If your feet fit in the TLT6s then it should be a pretty easy choice. There is a lot of info out there about how to mod them, check the Phantom binding facebook page for the most extreme mod I’ve seen so far. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say they can’t ride in them as well as their softboots after modding them.

If you go for the Atomics you’ll have to pioneer the way to splitboarding bliss and so far they sound complicated. Not to say it won’t work but you’ll be the first.

Anyone know the BSL on the backland?

Somebody buy a pair and cut them up, my F1s aren’t gonna last forever. Curious what folks think about modifying the external lever lock, found it way too rigid on my F1s for heelside carving and suspect the same with the Backlands. Looks like it works the same way as the Scarpas, just a clip onto lower bar. To much rearward flex could just pop the whole thing loose, kinda what prompted me to cut the whole thing off the F1s and go the cube route. Doesn’t look like a posibility with the Backlands

maniacdave wrote:

Somebody buy a pair and cut them up

I just ordered a pair from my local shop. I went for a 1-finger shell fit with hopes that they’ll stretch a bit when I mold the shell. I’ll post updates as they happen.

I know John has been working on a couple things in prototype, but I doubt it will be production ready by next year. Since its a small shop, he is really refining his production now at this point. A little bit of tweak’s here or there to improve a small piece of the system. You have to remember its basically 1 guy running a shop, with a full time job (as a rocket engineer!), and 2 kids. Time is tough.

The system I don’t think really needs much change though. It’s solid. I’ve been on it 2 full years and had no issues. He has made little tweaks like different screws (hex), better cant ramps, and introduced things like the awesome heel risers. What’s next? We’ll have to wait and see 🙂

I now have 2 days of touring and a grand total of 1 snowboard run on my Backlands. I was assisting with an avalanche class so the riding was not the focus of the weekend but at least I got out.

My first impression is that this will be a good option for a lot of people and a great alternative for the TLT5/6 riders, especially as the TLT7 looks like a step backwards for us. I did not modify the boots in any way for splitboarding, only molded the shell to fit my feet.

Pro’s:
• Significant reduction in BSL (317 to 298!)
• Soft flex
o by feel I’d say it’s comparable to my Driver X in the forward direction, stiffer medially
o next ride will be with the optional tongues in place
• Heat moldable shell and liner
o I still need a small punch for length at the big toes, maybe too aggressive with the down sizing
• Easy transitions, just one lever for forward lean lock that I can flip with my pole
o Tours easily with the buckles snugged up
• Adjustable forward lean angles
• Little to no modification needed
• Fits well with CAMP Tour 390 crampons
o haven’t used them, just test fit in the living room
• The lower buckle is “set and forget”, once you get your size position fixed you don’t have to change it

Con’s:
• They’re cold, I wasn’t moving much but it was noticeable
• Not enough lateral support on my front foot due to foot angle (~27*)
o It felt like I needed to “rotate my highback”
• Pressure points at both medial ankle spurs, no blisters after 2 days though
• Pressure point on the top of my foot, it might be better with the optional tongues in
• Small enough that I might have to drop a binding size on my new Phantoms
o I’m secure but not as tight as I want so I’ll ride them again before I decide if I have a problem
• The ankle buckle is too low on the foot to help much with heel hold
• The hook for the lower foot cable is plastic and might not take much abuse
• The ankle buckle opened up easily while digging pits and walking in breakable crust
• I caught the forward lean lever on my board edge while making a kick turn and took out a chunk of metal from the boot, it looks easily replaced and no functional problem currently
• The liner slips in the shell while touring, one side was getting really squeaky

There are two screws that hold the forward lean lock onto the cuff. It looks like there is room to move the screws further down in the cuff to increase the forward lean, mine came set at the most upright position. I like the angle so I haven’t tried changing it and I’m not sure how far you could go in either direction if you modify the boots.

Matt a.d. wrote:

Being able to leave the cuff done up in walk-mode is really nice and feels much more stable than the TLT5’s (i’ve never toured in the TLT6’s, but I imagine it’s the same). I actually find sidehilling in hardboots worse than in softboots.

FYI, There’s several easy options that allow the TLT cuff to be tightened during tour mode without locking the boot into ride mode.

I got to tour again on Sunday and actually put up 3000′ of vert. I don’t plan to mod the boots at all for riding and have found that I can ride and tour without changing the buckles and without the optional tongue. I had intended to put the tongue in to see if it helped with heel hold and to give more progressive forward flex but once I was on snow I didn’t feel like fiddling with the boots. I’m so happy to have finally found a pair of boots that fit my feet.

I ran into Woods in the parking lot and he said he has ~70 days on his this season and is very happy with them as well. He also hasn’t done anything to mod them for riding and didn’t even do anything to get them to fit.

I think it would be easy to mod the forward lean lock for truly unlimited forward lean, there might not be enough material if you just want to open it up for a bit more forward lean but still have a hard stop. That said, I won’t be doing it. The boot flex is soft enough even locked that I didn’t have any problems.

My only complaint so far is that the “highback” is too soft on heelside traverses. I want to lean into it more, especially on my front foot, but it flexes. I don’t notice it while making turns, just traversing.

I was able to size down and get the length back with a stretch followed by specific punches. I fit a Driver X in a 10.5, a Dynafit One and a Black Diamond Prime in a 28.5 and I’m in a Backland in a 27.5! The difference in length is incredible between the Backland and the One.