Arguably the strongest recent trend in backcountry skiing equipment has been to make everything lighter while maintaining performance. Even though the Garmont Masterlite may not be the boot for every backcountry skier, if you’re looking for the lightest boot on the up, that will give you something worthy on the down, this might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Thus far, most comments directed toward these boots, whether in my living room or in the field, have revolved around their unique appearance. While I completely understand I’ll argue the real salient attribute of these boots is their weight- 2.4 lbs. (size 28). Yup, you read that right, 2.4 lbs. They feel and almost look like slippers to me, and even though I’m normally a person demanding the tightest fit and stiffest AT boot I can find, the turns I’ve had thus far in the Masterlite’s have been far better than what I initially thought they would yield.
While I cannot say I’ve been able to test these boots in demanding steep ski conditions often found in the High Sierra, for days when the goal is to be light, fast, and efficient I’ve never used anything that compares. When added to a system that includes Dynafit bindings and backcountry oriented skis these boots might make you feel like skunning (a mixture of skinning and running) more than just plain old skinning.
Again, for emphasis here, the difference on the up is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. On the down, if you’re used to beefier four buckle setups you’ll definitely notice the difference, however, with acceptance of a compromise you’ll find they ski pretty well. I’ll still choose my Radium’s over the Masterlite’s when the conditions and terrain dictate more of a beefier boot, but my intrigue with taking these boots far and deep is at a peak. They are truly something to experience if your backcountry skiing objectives take you beyond roadside hits.
One of the first things you’ll notice with the Masterlite is the flex of the top cuff in ski mode. Adjust your stance and the pressure you put into each turn and you’ll notice an immediate response. Basically if you’re lazy and in the backseat you’ll feel the boot working against you, but if you stay on top of your skis aggressively you’ll have the control you’re looking for. For most backcountry skiers, myself included, these will be the most minimalist boots you’ll ever use. That goes for weight, beef, and overall size. They ski remarkably well for how minimal they are, but that said you’ll still need to treat them as the unique boot they are. I’m not sure these are going to be my go-to for ski touring certain terrain found in the Sierra or Chugach, but I’m fully stoked to give them the green light when the right objective, say powder skiing all day in Desolation Wilderness, is the call.
The Masterite’s have what Garmont calls a Double Action Cuff Buckle. This buckle never has to be undone to go from ski to tour mode. The cuff itself has wild movement, which is part of what makes the up so smooth allowing a much bigger stride by the skinner. The cuff also opens at both ends of the buckle, which looks and feels a little weird to those who’ve yet to see or use a boot like this, but works phenomenally in the way it allows the cuff to move compared to a regular AT boot. You unlatch the buckle like you would a regular AT boot to tour, but based on the setup you get almost twice as much range of motion. This makes a world of difference!
To set the top buckle all you need to do is slide the button,
set the wire gate in the desired slot, then latch it down. Set and snap buckle number two and you’re ready to ski. Unlatch the two buckles when switching over to skin, then lock’em back down for your next lap(s). The process is seamless after a little practice.
The latch on the back of the boot flips up for ski mode, and down for walk mode. Make sure when you’re going into ski mode you flex the top and hear an obvious click and feel the tightened restriction of the top cuff. Otherwise you will certainly notice the squirly factor of this boot in walk mode on the down-something people still have an issue with from time to time in the backcountry with regular AT boots, but is much more pronounced with these boots.
Of note to the potential user is the Masterlite’s won a 2011 Red Dot Design Award for product design and innovation. The featured high overlap shell design with the truly unique rockered footprint is part of why this award was bestowed on Garmont. Is there anything rocker won’t continue to influence positively in the ski industry?
Here are the Masterlite’s key features from Garmont:
–Webframe Shell: A revolutionary design reduces matter wherever possible while reinforcing areas of stress to create a boot of only critical elements that maintains a solid structure with ultra-light weight.
–Unique Footprint design is stiff, springy and supportive with subtle curvature in the forefoot allowing for a more natural stride and exceptional energy transfer to the ski.
–Shell Overlap design allowing the cuff and shell to move independently for easy walking freedom.
–Double Action Instep Buckle is strategically positioned maximum effectiveness in closing the lower shell and securing the instep.
–Double Action Cuff Buckle closes more than twice the distance of a normal buckle.
–Lite Thermoformable Liner allows for a custom fit in the Masterlite’s low volume shell design providing support and comfort.
World-renowned ski mountaineer Chris Davenport also seems to like the Masterlite’s:
“(When I first had the) opportunity to ski the MasterLite … I was honestly blown away. No bull here from a sponsored athlete, they were amazingly supportive and stable on hard snow and at high speeds…. something I’ve never experienced in a boot that light…. wait, I’ve never skied in a boot that light before.”
You can purchase the Masterlite’s at top backcountry ski shops throughout the country, or shop for them online at EVO.com.