Black Diamond Push Telemark Ski Boot - Men's - 2008 BCS

The boots are great, but they run small and don't pack out.
I got the boots to drive big skis. They transfer a lot of power and are not too heavy for climbing.
I got 27.0, the recommended size, but the boots were quite tight, even without the footbed. I thought they would pack out, but after a couple days of skiing, they fit the same.
Returning for a larger size.

After skiing Crispi tele boots for 10 years, I took a leap of faith to BDs continually improving boot line. My first couple of days in these boots were a mess. The bellows flexed differently, they were lighter, my skiing was jacked. But...after about 7 days in these boots, I'm falling in love. My favorite part of this boot is the boa liner. I can get these suckers super dialed to my feet. I have found them to be a little on the cold side compared to what I'm used to, but the more I use them, the more I love them. They ski like a solid 4-buckle boot enabling me to charge any kind of terrain, but they're light enough that they are a great touring boot. If you're looking for a comfortable tele boot that's stiff enough to charge and light enough to tour, this is it.

My old boot is a T2 - so these are significantly more stiff and burly. I'm finding that I feel more comfortable skiing aggressively and charging lines with this boot. Am also able to shift between tele and parallel turns more easily and can carve a better parallel turn.

pros:
-beefy front tongue allows you to apply greater forward pressure on the ski
-the boa liner closure is quick and works flawlessly
-going from walk to ski mode takes only a simple flick of the rear latch - and you can actually feel and hear the mechanism engage/disengage
-my first 4 buckle tele boot - love the adjustment possibilities

cons:
-weight - for long distance touring I'll likely go back to the T2's

I ordered the push without trying them on in a store. When I tried them on I felt sick that I got to tight of a boot. After heat treating them they now are as comfortable as the T2x Scarpas that I wore out in one season.
I was blown away with how comfortable they are on the climb up, and the stabilty and the power they provide through deep knee turns is something I thought was not possible. The forward flex feels like I am wearing my UGG boots. The toes of the boot are roomy even at a 90 degree flex.
The leash attaches to the boot where it is easy to get to. The buckles allow a lot of versibility of applying pressure where needed.

Black Diamond " NAILED IT" with the design of this boot. My honey do list will suffer from me buying these.

100+ days on these boots, with good results. I have climbed, skied, hiked, crossed rivers, snowmobiled in these boots and I have a very positive opinion. Pluses -- the liner is fantastic: the boa lacing system lets you have a snug liner fit and looser shell fit, which allows you to skin comfortably (looser boots, but no blisters!). Also, the heel is narrow enough to fit crampons easily (really a godsend for us tele skiers that like to climb and ski steeper terrain!) Minuses -- the bellows does not seem as natural a contour as the T1 for my foot (although better for me than the garmont bellows).

these fit a touch wider than Scarpa, but not as wide as garmont. Highly recommended aggressive touring or ski area boot.

Prior to these, I was on some older T2's that I thought fit me pretty well. When it came time to retire them though, I figured I would give BD a shot. I'm glad I did. After a year of skiing on these, I have no regrets. These boots fit me better than any other ski boot I have used (including alpine boots). They are a little wider than the Scarpa boots which was a pleasant change, and while out of the box my toes were a bit crunched, I took them in for a heat molding and now they are form fitting. 4 buckles is bomber and the BOA system is awesome (not sure what the durability is on it though, but no issues yet). As far as skiing on them, they have no issues driving my skis around in any conditions and the flex is quite smooth yet responsive. I agree with Bill's comment below, they are stiffer than the T2's, and as a result, I have noticed an improvement in my skiing when taking a more aggressive attack at the mountain. Ski/walk mode flip is a little cheap feeling, but it is still there after a year of abuse. A great booth though and I cant say enough positive things about them.

I almost 30 days in on these since I bought them in December and can't say I have any real complaints about them. I got them thinking they'd be quite stiff and slightly uncomfortable like my alpine boots but have been pleasantly surprised. The ski/walk mode adjuster looks a little weak...but it's still in tact. Great responsive boot that's worth the price in my opinion.

i came from a t2x and immediately felt the advantages of a 4 buckle boot and the push. heel retension is not an issue at all and comfort is tops.

i kept my t2x's thinking i would use them for touring, but, they are going up for sale.

great boot, no regrets.

I had tight toes, numb in 45 minutes in these boots, but they felt like just a little punch would make them work. Two shops were very reluctant to punch and neither would do anything with the toes, punching behind the bellows only. So off to Sears and bought a heat gun and a few reversible clamps. Too lazy to shape some wood, the only implement I had to punch the boot was a 350 ml Patron tequila bottle. In it goes, top towards the toe. Heated the toe and continually clamped the Patron bottle toward the toe. Then out with the bottle and in with my foot with as many socks as I could put on and still get into the boot as it cooled. Voila! Boots are now all day comfortable and I have made a few very comfortable short hikes with them. Best all around tele boot I've ever had. Awesome.

These boots are great. They’re a definite improvement over my old Garmont Synr G fits, much smoother bellows and a stiffer cuff. They can drive big skis and still tour nicely. I have to disagree with Noah, I have not had any cold feet in these boots, except for waiting to drop into sick lines in AK. I patrol in Mn and am outside 4 plus hours at a time in -10 F temperatures and have never had cold toes or used foot warmers.

This boot is awesome! Fits and feels just like a alpine ski boot. The lateral stiffness of the boot really puts your skis on edge and the bevels have the perfect amount of stiffness. I would compare the stiffness to that of the scarpa T1 race. Tried out the bd customs and could barely flex the toe so i went with the push and don't regret it. 1st day in them felt like they were already broke in! the BOA liner is awesome and really helps out with the fit of the liner to youre calf. I had a pair of scarpa T1's before this boot and the push beats them out in everyway. Needless to say i won't be going back to scarpa.

I have not been able to use this boot on the mountain yet but I have tried it on in the store and immediately ordered a pair. The boa system in the liner laces it snugly to your foot, when laced I had not heel lift. The walk mode completely released the upper cuff and made the boot comparable to a synergy in walk mode. The liners are heat moldable like most other boots but are designed so anatomically correct a heat molding may not be necessary for most feet. These boots are a great alternative to the Garmont Energy or the Scarpa T1.

This was my second pair of boots, I started with an old old pair of Scarpa T3 and needed something stiffer. The Push was really the boot that took my free-heelin' to the next level. These boots rock if you're into skiing the crud at the local hill or going out on an all day tour. The ski/walk mode is fantastic, easy to flip and seems pretty durable. The only negative was the insoles, i just couldn't patrol in them all day.
Overall great boots, if your on the edge and need to push it to the next level purchase these boots!

BD knocked it out the park with these boots. First of all the boot fits my foot like a glove. I wear only a very thin nylon sock and my feet stay entirely warm. Steam comes off my feet when I take off the boots at the end of the day. People who claim they are cold are in the wrong size.My foot measures 28.5 and that is what I wear. A 29 feels too big because the shell gets bigger with that size. A 28 feels too small. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT SIZE.They are super comfortable to ski. They absorb shock like a full suspension of a mountain bike. The cuff is stiff giving incredible control, while the bellows flex exactly as you would want them to giving a buttery ride.I couldn't imagine a boot even in the same league as this boot (except for it's big brother the Custom).

i ski on 10 yr old t-1's which are the one tele boots i have ever owned. i tried these boots and while they fit very well and they perform very well they are too soft for me.

The boots are great, I just picked up a very slightly used pair unfortunately a half size too small (26.5). I need 27's. Anyone want to take a pair of barely used boots with minor scuffing for $350? Save a ton of money. Or trade me your 27's for my 26.5. Contact me at yan AT pritzker DOT ws

These replaced my Scarpa T2's.

I just returned from a week of mixed inbounds and side and back country touring in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I used these boots with Mantra 177's and Voile Switchback Tour bindings. Multiple boot-packs up Evergreen, out to East Bowl & Flanagan's, shoulders of Wolverine cirque, multiple Honeycomb C gate+ traverses and a multi-lap trip up Bear Trap Fork. I weight about 190lbs.

First the liner & closure system: very nice. Keeps a snug fit regardless of buckle tension. Usually I return from a week of touring with blisters, hot-spots and maybe a black toenail or two, but not this time. I had brought my AT setup with me, but it sat unused all week. Putting on and removing the boot was very easy. The pull loops on the tongue and calf riser are nice touches.

Flex & stability: these boots are considerably stiffer than my AT (Denali TT's) boot, and helped keep a good edge on steep hardpack in tele or norpine turns. High speed never felt so secure as with these on my feet. Bellows flex was smooth and even.

Usability: this boot got me through afternoons of hard groomers, full tour days, and side country bootpacks and traverses. The walk mode is exceptional, leaving my legs free to go nearly vertical. I had none of the unintended-walk-mode episodes so common with the T2's. The latch mechanism takes very little force, but has a nice detent feel.

I wear a 10.5 US and got the 28.0 shell. Prior to the trip I was concerned about toe box size (I have about a D width foot) as it felt a little tight near the big toe, but heat fitting the liner helped, and the toes had zero problem in actual use. I originally ordered a 27.5 as one foot is 10 and the other 10.5, but I found it extremely tight and was very happy to have moved up to the 28.

The weight on these boots is considerable, so if miles of skinning is on your agenda, you might choose another boot. The stiffness gives great feeling of control in the deep duff and on the hardpack (I grew up skiing Whiteface - I know my hardpack).

These boots make it harder and harder to choose anything but my tele gear.

Been telemarking for the past week in these boots and I must say that they are totally awesome!
They git like a glove, and my heel isn't moving anywhere.
Did soe touring in these (one day trip) and they performed well. I guess the boots will be a little heavy for longer trips, but imagin' the trip down wearing these boots!! Superb control!

I have used these boots for a full season, about 100 days of skiing and touring and they have held up well. The things I have had break on me have been the ski/walk mode switch which was promptly warranted it helps to live near BD. The other thing that broke was the boa tension knob I think it broke with a direct hit to the knob, again helps to live near BD. The buckles are laid out well and are well made as is the scuff guard on the inside fore foot. The soles also held up well to a lot of walking and scrambling. My biggest gripes have been they are the coldest boots I have ever owned painfully so, and I am disappointed with the cant of the cuff I tend to ski with knees together I have Canted the cuffs all the way to the inside but when you put them together the cuffs still cant to the outside, it has made it difficult to ski in a tele stance because I am unable to effectively use my up hill skis outer edge. The Fit has been alright but it is still too wide in the ankle and too narrow in the fore foot for me. Really my gripes come down to fit but the biggest is how cold they are other folks I know who own them complain also about how cold they are. But if they fit you well then it is a good boot that will probably get better.

i only have 5 days on them but they are super comfortable already. already had a buckle break off but replaced the rivets with threaded screws ad went on my way.(some dude stepped on it in the gondola. anyway, the boa system is sick and the bellows are buttery. nice!

I skied on these Black Diamond Push tele boots for a full season. They are incredibly comfortable. I never unbuckle them and when the end of the day comes I'm not dying to take them off (as most people seem to be!). The boa system on the inner liner is spectacular. Love it. Put both boots on, tap the boa knob, and turn clockwise to tighten (I do both at once). This keeps your foot nice and snug in the liner. Great design. The boots themselves are well designed. They squeek a little but I'm sure I could address that with a little cooking spray or something. Walk mode works well and the flex is excellent. I skied on the T1 prior to these -- also a great boot -- but the liner on the BD Push is definitely better.

After being a bit hesitant about the price, I reflected back to my past experiences with Black Diamond, all positive, and decided to go for it.

First, I ordered a half size too small, but Backcountry, in their exceptional customer service, got me straightened out the next day with the right size. Then still a bit worried because of toe-bump, I called Black Diamond, and Adam gave me advice from his experience with the Push in the same size...

I haven't skied them yet, but my initial reaction is this: incredibly comfortable and well thought out. In my years skiing alpine and snowboarding on alpine boards with plastic boots, NEVER have a pair felt so good straight out of the box. After walking around in them for about an hour, my feet settled right in, and the responsive flex in the bellows really shone through. Riding them for the first time tomorrow, but I am confident I'll be impressed.

This boot has a 102mm last width

I keep getting flooded with emails to review this boot. The only problem is I haven't used it in the snow yet. I will say that the fit is amazing and they feel great while hiking up the stairs and around the house. Snowbird has just opened, but me being a poor-ass Ogdenite will proly be down there hiking by week's end. I'll post a more informative review later in the season, but hopefully this will stop all the review emails.