F1 power strap use

[seand13]

I've got a pair of ye olde greene F1 races with Michael Bolt-on's that I'm using as a touring setup with a pair of Summit Cone Vagabond 97 waxless and Meidjo's. I've come to appreciate that a power strap (added by me to the existing top hole on the shell) is helpful to me for making good downhill turns. I also actually like having it on for touring for a bit extra control because I find that being in tour mode on the ski and walk mode on the boot is very squirrely and having the power strap gives me a bit of extra control

However, in walk/tour mode with the power tightened I keep having a problem with the power strap sliding it's way up and off the boot.

I've used both a 'thin' power strap from a pair of T2's as well as wider one from my TX Pros.

Any advice on getting the power strap to stay put?

I'm thinking of putting a strategic piece of velcro on the boot tongue to create some friction so it will stay in place. Another thought is something along the lines of the rubber bead lining the inside of many google straps to keep them in place on your helmet (although I dont know how to do that - maybe a thin line of rubber cement?)

[jasonq]

use a voile strap for your PS.

[bobbytooslow]

I've gotten used to skiing all my F1's without a power strap. It's just one more thing to fiddle with at transitions. Once you get used to it, it's not so bad. Even 96mm underfoot Ultravectors can be skied that way. So my suggestion is to see if you can ditch it altogether.

[seand13]

I've gotten used to skiing all my F1's without a power strap. It's just one more thing to fiddle with at transitions. Once you get used to it, it's not so bad. Even 96mm underfoot Ultravectors can be skied that way. So my suggestion is to see if you can ditch it altogether.

Yeah, I should do some more experimenting but they seem really solid for turning (mine are 97 underfoot) with the power strap/meidjo combo.

In terms of transitions, my goal is to not have a fiddle factor - my plan was to leave the power strap on all the time so that I had a bit better control when in tour/walk mode.

I should have also said/asked - I'm thinking about adjusting the forward lean to not lean forward as much - Has anyone done this? Since I'm on meidjos with the 'powder casing' I dont have flat tour mode and i notice that being locked into a forward position gives me more of a feel of being in high heels, especially when I'm in tour mode and going downhill!

I tried but was unable to get the screws to budge to make the adjustment. Might just need some heat on em

[muffin]

On my F1s (Gen 3, mondo 25), the rear attachment for the power strap is too low, meaning a stock style strap needs to travel up as it goes around the front of the boot. Maybe that's what is causing the issue? Most Scarpa straps are stretchy, that could also be contributing to the issue. A non-stretchy strap will also makes the boot flex stiffer. Worth a shot, your local bootfitter probably has a used pair of a you can try.

I use a set of La Sportiva power straps that zig-zag up from the rear attachment point, and therefore sit more squarely over the plastic tongue. I think these are them, kinda pricy for what they are: https://www.lasportivausa.com/cuff-belt-kit-vega-m.html

[seand13]

On my F1s (Gen 3, mondo 25), the rear attachment for the power strap is too low, meaning a stock style strap needs to travel up as it goes around the front of the boot. Maybe that's what is causing the issue? Most Scarpa straps are stretchy, that could also be contributing to the issue. A non-stretchy strap will also makes the boot flex stiffer. Worth a shot, your local bootfitter probably has a used pair of a you can try.

I use a set of La Sportiva power straps that zig-zag up from the rear attachment point, and therefore sit more squarely over the plastic tongue. I think these are them, kinda pricy for what they are: https://www.lasportivausa.com/cuff-belt-kit-vega-m.html

Very interesting. My straps sit too high which is why they slide up and off of the tongue. They are also not very stretchy. Surprisingly, the wider strap from my TXpros I tried had more of a problem working it's way up and off than the thinner one from the old T2.

[telenerd]

Side note how do you like your Vagabonds? I had a pair of their first early model the purple ones. Wasn’t impressed and they were too stiff and harder to turn for my liking and didn’t climb or perform as well as my Voiles.

Im sure they made improvements since their first beta model when I tested them.

[muffin]

It kinda makes sense that a wider strap would be worse in this case, I'd think that once it starts to fall off the whole thing falls off in short order. A wider strap would be closer to falling off from the start.

You might try lowering the rear attachment point. What you can try is this: separate the straps from the grey plastic pieces. Set the plastic pieces aside. Put the screw back into the threaded t-nut and then put the strap below/under the screw. You can maybe ski it like this even tho there's nothing holding the strap to the boot; the screw will prevent the strap from moving up. Probably add some duct tape for good measure. If the issue goes away, drill new holes to make it permanent. Or get those La Sportiva straps and run them upsidedown.

Also try a voile strap like Jasonq said, seems like lots of people here prefer those.

[mikesee]

I'm not a fan of how loose/open my F1's get when opened up and climbing.

Took the advice of someone here and installed a Voile strap. Works pretty well at keeping the boots closed when climbing, but still not the level of precision I like.

So I installed a power strap a few days ago. Used mini p-cord and two small drilled holes to locate it such that it keeps the strap from moving when the boot is 'open' for climbing.



Works pretty well.

[seand13]

It kinda makes sense that a wider strap would be worse in this case, I'd think that once it starts to fall off the whole thing falls off in short order. A wider strap would be closer to falling off from the start.

You might try lowering the rear attachment point. What you can try is this: separate the straps from the grey plastic pieces. Set the plastic pieces aside. Put the screw back into the threaded t-nut and then put the strap below/under the screw. You can maybe ski it like this even tho there's nothing holding the strap to the boot; the screw will prevent the strap from moving up. Probably add some duct tape for good measure. If the issue goes away, drill new holes to make it permanent. Or get those La Sportiva straps and run them upsidedown.

Also try a voile strap like Jasonq said, seems like lots of people here prefer those.

I did what you suggest and put the screw back in with a washer, slid a Voile strap underneath the screw, and tightened it down so the washer hold the strap in place - seems like this keeps the strap at just the right position. I'll report back on how this works!

[seand13]

Side note how do you like your Vagabonds? I had a pair of their first early model the purple ones. Wasn’t impressed and they were too stiff and harder to turn for my liking and didn’t climb or perform as well as my Voiles.

Im sure they made improvements since their first beta model when I tested them.

So far so good. They are my first pair of fishscales. I also have the SummitCone Pariahs (same dimension, slightly heavier and no fishscales). I haven't really made a ton of turns in them but the turns I have made the whole system (vagabond/meidjo/F1) seems surprisinginly powerful. They are NOTICEABLY slower on slight downhills, which is really the only area that I think the fishscales kinda suck. I skied with a friend with voile fishscale ski (i forget which one, 80 something underfoot), and he went significantly faster than me on slight downhills. His explanation is that his voile is 1.5 cambered, which means the fishscales don't contact the snow as well when you are evenly weighted and skiing down (hence, less friction). The bad thing (according to him) about the 1.5 cambered is that you dont have nearly as good control on the skis. Presumably the vagabonds may be able to go up steeper slopes too, although that is TBD as far as i'm concerned...

[seand13]

I'm not a fan of how loose/open my F1's get when opened up and climbing.

Took the advice of someone here and installed a Voile strap. Works pretty well at keeping the boots closed when climbing, but still not the level of precision I like.

So I installed a power strap a few days ago. Used mini p-cord and two small drilled holes to locate it such that it keeps the strap from moving when the boot is 'open' for climbing.

I agree. Very interesting! Depending on how my Voile straps work I may try something similar. The power straps really help for real turns IMO so I'd prefer that if possible. I notice on my wife's pair of TLTs that the tongue has two ledges on the top of it that prevents her power strap from wandering up and off. Maybe we need to enlist one of our 3D printing wizzes here to create a tiny piece that can be attached to the tongue. Any takers!!!!???

[seand13]

I had a friend with a 3D printer print up a little part to keep the strap from slipping up. It's attached with double-sided tape for now. Haven't tried it yet but have high hopes. And it only weighs 1g!

[Allan Fici]

I use a Voile strap as the PS and keep it kind of loose or just snug before latching the tour lever, top buckle. That way when I release the tour lever the voile strap holds the cuff but still gives me all the ROM I need.
After six years with my 2.5mm hollow dyneema cord replacements of the touring lever cable, i’ve just now had to replace one because of fraying. They lasted longer than the original stock aircraft cables.

I also went back to TXP liners in my F1’s this season and am glad I did even if added 80-90 grams overall. My fully modded and duck butted boots are now 1375g. So still very light and with enough power to ski them with my Faction Prime 3 at 108UF.

I’ll add that all my F1 mods along with Bobby’s MBO duckbutts the F1’s are the best touring boots I’ve skied because of all that they can do.

[seand13]

Very cool Alan! Yeah, I’m still a bit undecided about whether I like the ps or the voile strap better. With these anti slip pieces I may just end up liking the regular ps better, we’ll see…. Either way, it’s fun to tinker!

Speaking of, is there a thread with your dyneema cord mod? I have f1 races with ( I think) the later lever. It seems fine but I’m paranoid the wire isn’t gonna last so would like to have backup cord in case. What is the advantage of your cord mod?

I haven’t tried running my txp liners in these yet but might. My impression so far is that with a meidjo these things are a dream in soft snow. I’ve had them on hard pack for a few runs and been impressed with how they handle, albeit with very low expectations! When you get down into a low/aggro stance the bellows seem to collapse on me. But the meidjos have good control at a less aggressive stance and I feel like I can ski powder pretty well in them.