ditto – looking forward to seeing it!

The more I boot pack with crampons this spring, I realize just how packed out my current boots (32 TM2) are getting- so looking at the Deeluxe Spark for next season.

There are some pretty good deals on 2011 Spark boots out there- $250 new.
Should I pull the trigger or wait until next season’s boot? Are the 2012 improvements worth the extra loot?

WHAT SAY YE ?

After doing an 8k hike in my K2 T1’s yesterday I’m really really wanting a mountaineery boot for Volcanoes.
Question is do these boots have a stiff sole??? (I’m guessing they didn’t from a friend’s report after he handled the new ones)
The first Spark boots I handled DID NOT. If they didn’t add a stiff sole to this year’s model they basically did not improve them one iota. Having a stiff sole is what makes hiking easier for front pointing and relieving pressure off the calf. If the sole flexes in this aspect then it’s a retarded design no matter what crampon compatibility they added. (fyi my grivel G12’s I’ve had for 10 years climb as well as any welted crampon)
I do like a flexible sole better for rock scrambling and schwacky approaches but that’s not what I want a mountaineery boot for.
The spark boots I felt had a flexible sole and a stiff ankle which is exactly OPPOSITE of what a splitboot mountaineer would want. I’m hoping someone gets it right soon. It’s not rocket science.
STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE
STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE

How fucking hard is that for a boot maker to comprehend? Jesus maybe I’ll fruitboot in the spring.

my main complaint with the 2011-2012 spark boot is the toe is super soft. It provides not protection while kicking steps of steep hard snow, or vertical ice. Has anyone else had the same problem? I think I am going to go back to Burton Driver X’s next year.

@BGnight wrote:

After doing an 8k hike in my K2 T1’s yesterday I’m really really wanting a mountaineery boot for Volcanoes.

I’m hoping someone gets it right soon. It’s not rocket science.
STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE
STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE STIFF SOLE

How fucking hard is that for a boot maker to comprehend? Jesus maybe I’ll fruitboot in the spring.

Someone has figured it out, its just not cheap. Course this is just an option if you don’t fruitboot B! 😯

I used these boots this year and agree that the toe area is too squishy. If you crank your strap crampons too tightly you can crush your foot. Ouch.

While the sole isn’t as stiff as an AT boot’s, it’s a lot stiffer than other soft boots that I’ve used over the last couple of years (malamutes, drivers). I did a little bit of front pointing here and there and the boots seemed OK. I think that a sole that is completely rigid takes away a lot of the board feel and shock absorption in difficult terrain and variable snow conditions.

Another thing that I liked about the boot is that the liner is legit and properly moldable. I payed to get them molded at a good shop and went back a couple of times to tweak them and it made a big difference.

BUT, once spring rolls around and you’re dealing with hard snow on big mountains like volcanos, etc, just getting to the top is often more challenging than the ride down. I hope that Deeluxe not only keeps making these boots better (more streamlined, better toe), but that they also make several versions of it, like maybe a softer version for winter pow and a stiffer-soled version that is more climb-oriented, moutaineer-y, and light-weight for melt/freeze in spring. It’s not like Dynafit only makes one AT boot and expects all backcountry skiers to use it regardless of the person’s size, skiing style, preferred terrain, etc. :twocents:

All ice climbing boots have a stiff sole. Try vertical ice climbing in Spark boots. Unless you’re Will Gadd, it’s gonna suck balls.
Spark/Deeluxe tried but they missed the mark pretty hard imo. I wish La Sportiva would make the boot we’re looking for. That would be sick!

Stiff/solid toebox for kicking steps and stiff/nonflexible sole for support. These 2 elements are key.

You brought it up about the front pointing. It’s the same concept for front pointing a frozen 50 degree slope for 1000 feet. The foot needs support and a solid toe to get a bite like a plastic boot. Spark doesn’t have either.

I use a whole combo of techniques to save my calves climbing in snowboard boots. Front pointing is really the best, fastest and safest technique on steeper slopes. The other major reason a “soft” snowboard mountaineering boot needs a stiff sole and hard toe is to make it more safe and efficient climbing semi hard snow without crampons. Skiers and hardbooters get away with climbing lots of steep shit without having to deal with a crampon because their boots allow them safe purchase. Something along the lines of that La Sportiva boot would also do that. It’s funny, that super old Koflach superpipe boot is the closest thing to what we’re looking for and it’s 20 years later and only that fitwell boot is anywhere near that. I had a buddy that rocked those boots in soft bindings back in ’92. He shredded hard in those things. I’d much rather have a pair of those than Spark boots but they’re hard to find. Bcd’s combo highback/ankle strap with toe bail in those boots is an awesome idea.