![Today Tecnica made an announcement many people had been waiting for — Tecnica is entering the (very) lightweight touring boot category. Blister discusses the new Zero G Peak boots](https://blisterreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ZERO-G-PEAK-CARBON_thumb.jpg)
Today Tecnica made an announcement many people had been waiting for — Tecnica is entering the (very) lightweight touring boot category. We’re hoping to get in the new boots ASAP, but in the meantime, here are some key highlights.
The new 2022-2023 Zero G Peak boots all reportedly come in under 1000 grams per boot (size 26.5), putting them around the same class as boots such as the Scarpa F1 LT, Dynafit TLT8, and some of Atomic’s Backland boots.
Tecnica has apparently been working on the Zero G Peak boots for five years, and it reportedly took so long because of their focus on downhill performance, fit, and customization.
The Zero G Peak looks fairly similar to a boot like the F1 LT, though Tecnica points out that the Zero G Peak has more shell and cuff overlap than many boots in this class, with the goal of improving downhill performance (they don’t list flex numbers). All three Zero G Peak boots feature a carbon-grilamid shell, and the top-of-the-line Zero G Peak Carbon adds a carbon fiber cuff for added stiffness. All boots feature Tecnica’s “C.A.S.” shell and liner, which means the shell is dimpled in key fit areas for easier punching and grinding (Tecnica states up to 2 mm) and the C.A.S. zones in the liner can also be ground down.
The Zero G Peak boots have an ISO 9523, dual-density Vibram rubber sole that’s reinforced with carbon for a reported 10% increase in torsional rigidity.
The Zero G Peak’s walk mechanism looks very similar to that on the standard Zero G, but the Peak version is apparently a bit lighter (but still looks beefy by the standards of 1000-g boots). All the Zero G Peak boots have a stated range of motion of 75°.
The Zero G Peak collection consists of three boots, with the stated specs for all below:
Tecnica Zero G Peak Carbon
MSRP: $949.95
Size: 23.5 – 30.5
Shell: Co-Injected Carbon Fiber and Grilamid
Cuff: Carbon Fiber
Liner: C.A.S. Light
Range of Motion: 75°
Spoiler: YES
Buckles: 2 Bailed 6 Connection Adjustable
Cuff Buckles: With hiking catch
Soles: ISO 9523 with low tech inserts, VIBRAM rubber
Forward Lean: 13° (Default, 15° WITH SPOILER)
Weight: 990 g at 26.5
Tecnica Zero G Peak
MSRP: $849.95
Size: 24.5 – 30.5
Shell: Co-Injected Carbon Fiber and Grilamid
Cuff: Co-Injected Carbon Fiber and Grilamid
Liner: C.A.S. Light
Range of Motion: 75°
Spoiler: YES
Buckles: 2 Bailed 6 Connection Adjustable
Cuff Buckles: With hiking catch
Soles: ISO 9523 with low tech inserts, VIBRAM rubber
Forward Lean: 13° (Default, 15° WITH SPOILER)
Weight: 980 g at 26.5
Tecnica Zero G Peak W
MSRP: $849.95
Size: 23.5 – 27.5
Shell: Co-Injected Carbon Fiber and Grilamid
Cuff: Co-Injected Carbon Fiber and Grilamid, W
Specific Shape
Liner: C.A.S. Light, W Specific Shape
Range of Motion: 75°
Spoiler: YES
Buckles: 2 Bailed 6 Connection Adjustable
Cuff Buckles: With hiking catch
Soles: ISO 9523 with low tech inserts, VIBRAM rubber
Forward Lean: 13° (Default, 15° WITH SPOILER)
Weight: 980 g at 26.5
For reference, here’s the full press release from Tecnica:
The Weight is Over: Tecnica Introduces Sub-1,000-gram Touring Boots
At last, an ultra-lightweight touring boot that prioritizes fit, performance,
and customization for real skiers.
WEST LEBANON, NH (January 20, 2022) – After five years of prototyping and millions of vertical feet climbed, Tecnica is proud to introduce its first sub-1,000-gram boot collection: Zero G Peak. It’s a category the brand has patiently waited to join, because a hard rule was set in place from the very start: If it doesn’t perform on the downhill like a true Tecnica boot, the industry doesn’t need it.
“When we build boots at Tecnica, there are three pillars we stand by, which are fit, performance, and customization,” says Tecnica’s North American Product Manager, Christian Avery. “So when we enter a category, we ask ourselves if we can be true to those three pillars and do something genuinely useful for skiers. We also ask ourselves if we can pivot the status quo. And with the Zero G Peak, the answer to both of those questions has been a resounding ‘yes.’”
When compared to the grander sub-1,000-gram boot market, the biggest differentiation point with the Zero G Peak collection is its overlap design. Much like a traditional alpine boot, and Tecnica’s successful Zero G boot collection, this overlap provides stability and drives powerful, confident turns. And while most sub-1,000-gram boots have very limited customization options—if any at all—the Zero G Peak offers a customizable CAS liner-shell system.
“We’re not coming at this from the skimo and race side of the industry,” says Avery. “Having a background in more hard-charging overlap boots, we made performance our number one priority from the start. Obviously this is an extremely light boot that walks remarkably well, but putting performance first instead of leaving it as an afterthought behind weight has really worked out well for us.”
Prioritizing performance is seen everywhere else throughout this boot, as well. Unlike many race-inspired boots with one buckle made to save seconds, the Zero G Peak offers a more traditional catch-cable system as well as a heavy-duty walk-mode lever taken from the original Zero G system that provides an extra stable backbone for the downhill. The liner’s gator is also glued from the inside, as opposed to competing gators which are loose and unglued—further adding to that snug and stable fit Tecnica is known for.
With so much performance talk in mind, the lightness and walkability of this new collection can’t be overlooked. There are three models: Zero G Peak (980g at 26.5), Zero G Peak W (900g at 24.5), and Zero G Peak Carbon (990g at 26.5). All three boots share the same carbon-grilamid construction and combine to fit a range of skiers sharing a desire to move fast uphill and ski confidently downhill. The Zero G Peak Carbon version includes a carbon cuff for those seeking a little extra power and stability.
With nearly 100 years of boot-making experience, entering the sub-1,000-gram category had to happen the right way for Tecnica, no matter how long it took. Fortunately, anyone who steps into the Zero G Peak line will find that it was well worth the wait.
I just got the Zero G Pro,
I want these too
Lmk if you need an inexperienced tester who likes to talk like they know what they are talking about
I have ~80 days on my F1 LT. Great boot, but I always wish they just skied 20% better. I cannot wait to try these and the Salomon Summit.
That’s a pretty steep MSRP/price increase over other boots in this category…but if they actually made a ~1000g boot that skis a bit better and fits like a Tecnica I’ll be super tempted. If y’all do a deep dive of reviews on this category it would be awesome to add the La Sportiva Skorpius CR; it’s been a great boot (other than destroying the stock liner in like 2 days) for me for a couple years but curious how it stacks up to all these new boots coming out. Second needy bonus request…maybe an “ice climbing performance” section…y’all aren’t that far from Ouray!
Please get Paul Forward to compare the Tecnica Peak Carbon, the F1 LT, the F1 XT, the Salomon boot, and the Backland with the buckle before next season.
I second this. I think throwing in the Scarpa F1 as well to see how it measure against a 1300 g boot.
We are definitely trying hard to make this happen with those boots and more.
I am really stoked about this news. I have had the Zero G for the past three seasons, and absolutely love it. This is going to be hard to say no to.
Hope it has a similar last to ZeroG Pro.
What’s the last width?
tecnica says 99mm
How do you report on a new boot and omit the last width and volume description?? This is key info for anyone considering the boot.
Cannot recall if you have done a GEAR 30 with someone from Tecnica/Blizzard but would be great to hear more from them on this and other developments.
Interesting choice on their part to stick with a (ISO9523) norm sole. I would think that the benefits of compatibility with Shift/Duke PT are small (who would use this boot with those bindings), and they would have chosen to shorten the sole and increase rocker, for better walking and some weight savings.
And Luke,
“gators” live in Florida , “gaiters” go around our legs or necks
Love the weight and increased range of motion. Just got back from a week at Snowfall Lodge in Canada, and I feel the range of motion limitation of my Yellow Zero G Pro’s against my crew slowed me down a bit (in addition to weight of the boot and my arse) vs Scarpa Alien RS/TLT6 or lighter boots for the crew. Also will be curious to see how the ski/walk mechanism get improved. Mine iced up a lot on this trip and often wouldn’t lock in ski mode and stay there. Or sometimes it wouldn’t stay up in walk mode, but also wouldn’t catch for ski mode. this is pretty critical area of improvement
Are there any BSL specs available yet?
Why the lower buckle protrude so much? seems it and the “ladder” could switch places pretty easily.
Will they be updating the Tour Pro? Or is this a new light weight line?
What is the stated flex on these guys?