ADVICE ON NEW 2010-2011 AT BOOTS

Ok, I know that I'm opening a Pandora's box of drivel, but I would like to hear folk's opinions out there...here's the scoop:

I'm 165lbs, 5'10"... I get out about 25 touring days a year and I'm usually centered and balanced...unless I'm not.

I'm trying to decide on a new pair of AT boots. I have been skiing my Megarides for the past  5 years with the flex comp tongues. I love these things and they feel as comfortable as my living room slippers on the uphill and when cranked-down are as stiff as I need on the downhill. I just mounted up a pair of Armada JJ's with Dynafit's (5.1 oz, 175cm, 115 underfoot) last season and I don't think I'll ever go back to non-rockered skis.

I'm not a weight freak, but I do get out on long single and multiple day tours so, I count my ounces. I don't think I want to go any heaver than Megarides mainly cause they perform well, so don't feel I need to go any heavier. I'm looking at the BD Quadrants,  the BD Primes or possibly the Dynafit Z4C or Garmont Radiums. I'm leaning towards the Quadrants, but I get pro deals on BD gear so, that may be slanting me a bit.

What do you guys think?

Murray

Dynafit Zzero 4 CF is quite a bit stiffer than a megaride and certainly no heaver. It fits my foot about the same (not super wide up front, decent amount of instep volume, and a slightly sloppy a heel cup, but still a little tighter than a garmont.) I like it quite a bit. There's not as much travel in walk mode as many of the overlap boots, but you can also get your foot into it when it's cold, which is an important feature sometimes on multiday tours!

That said, BD's new efficient series looks pretty sweet, and I'd be very tempted to make them work if I was in the market for boots and was getting a deal on them. But BD's boots are too low in the instep for my feet and totally clamp off my pedal artery, which makes for unhappy toes.

These gear whoring threads are a good way to pass the time until the snow flies. Which, if the forecasts pan out this weekend, could be pretty soon above 5k!

If you like your Megarides, the only boot worth considering is the Radium.

Oh and by the way, I have a pair for sale:

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=17574.0

Let the drivel commence.
If you like the flex of the megarides you might like the Dabello Virus Tour which is what I bought to replace my megarides. They proved to be stiff enough to replace my Axons as well to I gave both boots away.

Not a common boot but the rear lean in walk mode is huge and they are very quick at transitions.
Quadrants an excellent choice as well.

However, I have been waiting and watching what the group collective reviews are going to be on the new Dynafit TLT 5 performance boot in carbon. It hasn't been really skied much yet and initial report from some testers in Yurp is that they are stiff enough to drive fat skis. If that is the case they are game changers and will completely revolutionize the sport. Although extremely expensive they will be worth it.
I'm saving my pennies, waiting for the real beta reviews to come in from people who are going to ski them this winter and then will pounce if the reviews are good.

See this extremely informative thread on TGR about this boot. If you can wait and afford them I'd consider them.
www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200054

If you like your Megarides, the only boot worth considering is the Radium.

Oh and by the way, I have a pair for sale:

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=17574.0

 

fwiw, i found the radiums to have a very different fit than the megarides...i bought a pair, skied 'em a few times and sold them off for another pair of megarides. I felt they were a lot wider and higher volume than the megas...my feets were swimming in them despite using raichle thermofit liners that are thicker than the stock garmont liners.

and yeah... Dynafit TLT5's look really really promising...i hope they end up skiing as well as folks say they will...

Thanks you guys.....I tried on the TLT 5 with the Pebax cuff (Pro Ski hadn't received their carbon version yet). I walked around with one Megaride and one TLT for about 15 minutes in both ski and walk mode. My impression is that although the TLT is surprisingly stiff for what it is....a 2 buckle under 5lbs (carbon is about 4.10 oz) ....it does not have the smooth full flex pattern of a Megaride. I'm assuming with all this hoopla that the carbon enhanced TLT is quite a bit stiffer? Has anyone actually skied this boot personally? If you guys had the option of a Quadrant for $350 at 7.10 oz vs a TLT at 4.10 oz at the full retail price of $1000.....do you think it's worth the extra bucks? It is stiff enough to manage a 115 underfoot ski?