down from your normal fit. Since my size is 43 that would mean 42 for me. What has been your experience with Alfa and this boot in particular?
If you are in the US, check out the sizing recommendations on REI's website. I think they give a pretty accurate measure based on US shoe size. www.rei.com/product/203280/alfa-free-aps-gtx-cross-country-ski-boots. I've found that ski boot sizes vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, so if someone suggests sizing down, that will depend on which boots you are using for a reference. If your reference is the Alpina Alaska, then I'd say size down from what you are used to. If you are skiing Alfa boots, then I'd stay stick with the same size. One thing to keep in mind in regard to this boot is that many people are not happy with where the toe creases and it can cause toe pinch on some feet, so pay particular attention to that when you try them on for size. If you are in the US, one good thing about buying them from REI is that you can return or exchange them after you have skied in them if you are not happy with the fit or the performance. These boots are so expensive that I don't think it is worth taking a risk on a poor fitting boot. I'm not sponsored by REI, but I do like that they want the customer to be completely satisfied and I think is very important with this boot.