Traditional leather touring boot supply
 

After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK (Aviemore*2,
Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries traditional leather touring
boots and does not plan to get stock in the future. I've done some Google
searching for retailers with no success.

This is a bit of a problem as I really don't want to go to plastic touring
boots; I'm of the view they are second-best and over-heavy for what I want
to do, and would force me onto wider skis, etc...


The sort of boot I'm after are like the Garmont Tour, 75mm binding. Suitable
for off-track touring. The makers list them on their website, but it seems
that importers/retailers feel there is insufficient demand to be worth
stocking.


Can anyone suggest a supplier with stock ? Or other makers of boots ?
I guess its likely to be in Norway, so a shop which can discuss things in
English and/or mail order to the UK would be useful.


Thanks for any suggestions ; please post replies.
If you need to email me, go to the contacts page on the website below.


regards,

- Nigel


--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
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In article , NC wrote:
After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK (Aviemore*2,
Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries traditional leather touring
boots and does not plan to get stock in the future. I've done some Google
searching for retailers with no success.

Try contacting Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado. They have
a web site, but not an online ordering system. At the very least,
they can tell you where they get their 75-mm nordic leather boots.
I've bought a few pairs from them in the past few years. They have a
couple people on staff--including the owner--who prefer leather to
plastic so they are always looking for suppliers.

Good luck,

David

I have a pair of Alfa Touring boots that are about a USA 10 that I can sell.
They are from the late '70's.

I couldn't find your e-mail on the web page you refered readers to.

Gary Jacobson
Rosendale, NY


"David Blanchard" wrote in message
...
In article , NC wrote:
After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK (Aviemore*2,
Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries traditional leather touring
boots and does not plan to get stock in the future. I've done some
Google
searching for retailers with no success.

Try contacting Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado. They have
a web site, but not an online ordering system. At the very least,
they can tell you where they get their 75-mm nordic leather boots.
I've bought a few pairs from them in the past few years. They have a
couple people on staff--including the owner--who prefer leather to
plastic so they are always looking for suppliers.

Good luck,

David

Try Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI).

"NC" wrote in message ...
After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK (Aviemore*2,
Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries traditional leather touring
boots and does not plan to get stock in the future. I've done some Google
searching for retailers with no success.

This is a bit of a problem as I really don't want to go to plastic touring
boots; I'm of the view they are second-best and over-heavy for what I want
to do, and would force me onto wider skis, etc...


The sort of boot I'm after are like the Garmont Tour, 75mm binding.
Suitable
for off-track touring. The makers list them on their website, but it
seems
that importers/retailers feel there is insufficient demand to be worth
stocking.


Can anyone suggest a supplier with stock ? Or other makers of boots ?
I guess its likely to be in Norway, so a shop which can discuss things in
English and/or mail order to the UK would be useful.


Thanks for any suggestions ; please post replies.
If you need to email me, go to the contacts page on the website below.


regards,

- Nigel


--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:02:48 +0100, "NC" wrote:

After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK (Aviemore*2,
Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries traditional leather touring
boots and does not plan to get stock in the future. I've done some Google
searching for retailers with no success.

Not all information is on the Web.

This is a bit of a problem as I really don't want to go to plastic touring
boots; I'm of the view they are second-best and over-heavy for what I want
to do, and would force me onto wider skis, etc...

Some traditional and useful gear choices are sometimes lost in the
mass rush to the latest greatest new stuff.

XC ski gear seems to have gone to the two extremes: ultralight
high-tech in-track race oriented ski gear, or full blown BC/telemark
gear. Very little left in between, of the "traditional" skiing out in
the woods on untracked trails sort.

The sort of boot I'm after are like the Garmont Tour, 75mm binding. Suitable
for off-track touring. The makers list them on their website, but it seems
that importers/retailers feel there is insufficient demand to be worth
stocking.

The first step is to see what is manufactured which meets your
requirements. Then contact those manufacturers to see who retails in
your area. Often a retailer for that brand can get a special order of
another model.

Can anyone suggest a supplier with stock ? Or other makers of boots ?
I guess its likely to be in Norway, so a shop which can discuss things in
English and/or mail order to the UK would be useful.

How big an activity is XC skiing in the UK? Do you have enough snow in
England, or do you need to travel north?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

In rec.skiing.nordic NC wrote:
[-- Snip --]

: The sort of boot I'm after are like the Garmont Tour, 75mm binding. Suitable
: for off-track touring. The makers list them on their website, but it seems
: that importers/retailers feel there is insufficient demand to be worth
: stocking.

I ordered garmont Tour from Norpine.com in January 2003. The boot
is still listed on their web site ($185 US). They are in California.
They had no problem Shipping to Canada. I am not sure about
europe though.

You might contact Treski in Norway. They sell wood skis, they probably
know where to buy leather boots. Their e-mail is info[at]treski.no and
web site is www.treski.no.

Please pass the information if you find more. You are not the only one.
What size do you need? I have one pair that gives me blisters and
pair a bit too large. They are size 12 US (Alolo Snowfield II)
and 12UK (12 1/2 US Garmont Combination Plus). Both are heavier
than the Garmont tour though.

Sylvain
(Montreal, Canada)



[-- Snip --]

David Blanchard wrote:
In article , NC wrote:
After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK
(Aviemore*2, Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries
traditional leather touring boots and does not plan to get stock in
the future. I've done some Google searching for retailers with no
success.

Try contacting Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado. They have
a web site, but not an online ordering system. At the very least,
they can tell you where they get their 75-mm nordic leather boots.
I've bought a few pairs from them in the past few years. They have a
couple people on staff--including the owner--who prefer leather to
plastic so they are always looking for suppliers.


Thanks, I will contact them to see what they say.


- Nigel

--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

Gary Jacobson wrote:
I have a pair of Alfa Touring boots that are about a USA 10 that I
can sell. They are from the late '70's.

Thanks, but not suitable.

I couldn't find your e-mail on the web page you refered readers to.

Its there, honestly - info(at)2mm(dot)org(dot)uk



--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

foot2foot wrote:
Try Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI).

Useful website, I will bookmark and explore more thoroughly later.

They list some makes & models that I was not aware of.



- Nigel

--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

Gary S. wrote:
On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:02:48 +0100, "NC" wrote:

After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK
(Aviemore*2, Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries
traditional leather touring boots and does not plan to get stock in
the future. I've done some Google searching for retailers with no
success.

Not all information is on the Web.

I know.
I have rung and spoken to the owners of each of the shops in the UK which
stock cross-country gear. Most of those shops do not have websites.


This is a bit of a problem as I really don't want to go to plastic
touring boots; I'm of the view they are second-best and over-heavy
for what I want to do, and would force me onto wider skis, etc...

Some traditional and useful gear choices are sometimes lost in the
mass rush to the latest greatest new stuff.

Yes, that is what I'm finding.

XC ski gear seems to have gone to the two extremes: ultralight
high-tech in-track race oriented ski gear, or full blown BC/telemark
gear. Very little left in between, of the "traditional" skiing out in
the woods on untracked trails sort.

I want slightly tougher than un-cut trails, but not full
telemark-downhilling.

The sort of boot I'm after are like the Garmont Tour, 75mm binding.
Suitable for off-track touring. The makers list them on their
website, but it seems that importers/retailers feel there is
insufficient demand to be worth stocking.

The first step is to see what is manufactured which meets your
requirements. Then contact those manufacturers to see who retails in
your area. Often a retailer for that brand can get a special order of
another model.

Won't work for me in the UK.
I have contacted every retailer I am aware of in the UK.
For whatever reason, either the retailers or the importers are not proposing
to bring in any traditional leather touring boots in the future. It wouldn't
make any difference even if I placed a firm order for a specific size and
model.
The makers will refer me to their UK importers (catch 22).

Hence this thread trying to find non-UK sources.


Can anyone suggest a supplier with stock ? Or other makers of boots
?
I guess its likely to be in Norway, so a shop which can discuss
things in English and/or mail order to the UK would be useful.

How big an activity is XC skiing in the UK? Do you have enough snow in
England, or do you need to travel north?

Its a very small activity.
There are few places which get enough snow to ski in England (a bit in the
pennines some years on the odd day). A week or two of ski-able snow in
Scotland if lucky. However most people travel to Scandinavia to ski.
I think most people either ski on tracks (race or pootle), or have taken up
the more extreme off-track downhilling with heavier boots and short wide
skis (either on Alpine or Telemark boots)




- Nigel

--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.