How about the fit? Total alchemy;). Lap 1 of a multi lap day up high in the Colorado alpine. In the spirit of course about always talking about things that you can’t buy yet . Do you think it would make sense to exchange thee liner with an Intuition Pro Tour? As others have said, the RS works well if you can stay in the front seat. Nice service there. I am normally size 46 (euro), uk 11. I don’t see me modding these too much, but I’m hoping a pair of these and something like the ZeroG Tour Pro will cover all my needs. The Alien RS is no exception, with a stout and dense race weight Intuition … I take it that the Boa on the RS is different from the F1 or older Alien? As for the extra BOA in the repair kit, as I previously stated, it’s simply not obvious how it works. In the store I couldn’t switch from walk to ski mode without the cord slipping through the cam lock a couple of inches each time. I suppose having some smart engineer (like you) show me once would make me more competent but I really haven’t a clue right now. I don’t have huge days on these boots yet as I blew my knee last spring not long after getting them. Disappointing. And on an unrelated note, are there people who have skied the pre retail version of the new Alien 1.0 yet who can comment on that boot? i’ve skied 20 or so days this year on this boot and also really like them for pretty much everything. The Velcro upper “buckle” on the F1 has a rather terrible throw distance and for a range of motion greater than a heavier boot, it has to be loosened beyond a proper skiing tension every time. Fully modded, 1102 grams keeps you at the one kilo sweet spot. No mods yet although Scarpa has been good about taking care of it. And mondo before with F1 was for me 29,5, according to tab is it 45, 10,5 uk. “I mean, we’re already out here aren’t we?” Or, “Whoa, let’s go ski that too!” The Alien RS would allow you to be competitive with all but the most elite rando racers out there, while doubling as a powerful boot to tackle the biggest of missions. Big days with modern gear, but anything can be improved. This boot is going to be sooooo good once the kinks get worked out. Perhaps the 2.3mm or 3mm will suffice. He’s also an obsessive tinkerer of anything that supports his skiing addiction.). You probably would've looked amazing with it too. The increase in climbing efficiency thanks to the … But, Scarpa has been at it for a while, and just like the incremental improvements to the Maestrale, the Alien … This by no means makes the Alien RS ski like an alpine boot, or even like a heavier do-it-all touring boot. Full carbon boots are quite stiff but give little to nothing in touch and feel throughout various turn shapes snow consistencies. It retains many of the original Alien’s touring-focused … About an hour into some very flat approach skiing, the BOA popped and that was it. Plus, 21 boots, 12 bindings and 28 pieces of apparel, all of [Read More…], When traveling through the backcountry becomes old hat, don't revert to complacency. The plastic is thickened in key areas in what Scarpa calls the 3D Lamda Torsion Frame. Still, he sent me too kits for free. Maybe next years iteration. J Coates: one of my main ski partners did have the same boa connection break on both boots. Your ankle and foot are waterproofed by a gaiter that is welded to the lower shell, stays put with an elastic top with, and has a Boa dial smack in the middle of the top of the foot. Further mods were less involved (and less expensive). SCARPA Zen Pro Nessun Luogo Gray Hiking Approach Climbing Shoes Men's Size 7 2/3. And the fit scalped my heels every tour. rudi come on by cripple creek vail and I’ll punch them please call or email ahead of time for an appointment and expect a little higher cost than a normal punch. In other words, couldn’t it break too? Scarpa Alien RS Scarpa’s Alien series refers to their skimo-specific boots, which rely upon carbon construction and far-reaching walk modes. $13.00 shipping. As promised, I pulled the trigger on the BOA replacement. But that’s where the fun stopped. Full stop. Just picked these up and race with the Alien 1.0…took ’em out for a mostly flatfish 7 mile tour the other day and ended up with some heat blisters on the 6th toe of the left foot and heel of the right foot…anyone have any ideas on what to do with this? I can hear you gram counters out there clinking away on your mental abaci. Buck April 15, 2020 - 9:26 am since the alien RS is being discontinued, and the F1 LT is the replacement for the RS, it would have been nice to get a review from someone that had spent at least one day on the RS. This may (does) sound like an insanely obsessive thing to be concerned about, but it is actually quite noticeable. Heel hold is quite good for a boot in this category, as you would expect from Scarpa, and the Boa snugs up the lower really well. Brian, tying a knot sounds like a good way to secure the cam lock, and lessen the fiddle of finding just the right length each time. I think that there’s only so much you can do without an actual piece of plastic in the tongue. Teague snapped the ski photo above. After further investigation, the 28 and 29 share the same cuff as do the 26 and 27. PN 3474665 for the 2.3mm It was replaced on warranty by Scarpa, no questions asked (just like the fraying Boa cable on my F1). Designed and Developed by WildSnow, Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index, Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index, Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index, Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ, Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ. I’m not skiing high consequence terrain and am more of a long distance and multiple laps mellow skiing type. Whether you’re looking for your first backcountry setup or just updating those well-loved planks, we’ve got unbiased and in-depth reviews of 51 skis and 29 splitboards that will take you where you want to go, wherever that may be. The key here is the combination of skiability and massive, minimally hindered range of motion. … My buddies cable system iced up on the four pass loop and there we were with a lighter out and boots off on a windy frigid air pass trying to thaw out his nifty design feature/failure. I suspect it was due to my frequent enthusiastic removal of the liner for drying (something that used to be such a pain with my old boots). The fact that punching will void the warranty is ridiculous. GAITER RS The gaiter is built with two different fabrics, it increases the protection and insulation on the most critic and sensitive zone. Velcro buckle strap hugs the calf better than string and more like a booster. I had similar problem with F1, now they are superfitting. Brian H and others, how much more reliable would a buckle be? Or put another way, as soon as you let up a smidge, the boot snaps back to its non flexed position. One thing I noticed is that I don’t adjust the cord from outing to outing or even to put the boots on and off. As the name suggests, Scarpa Alien RS, also leverages race technology coming for the Scarpa Alien platform, and combines it with lessons learned on the F1 boot as well (image … This keeps the tongue upright and centered for long periods in a very open walk mode. Others have also noted that they can fail, too. These will fall out as they are too short. For mountain professionals and expert ski mountaineers who … Whether you're in it to win it or busting out big days in the alpine, Scarpa's new Alien RS Alpine Touring Boot blends the speed and efficiency you'd want out of a race boot with a broader … Turns out, by removing the BOA and grinding off the rivet that holds the internal router near the instep, there is a pre-made slot just aching for a Voile strap to pass through. I have managed to crack the upper slightly in the thicker part above the pivot. Judging from how rapidly ski boot technology is progressing, seeing that happen won’t be a surprise. Hope the knee heals well. The single motion walk mode lever here is similar in design to the … I’ve wanted to write a review for this boot since testing a pre-release version of it last spring, but felt the need to put it through the wringer first. However, my liners are completely thrashed, several spots with worn holes all the way through and probably 10 areas per side that have worn through the face fabric into the foam. By keeping the design intent of the Alien 1.0 but replacing the carbon cuff with one of Grilamid® LFT (Grilamid® reinforced with long fiber carbon strands) Scarpa has kept the weight of the Alien RS … Not only is the boot smaller laterally, but it has a slightly shorter feel as well. I’d also like to see the rear throw-arm nubbin get removed (shortened) as it interferes with step-in crampons when you have the boot locked in (locking arm in down position) for ice-climbing. This year, I likely have 20 days of low angle touring in them and have been happy…until today. Weight/skiability, the TLT 7 is quite good, but touring range was definitely not on the race level. I took everything apart. I see it available at Skimo and Scarpa for $10-20 for 20-30″, but that is crazy money. Maybe the lack of shell material around the front of the ankle and top of the foot doesn’t provide much leverage over the ski when your weight shifts back and your foot and lower leg are pressed against those parts of the boot. If the boa does break, I found that a voile ski strap provides an adjustable, zero-compromise field repair. I opted to drill two holes in the rear spoiler and bolt on a Salomon Quest/MTN Lab strap that is wide yet still reasonably light. Almost laughable these days to get big lines. Scarpa has always had good thing going in the co-developing of liners with the Canadians at Intuition. The other comment I’ll add is that my BOA failed after only 3 hours of total use. I have had the upper cord break, although I run mine rather tight given my avoidance of power straps. Scarpa has traditionally shrunken the last in their ultra light boots, and the RS is no exception. Mine is adjusted as forward as possible. But I love these boots as much for their performance, as for the fact that they don’t hurt me. This is due to the more upright position and lack of alpine style progressive flex not only forward but in rebound as well. I’ll reply back to the thread after the end of the season but so far I’m a huge fan, just need a little bit of work on the fit. Probably good for well over 100k vert per cord. Slightly softer flex (ditch the wire reinforcement to improve the “lack of alpine style progressive flex?”), adjustable cant and forward lean, and these look like my next boots. Description SCARPA ALIEN RS CARBON BLACK 2020 Spécialement conçue pour les performances en randonnée, la chaussure ALIEN RS est la nouvelle bombe de chez SCARPA . I like the slight added performance of them, anyway. Box 190 $75.00. I don’t have an issue with the cord design itself, but I wish there was a more reliable way to tension the cord than that dinky little cam. I was going to give the BOA another chance as breakages are not that common. I then add a stopper knot about 1 cm past the cam to prevent unexpected slip. Ideally, we’d like to see reinforced Grillamid that’s as easily molded as the normal type. a hardware store trip fixed this, but it’d be worth throwing some loctite on this if it seems loose at all. My home range is The Gore Range which is nearly 100% wilderness and extremely tight craggy drainages. I’m assuming you live somewhere with awesome sled access? Consequently, Scarpa stepped up and I sent them back to them for the fix. Can def change the fit and ski feel, but in all cases the tourability still surpasses an F1 or any other boot of RS skiability. I haven’t even baked the liners, just put in Superfit Carbon footbeds. as compared to a stock 27 RS at 932 grams. Photos can be found on my IG and long form details will be on my blog. Been testing the limits more this year sending pillow lines in all of this powder we’ve had. I find the Alien RS and F1 to be very similar in the heel, with the Alien much tighter in the midfoot. This nexus is not possible in an 800 gram boot any more than it is in a 1500 gram offering. Next up, power strap. The Alien RS is no different, … Your modification results in a boot that seems to be pretty close to the F1, probably a little better ankle articulation, but not as easy to punch. Thoughts? Well, what typically doesn’t fail is the Voile strap. It also feels just a bit narrower than the original Alien. (Editor’s note from Lou: While I like the simplicity and elegance of this mod, A cuff height mod could also be accomplished by adding plastic here and there, if you don’t have another set of cuffs available.). “athletes are combining high levels of fitness, skiing ability, and featherweight gear to aggressively ski big remote lines from long distances, routes that often required overnighters in the not so distant past. I suppose this is just the circle of life for boots with the articulation that the rs has, but i doubt they will make it through the remainder of the season and i’ll be needing new liners next season. This reduced the rigidity and stiffness feel just a fraction while making for a more snug ankle fit. Everybody knows that fit is the first priority in boots. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I crammed my foot in the 27 test model for a few days but was wary of a full season of what would result in some sadistic version of Italian foot binding. Thanks for the vent. That’s all I know. Hi, before skiing F1, the blue ones- refixed with manual lock syst, size 295, now into alienRS, but the maximum size mondo 30,0 feel so tight, i have friend in shop, i am walking in boots infront of tv and dont know if choose them. It is also a stiffer boot than the F1 although not as quite as good in the touch department. All this said, be mindful of the fact that getting a boot fitter (or ski shop manager) to punch boots such as this might be a losing proposition. No holes, no cracks, no problems! After that pitch I pulled over to a steep pillowed roll over and he flew by in the Alien 1.0 and 2 stagged a 5 then 15 footer with style and ease. These pivots are small simple aluminum 3 piece units (bolt, nut, washer) that are removable with a hex wrench. Happy feet were worth the risk- successfully stretching the Alien RS. I added a strap to my TLT 6s years ago because transitions are just slower in AK. Here’s another relevant update. I sent it back to Scarpa and it came back good as new. Just wanted something lighter. This swap maneuver did reduce the possible forward lean available by an amount that an MIT grad student would have to calculate. I’m down with the power strap mod, in spite of what Jason says. As Jason K said, the power strap was sacrilege and overkill. A great boot, that drives my 105 waist Carbon Converts just fine. Whether you're in it to win it or busting out big days in the alpine, Scarpa's new Alien RS … Anyone out there have any shop time with this? Thanks for the replies ya’ll. Very solid zones of unidentified material exist on the the top of the liner’s rear cuff and shin to diffuse the fore and aft pressure of the edges of the boot cuff. I think a slightly thicker cord and burlier cam would improve this boots reliability without adding much weight. Good review! I’m optimistic the beefed up BOA will be more reliable, but we will see. Led, skály nebo sníh, Alien RS představují perfektní rovnováhu mezi lehkostí a … The downside of those guys, while genuinely concerned and helpful, is that they make closures for all kinds of footwear and finding someone who knew anything about skimo boots was impossible. Seems like one could easily achieve everything you’ve done (and save a little weight) by just getting a Fischer Travers Carbon…. Why not just ski, tour on the F-1? But once here I realized that absolutely no one at the time cared or even knew about such things up here. Maybe its the articulation and lack of pressure points? There is a new thicker steel boa assembly that should be more durable than the old plastic coated one. SCARPA North America, Inc 3550 Frontier Avenue Unit E Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA 303-998-2895 Once you lose that cuff pressure, especially if you are on excitable carbon skis, you’re fully in the backseat. ️ The new F1 LT will be only a little heavier, at 990g in size 27 versus 920g for the Alien RS, and perhaps targeting a slightly different type of skier, but the ️ The most obvious change comes … The boot board is a single piece of plastic which is easily removable for modification. Overnighters? Hey Jason. Do you feel that the fit is similar to the regular Alien? great review gary. I drilled a single hole and used a Dynafit TLT7 strap which worked great. It's a light boot, so long term durability is yet to be determined. I’m fully aware it voids the warranty and all that. What do you mean? 60 Main Street P.O. Lastly, I have a green Superfeet insole and 3/4 length shim under the front of the liner. The Alien RS performed well in all and is capable of driving a relatively big ski in the process. Sleds over grams needed for access distances over a measly mile, which local ATers consider too far. Done! Whether you're in it to win it or busting out big days in the alpine, Scarpa's new Alien RS Alpine Touring Boot blends the speed and efficiency you'd want out of a race boot with a broader … ”. L'Alien RS est une chaussure de ski de randonnée de la marque Scarpa. Last year, Scarpa took that tried-and-tested Alien and reformed it for improved downhill capacity with the Alien RS. The RS is built in a two piece plus gaiter construction that is common among race boots. The beefier F1 liner does inhibit the range of motion a touch. … And only for a non-race setting. Jeffersonville, VT 05464 With a successful punch job, it was time to swap cuffs. There’s a growing segment of ski touring that is incredible to watch develop. Scarpa Alien RS. This was a fantastic review and I’m very interested in making this my next boot if it will fit my feet. Great review Gary. My pair, size 28.5 weigh 1400 gms with footbed. I have had some problems with fit, the upper outer aspect of the boot impinges on my fifth metatarsal in a way that the original Alien last did not, there is a little ledge on the inside of the boot from that reinforced segment that extends along the superior lateral part of the boot which is pinching my foot. I’ve got significant miles on both those other boots without any Boa trouble, although I am only an N of one obviously. The foot was still tight laterally but in a “good” tight way only understood by skiers. . Luckily, the Voile strap fix is quick and effective. But Scott’s comment about there being “only so much you can do without an actual piece of plastic in the tongue” got me thinking about why the performance apparently goes out the window if you get in the back seat. You have to be glued to the front of the boot with weight forward or you quickly get knocked in to the back seat. Simply put, it’s tight all the way around and Scarpa has done the downsizing for you on this one. As great as the liner is, I wanted a touch more give and play in the boot so I put a 27 Scarpa F1 liner in. Nonetheless, with care I was able to do four punches on my right and three on the left without damaging the boots. Pas forcément destinée à la compétition de ski-alpinisme comme ses aînées Alien … Anyone aware of a shop in CO (Frnt Rangeish area preferably) willing to punch these? Growing up I guess. Myself and ski partners are now using a 5-7 mm longer bolt with lock nut and lock tight. I don’t have proof yet but suspect that it will increase cord life. I’m surprised you wanted a higher cuff — when I first got it, I was assuming the RS would feel like a low-top race boot, but by my measurements the size 30 RS has a cuff height equal to size 31 Sportiva Spitfire 2.0’s, and a little higher even than size 30 TLT7 cuff. Alien RS Boty SCARPA Alien RS pro pokročilé aktivní skialpinisty, kteří chtějí vynikající výkon v každé situaci. That mod can be seen in my review on my site, if interested. You wouldn’t need to buy 2 sets of boots to get the cuff height. Last thing to do is patch the hole from the BOA. The ALIEN RS boot is suitable for dynamic ski mountaineers, who are looking for excellent performance in every situation. You wouldn’t need to punch it. Description du Scarpa Alien RS : La nouvelle bombe de SCARPA, l'Alien RS est un concentré de technologies au service des skieurs à la recherche de performance et de confort. As for walking, it doesn’t get much better. Scarpa Alien RS Boot. It is a replaceable part that should have been beefed up. I’ve never had a buckle fail in 30 years. They have a longer pin now. Ever since skiing with an original Booster Strap, I’ve been unable to like a boot without some sort of cam locking power strap squeezing the cuff around my lower leg. The Frankenalien would end up with a 1.1 cm taller cuff than a stock 27. I’m guessing you have had less problem with this because the strap keeps pressure off the cord? La combinaison de la coque étroite, du chausson thermoformable et du système boa … My experience with punching this plastic was that I actually had to get it hotter and apply more pressure than standard Grillamid, Pebax or PU. Jody— try West Marine (there’s one in Sausalito) for an equivalent diameter in their T-100 series Dyneema cord. Not so much here. Further rigidity is added by a 3mm diameter steel bar that rests inside the bottom of the upper cuff and connects to both inner and outer cuff pivots. Also, add to your backcountry repair kit an extra bolt for the rear lever. Not too difficult but trying to figure out routing of the cable was/is mystifying. When this season’s stock rolled in, I threw on a pair of 28’s and was seriously considering going that route. Sa … (WildSnow guest blogger Gary Smith is the Vail Cripple Creek Backcountry shop manager. This put me in an interesting spot being 6′ tall and feeling just between 27 and 28. I’ll second the notion that you don’t want to get in the back seat, like, ever, as it ‘ll be game over before you know it. So sorry, but this item is sold out. Putting the whole package together, the Alien RS (modded or stock) represents the leading edge of what is happening in ski touring. Matt I’m certainly into sled access when it’s available, and have been using the Hoji boot and heavier ski for those missions. Light, huge range of motion and skis amazingly well. Scarpa Alien RS cuff inside, note the black wire shaped steel reinforcement yoke. The length though felt long and just looking at that “28.0” sticker was concerning. The Alien RS represents a huge step forward in the world of ski touring equipment. $608.99 - $869.95 up to 30% off. I have had a problem with fit and I’ve developed this devil’s bump on the outside of the middle section of my right foot. A touch with the soldering iron through the gaiter material reveals the slot to be made for such a beautiful thing. But I’ve never come across a boot fitting that looks more precarious than the BOA. To summarise, Scarpa’s Alien RS will suit many ski tourers, and as the word spreads he Alien RS is sure to become more and more popular. These types of boots are not 70 mph on Alaskan spine capable, but can be skied fas, angulated hard, and land moderate airs. I love this boot and prefer it over the F1, which is still a very good boot. Also, as you can read on my website, I fashioned a Dynafit cam buckle power strap to the cuff to take the tension off the cord all together. It got better after I yelled at a few people who were raping the skin track one day and then my foot got better after I took a dremel to the inside of the boot and a hair dryer to the outside but it’s still not an ideal fit situation. I will also add that the BOA failure was enough of a buzz kill to have me thinking about buckle mods for the instep. This year I wanna go for the Sierra high route, and I’d like a boot that tours as well, but skis better than my again pdg’s. I’d love to just have a boot I know I can count on in the middle of nowhere instead having to count on the ol’ reliable voile ski straps again and again.