Okay, this might fall on deaf ears for many of you, but for practitioners of the dark art of snowboard mountaineering, this is big news. Phantom Snow Industries – the brand behind the amazing splitboard binding that lets you use a hardboot setup – just announced their first dedicated hardboot for snowboarding. It’s called the Slipper, and it’s a refined version of the Atomic Backland Ultimate boot they have been helping customers modify to use with their binding systems.
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What are the benefits of a hardboot? Well, they might not be quite as comfortable as a standard snowboard boot, but for long missions that mostly involve climbing and skinning, the efficiency of using an ultralight ski boot and tech binding system can’t be beat. With this combo, you're not lugging the weight of your binding with every step. Over the last few seasons, dedicated splitboard mountaineers have been busy modifying AT boots to suit their needs. While the Slipper might not be the answer to all their needs, it’s certainly a strong signal that this particular part of the industry is taking off and we’re stoked to see where it goes.
The Slipper will be available in sizes 26-29 next season for an MSRP of $800. It weighs in at 1000g for a size 27, and features a heat-moldable Memoryfit Shell, a moldable liner, and compatibility with automatic crampons.
About The Author
stash member Max Ritter
I manage digital content here at TGR, run our gear testing program, and am stoked to be living the dream in the Tetons.