Scarpa expands NTN lineup for 2008
Two models and two new (smaller) sizes

By Craig Dostie
20feb08

Terminator X-Pro - Available Fall 2008 - MSRP: $685

Next season Scarpa will be expanding their NTN boot line with an additional model, the Terminator X-Pro, and more sizes to chose from. In addition, changes in the construction of the Terminator X and the X-Pro promise to improve the flex.

Besides sporting the trademark NTN second heel, Scarpa’s NTN boots will also be compatible with any Alpine Touring binding, including Dynafit, thanks to the incorporation of Dynafit inserts in the toe and heel. Many backcountry skiers have been asking for a boot/binding system that can switch between telemark and alpine modes. With NTN boots, and in particular with Scarpa’s Dynafit compatible NTN boots, users can have one boot that works in either the NTN binding for telemarking, or any AT binding for skiing with the power of a locked heel.

The new, Terminator X-Pro is a four-buckle boot to address the mindset that anything less than two buckles on the cuff is too soft. The cuff will be slightly higher than on the Terminator X, and stiffer.

Scarpa's NTN boots will all be triple injected, with the torsion beam (from heel to bellows) replaced with a full length torsion frame that wraps around the heel to under the toe. Notice the rib at the front of the bellows for increased lateral stability, as well as the ribs along the sides. The bellows material (black) will be softer for 2008.

The construction of both boots will change to triple injection for next season. Scarpa’s torsion beam that has provided a yoke of stiffer material around the heel will be extended to the toe region, creating more of a skeletal chassis around which the rest of the boot lower is built. This torsion frame will have the stiffest plastic in the boot, with slightly softer pebax throughout the rest of the boot, except for the bellows which will have significantly softer plastic for an easier, smoother flex.

Beginning next season, Scarpa will offer smaller sized NTN boots, down to mondo size 24.5 (US mens size 7, women’s 9). These new, smaller sizes will have a NTN second heel that is closer to the toe, and thus require a smaller sized NTN binding.

Commentary: It was disappointing to learn that Scarpa stiffened up the flex of this year’s model NTN boot, the Terminator X, compared to the demo version of winter 2007. The good news on this is that Scarpa will upgrade existing customers Terminator-X foot shells from 2007 for free.

The change to triple injection and a softer flex bodes well for NTN. This is especially important for smaller feet, because there is less leverage available to flex a boot. As I’ve said before, I think that NTN will offer dramatic improvements in performance for telemarkers with smaller feet. The NTN attachment system separates spring tension to augment the tele flex from lateral control. Existing 75mm bindings can only increase lateral rigidity by increasing spring tension and stiffening boots, which makes the ability to telemark with smaller feet progressively impossible. NTN should change all that. Keep your fingers crossed. It’s still just speculation on my part.

Although Scarpa’s NTN boots are designed to work with Dynafit bindings, their inherent flexibility can cause trouble. When the boot flexes, it changes the length of the sole, causing it to slip out from the pins in the heel and switch to tour mode without warning, and/or release prematurely. The cure is to provide a shim under the ball of the foot so that the boot doesn’t have the opportunity to flex. Doing it yourself isn’t a big deal, but it would be a whole lot easier if someone made a shim that worked easily. So Scarpa did. It attaches to the rear of the Dynafit toepiece just like a ski crampon would, and thus can be easily removed.