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From splitboard.it http://www.splitboard.it/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1566 some funky google translation cabbage!
After two exits here’s a report on Fitwell Backcountry. The first feeling one has in hand by taking them out of the box is: cabbage! Serious stuff. The boots at first sight seem very robust reinforcements in the right places to protect them from wear a mountaineering use (with the split and snowshoeing) results. Vibram outsole “serious” – just to understand alpine-style – with the possibility of semi-automatic crampons montarci above. taking them in hand the only downside is the weight much higher than a classic snow boot, this is probably due to ‘ use the Vibram sole. The graphics and colors I personally find them really hit the spot. The idea is to test them in some situations typically “critical” for splitboard and snowboard mountaineering in general. Here are two reports of withdrawals with Backcountry Fitwell.
The first Test Saturday, February 18, 2012: Top of Ravin de la Casse Sueur (2657 m) – 3.3 E2 Total climb 1170 m with a channel of 700 m between 30 and 40 degrees. Just put the boot on the foot of course immediately that this is a well made shoe, wrap, snug and stiff in the right places. We leave for the trip, the first part of the route on road without problems, although the first use the comfort of the boot is great. It begins to rise on the ground, more and more steeply, in the first part with the use dell’alzatacco ascend along the maximum slope. Although the slopes are significant due to good spring snow I try to go without using rampant, while the slope increases and the skin does not give me more warranty seal, and beginning to move forward diagonally along the canal. boots behave excellent, providing great support, but still allowing mobility in the ankle and also features snow very hard to help maintain a good half-board edging. It is just unfortunate that during the ascent and begin to form a couple of annoying blisters on your heels. Arrived at the tip off my face for a brief split snowy ridge that leads to the summit, here the boot from the best, even without the crampon montarci, settling down in the snow blows to the feeling of tightness is unique compared to the classic snow boots. I prepare for the descent, the lacing system is simple, and allows, thanks to the overall rigidity of the boot, to keep your foot firmly but without completely blocking the ankle. The blisters I have formed on the heel uphill, downhill cause me any problems, despite the boot very stiff sole provides good surf feeling down, not moving away from the performance of top range Burton etc. Having fallen to the machine I try to observe better the innerboot to understand the reason for the formation of blisters on the heel, known that the rear part of the shoe at the point of contact with the heel is very fine and perhaps excessively rigid, which can precisely create some problems. It must be said that I used the boot is perhaps just in a bit and this may have influenced the emergence of the problem, for the rest of the boot has behaved excellently both uphill and downhill.
Test 2 Sunday, February 27, 2012: Pointe de the Ronce (3612 m) – 5.1 E3 Total climb 1800m to 1000m with a wall (only climbed about 350 m of wall) Gita optimal for a strong test, the Fitwell Backountry. Night out on the road and open slopes with snow marble. As with the previous time no problem to boot, now you have to climb a slope with a moderate climb but very icy, in which we must work to foil. The boots are very well involve giving considerable support to the entire system. Arrival of a sudden flat leading to the 1000 meters of wall / channel to be addressed, but to my amazement I find myself before a megavalanga that can not go along the line. Individual but to the right on a beautiful slope of 45-50 degrees to about 350 meters we decided to climb hoping to rejoin the top. So splitboard in your rucksack and crampons mount in my case Grivel semiautomatic. The crampons on the boots fit perfectly, seems to put on a sport by the Nepal Mountaineering. The tips, both front and those on the soles of the feet, allowing exceptional work great progress in both sideways and frontally in the most steep and ice cream. Proceed quickly, the top is not in condition, so we aim to a hill where we go short stretches of mixed. And even here the boot behaves with exceptional climbing performance. Expect that the soft snow for the action of the sun, which does not happen, and then face down on the snow marble, shake well the boots and get ready. The curves are all to be made to jump and you must be very precise, for all the boots I guarantee excellent resistance to 300 meters and never give up, which is important in situations like this. We reach the bottom of the channel and on open slopes and then the street to the car, the last section is necessary to cross a small stream, good to see when the water resistance of the boots: by up to half in the ankle and, with satisfaction, I realize that water does not enter at all. The only negative is again the formation of blisters on the heel, resulting in problems both in the ascent phase but especially in the descent, the problem might be solved by using a thicker sock.
Overall rating: After these two tests, I can finally say that there is a market boot really designed for alpine snowboarding on all types of terrain, a revolutionary boot, thought not only for the descent. A boot with which you can deal with much more confidence with frozen transverse split, with which you can climb rocks and channels without the thought of having to smash the ground at any moment. Even in the descent phase of the boot is very powerful and responsive support and ensuring at the same time leaving freedom to the ankle. A boot designed to withstand wear and abuse that involves the snowalp. Unique negatives are, in my opinion, the weight and the thickness of the inner boot on the heel, in my opinion too late, which favors the formation of blisters (this is actually a subjective, I had shoes with which I have never had blisters, and other friends with the same model year will sold by desperation, or simply need to use a thicker sock, I used to use socks fine).
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