I LOVE MY BOOTS!

By Valeda Scribner Ranked #22 - Alpine Touring Boots January 13, 2009

Hot damn do I love these boots! After trying pretty much EVERYTHING in the market on (both men's & women's AT) and taking at least 4 of them out on the hill, I absolutely LOVE the Black Diamond Shivas. I say this with the disclaimer that I have a very odd foot (extremely wide toe width - think large bunion, and narrow heels) and therefore the fit may not be for everyone, but a super snug and yet does not result in all out PAIN. Skied them right out of the box and really will need NO modifications which is still shocking to me. I attribute a lot of the success to the tapered heel liner (think an actual crease right around the achilles) which is one reason I would not switch out the liner. My heel does NOT move within the boot and my toes lightly press against the end all day without being scrunched. I'm typically an 8.5 in street shoes which translates to a 24.5, however the 25 fit perfect reiterating the "BD's run small" comment. I didn't even have to unbuckle the boot in between runs (I'm currently only using the largest settings on most buckles), and my only discomfort was in my toenails after a day of touring - most likely a sign that my toenails needed trimming :-p. The walk mode is unbelievable (almost 45 degrees of movement and you can pretty much stand up straight) and I didn't find the weight to be an issue, although if you prefer an ultralight setup you may be dissatisfied. I'm crossing my fingers that there's no first-year snafus (other than the wearing out of my patience in waiting to obtaining a pair in my size), and will definitely report back if my new found love turns sour or hits some bumps along the road.

View Details: Black Diamond Shiva Alpine Touring Boot - Women's

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