hmm, why not approved? There's nothing possibly bad about that boot other than that he doesn't sell it? very close to the Scorpion but more upright. But to answer the question mike, I tried on a Lange 100 here at a local shop and knew right off the 26.5 was perfect and the basics of the shell are identical. But you are correct, you buy from Phil, you know you are safe. He knows me and his products so its really an easy decision. I am still amazed how great the boot performs. It realy and truly made me a better skier.
HH only sells boots that he thinks further better skiing. He has an eye that is pretty incredible. You haven't experienced it, but I have. He can tell you what you did on which turn with which foot that worked and what didn't.
HH sells a variety of brands, but only certain models within that brand. Those models that keep you knee straight as you flex the boot forward and are laterally stiff to allow more accurate response to tipping from the skier, make the cut.
Lange has some models that make the cut. That's all.
The folks at the shop are amazingly honest at working with the boot you have if you can't afford a better boot.
When I asked Diana if she thought I should get newer boots after 5 seasons, she looked at them closely and thought for a moment and told me I had 2 more seasons left
Absolutely no hard sell EVER!
Glad you have Phil who knows his stuff.
But the "Devil in Dumont" is pretty fantastic.
Kind of interesting....I found a love letter to HH in the bottom of my footbed of my new Nordicas.
I don't know how it got there.
L.