Lange XT3 Tour boot range; in-depth review

SkiKitInfo.com tests the 2022 Lange XT3 Tour Pro freetour/touring boot, taking you through the pros and cons of the XT3 Tour Pro, XT3 Tour Sport and XT3 Tour models.
XT3 Tour is a totally new line of boots from Lange, focussing clearly on the needs of skiers that want a superb ski boot with great touring function.
The range-topping XT3 Tour Pro is an excellent boot with enough power to drive beefy freeride skis, while still working well with lighter-weight touring skis. In this review we take you through what these boots are all about. They're not perfect though, so check out the video to see what we'd improve on them.
We cover a lot in this video, so the timestamps are included, at the bottom of this description, to help you.
If you like the video, please click the Like button and Subscribe so you don't miss any of the excellent ski and kit reviews from SkiKitInfo.com. It's massively motivating when people subscribe and really helps us to make more kit reviews for you.
Thanks to Lange for letting us test their kit.
A huge thank you to Hemel Snow Centre for allowing us to get footage of the kit in action. It also allowed us to finish off our testing after such a difficult winter for travel due to the Covid pandemic.
As with all of the testing at SkiKitInfo.com, the brands don't pay for these reviews or have any input to what we say about their kit, good or bad.
SkiKitInfo.com - skikitinfo.com
TheSnowCentre - www.thesnowcentre.com
Lange-Boots.com - www.lange-boots.com/xt3-tour
Timestamps.
00:00 - Intro
00:54 - XT3 Tour range overview
01:36 - Weight versus performance
02:04 - Construction
03:00 - Dual Core
03:26 - Flex characteristic of XT3 Tour boots
04:14 - Buckle configuration options
04:47 - Fit around foot & heel
06:02 - Liner
07:07 - XT3 Tour Pro pricing
07:54 - XT3 Tour Sports price & weight
08:13 - XT3 Tour price & weight
08:27 - Sole specs & ski binding compatibility
09:11 - Walk/tour mode function
10:30 - Range of motion (ROM)
11:10 - Boot aesthetic
11:45 - Boot board
12:27 - Downsides
15:06 - Summary
15:35 - Ski suitability
#skitouring #lange #freetour #skikitinfo #beonewithyourboots #langeboots #skitest #skiboots

[@Benzknees]

Good to see such a thorough review of these v.interesting new boots. As a Lange fan I'd love to try the Tour Sport version out, but almost no physical stores in the UK seem to stock them as yet. Do you know if the likes of Snow & Rock and Ellis Brigham will be getting them in?

[@SkiKitInfo]

Hi @doublethink and thanks for the comment and really glad you liked the video. I do not know if they're stocking them but Dynastar Lange in the UK will be at the Snow Show in Birmingham at the NEC this weekend - nationalsnowshow.com/ If you're there, then you can go along and talk to them. I think they may be on, or near, the Ski Exchange stand (they're all listed as E10). You could (at some point recently) use the code DYNASTAR to get a free ticket to the show, but not sure if it's still valid. Ski Exchange aren't listing the XT3 Tour on their site yet, but it's early days for many retailers, in terms of receiving stock for this winter. I am at the show on Sunday and will ask Dynastar Lange UK which retailers may be stocking the Sport. I'll report back when I know more. BackCountryUK (www.backcountryuk.com/lange-xt3-tour-pro-2022---power-blue-71205-p.asp) is stocking the XT3 Tour Pro, but not the Sport model. You could talk to them and try the fit of the XT3 Tour Pro - same fit as the Sport, but I appreciate the flex is a little different.

[@Benzknees]

@@SkiKitInfo - Wow, many thanks for detailed response!! Myself & my friends did think of going to the NEC ski show, but getting there was proving too long winded & expensive by bus/rail. If it'd been near me in Manchester I'd have gone. Actually I have previously spoken to Backcountry UK, when they told me they'd only be stocking the Pro model. My present older Lange XT3s are 120 flex & are perfect, especially since I fitted Intuitions & a Booster strap, but lack tech inserts. I expect Pro's 130 flex would be too stiff for me, even if the plastics in the shell are different. Otherwise they look great, especially coming with an Intuition-like EVA liner. I totally agree with you about not buying online, and as such I'm ideally looking for a stockist somewhere near the Chill Factore, so I can test out any shell adjustments. Better safe than sorry!

[@SkiKitInfo]

@@Benzknees no worries. Glad could help, even if just a little. I'll talk with them all this weekend and come back to you next week. The odd thing with the Sport is that they rated it as 110 flex up until a few weeks ago, and now they're rating it as 120. Could be worth trying the Pro on to see how you find the support in it. Have you developed, as a akier, since buying the XT3 120's or have you gained weight? All worth taking into account. Let's pick this up next week. Have a fab weekend. Al from SkiKitInfo.

[@SkiKitInfo]

@@Benzknees Thanks for your patience. So, The Lange XT3 Tour Sport is being stocked by Skiers Lounge (www.theskierslounge.co.uk). I believe that they, like most retailers, are still awaiting delivery of the bulk of their hardware for this winter, so they're not currently showing the XT3 Tour Sport online yet. Others stocking XT3 Tour boots (but not the Sport model) include: Ski Bartlett (www.skibartlett.com/), Solutions4Feet (www.solutions4feet.com/), Craigdon Mountain Sports Edinburgh (www.craigdon-edinburgh.com/), Snow Lab (www.snowlab.co.uk/) and BackCountry UK, as mentioned already (www.backcountryuk.com/), if you want to try the fit of the XT3 Tour family on. BackCountry will be the closest to you, if you're in Manchester. I hope this helps and that you love any new boots you get. Al from SkiKitInfo.

[@Benzknees]

@@SkiKitInfo - Many thanks for all those links. Hope the NEC event went well. As you say few of those retailers are listing the boots & even Backcountry UK are out of stock right now. Those troublesome supply chain issues I guess. I might travel over to Backcountry UK once they have restocked. As you say, it's possible the 130 flex might not be too bad for me. I thought my previous Nordicas were okay at 100 flex, but once I got into my current Langes I realised they were more like soft carpet slippers!

[@Martinmkp]

Thank you for the very good review. Do you have a comparison with the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro?

[@SkiKitInfo]

Hi Martinmkp. Glad you like the test report of the Lange XT3 Tour boots and thank you for posting a comment. We love receiving these questions from viewers. We're working with Tecnica/Blizzard currently to see when we can get on some of their kit, but haven't skied in the Zero G Tour Pro yet. I do know the boot and it has some interesting features, like the rear double locking tour mode, to beef up the spine and reduce any potential play over time, as well as allowing a decent ROM in tour mode. It is a lighter boot than the XT3 Tour Pro (which would be the direct competitor on Lange's range). They're both stiff boots, and both a moderately snug last. While the Lange has the Dual Core shell and a great shape, the Tecnica has the CAS shell so is designed for stretching/grinding. The Tecnica's also a great shape, from when we've put it on - we've just not had a pair to ski in yet. To be honest, you can do these boot mods with the Lange shell too, although moulding the CAS shell (Tecnica) is a little easier and can hold its shape better. The main benefit of the Tecnica, over the Lange, is the reduced weight. If you want a powerful boot for skiing but spend a lot of time going uphill too, the Zero G wins-out over the Lange. The most important factor is still fit though - so ideally you want to try both on. The power strap is a nice touch too, and with the neat metal hook it's super easy to use without having to totally unthread the strap from the cam (they're not the only brand to use this approach, but we are fans of this type system). I'd always select a cam type strap over a Velcro system, and if I bought the Lange I'd probably swap the Velcro strap for a cam-type affair. Hope that helps and that you're looking forward to some great skiing this winter. If you've subscribed then thank you so much and welcome to the SkiKitInfo family. If you haven't sub'd yet, then a pre-emptive thank you and welcome if you do dive in. Happy skiing and have a fantastic winter. From Al and all at SkiKitInfo.

[@Martinmkp]

@@SkiKitInfo Thanks a lot for your answer. Have a cool and fun ski sezone 21/22 and happy New year 👍⛷

[@coreymclernon]

I think they are very similar. Tecnica might be a little lighter?

[@whoisthe1412]

How is the Ultralon in the XT3 compares to K2 Mindbender Boots Ultralon?

[@SkiKitInfo]

Hi @the1412. Thanks for the comment and hope you enjoyed the video. Sorry we've not been able to respond sooner. A good question on the liners. I actually ski in a K2 Mindbender 130 Ltd for a lot of my freeride touring, so can compare. However, it's worth noting that K2 did make changes to this liner, so it will depend on which one you are looking at. The first iteration has great support and is a stiffer liner than the Lange liner around the leg, with a different stitching strategy. They they improved the liner by using a little stiffer foam and improving the hold around the forefoot. It is not a seamless toe box though, unlike the Lange. I don't find this as an issue at all, and the firm hold of the EVA foam in the mid-foot is welcomed. Ultralon is a brand name, but like the Lange these are EVA liners - the vast majority of ski boot liners are EVA, so I wouldn't get too hung-up on a brand name. The Lange is a great liner with more a snugger first-fit in the heel pocket. The forefoot construction, which is a relatively soft foam, extends quite far back down the liner, compared to the comparatively short stretch toe box of the Mindbender 130. They both can be tightened around the lower leg. It's draw string on the Lange with a Velcro style strap, which is good. The K2 is a lace up system, which you tie like normal laces. Not quite as swift as the draw string of the Lange, but still easy to use. Both the Lange and K2 liner tongues give good support and are pretty stiff, but then the stiffener stops just above the ankle so there's decent mobility in tour mode. If you are after buying a new liner for your boots, and that's why you're asking, then it's also worth looking at Atomic's Mimic liner from their XTD range. This moulds so well to not only your shape but also to the shell. The stiffener is completely heat mouldable, unlike other liners. People talk about Intuition liners, which are great, but they don't have this stiffener. It makes a big difference, not only to the fit but as importantly it improves power transfer from skier through the shell, and therefore power to the ski. You can of course look at Intuition liners too, and Sidas liners - there are many to choose from, and fit and function are important. A good local ski shop can be the best way forward on these things - they can take you through options and advise on what may work best for your skiing, your shape and build and your boots. Hope this helps and that you had an ace time skiing this winter. Have a great summer and roll on next season. From Al at SkiKitInfo.

[@whoisthe1412]

@@SkiKitInfo OMG you’re the BEST

[@SkiKitInfo]

@@whoisthe1412 Just glad we can help, even if only a little