SCARPA F1 LT Boot
Sometimes, when two things are combined, they produce something far greater than the original constituents. History is marked by such fusions: fire and meat, iron and carbon into steel, ski poles and ice axes, J-Lo and Shakira. Now, two of the best options for backcountry boots have joined forces to form the all-new, all-powerful F1 LT. By combining lightweight race features from the immensely popular Alien RS with the time-tested durable and reliable F1, SCARPA has created a boot that will change the game for years to come. While some boots may walk the line between race boot and touring boot, the F1 LT is the line. Built for long and fast tours as well as deep, technical descents, this is the boot for skiers who want to chase the most ambitious of objectives while spitting at the notion that skiability and weight are trade-offs.
The lower of the F1 LT was inspired by the Alien RS: made with a Carbon Grilamid LFT shell that is built with the same 3D Lambda Torsion Frame used by the RS to provide more direct power from your foot to the ski, the lower is secured by a simple Boa dial that cinches the waterproof gaiter across the top of your foot providing a quick, dry, and secure fit. Strategic cutouts on the exterior eliminate excess weight and material wherever possible while maintaining enough structural rigidity to drive high-fat skis with ease and confidence. The cuff (also made of the same Carbon Grilamid LFT) trades out the cord-closure of the RS for an F1 buckle strap to increase power and reliability and an additional removable powerstrap (+30g) for even more control on the descent. The spring-loaded ski-walk mechanism is easy to flip and provides an incredible amount of low-friction articulation that will make sure these boots are the last thing to hold you back when speeding uphill. The F1 LT is the boot that will make freeride skiers want to race and make racers want to freeride. Plus, a sexy orange-black paint job will give your ski partners something to look at as you fly past them in your new SCARPA F1 LT's.
- The prodigal child of two of SCARPA's most popular boots, the F1 LT sets the bar for other hybrid race/touring boots.
- Ankles rejoice! 72° degrees of motion is a 10° improvement over the F1 and is more akin to that of race boots.
- Carbon Grilamid LFT construction ensures the highest possible power-to-weight ratio.
- 3D Lambda Torsion Frame increases direct power transmission from foot to ski.
- Boa-secured waterproof gaiter will keep your feet cozy and dry.
- Dynafit Quick Insert tech fittings make stepping in a breeze.
- A surprisingly powerful race boot, or an impressively light touring daily driver, this boot can and will do it all.
- Forward lean can be adjusted by moving the ski/walk lever mounting position, with choices of 9°, 11°, or 13°.
- Removable rigid spoiler on the back of the liner is attached with Velcro so you can further tweak the forward lean (+/- 2°).
- Included power strap (+30 grams) pops on and off in a snap.
Specifications | |
Weight |
995g [27] 1060g [28] |
Weight (pair) | 1990g [27] 2120g [28] |
|
Velcro strap + BOA |
Boot Sole |
270mm [24] 278mm [25] 286mm [26] 294mm [27] 302mm [28] 310mm [29] 319mm [30] 327mm [31] |
Binding |
Tech only |
Cuff |
72° |
Forward |
9°, 11°, 13° (+/- 2°) |
Specs Verified | Yes |
Design | |
|
Carbon Grilamid LFT |
|
Intuition Cross Fit Tour LT |
|
Vibram UFO RS |
Skimo Co Says | |
Usage | Light and fast touring with confident downhill performance |
Notes | Removable Velcro spoiler on the liner tweaks the Forward lean |
Bottom Line | A light-as-possible touring boot that boasts the skiability of heavier boots |
Compare to other Touring Boots |
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Questions & Reviews
Your bindings may have a lot of Ramp angle. Reducing that can help.
I’ve got these boots and ski the Salomon MTN 88’s. Now I’m looking at getting more into Skimo racing/training and getting me a 65 mm waist race ski. Can’t afford another pair of boots right now (Scarpa Alien) What do you think of pairing the F1 LT’s with a race ski..?
However they now have cracks in various parts of the shell.
What boot should I buy that have the same attributes as the F1 Lt but are slightly more durable. I would be willing to add 150g more per boot to gain an extra 50 days of durability out of the boot. I would like to keep the single large velcro cuff strap, range of motion and either boa on the fore foot or single buckle for quick transitions.
I will keep the F1 Lts in service for bigger missions where my skis stay on the ground.
Generally skiing fast, taking small airs, and pushing these lightweight boots to their limits.
Thanks
Rob
Cracks ? These are generally quite durable, but pushing hard with a 104 ski might be much.
Fit, we are all about fit and these are fairly narrow. Finding another boot with the right fit, more durable and only a bit heavier, will be a limited choice.
We can best help if you fill this out in detail - boot fitter.
Do you have any recommendations for warmer liners that fit in the F1 LT?
Cheers!
If you really need added warmth, an over boot like the Snux should help more then a different liner.
Then you can use only when needed.
Thanks
Zesheng
Feel free to reach out to help@skimo.co and we can get into more detail about fit!
After a few hundred miles in these boots, I've made the following observations that I hope will be helpful to others looking for something similar:
- I've tried on other scarpa alien boots and they felt too narrow to my flat, medium width, low volume feet. The F1 LT by comparison has been a pretty perfect match after spending two weeks making my toenails suffer while breaking the liners in (I prefer to do this instead of heat molding for a more accurate fit). I've been able to do high-tempo 22km+ sessions with lots of climbing without a single fit-related issue.
- These boots are an awesome pairing with race skis. Their incredible weight-to-stiffness ratio means you pay little penalty for the extra control and precision gained when driving your skis & I've noticed they've allowed me to feel extra confidence at speed.
- I removed all the extras, ie., the top cuff and forward lean velcro adjustment piece. However, even in this config, you still have to do two steps during transition instead of one if you had true race boots. This can be pretty annoying sometimes, especially when you're exposed on a ridgeline somewhere and just wanted to get into ski mode ASAP. I think it's the main factor to consider if you're trying to decide between these and something more simple and speed-oriented like the Alien or a Dynafit model like the Mezzalama.
But at the same time, you do get a really fine adjustment with the cuff that helps you account for differences every time you buckle in - perhaps slightly thicker socks, less swelling in colder temps, etc. In truth, this two-step transition doesn't take much effort once you're fairly dialed in with the settings you usually prefer.
- Compared to something like the dynafit PDG 2, I can definitely feel the added ROM friction in these boots compared to true race boots. So, keep in mind that for the added skiability these boots give you, there's some tradeoff in their fluency for high-tempo skinning. They won't hold you back in training, but if you're getting to a high level and are on similar fitness with others, they might be a limitation if the rest of the field is wearing buttery smooth / friction-free boots with nearly non-existent liners.
All in all, these boots are everything I was hoping for and are excellent for racking up volume and going on big adventures. For how light they are, they feel incredibly sturdy and likely to last for a very long time, making them an excellent value IMO.
We typically judge sizing based on an actual foot measurement. Hence, for any fit-related questions, reach out to us at help@skimo.co or fill out a Boot Fitter and we can get you some advice!
Of course it walks well, no surprise there. Great ROM, easy stride, light weight, climbs great! I know some folks feel like the upper power strap/cam lever mechanism doesn't have enough throw for smooth walking without additionally loosening it. I didn't find this to be the case at all. I set it to a comfortable pressure for the down, and then opened it, and had plenty of ROM. That said, I have less ankle ROM than others.
I found transitions were fast and smooth, once I figured out the correct pressure from the calf strap. I ended up removing the upper velcro strap, it didn't do anything for me.
I skied much bigger skis than Scarpa recommends for this boot, including a 10K+ day in variable snow on a 184 cm, 112 mm wide ski. No, I wouldn't ski big skis and jump off stuff regularly in this boot, but with some finesse it drives bigger skis just fine.
Ultimately, my high volume, super tall foot meant that I just couldn't stay comfortable in this boot for bigger days, but my foot is a big outlier, and doesn't fit well in most boots, so if you're closer to the center of the bell curve, you'll probably be well served!
While it probably wasn't its intended usage, I don't think this boot struggled to drive a 1550g ski (98mm 172cm length on size 25.0). Wearing them felt super light, so I really noticed the energy expenditure saved on long and sloggy bootpacks.
Some cons are that it's a little cramped in the toe box (for me), and that the boa enclosure wraps over the forefoot (I would rather like it to clamp the ankle). A commenter asked a question about the boot rubbing the inner ankle bone and that was definitely the case for my left one, but it became less of an issue with more usage. The transitions are quick, but I do notice myself having to readjust the top strap (not the power buckle).
All in all, I could probably have found a better fitting boot, but I've been happy with how they have skied and performed. I'd be curious to finally drive it on lighter skis like the Blizzard Zero G's next season and see how durability continues to hold up.
I own the original Scarpa Alien 27.0, that fit perfect. I also have the Scarpa RS 27.0 that are almost too tight.
What size would you suggest ? Trying the 28? Aid the fit wider then the RS?
I have very low volume feet, ankles and legs, with moderate width forefoot and skinny ankle. I found the forefoot too tight and too short, constricting my toes. I initially couldn't get the boa tight enough over my forefoot but I solved that by adding a thicker foot bed. The ankles were too roomy, which wasn't a big deal on the uphill because I was able to secure my foot with the boa, but they moved around a bit on the downhill which made skiing a little harder. Like any boot without a tongue, the flex is not very progressive and can be a bit unforgiving in bad snow.
In the end I got rid of my F1 LTs and just use the Skorpius now which fit my feet better, and have a much more progressive flex. They do walk a little worse and are a little heavier.
Thinking of ordering some F1 LTs for this year's PdG and just wondering whether to size up to a 300 or stick with 290. My foot is c.270 long.
If you'd like more detailed help dialing in your boot size, please feel free to fill out our online boot fitter.
I havent had much boot work done, and I would give these 7/10 comfort wise so for.
All and all its great boot for weight, but I wish they were a little more versatile.
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