Ski touring boots · Test magazine 2021
Tech talk with Sandro De Zolt, LA SPORTIVA
Product Specialist, Mountain Guide & Ski Instructor · Print page 69
Who is Sandro De Zolt? Product specialist at La Sportiva, mountain guide and ski instructor
Sandro De Zolt is a product specialist at La Sportiva in Ziano di Fiemme, as well as a mountain guide and ski instructor. Born and raised in the Dolomites, he began skiing at the age of two. In the 2021 BACKLINE test magazine, he discusses ski touring boot development and the balance between weight, uphill efficiency and downhill performance.
De Zolt considers a touring boot weighing under one kilogram with an alpine boot’s downhill performance and a running shoe’s uphill efficiency unrealistic. He highlights bio-based plastics with strong mechanical properties, elastic behaviour and temperature stability as an important innovation. He expects further progress primarily in ease of use, safety, compatibility and comfort. According to him, the Vanguard touring and freeride boot was developed with these priorities in mind.
De Zolt sees the greatest growth potential in simple, reliable touring boots weighing around 1.3 to 1.5 kilograms, citing the shift from alpine skiing to ski touring during the pandemic. He advises beginners to try as many models as possible in a specialist shop and choose based on comfort. They should not compromise on safety, and a course with an experienced ski mountaineering guide should teach the basics of mountain safety.
The ideal touring boot would weigh less than a kilogram and have the downhill performance of an alpine boot and the uphill performance of a running shoe. Is that possible or unrealistic?
It is actually unrealistic. But we work hard to come as close to our dreams as possible. Let us say it is all a question of balance. We have achieved incredibly good results that were unthinkable 10 years ago. Today you can choose between balanced products with amazing downhill performance weighing less than 1.5 kilograms and incredibly light, reliable and safe carbon fibre boots weighing less than 500 grams.
Which innovations in touring boots have impressed you in recent years?
Above all the new plastic materials. We now have bio-based materials with amazing mechanical performance, perfect elastic behaviour, light, reliable and with optimum temperature stability.
Which innovations would you like to see in touring boots in the coming years?
You must never stop dreaming. As you mentioned, I would like to see a touring boot that weighs less than a kilogram and has the downhill performance of an alpine boot and the uphill performance of a running shoe. Being a bit more realistic, I think future development will happen mostly in ease of use, safety, compatibility and comfort – which is also what I would want as a consumer. Our new Vanguard touring and freeride boot was developed exactly in that direction.
Where do you see the greatest growth opportunities in touring boots?
Probably in classic touring boots that are simple, reliable and user-friendly and weigh about 1.3 to 1.5 kilograms. Many people, especially during the pandemic, are switching from alpine skiing to ski touring. They are looking for ease of use, comfort and reliability.
What do you advise newcomers who want to buy a touring boot?
Try on as many boots as possible in a specialist shop and buy the one that is most comfortable for your feet. Do not economise on safety, not even on the boot. And do not forget to take a course with an experienced ski mountain guide to learn the basic rules of safety in the mountains. Then let us all cross our fingers and pray for snow.
