realskiers

Quick update here.  Tried some boots at a few Calgary shops today, including boot guru Lou  from Epic (all 130 flex, 98mm):

Nordica Girish, Doberman shell all-mtn. boot.  Pros:  excellent fit all around, esp. in the heel pocket which is cupped nicely around the heel holding it very snugly in place; snug all over; no pressure points; they felt like they were made for my feet.  Cons:  at 130, this boot feels about the same stiffness as my Tecnica 110's, at least in the warm indoors.  For this reason, I don't see much of an upgrade here, despite the best-in-test fit.  Will try to find a race-type Dobie to see if it's any stiffer.

Salomon Falcon.  Pros: exceedingly snug fit in the cuff, heel and instep.  Cons:  Fit in the rest of the boot was kind of all over the map; too low in the toe box; too stiff, too little range of motion, even in a warm shop; alignment felt odd, like they made me bowlegged.  Weird overall fit - there are better options for me.

Tecnica Bodacious.  Josh was right, this boot is is junk.  Nothing much good to be said about it.  Felt like a 100mm shell; same stiffness as my Inferno 110's; weird forward flex pattern; cheap materials.  Very disappointing from Tecnica.

Head Raptor RS.  Tried these at Lou's shop.  Pros:  almost perfect fit all over, esp. in heel and forefoot; stiffness felt just right (again, with the caveat of being indoors); very nice flex feel; good range of motion; great power strap.  Cons: instep too low, but Lou said he could easily fix it; slightly less snug in the lower cuff than I would like, but I assume this can be fixed with moving the buckle and perhaps shaving a bit off the lower flap.  Not sure I like the fish spine buckles....kinda fussy to handle.  So far, this was the best of the bunch.  Had almost everything going for it.   And they don't seem as heavy as the Raptors from a few years ago.  Nice.

Will check out some more shops in Banff in the coming days.  But tomorrow is a ski day at Louise.  Can't wait! 

Cheers,
Svend