Alpina BC 1550 Backcountry Boot
Alpina BC 1550 Backcountry Boot $159.00
Tech Specs
| Shell Material: | , synthetic leather, [cuffs], plastic |
| Liner: | thinsulate |
| Sole Type: | NNN BC with tread |
| Binding Compatibility: | NNN BC Magnum |
| Recommended Use: | backcountry XC touring |
| Manufacturer Warranty: | 1 year |
Description
Alpina is the authority in backcountry Nordic boots, and the BC 1550 demonstrates why.
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Share your thoughts
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Alpina BC 1550 Backcountry Boot
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They get it done
Christopher Columbus
Member since
To be fair, I put these things through the ringer, my pair is probably 10 years old and they get out 3-5x/week during the winter. At this point they are falling apart, holes in the top of the toe, lace buckles ripping off, sole separating, etc. They did their job for many years, but never perfectly. Always had wet feet if the snow wasn't totally dry, as others have mentioned they do rub on the tops of your toes due to the flex pattern. Have never tried other bc boots but hope there are better ones out there.
disappointed
Dissappointed
mar4582598
Member since
I bought these boots new two years ago, I have tried everything I know but still I get Blisters where the boot creases at my big toes. I have an older pair of alpina boots less ankle support, but more comfortable, which I continue to wear without issue. BAd news, I did not buy them from back country..my bad...
Scott N
Scott N
Member since
- Gender: Male
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
These boots are not quite as stiff as the previous model which I loved. Softer boot makes it harder to carve turns. I use an anti blister patch to put inside the boot which eliminates friction and no friction = no heat build up = no blisters. You can buy them at goengo.com for about $15. They work great in hiking boots as well.
Stands the test of time
Robert
Member since
My Alpina Backcountry ski boots have stood the test of time. I have used them for over a decade. I used them less often when I first got them. Now I use them nearly every evening after work during the Minnesota winter. Cross country skiing after dark doesn't matter because the snow is white. I use the boots daily because I ski to exercise my dogs. If I try to skip an evening the dogs are relentless. So with daily use the boots continue to stand up. The Velcro strap holds up. I like the Velcro strap because it speeds up the lace system and gives good ankle support. I have hiking boots with lots of lace loops and no Velcro strap. The Backcountry ski boot with one set of hooks laces quickly. The boots have good support for backcountry. These boots have not been pampered. I was lacing them up and noticed the boots probably aren't as shiny black as they were 10 years ago. They have a patina of break-in. But then again my hair probably isn't as dark as it once was either. The boot laces have held up too. The boots can be walked in for a few blocks if need be. The grip on the soles is good so they don't slip on ice or snow. The best feature of the boot is how well they manage a variety of temperature. I've skied in sub-zero icy winds of December, and I've skied in the wet thawing slush of March. My feet in the boots have never been wet, sweaty, hot or cold. I've often said if I could find a pair of hiking boots like them I'd buy them.
pretty good
Sean Rossetter
Member since
agreed on the the toe thing... too much flex and can cause blisters on top of your toes. it helps me to wear 2 pairs of socks, less friction and no blisters. but then they end up kind of tight, but otherwise comfortable. they have the right amount of support for my use (no grooming here and lots of downhill)
Looks great, functions poorly
jcw4458612
Member since
I bought these boots primarily becuase I liked the way they looked. As my Dad always says, "no matter how well or poorly you might do, always look your best". Well I look good, but the blisters on my toes from only 4km trip are terrible. As with other reviewers, I tried a variety of solutions to this problem but without any better result. These boots will soon be relegated to the dust bin in the garage as I have purchased a different boot. Would return them if I could but bought them on sale at the end of last season.
Robert
Member since
Keep wearing the boots if you can. Break them in. My boots never blistered my feet but wear a little stiff in the toe at first. The boots get better with use.
Poor toe box design
rory mcdonagh
Member since
Agree with previous review. Toe box creases across the great toe causing significant listening. Forget skiing twice in a weekend....blisters don't permit it!
Disappointed in the boot and trying novel ways to try to break in this boot.
Not so good
Pete Dancey
Member since
This is the second season I have been using these boots and agree with previous reviews;The toe box creases across the toe line causing blisters,the lacing system makes it tough to get the boots snug and to keep them snug and they do get wet in the toe area.I skied yesterday around 6km and ended up with a blister on my toe(not the first time) and would like to go today but I`m left wondering what to do to prevent futher blisters..thinner/thicker socks,take the insoles out...I want to ski not fool around with these boots!
Janko Scepanovic
Member since
Damn! I have completely same problem with blisters in toes are! Did you find any solution???? It's anoying!!!!
cwuboarder
Member since
I've been getting blisters with my new boots too! And they're the right size...so far I've been waiting for them to heal, then going out again - not the best solution.
Avoid this boot
SnowCamper
Member since
There must be a batch problem with this boot. A number of good reviews and a number of bad ones. For the pair I bought, Alpina deserve to be admonished. Here are the faults:
(1) They leave like a sieve around the toe area - wet toes are guaranteed.
(2) The box toe construction presses hard onto the toes delivering punishing blisters after only short trips
(3) Too flexible in its construction to be a backcountry boot - insufficient transfer of power from 'knee-to-ski' where attempting turns downhill, especially in icy conditions.
(4) The lacing system needs re-work:
(i) The laces have no flex, which prevents a truly snug fit that is essential for a ski boot.
(ii) The upper hook laces bend under strain and the lower lace holders do not grip the lace as you tighten, meaning you need to re-tension the lace several times as you pull excess lace through each hole. A 'D' ring lace system would have been better.
I am returning these boots.
Alpina need to conduct some quality assurance testing on their boots and see if there is a concern with their manufacturing process. The boot may simply require re-design, which is probably the case.
Thankyou to Backcountry for your generous return policy. I will now shop for a better boot.
A boot ...A boot.. a jolly decent boot
Lawrence
Member since
The BC1550 is a great boot. The shell is hard but not something you'd want to take on an expedition. The tongue is somewhat unique in that it is outside of the lacing area rather than tucked inside but there is method to this madness as it forms a remarkable barrier that an interleaved tongue can't achieve. There was no 'breaking-in' ceremony of lesions and blisters and I found I could wear the boot straight out of the box to ski in as much time as I could lace it.
Support is vital when it comes to BC boots and the Alpina's have it in spades. A stiff exoskeleton type of support structure enables you to really cut hard on turns while remaining stable.
If there were to be improvements to the design, it would be on the internal tongue, which feels cheap. On putting the boot on, you have to undo the whole velcro strap and then affix the laces to tie.
The loops to feed the laces through are situated under the velcro strap and receiver and should be the hooks that the rest of the boot have.
The boot clips in and out of the bindings with ease and walking around is as easy as a normal pair of boots although far more comfortable.
Overall, a good boot - attention to design and manufacturing. It's a good investment and will help on those day long or longer journeys.
Not Recomended
ed.3623981
Member since
I have used a pair for 2 winters now, approx 50 days of use.
Pros: Good support
Easy to lace on
Sole has not cracked (yet)
Cons: not even water resistant, never mind water proof. Feet are wet after about 15 min of skiing through wet snow.
Cold - not much insulation. Too narrow for a heavy sock.
Too narrow, one width does not fit all. Lots of abrasion on toes and ankles.
Eyelet pulled out 2nd day of use.
Alpina 1550 Backcountry Boot
liser221575612
Member since
The Boots are warm and have a wide toebox--something i was seeking. but, the lacing system is painful on my ankles and the overall fit of the boot is large. that said, i wear a second pair of short socks in them. i have yet to master the laces in a way that is comfortable on a long ski.
the boots appear to made of cheap material and it does not easily bend or mold.
overall, they are better than what i had but i feel like for the money i spent the boots should have some componet of leather and be easy to cinch around my foot.
gail epstein
Member since
I'm having the same problem with lacing. After 5-7 miles, my ankles feel like they are being cut into, making it incredibly painful to finish the skiing, and the pain continues for days. I haven't come up with a solution yet, and am almost ready to abandon these boots. Same thing happened to another friend last week.
ouch!
dbl4373085
Member since
I found these boots to be unwearable. The seam created where the stiff plastic upper meets the softer toe cap creates a friction point on the top of the big toe when the boot flexes. I purchased the proper size and wore them around the house for several hours. But after a few hours of actual use, both my toes blistered. It's too bad, these boots offer great support and warmth, but they're just too painful to use.
Thank you Backcountry for a great return policy!
phs2098076
Member since
exact same thing happened to me. love the boot, but both toes blistered just like you.
cwuboarder
Member since
I wish I'd read your review before purchasing, and acquiring blisters from, these boots.
Good support
Anna Jackson
Member since
This boot is really supportive, good stiffness and ankle support. Fit was true to size.
Pretty solid, but I've had issues
Glaciator
Member since
I used these for quite a few years on an old pair of Trak touring skis that had NNN BC bindings and eventually got new skis (the Karhu Solstice XTs). I think these boots and the Magnum binding are probably overkill for those skis, but these boots have rarely let me down performance-wise. They tend to stay dry and warm and are very comfortable for any walking or hiking necessary.
My only complaints are that they simply do not cinch up tight enough for my narrow ankles and heels and the tongue shield doesn't help this either. I broke one power strap for this reason. The plastic loop the velcro strap passes through is simply too weak for how much pressure I put on it. They also can be a little too flat footed for me, so I should put in Superfeet or such, as hours of skiing can make the soles of my feet sore from kicking and gliding, but nothing terrible.
I would recommend these, but not without my aforementioned warnings. Also, I feel I may have bought one size too large, so this may have to do with any number of things.
Alpina BC boots
William C Clark
Member since
These are comfortable for me (normal width) and pretty warm for how heavy they are. They feel a lot like a hiking boot but not as stiff. They certainly have good ankel support, which is key to what I want in a BC boot and easy on/off. I also like the simplicity of having laces rather than some zipper to freeze or break in the BC (though a zipper covering over the laces tends to make a warmer boot). I cannot comment on their durability but I think for the price they are decent boot.
TOO WET AND NARROW
ed.3623981
Member since
After skiing through wet spring snow for 10 min my feet start to get damp, after and hour they are soaked (I'm wearing full length gaiters).
The 'one width fits all' does not work for wide feet.
Iv'e some Sorrel Thinsulate light weight boots for snowshoeing that I can put on after a night out at 0 deg f and my feet will stay warm - not so with the Alpina's - skis seem to suck the heat out thru the bottoms.
One of the eyelets came out after about 20 hours of use.
Bill
Member since
I find them narrow across the toes, there is more width without the insole that comes with the boot, currently experimenting with a thinner insole.
Top Cap = Crap
zoso
Member since
Well, my feet have stayed warm and dry while using these, sometimes, 6 consecutive days (XC skiing can sometimes be the only access I have for field work). The ankle support is great, the control with Rottefella Magnums mounted on Fischer Snowbound Crowns is top notch. I have well over 100 miles logged on this setup.
I just can not understand what Alpina was thinking with the design of the toe-cap. While XC skiing, my fore-foot flexes - something the boot allows for - but the semi-rigid toe cap is positioned such that the EDGE of the toe cap SCRAPES into the top of one's toes every single time the foot flexes! I have tried many work-arounds, and have had the local cobbler attach a pad to the underside of the toe cap. Even with this aftermarket fix, I still have to wrap my big toes with gauze and bandage, under socks, to prevent the wicked painful scraping.
S. Warm
Member since
Hi, you are probably not alone with this problem. Try putting more flexible rubber bumber in from of your toe in the BC binding. There should be soft, medium and firm types, you should try soft. This will ease the step and prevent folding too hard on the toes.
Worth the money
Terry Burket
Member since
Fast break-in time (2-3 hrs)They offer great ankle support. More than enough insulation for single digit temps.Very well constructed.
Can't believe it
ken2982147
Member since
Every other boot I have tried can not compare.
I am 6' and 195 without my pack. The newer boot style with the zipper coverings did not provide the needed ankle support. Used the BC 1550 recently for a weekend at Silverton Colorado and was very pleased. These boots have great ankle support, easy on and off, very warm and dried overnight. Be sure to lace them up all the way. REI uses these for rentals (no longer sales them) and did not instruct my neighbor on the proper way to lace them and he complained to me about the lack of ankle support. After I showed him the way to lace all the way to the top, he was so pleased and purchased a pair.
View all contributions... Be patient, it might take a while.
Sean Rossetter
Member since