Oh my goodness, these boots fit like a slipper, ascend like a running shoe, and crush on the downhills. My tiny yet wide size six feet have always had an incredibly difficult time fitting into ski boots so I can’t say how OVERJOYED I was to find a pair of race boots that fit!
Last winter I had basically zero options for a ski mountaineering race boot because the sport is still young and so few women do it and the few that do tend to have bigger feet I guess. I hoped and hoped all summer long that someone would make an ultralight touring boot for tiny feet and low and behold the smallest size (23.5) of the La Sportiva Syborgs fit perfectly!
Although I am new to skimo racing and I can’t compare these boots to other race boots, I say these boots are fantastic! Each boot weighs a little over a pound and a half, which isn’t that much more than my favorite Salomon Speedcrosses and the 75 degree range of motion gives you as much flex as any running shoe letting you glide up the slopes with much efficiency.
When you get to the top of the hill, you can transition to downhill mode with the flip of one buckle. The lower ratcheting buckle provides a secure fit for downhill performance and an optional power strap can be added for more aggressive skiing.
I use the La Sportiva syborgs with the super skinny and light Wasatch Speed Girls and they are nothing but wonderful. I have yet to try them with a wider, heavier ski and I do worry that I wouldn’t be able to control the skis with such a light and flexible boot. All I can say is this lightweight touring gear thing is a slippery slope and putting on my old Scarpa Geas is now downright painful!
The Syborgs are great for ultralight touring and beginner racers like myself. I’ve used the boots for casual skis with my dog, laps at the resort, and for a few of the Wasatch Citizen Ski Mountaineering Series and I’m stoked. They are super comfortable, ridiculously light, and I don’t feel like I am going to break an ankle on the downhill – probably the best ski purchase I have ever made! So far I’ve put 80,000 feet of vertical on these babies and they still feel great.
The Details:
- Great for beginner skimo racers or ultralight tours
- Carbon-reinforced Grilamid® cuff provides unique combo of stiffness and lightness
- An EZ Thermo Race Liner can be molded for perfect fit
- An overlap cuff and lower ratcheting spider buckle provide a powerful secure fit for downhill performance skiing
- Lets you go from walk to ski mode with the flip of one buckle
- 75 degrees of cuff rotation in walk mode
- Available in sizes 23.5-30