(200 now) days and running strong

By Jack Wizo Ranked #6 - Telemark Ski Boots December 29, 2009

I had an old pair of 3 buckle T Races with thermal liners. They were great, but with more than about two-hundred days on them, they started getting some holes in the bellows where my boots bumped and hit the skis. So, I scored a deal on the new T1's. Taking measures against boot knocking and wear on the contact points, I put a few gobs of Shoe-Goo on the 'hot spots.' This needs re-application every so often, but it keeps the boots fresh looking.The first day on these at the 'Bird was great. Much stiffer, and much more comfortable than the old T Races, which themselves were far better than the symmetrical flex T Races previous to those.I've since hiked to yurts, skied steep, deep, resort piste, park, and cliffs. They handle it all. Besides the performance on the down as well as the up-track, I like that I can put on all my ski gear, walk down the street, hitch a ride up the canyon, ski all day, and hitch back down, all with leaving my T1's on my feet. No blisters, no charlie-horses, just wearin' my ski boots. Of course, the funk level is off the charts with the boots, and they require a quarantine room with the boot dryers, but that's okay. Dryer sheets help with the odor, and some wine connoissuers rave about the the 'ski boot' aroma of their cabernet.All kidding aside, these are excellent boots and give my full endorsement. If you're going to be inbounds all the time, then the T Race might be a better choice, but if you don't want to kill your quads on the up, and frankenstein walk in the lodge/bar, than go for the T1.I forgot my T1's once at Alta, and had to borrow a pair of Garmont Energys, and couldn't get used to them. They felt loose, sloppy, and reminded me of a snowboard boot. They let my feet spread out a little, which was nice, but the performance wasn't there. If you like wearing Birkenstocks, and I know most of us hippies do, the Garmonts might be a better choice. For my money, though, it's all about the Scarpa T1.I formed the liner myself in a 265 F oven, and did a great job. If you're a cheap college ski bum like me, and don't want to take 'em into a shop to get formed, do some research on this first. Most places will form the boot liner for you, though, if you buy them from said shop.

View Details: Scarpa T1 Telemark Boot

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