From New Telemark Guide
The flex of a telemark boot can be critical to its performance, but consensus nearly always holds that the flex of the boot should be appropriate to both the binding and ski being used. A low-cuff soft-flexing boot will be difficult to control wide or stiff skis, just as a larger stiff-flexing "powerful" boot is inappropriate for a lightweight XCD-style ski.
There are two elements to the flex of a telemark boot: The force required to flex the bellows, and the force required to flex the upper of the boot. Each characteristic of the boot flex can have an effect on the boot's performance.
The flex of a boot can also change significantly after its been broken in, softening the bellows flex.
To discuss or contest this page, please use the "Discussion" tab on this page. Link to relevant telemarktips.com threads if possible.
NTN Boots
The following is a relative stiffness ranking from user reports, and some speculation in all reality.
| Stiffness Ranking | Manufacturer | Boot Model | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stiffer | Scarpa | Terminator X (2007) | First year Scarpa NTN boot, considered to have extremely stiff bellows. |
| * | Crispi | Evo 2007-2008 | |
| * | Scarpa | TX Comp 2009-2010 | |
| * | Crispi | Shiver 2009-2010 | |
| * | Garmont | Prophet 2009-2010 | Supposedly stiffening the toe up for 2010-11 |
| * | Scarpa | Terminator X (2008-2010) | 2nd year "corrected" bellows stiffness. |
| Softer | Scarpa | Terminator X Pro |
Late in 2009, Jarl Berg of Berg's Ski and Snowboard in Eugene, OR posted a video of himself hand-flexing the latest crop of NTN boots.
75mm Boots
Somebody fill this table out...
| Stiffness Ranking | Boot Model | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Stiffer | Black Diamond Custom | |
| * | Scarpa T-Race | |
| * | Scarpa T-1 (4-buckle) | |
| * | Garmont EnerG | |
| * | ||
| * | ||
| * | ||
| * | ||
| Softer |