A Skimo Racer’s Love Note to the Scarpa Alien 1.0

For me, the Scarpa Alien 1.0 is sort of the right race/gentle touring boot. Whereas it definitely isn’t proper for everybody, this boot actually does carry out shockingly properly in all gentle and quick eventualities.

Scarpa has three totally different Alien boots, the Alien, my beloved Alien 1.0, and the $2500 Alien 4.0. All are geared toward racers and speed- or fitness-minded rec tourers. I’ve used loads of totally different boots with totally different strengths and weights and costs, and for me, the Alien 1.0 actually is the Goldilocks of sunshine boots: juuuuuust proper.

I’ll clarify why it’s the right boot for me (and possibly for you should you’re a race-minded velocity tourer), however first a bit backstory…

Creator Joe Howdyshell racing within the Scarpa Alien 1.0, unencumbered by pants.

How I Discovered the Alien

I had a tough begin with ski touring. As a aggressive nordic racer and lift-served-hucking-aficionado, I all the time had buddies telling me how a lot I’d love this “backcountry snowboarding” factor. Then sooner or later I had a full pockets of bartending cash and noticed a demo telemark setup on sale. Volkl Mantras, Black Diamond Customs, and a pair of Hammerhead bindings, and I used to be set! Or not. As anybody who is aware of extra about tele snowboarding than I did on the time (learn: actually everybody), that setup weighed about 4 bajillion kilos and was about as removed from a touring setup as you will get with a free heel. I beloved driving lifts on them, however my first hut journey, which my aforementioned buddies had assured me can be a life-changing expertise, straight-up sucked. I used to be a racer, and having 10+ kilos per foot felt something however athletic. It simply felt like I’d out of the blue popped into an alternate universe the place I’d spent the final 20 years sitting on a sofa consuming bon-bons.

Fortunately a good friend was a rep for Dynafit and I ended up quickly after on a pair of Dynafit TLT5’s, which actually modified my life. I’ve since raced, coached, and backcountry skied everywhere in the world, and people boots had been the gateway drug. They went uphill fairly properly, and so they went downhill WAY higher than my nordic skis. These felt athletic. I discovered myself grabbing them as an alternative of my nordic boots after I needed a exercise. And slowly I began grabbing them greater than my alpine boots after I needed to go ski one thing rad.

As I received into racing (naturally), I discovered a pair of Dynafit DyNA EVO’s. Whereas they went uphill like a nordic boot, the downhill efficiency was additionally kinda like a nordic boot. The match (which I blame extra on the additional slim measurement 11 toes my dad and mom gave me than the boots), dropped at thoughts a moist paper towel connected with two hose clamps. Every little thing harm in regards to the up, and I couldn’t NOT cease crashing on the best way down. They labored, and I began racing fairly properly on them, however I used to be fairly certain that “these sooner guys” needed to be on one thing higher.

Joe Howdyshell mountain climbing within the Dynafit DyNA EVO boots.

Alien 1.0 Arrival

Enter the Alien 1.0. I actually don’t even bear in mind how I received the primary pair. The electrical yellow lowers, the excessive carbon cuffs, and OH MY GOD THEY ACTUALLY SKI WELL. Once more, they didn’t match my flippers very properly and I received a Ph.D. in blister administration, nevertheless it was the primary race boot that truly felt assured on the downhill. After a number of hundred thousand vertical toes on them (and a few new units of uppers), they sadly needed to go to that massive boot pasture within the sky. At about that point Scarpa had unveiled their redo, the present full-black iteration which they nonetheless semi-confusingly name the Alien 1.0. And, man, this was one other seismic shift in my relationship with boots. They ski in addition to the prior model, however the decrease is impartial sufficient that they really match my foot. The liner is simpler to get out of (anybody else swear they received a hernia with the originals?), the gaiter truly works (till the cuff wears a gap in them), and in comparison with the previous BOA system which clamped down solely the entrance of the foot, the brand new further-back BOA placement retains the heel way more safe.

The present Scarpa Alien 1.0 with BOA closure and carbon higher secured by Dyneema wire.

Who Is The Alien 1.0 For?

The world of skimo race boots has three totally different tough tiers. The introductory-level boots have a plastic decrease, and a plastic cuff. These are boots such because the Scarpa Alien, the Dynafit Mezzalama, or the La Sportiva Racetron. These boots are a bit heavier, a bit softer, and quite a bit cheaper. The center tier is a carbon cuff on a plastic shell. Examples of this are the Dynafit DNA (Not the Pierre Gignoux variation), the Scarpa Alien 1.0, and the La Sportiva Raceborg II. The carbon cuff on these boots makes them stiffer (and thus the snowboarding improves DRAMATICALLY), and in addition makes this tier considerably dearer. In case you actually need the very best out of your boot, the best tier is a carbon cuff paired with a carbon decrease. Considerably elevated value once more (north of $2000), however considerably lighter and stiffer. Examples of this tier are the Pierre Gignoux Black, the Scarpa Alien 4.0, and the La Sportiva Stratos VI.

Like my authentic yellow pair, the new-version Alien 1.0 (which Skimo.co cheekily calls the Alien 1.1), is a plastic decrease with a carbon higher, inserting it solidly in that center tier. With its $1600 price ticket, it’s greater than twice the worth of its little brother the Alien (MSRP $699), however nonetheless nearly a grand lower than World Cup-level Alien 4.0 (MSRP $2500). And whereas the burden distinction between the Alien 1.0 and the Alien (785g vs 870g) would possibly make that value seem to be overkill for a minor weight financial savings, the actual story is the carbon cuff that defines the Alien 1.0. It transforms the boot from an uphill boot to a ski boot that uphills. Whereas it doesn’t really feel nice pushing a 100 mm-waisted ski in uneven snow, on something ~90mm and below you possibly can ship it.

Back and front of the Scarpa Alien 1.0 reveals the BOA closure and Dyneema wire system.

Alien 1.0 Execs:

Nice ankle vary of movement. Your ankle will run out earlier than this boot will.
Light-weight, however not so gentle it’s brittle.
Unbelievable downhill efficiency for such a light-weight boot.
Wonderful sturdiness. Whereas not excellent (see the cons beneath), for the period of time I’ve spent with these boots, I’ve had only a few points, and most of them I can repair myself. I’ve one pair of shells I’ve spent most of my time in for the final 4 years, and whereas I’ve repaired the BOA as soon as, and gone by means of a few pairs of liners, the uppers and lowers themselves nonetheless work like they’re brand-new.
The BOA system makes getting out and in SO straightforward.
The inventory liners. Whereas they’re definitely the fastest-wearing a part of the boot, the liner is certainly one of my favourite components. It goes on simply, it’s snug, and it’s heat. The one draw back is that Scarpa didn’t deliver any into the nation, and I’m working out! I’ve gone by means of three liners in principally a single pair of shells, and the shells are nonetheless nice!

Alien 1.0 Cons:

Value leap in comparison with the introductory stage boots.
The gaiter wears faster than I’d like. Though I’ve to say, they put on in a spot that doesn’t appear to gather snow or let in moisture.
The within hook for the Dyneema wire can catch when strolling/working so it bends and would possibly ultimately break.
The BOA system can break. Mine have failed a few instances over many thousand hours of use. You possibly can both ship them again to the manufacturing facility to get them mounted, or you possibly can have them ship you a brand new BOA. Fixing the BOA by your self I discovered to be a small and fiddly minor irritation, however actually pretty straightforward. Some folks might select to simply ship them in to get mounted. Your native store could be skilled within the repair additionally.

For me (however definitely not for everybody), the Alien 1.0 is sort of the right boot. I’ve spent a pair thousand hours in a single model or one other. Whereas not as gentle because the Alien 4.0, it’s extra sturdy. Whereas dearer than the Alien, I discover it skis properly sufficient to greater than make up for the fee. Whereas it definitely has some flaws, this boot actually does carry out whenever you want one thing that goes uphill just like the clappers, and may ski something.

Today the Alien 1.0 is the one non-alpine boot I personal. Via some extenuating circumstances, I even have three pairs of them, and so they’re the one touring boots I’ve had in rotation for a few years. I backcountry ski with them, I skimo race in them, and I’ve even thrown in some enjoyable resort days for kicks. Virtually day by day they do precisely what I would like them to do: Overlook that they’re there in order that I can give attention to snowboarding.