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Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:35 pm
by MicahE
I've searched the forums and don't find anyone who owns these boots.

I'm in the market for my first pair of NNNBC boots. Coming from some old slipper like Salamon boots of a discontinued binding system. I live far away from a store that sells BC gear so it's rare I can try on different sizes/models without incurring a large deposit via internet purchase.

Yesterday I was able to try on pairs of Alpina Alaska, Rossi BCX5, and Fischer BCX5 boots.

Alaska boots killed the front of my ankles when flexing. I tried different lacing tensions to no avail. I've read someone else here with the same experience.

Rossi BCX5 where the most comfortable except for the top of the boot on the foot where I broke my ankle some years ago. That won't work.

Fischer BCX5 were not bad but felt baggy, which I was concerned about becoming more-so after use.

I'm curious about the Alpina BC-1600, which are only available through one vendor in the USA and $10 shipping plus $20 return shipping. Does anyone have first hand experience with these boots as compared to the above or otherwise?

Thanks

Re: Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:32 pm
by phoenix
Never skied them (never skied any NNN BC for that matter), but tried them on some years ago; they felt a lot better to me than any of the Fischer's or Rossi's. I'm definitely not a fan of the "hybrid", plastic/buckle/fabric boots.

Re: Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:24 am
by MicahE
phoenix wrote:
Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:32 pm
Never skied them (never skied any NNN BC for that matter), but tried them on some years ago; they felt a lot better to me than any of the Fischer's or Rossi's. I'm definitely not a fan of the "hybrid", plastic/buckle/fabric boots.
Thanks. Aesthetically, I prefer to not have these plastic exoskeletons but in the end I'll buy whatever feels the best as long as it seems to be well made and presumably provides the support I'm looking for.

I went ahead and ordered them, turns out the 10 day shipping is because they are being shipped from Denmark, lol. That explains the $20 return shipping cost. I hope they work, trying to get into the mountains for some more adventurous routes.

Re: Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 2:08 pm
by Cannatonic
I've had the BC1600 and can vouch for them - great boots! The manufacturing has changed a couple times, the last pair I saw was using really nice leather vs. the earlier versions which had stiffer, cheaper leather. It's too bad these aren't distributed better in the USA. So much better than the synthetic-material boots - more support and better-fitting

Re: Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 2:00 pm
by MicahE
Cannatonic wrote:
Thu Jan 09, 2020 2:08 pm
I've had the BC1600 and can vouch for them - great boots! The manufacturing has changed a couple times, the last pair I saw was using really nice leather vs. the earlier versions which had stiffer, cheaper leather. It's too bad these aren't distributed better in the USA. So much better than the synthetic-material boots - more support and better-fitting
Great to hear. I'm hoping that they don't dig into the front of my ankle like the Alaska boots did, or that I'll be able to figure out a way to fix that issue if everything else is good.

I tried on a couple more boots yesterday, when I was in the city for a meeting. They all had their shortcomings that made them a no-buy. I feel like Goldilocks in how picky I am but I hope it pays off by finding a great fitting boot.

Re: Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 5:35 pm
by MicahE
I ended up buying these boots and have taken them out on only one trip so far.

Of all the boots I had tried on, these happened to be this Cinderella's glass slipper. I'm glad I held out for them. They fit my foot well like the Alaskas, felt stiffer/more supportive than the Alaskas, lacked that pinch point at the ankle that kept me from buying the Alaskas, and seem to me to be built much better than the Alaskas. Oh, and they were $170 in stead of $260.

I'm not sure why they aren't offered in the USA. The one shop that had them for sale turns out to be a European vendor (Skatepro). Still, was fast and free shipping when I added $20 insoles to my order.

They are really well made, full grain leather boots sold at a competitive price if you can find your size.

Re: Any experience with the Alpina BC-1600 Boot?

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2020 6:58 pm
by Cannatonic
very nice, the leather looks much better than the pair I had. They added the rand up front which I am not fond of because it reduces the stretch-ability of the leather.

Would love to see this boot made w/ 75mm sole as well.