Kirk T

Perfect, v good to know. Thanks heaps for the fast reply.

Could you please offer some guidance on whether I should avoid using QK's on La Sportiva Vapor Svelte skis?

The shape of the Scarpa boot sole (right below the tech fitting on the heel) might also be the culprit. In wildsnow's review of the Alpinist they discuss this problem - go down the article to the section about "kiss gap". https://www.wildsnow.com/24743/zero-boot-ramp-and-feather-weight-marker-alpinist-first-look/ If the bottom surface of your wife's boot heel is too flat in the area below the tech fitting (like the F1 seems to be), instead of being tapered/rockered, you might try tapering it with a grinder ...

Just get them. You know you want to. These are a fantastic ski for up, down & flat - as a bonus, they're the best mogul-bashers I've ever skied (I ski bumps hard & fast, so the incredibly low swing weight of these skis really counts - I can't wait to get them into the trees). They're seem to be built as tough as a light ski can be, with great flex characteristics that prefer a balanced, gentle & steady skiing technique (pushing them around as if they're heavier skis makes them feel very hooky in the tail to...