Rumored Plastic Telemark Boot

Part 2 of my "walk and talk" cross country ski on the Brooks Lake Road in the Shoshone National Forest of Northwest Wyoming. My thoughts on the rumored new TX Pro plastic telemark boot from Scarpa.

[@tomm9850]

Its real, new video of the TX Pro kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKCwhoV8gt9ki9E

[@williamabenejr8516]

Hey Tom another option is the new Voile Transit tech toe binding. It does not utilize the duck butt on the boot but rather heel hardwires and spring cartridges. It has tool free activity adjustment and weighs in at 2.4lbs or .1lbs more than the Lynx. You do have the super light option of removing the hardwire assembly for the skin track. I believe Voile worked hard to release this in time for the new Scarpa boot.

[@tomm9850]

@williamabenejr8516 If I go this route, I'll definitely consider the Voile Transit binding as well. I'm betting that the Transit can be adjusted to feel more like the switchback X2 I have been skiing for years and that is a plus. I've read complaints from others who have made the switch from plastic 75 mm setups that the Lynx is too stiff. 22 Designs has released an extra soft main plate to address that complaint and if I go that route, I'd probably start with the soft plate. Based on the hypothetical weights, the new boot and Lynx combination would only reduce my current binding/boot weight around 1.5 lbs per pair so not a huge improvement, but it is worth considering. At any rate, thanks for posting and for tuning in.

[@paulmacgillivray3947]

Can't wait for more drone footage. Great video as always!

[@tomm9850]

The snow cover in some of my favorite areas is still a bit thin but it won't be long now. Thanks for tuning in and have a great winter.

[@whateverdudeP90]

Great drone footage! I hiked through Togwotee Pass while I was on the cdt this summer so it's cool to see it in winter as well

[@tomm9850]

@whateverdudeP90 You might enjoy this short video from a few years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIWTin6cbsSEetU Thanks for tuning in and have a great winter season.

[@andrewmacaulay1585]

Hi Tom Good to see you on the trail again… it’s been a long wet summer up here in my neck of the woods… hope the wife is well too. New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦

[@tomm9850]

Thanks Andrew, all is good here. I hope you have a great winter season.

[@JustinBaker2567]

Hey Tom, these boots are not a rumor or hypothetical. Real models of these are floating around trade shows and are in the hands of sales reps. I met a Scarpa sales rep who had a single right boot to show off. I was able to try it on. It's lower volume in the instep, stiffer than the TX pro (or T2) in the cuff. The bellows seem to flex better. They have the same range of motion as the scarpa maestrale, so all of the range of motion you would ever need. The plan is to have a full release next winter.

[@tomm9850]

That is great news. I'll pin your comment to the top so that others will see it first. It will be fun to see the actual info on Scarpa's website in 2024 and to check out the boot in the flesh next year. :)

[@PeterThrane]

I found your channel and thoroughly enjoy your videos and reflections. If you try an NTN boot next year, I would recommend the Meidjo binding. It's the only tech-binding I've tried, so there are probably lighter ones out there for your type of skiing, but I like the Meidjo and think it performs well. If you do try NTN, I would be interested to see what other tech bindings you end up liking!

[@tomm9850]

I've skied with several people who ski the Voile V6 / Meidjo /TX Pro combo, and they are very happy with that setup. If I decide to try NTN next season it will be a tough choice as there are advantages and disadvantages for each binding. One thing is for certain, if the combo doesn't save significant weight over my current T2 / Switchback X2 setup, I won't make the leap.

[@pizzarune5]

Shoot, if only you had posted this a day earlier! I was at a trade show and could have asked the Scarpa rep about this, darn.

[@tomm9850]

It sure would have been interesting to see if the rep was willing to give out any information but I'm betting they are not allowed to talk about unannounced products. If this is a product that will be released for the 24/25 season, there should be some prototype boots being tested this season. Keep your eye out when on the slopes.

[@pizzarune5]

@@tomm9850 I was at the trade show to talk about products for the 24/25 season! It might have been an old product to them.

[@user-ld7fo7ee5b]

Finally the wait might be over! I quit tele skiing several years ago since dragging my T-Tace (BD O2) for 5000 / 6000 ft a day at my age started getting more difficult... Maybe I can find my way back! I have missed it. That boot on a Meidjo 3... Please make it available before 2024 winter!!!

[@tomm9850]

I have my fingers crossed. Did you make the switch to AT when you quit tele? Thanks for tuning in and for posting.

[@sylvainvanier4300]

Hey Tom! I did. But my first love has always been Tele. I learned to ski on Tele over 30 years ago. I switched to AT for more peak objectives in the Rockies and get lighter gear. I have fantastic gear now (F1LT, Plum Oaso, Majesty Superwolf) but I still ski better on Tele. Thanks for chiming in!

[@automat8]

Tom thanks. The more I look into this new setup the more it evolves. I wonder if you have a thought on the Voile TTS transit binding? I wish I had your backyard. Regardless, thanks again.

[@tomm9850]

I will consider the Transit binding if I decide to try an NTN boot next year. I do ski the Voile Switchback X2, so I'm very familiar with the feel of the spring system, and many have said that one of the advantages of the Transit is that the engagement feels similar to the X2. One of the criticisms of the Lynx is that it is too active, but they have an optional soft flex plate to make it feel more like the 75 mm spring systems. I wish I had the ability to try both out, but I just don't know anyone who has either system. For now, I'm just going to enjoy my current setup and wait until next year to see if the boot materializes. I'm starting to wonder if the new TX pro may just be too much of a boot for my ski style, but I will just have to wait until I can try one on to see.

[@automat8]

Thank you Tom. Healthy and happy new year.@@tomm9850

[@jackgill4936]

Hi Tom, I owned both the Scarpa TX Pros and Scarpa T2's, and agree with you, the TX Pros are way too heavy with limited range of motion for a long day of backcountry skiing. I used the TX Pros in the backcountry for years because of their power but finally gave up on that idea. My ski partners were complaining behind my back on how I was getting too slow. Looking forward to a new lighter weight tele boot. Hope it arrives this season. On to my question, my son lives in WY and on my visits we have skied Two Oceans Mt which is in the background of your drone video. My wife and I have skied some cross country in Togwotee Pass, but we have never skied the Forest Road that I see you are sking on in this video. When I have looked at that trailhead it looks like it gets heavy snowmobile traffic which has been discouraging, albeit this has been in Feb and March. Do you think that Forest Road would be worthwhile skiing in Feb? I don't mind 10 or so snowmobiles passing in the course of a day, but I don't want a barrage of them or to be skiing in fear of being run over all the time skiing. Thanks for any insight you may have.

[@tomm9850]

The Brooks Lake Road is very popular with snowmobiles and I avoid it during the bulk of the winter. I tend to ski it before Togwotee Mountain Lodge opens up and after it close as there are fewer snowmobiles. This year they are open from December 15 to March 27. There is a nonmotorized winter area for cross country skiing on the east side of the pass which can be a lot of fun kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5eZhaqKp7qfqbc You can also ski into the Teton Wilderness Area from Togwotee, with the easiest and shortest access near Breccia Peak. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6CqnHx5m8-Yibs For most of the Togwotee Area, it is best to wait until Spring, as the snowmobile use tends to drop off. I mostly ski in the National Forests where snowmobiles are the predominate use, so it is just a fact of life if you want to ski outside of the National Parks.

[@jackgill4936]

@tomm9850 Thanks for the info Tom. We have skied the Falls Creek XCountry trails. In Feb we will try Deception Creek. Brescia Mt looks interesting. Will give it a try.

[@jackgill4936]

@tomm9850 I also bought the Rotefella Explore bindings and the ALFA Free boot to go with them. I mounted the bindings on some wide Madshus fishscaled skiis. In a couple of weeks we will have enough snow here in Western MA to give them a go. Can hardly wait .

[@tomm9850]

@jackgill4936 Falls Creek and Deception Creek are basically the same trail system, just two different places to park. www.duboistrails.org/trail-maps facebook.com/duboisassociationforrecreationandtrails/ They just packed the trails with more snow expected this weekend. :)

[@douglashendrickson5951]

That drone footage sure does enhance the beauty of that area. I appreciate your intention, however, a drone whizzing overhead is the last thing I want to experience while ski touring 😉

[@tomm9850]

I agree with you completely in regard to drone noise in the forest and I do keep that in mind before I fly it. In this area I have a pretty good idea whether or not there are other people in the vicinity as there is only one trailhead, so I won't fly the drone if other skiers are out and about. The area is also heavily used by snowmobiles and I'm not too worried about the drone noise if I see them zooming about. The drone is pretty quiet when it is about 300 feet above (90 m) and my battery only lasts about 20 minutes, so my flight time is pretty short. Next week's video (12/22/2023) is my Christmas Video and it is mostly drone footage and it is one of my favorites. Thanks for tuning in and have a great winter.

[@jasonwooden]

Try NINE Pounds/pair for the Size 30 TX-Pig....er...Pro! Grrrrrr. Really hoping the new one weighs MUCH less.

[@tomm9850]

Yes, 9 lbs (4 kg) is a lot of weight for a boot, especially on the uphill. I'm sure the extra support is an advantage at times, but the current trend is to ski in lighter gear and I hope that Scarpa will keep that in mind on their new boot. Thanks for tuning in and for posting. I hope you have a great winter season.