Black Diamond Factor Alpine Touring Boot - Men's - 2008 BCS

If I had a dime for every walk mode that's broken on one of these things I'd be wealthy. They are easy to replace and easy to find, but it might be good to be proactive and track on down to keep in your repair kit before you find yourself on top of Capitol Peak in CO looking down the Landry Line contemplating skiing it in walk mode.

Love the Boa though, that thing is sweeeeet!

I've skied the factors for one season, everything from 8h resort days with minor hucks to 4h tours and I gotta say it's living up to my expectations. This being my first cross over boot I was very happy with the touring mode 'cause I had only toured in alpine boots before. After trying titans for a few days I realized that the walk mode on the factors isn't all that great but it does the job. I find it comfy on the up and stiff but forgiving on the down, have felt a bit soft in spring time with warmer temp.

Now to the bad stuff that puts this boot at a 3 instead of sniffing at a 5. Like may others I broke the ski/walk mode switch and got stuck in walk mode. I did this in dynafit binders and at the same time the AT sole heal part (where the pegs go) broke. I didn't notice at first 'cause it didn't snap all the way so I could still ski down from the mountain.

When I took the boots to the shop we discovered that the only thing keeping the plastic together was the rubber sole, since the binders released correctly and took no damage I'm questioning the durability of not only the ski/walk mode but also the AT soles.

...than a BC boot. Barely an AT boot imo. Reasonable for side country (what isn't) but not what I would consider a AT boot.

I agree with Will's review. The 3rd day on these things, the first small jump that I landed switch - the boots broke and were permanently on walk mode. That's absolutely ridiculous for a $720 boot made for the "hardest chargers" to break the first time I land switch. I am also a large skier (225 lbs), but gimme a break, the way these boots were described, it sounded like they were the burliest boots money could buy, yet I was able to trash them in 3 days. On the positive side, the boots were comfortable and had the stiffest flex I could find that wasn't a race fit (98mm last or smaller). If these boots were actually able to hold up when people are "charging hard" on them (as they described) then they would be perfect. BD has a lot of things to work on and now depending on the warranty, I could have just flushed a lot of money down the toilet for a whole lot of hype.

So everyone is always looking for an AT boot, that is stiff and flexes like an alpine boot. Well kudos to BD for giving us what we want. A 130 flex provides a super stiff responsive boot. This boot is awesome as an everyday resort boot, or as a touring boot. Other boots have better walk modes, but this one's is more than adequate. The boa system on the inner boot is cool in concept but makes for a major pain when trying to take the boot off. Overall, BD nailed it, and you couldn't ask for a better, more solid touring boot. Intuition liner would have been a nice touch. Oh well...no one is perfect.

I've only skied two resort days on these boots and so far they're great. Very stiff, responsive, and lightweight. The ski/walk mechanism is very handy even if all I've used it for is trips to and from the car and in and out of the lodge. I can't wait to do some touring with them.

These boots fit great. Make sure you get them big enough to fit comfy socks. They have a great Achilles Tendon support in the liner, and fit snug and secure. Haven't broke the walk mode yet, but most of the reviews say it'll happen. The BOA lacing is really really awesome. So easy, even with gloves on. Hard to find the Dynafit sole pieces for the green color, BD said they weren't expected in stock until Winter. I use them with Fritschi's for AT.

...the liners are still Meh. As in I took a pair of hard-foam Garmont liners I had laying around and put them in right away. That said, the fit of the shells is awesome. The heel cup is narrow enough to provide meaningful hold, and the forefoot accommodates my C-D width feet without needing to be punched out.
Aside from the liners (and I doubt the new ones are any better), the only other beef I have is with the flex rating. My "90 Flex" Tecnica Diablo's are stiffer than these "130 Flex" boots. That said, these are still plenty stiff to drive any ski in the backcountry, and have a nice, progressive flex.
One final note-the liners in these suck, but the insoles are really nice...Superfeet nice. If BD put Intuition liners in these puppies, they'd be a 5 star product.

Six days on these boots in AK and I love 'em. I bought these to replace some Garmont Mega-Rides and the difference is huge. My alpine boots are Tecnica Agent 120s, and these are just as stiff. So far, I've had no problems with anything, and I gotta say that the walk mode range is really, really comfy. These boots tour great and ski great. I would say the little bit of added weight is worth it. Good job BD, I hope they hold up!

the boot itself is cool and the fit seems good, but not for a wide foot. the weight was another factor its a bit on the heavy side, but i'm assuming their target market is resort skiiers. so that should not be a problem for them, but an extra pound or two really starts to hurt on longer tours. the wire that tightens the boot seems that it could break easily and then the boot would essentialy not work. its feels like weak plastic and a hard fall or something could compleatly take it off. i guess this winter we'll all get a better idea of how well it works out.
glad to see BD making boots, i'll def be getting a 2nd gen pair.

As with all gear there will always be trade-offs. You can't have your cake and eat it too, i suppose. However these boots get you pretty darn close. The key is to know what you're planning to do with them and not expect them to serve you outside of that role. If you have it in your head that you're going to put a 5 degree edge bevel on your race skis and carve up the race course then you should just get alpine boots. If you are planning on steering a big powder/backcountry/all-mountain ski down challenging slopes with some surface other than bulletproof ice then this is your boot. I've tried these boots with my GS skis and they're totally ski-able in bounds on groomers but i don't think they would give me the support I'd want in a race course. I've also skied this boots with my AT setup. They give me just enough responsiveness to make hard turns on steeps and they are hands down the most comfortable boot I've ever skied bumps in. As others have said the BOA system and walk switch are great for skinning. The walk system probably hinders the overall stiffness of the boot but i find that the whole thing stiffens up pretty well if you really crank down the boa, buckles and power straps. Then of course you loosen it all up again for the skin, hike or lift ride back up.

In theory the best boot would be one which weighs nothing, has a comfy walk/skin mode, and provides all the stiffness you can handle. This seems pretty impossible to achieve but these boots get you pretty close to it, while making compromise in areas that I personally find agreeable.

UPDATE:
I had planned to ski Tuckerman Ravine over the weekend, however conditions were dangerously icy and avalanche prone so we skied inbounds at Wildcat instead. Snow was firm. I had a pair of GS skis but was too lazy to bring 2 pairs of boots so i rode the factors all day. Once or twice i could swear my knee nearly touched the top of my ski. These are a sweet boot for trees, soft bumps, and backcountry, but not for hard fast groomers - you'll outski them.

I have 3 resort days on these and one day of light touring. These are so far beyond any other AT boot in terms of alpine capability it isn't even worth talking about. I can't speak to durability or warranty or any of that as I have only had them for a couple weeks. In terms of performance. They rock. Seriously if you want an Alpine Boot that you can Tour in then just buy them now. They aren't the lightest... who cares. It's all about the down.

Great boots!

I'm light (150lbs) but ski hard. I have very narrow big feet and a very narrow heal. These boots ultra tight in the health cup area and I'm certain the people with normal width or wide feet would be absolutely miserable in these. The toe box is also tight ... but is designed for more normal feet.

Their stiffness is rated at 130, but I think that's a bit optimistic. It's not a racing boot, but more than adequate for almost all purposes.

Haven't broken anything on the boot yet. They seem rather stout. I wouldn't recommend switching to walk mode while leaning forward as it seems to place undue stress on the weakest part of the boot ... but no problems so far.

Love the cinch string crank BOA closure business. Not sure how I lived without it.

P.s. this boot is more for slack country. it's too heavy for long tours but can stand up to the abuse of resort skiing. This is exactly what I wanted though, so it's perfect for me.

Any experince with these boots and high arches? I have the Factors and they kill me even if the boots are loose around my legs. Right now my Navicular bone is sore from the weekend. Also my toes die within about 15 minutes and then they get cold. I went and baught those battery powered heaters(another $250) and they help maybe a little. I'm thinking I might try to grind the snow guard down to give me some room. I've already had them widened(punched out) in to toe area.

Thanks in advance guys and gals.

I'd give the Factors 5 stars, but it would come with a caveat: I only weigh 140 lbs and never break anything. If I weighed more and could confidently say they're bomber for the normal population, they'd get all the stars.
That said, the boots seem well built to BD standards. I would compare the last closest to the Salomon Falcon.
Stiffness: definitely stiffer than other AT boots but skiers worth their salt will know that nothing is as good downhill as an alpine boot.
Other niceties:
- Beefier buckles are a nice touch.
- Ski/Walk mechanism lever is bigger now.
- Forward lean can be adjusted to a more aggressive stance even though the part is a pain to install.
- Boa is awesome.
Things to Improve:
- They're a little heavy. Weight is always a factor in hiking. I guess the tradeoff is stiffness.
- AT soles are NOT included. These boots ain't cheap - it'd be really nice to throw those in instead of charging an extra $18.

Love these boots. Bigger guy, half in half out type of skier, second year of Factors, on the snow employee. 120+ days last year, 100+ this year, finally broke ski walk mech while hauling ass downhill, on my back, ski tail caught at speed. Emailed Joe at Black Diamond on Tuesday at noon, Brown Santa just left my house after delivering new ski walk mech Thursday at 5 pm. Painless and quick solution. Impressive.

This boot has an excellent flex. It is very smooth and solid. The weight is reasonable. The hike/skin mode is much more efficient than the Salomon Quest Boot, which no longer is Dynafit compatible. The boa is nice. Its hard to imagine a more versatile boot.

I loved this boot, however, for my 90% in bounds and 10% out, it simply wasn't stiff enough for steep stuff, or bumps. Unresponsive compared to my Nordica SpeedMachine 14's. 130 flex is brand specific.
Probably around 80-to 100.

I am on my second pair of factors and the walk function broke again after less than 5 days on the slopes. Very annoying. I understand that the problem occurs mostly on boots larger than size 28.

Just wanted to add to the issue of the ski/walk mec. I landed a bit hard the other day, and smashed the plastic shell next to the ski/walk switch. I got a tear that started at the bottom of the cuff and continued a few cm past the switch. So it doesn't seem to me that the plastic is strong enough either. Got a new pair from BD with the improved mec so we'll see if it holds up. Kind of sceary though, could easily break both ankles.

I've got some insiders @ B.D. They held production back to iron out the kinks.
The boa cable is 2-3 times stronger than was necessary for the stress produced and shouldn't be a problem.
Looking forward to beating the hell out of em in bounds in the Cottonwoods, and out of bounds as well.
Will report soon.

I assume if you are reading these reviews, you are looking for a touring boot with downhill performance superseding lightness and wearability. If this is all you are looking for, stop now and purchase the Factors. I put on Garmont Adrenalines and Dynafit ZZeuss, but found the Factors to top them both with greater stiffness in all directions of flex. For one, the Factor comes up on the shin as high as a downhill boot, which I feel makes the biggest difference over something like the Adrenalines, which are stiff but short. I'm tall (6' 3"), so I can really torque on these wimpy AT boots, and thus its easy to feel like I dont have enough control over my tips when the boot stops a 1/4 of the way up my shin. The other great thing about these boots, is they actually have a better tour mode (greatest range of motion, forward and back) then any of the other boots I tried on as well. Quite ironic, given they are by far the stiffest. Those who serious about touring know that this can be a limiting factor when climbing. No these are not the lightest, but I've been out for 8h plus tours and have been nothing but happy (not tired) with this very highly performing boot. That said, these are STILL AT BOOTS!! Don't let the ridiculous descriptions of these boots fool you. You will not be landing 60 footers switch without doing some damage. These are still designed with backcountry capabilities in mind (softer plastic, lightweight buckles), so dont trick yourself. They do however ride better than anything else in the backcountry.
I feel I need to respond to a few other reviews: The Boa system is guaranteed; but if it did break, it wouldn't matter (unlike what Tyler says). The shell of the boot if independent of "wire".
Ok, ill shut up now...

I am 5'11" 160 lbs and do a lot of side country and a little back country skiing. I got the Factors because I like a good stiff boot but they are definitely not a 130 flex. I have a set of Salomon Comp Pros that are 90 flex and they feel stiffer than the BD. All and all though I have been very happy with the Factors. They respond well on my fat BD Verdicts and also on my slim RX8's. The BOA system is cool but I am not sure it really adds performance to the boots. Out of the box fit is pretty good and if you have a narrow heel the liner hold you in place well. I switched out the foot beds for a better set which I'd suggest for anyone with the Factors. The walk mode works better then I expected.

"The Factor is built for the hardest of hard chargers who run it wide open on blower pow, send 30-footers to hardpack and pull 60 mph staight lines" -skibdboots.com

3 mode switches annihilated with the exact same breaking point. 5 days on them, got them fitted and ground out so i can't return them, urgh. i say boo to bd.

I bought these boots after reading all these reviews and on the second day of skiing the stupid little walk/ski thing broke. I wasn't even pushing it that hard, it was a green run and all I did was hit a little bump and it just snapped. I took it into a shop here and they took it out and it had obvisouly sheared off the pin that holds it in ski mode. I asked the REI people that helped me if it had any issues because I am a 220 pound aggressive skier, and I was told that they can handle anything I could throw at them, Obviously not.

I am up here at Whistler and Black Diamond doesn't have anywhere up here to fix the boot. The closest place is in Fernie. I loved the boots the first day but the fact that they broke on the second day shows that the workmanship just isn't up to the standards that they advertise.

I have had my factors for two weeks and have 6 days on them. I am 5'11" 180. Three days waist deep pow squaw and 3 days packed powder CO vail. Last boots were Lange comp fr 120. Currently ride on a pair of 175 Armada ARV w/dukes. These boots took two 30' drops and all day <15' drops in pow for 3 strait days with no complaints. They also held up to all day bumps and mornings frozen bumps @ vail. This boot does not feel like a 130 more like a 100 or 110. The walk mode is epic. Makes you not want to take the boot off end of day at the bar. Many have talked crap about this boot. It is not going to break just by flexing. If you have any concerns just look at the Backcountry.com return policy. With AT there are two options Scarpa or BD. I have not tried the Scarpa boot so cant comment. So far i would not hesitate to recommend the BD factor. Just make sure you have BC.com backing your purchase due to other 1st gen complaints.

3 days of touring and 4 days of skiing and these boots rock. I took two pairs (Lange Freestlye) of boots and skiied on mt x factors the whole time. I tried on the radium and Axom before buying the X factor. I love the actual flex in walk mode, and super stiff in ski mode. I'm 6 foot 210 skier that wanted a stiff boot, but one that would actually flex and be comforatble in walk mode...I found them!!! Hope they hold up.

The recent 2nd Gen. reviews have me second guessing my purchase, however I (5'10", 175 lbs.) am loving these boots. I am not a park guy, but I like the bumps, trees and touring. I haven't had the chance to do a signficant tour yet, but the mobility and comfort is amazing (I'll check back in when this happens). They seem to be plenty stiff both front to back and laterally. I had Solomon X-Wave 10s before these seem to be just as capable. One thing to consider is where you buy these from. I am psyched to be able to ski these with no worries as I bought them through Backcountry.com and they are guaranteed no matter what.

Not sure about all these negative reviews, but I have been super stoked on these boots. I am average to small size (5'10", 165lbs) and come from an alpine racing background. I ski aggressively, hit airs, ski switch... all that sh!t and I've had no problems with durability or flex. The flex is certainly not like a race boot, and flex index's are notoriously unreliable--but these are noticeably stiffer than my 110 flex Salomons. Definitely not a slipper. They are also quite comfy. The Boa is killer and while I was worried about it breaking, no problems there so far. Besides, obviously nobody wants their new gear to break, but I'd be shocked if BD doesn't stand by ANY of their products, especially something as big as a new boot line. Worst case scenario, you warranty and likely get that 2nd gen that everyone's spraying about.

These are some great boots that tour up the mountain great and have a strong hard flex for the downs. The only problem I have is that I bought them a size too small so now I really need to upgrade to a better fitting pair. If anyone needs a Mondo 26.5 for cheap, please let me know!

BD just doesn't seem to make solid gear any more. I was in the shop trying on different boots and so I figured I'd try on the Factors. I buckled in, leaned forward and heard a snap. The shop guy and I looked at each other, then looked down and saw the walk mode had just broken. This problem has been reported by others. I just won't buy anything more from black diamond until someone else has done the real-world testing.

Nice wide fit, fits pretty similar to the 27 Salomon Course from a few years ago (pre-spaceframe honeycomb). Stiff forward flex, very stiff side to side, and excellent support rearward with the spoiler and tall, stiff liner. BOA system doesn't do much while skiing, but while skinning it allows you to undo the buckles, and the liner stays tight to your foot (= no blisters). Boots are noticeably heavy while skinning, but its a trade-off I'm willing to make for the first touring boot I've ever used that skied (mostly) like an alpine boot. Skinning on flat ground I notice that the cuff release doesn't allow the cuff to go beyond vertical. This is much less noticeable on steep skin tracks.

The boot skis very well, with excellent power transfer in all directions... however, it doesn't provide much in the way of forward lean in the cuff, and the stiff flex prevents you from driving your knees forward to get into that more athletic stance. The BOA system is a nifty gimmick but is unnecessary. One thing that is useful about it, however, is that the liners have rubberized soles, so the BOA keeps them on your feet for lounging in huts and such. I got my boots heat-molded, but it didn't really help the fit. Granted, I've got huge clunky feet with no arches and I'm used to wearing Scarpa T1 tele boots with Intuition liners, but these particular heat-moldable liners just aren't as good. One other thing I would warn prospective buyers of is that the rubber on the boot soles is rather soft. So far I've bootpacked about 600 vertical on scree and the rubber is already pretty torn up. Fortunately, replacement soles are available.

I rocked these boots through Spring 09 and can say their ideal for touring and resort alike. Currently combined with the BD Fritschi Med and BD 180 Verdict (perfect for zipping around in the BC with friends). Pretty light with durable buckles as well.

Depending on your foot structure I'd recommend getting the liner molded. Outta the box pretty great, but getting customization will make your life way easier on the skin track.

I purchased these boots this season as a replacement for my worn out Alpine boots. I was looking for a boot that would be as good inbounds as it is outtabounds. This boot fills that niche very well. I was a little worried at first about the stiffness. I tried the boot on and it felt no where near 130 Flex, but get it out in the could and it increases in stiffness significantly. They seem to have remedied the walk mode problems of yesteryear and the liners are pretty nice to boot. I had never owned a BOA linered ski boot before, but it makes total sense in an AT boot. You can run the buckle as loose as you want and don't get heel lift like many other boots when buckled loosely. These boots have a very deep heel cup, so much so that when removing them I have to take the liners out on my feet and then remove the liners. Not a problem as I take my liners out to dry after a ski day anyhow.
Over all a great do it all boot!

Well,
I was stoked to get a pair of AT boots that would be stiff enough, and constructed to cater to more agressive backcountry skiing, while still allowing the ability to access some remote places. There are several design issues I noticed that I did not consider while trying them on and fitting them.
There is a plastic molding around the bottom buckle that sheds snow so that the buckle does not come undone while skiing,arguably quite useful, could save a few buckle replacements, the only issue is that the buckle is impossible to open with gloves on because of it.
The snow guard glued to the inner overlap of the shell to prevent snow from getting in has come almost completely undone after about 1.5 hours of skiing on them, and the shell has also worn away at the lining on the boa cable.
I have personal issues with the way the liners have packed out, and the fit of the boot, but my feet are already f***ed so ill stay away from those criticisms.
My first time sort of skiing in these boots was a midnight parking lot snow pile session where i came down from around 6-8 feet trying to land switch and my tails caught, which sent me into a singular slo-mo tomahawk, not a super bad crash, but decent, and something i would expect the most gnarly and over-hyped AT boots ever made would be able to deal with. After that one hit, which was preceded by two straight airs on that jump, being the only snow time they have had, both boots were permanently stuck in walk mode. To the credit of the boots, I am also a big kid, 210 lbs, 5'11", and have "thunder thighs". Even so, i have never seen even low end equipment deteriorate so quickly. Now i have to piddle around with my local shop and figure out whether i can get a fix, a new pair, or if im screwed with a pair of brand new $700 broken boots.
Furthermore, 130 flex? F*** you BD, thats 110, if that. The only thing that keeps me from collapsing forward onto my toes is the fact that the lower cuff buckle and the upper shell buckle hit each other (and are consequently bending), stopping me from flexing any further, and thus creating an inconsistent and abruptly interrupted flex.
Being larger than the average skier, my critisisms might be taken with a grain of salt, but consider that i literally trashed these things in 15 minutes dropping 6-8 feet onto a 15 ft. loose granular snow pile, on a pair of fat, mid-flex skis.
Some people may be quite happy on this boots, sweet, good for you. Personally, my suggestion to BD is to drop thier ski boot line and maybe consider entering the high performance bedroom slipper market. These boots are to freeride as K2 skis were to racing (complete joke), before they axed their comp division altogether.
suck it BD

I had the factors for 3 days before a bucklel fell off I gotem fixed and 3 days later the ski/walk switch fell off one of the boots. They are good boots if you can afford a new pair once a week otherwise dont waste your money

These boots are one of the most comfortable boots ive ever put on. They fit a wide range of foot types, which is key when looking for some new boots. The BOA system in this boot holds your foot in place so your not sliding around. Flip a little clip and you can hike in these super easy. These boots are AMAZING!