With the explosion of splitboarding has come a focus on research and development that until recently has mainly been focused on board designs and binding interfaces. In 2012, Fitwell’s owner Giuliano Grotto, was approached by Engineers Roberto and Luca in regards to developing a boot that would work well for snowboarding and alpinism. After giving the idea a green light, Fitwell created their first prototype by cross-breeding their mountaineering boot with a snowboard boot. Eight prototypes later they finally agreed upon a boot that would become their production model. This boot was designed around the best attributes of a standard snowboard boot and improved upon to overcome its performance shortcomings. In 2013 Fitwell introduced their Backcountry Boot. The final product resulted in a boot with increased lateral stability, the ability to utilize a semi-automatic crampon, Vibram Teton soles for climbing and traction, carbon/glass insole, stiffer toe box for booting, CORDURA+PU liner and upper portion of the boot for durability and waterproofing, and rubber rand around the base of the boot for increased durability.
“I like how the Fitwells “move” on your feet (for climbing and riding). For me they climb as well or better than any normal mountaineering boot.” – Russman
While these boots are pricier than your average snowboard boot, take a look at the video below to see the amount of effort and detail that goes into constructing each pair. After all, they are Italian.
Weight: 1270 grams/ 2.7 pounds per pair (size 8)
*It should be noted that this years model does have the upper velcro strap.
– Fitwell Boots
– Fitwell Boots
About Fitwell
The story of Fitwell and its founder, Giuliano Grotto, began in 1979. Initially called ONESport, the company stood out immediately in the shoe market by offering the 8000, the first boot designed specifically for expeditions at high altitude (over eight thousand meters). During the 80s, Fitwell continued developing innovative and interesting products such as Resin Rose – pink and purple climbing shoes nicknamed “Click Clock” because of the steel bar attached to the inside that caused this kind of sound.
During the 90s, ONESport underwent a transition culminating in a partnership with a French group that acquired the brand. Founder Giuliano Grotto decided to form a new company called Fitwell.
In the 2000s, after a few years of direct sales to Italian and foreign retailers, Fitwell grew a stronger sales network in Italy, expanding to cover most of the Italian market. Fitwell revived much of the success it experienced during the 80x, introducing several high-performance product models such as the Gnaro 8000 (tested by the great mountaineer Silvio “Gnaro” Mondinelli) and the Backcountry, a revolutionary boot designed for climbing and extreme freeride snowboarding.
ONE SIMPLE RULE: “MADE IN ITALY”
The most important strength of Fitwell is undoubtedly the production of the boot, which is made entirely in Pederobba (TV). The will to produce all MADE IN ITALY is Fitwell’s response to the challenge of the mountain footwear market. Our policy is not a simple promotion of the intrinsic quality of the product, but we aim also to continuously improve the performances and functionality of our products, which we feel translates into an increased attention to the needs of our customers. Our footwear is handmade and highly specialized. The machine tools we use would be useless except in the skilled hands of the artisan. Our products are tested by a team of highly-qualified professionals including Luca Pandolfi, the famous freerider known for his extreme descents, and Silvio “Gnaro” Mondinelli, the “Mountain Machine” that has climbed all of the eight-thousanders several times.
The brand Fitwell represents a guarantee of high quality, functionality and safety, thanks to the know-how we gained in over 30 years of experience. We use only the highest quality materials such as waterproof and breathable leathers and fabrics, and Vibram soles.
