Guinea Pigging the Scarpa Spirit 3

[Sierra Cement]

Have you done a side by side comparison on forward lean between the Denali TT and the Spirit 3? I may be making the exact same switch over in the future.

[Kellie]

About to pull the Spirit 3 trigger. I'm a little nervous that the smallest is a 24.5 but that's what my Denalis are, and Scarpa promised me the shell size is the same (and that I actually have a 25 shell now, although I was under the impression it was a 24). He also told me that the women's version of the spirit 3/4 are coming out next year - smaller heel and built on women's last, but still as stiff. That'll be interesting to see . . .

Yoss, any more updates?!!?

[Yossarian]

About to pull the Spirit 3 trigger. I'm a little nervous that the smallest is a 24.5 but that's what my Denalis are, and Scarpa promised me the shell size is the same (and that I actually have a 25 shell now, although I was under the impression it was a 24). He also told me that the women's version of the spirit 3/4 are coming out next year - smaller heel and built on women's last, but still as stiff. That'll be interesting to see . . .

Yoss, any more updates?!!?

Kel, give me the weekend, I am about to head out the door and pound on them for a couple days!

[Kya]

Stoked on the boots They just skied a huge line today Lots of bootbacking, comfy! Skiing super steep, variable conditions, no fall for sure. Felt just as confident as if wearing my Denalis.

[skinnyskier]

Have you done a side by side comparison on forward lean between the Denali TT and the Spirit 3? I may be making the exact same switch over in the future.

The forward lean on the Spirit 3 is continuously adjustable from a little straighter than the Denali to way leaned forward. I have no numbers to back that up-that's just the way it feels to me.

[Yossarian]

No, you're entirely right. In fact, I have the pictures and numbers to "prove it" if someone cared enough.

Sorry it's taken me a while to log any kind of significant time on the Spirit 3s, particularly since it was my thread in the first place. Oh well, at least others are getting out.

And I think I share the same opinion. The Spirit 3s are fantastic! They have significantly more forward lean than the old red Denalis, and they ski much, much better. They still have a bit of a Scarpa fit, a little more volume than some, however, they are much lower in the toe box than other Scarpa AT boots that I've tried. The wrap around inside out tightening system deal must work well, because I can get them nice and snug around the foot without cranking them down to the point where they start to put undue pressure through the arches. They're not too heavy, they're snazzy looking, and they tour very well. I tried them on Dynafits and Fritschi's, and was impressed by performance in both. I've always been a bit annoyed by that flat disconnected feeling I get in Freerides and old Denalis, and the Spirit 3s did help tighten up the responsiveness in this regard. I can definitely push around the Heli Daddies (99mm underfoot) noticeably better in the Spirits than I could in the Denalis.

That said, they're still AT boots, and all AT boots are a compromise. I still can't charge quite the way I can in alpine boots, because I always have to re-adjust back and forth to the different feel of each. However, for an AT boot, I think they're as good as it's going to to get. If you have a Scarpa foot, and you want something lighter than the Tornado, but that stresses downhill performance, this is it. I cannot image that the 4th buckle of the Spirit 4 is going to make any positive difference in performance. My ONLY beef is that the ski-to-walk switch doesn't give me quite as positive a "click" as I'd like to know when it's locked into each of the two ski settings.

Of course, with the NTN coming out, if you AT and tele and have a Scarpa foot, you may want to wait for the X, but that's a whole nother thread.

Overall, I give it two very big thumbs up. Not A+, but a solid A performance. Those of you looking for a push to update your AT boots or invest in a solid 70%-30% ski-tour boot, I believe this is the next long term winner in the category.