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Considering Powerstraps

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The High Route Editors

The '24-'25 Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro: same excellent descents characteristics with some gains on ROM and friction.

The Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro power strap: well designed and, for most of us, very functional.

We do a lot of behind-the-scenes banter about the mighty and sometimes ho-hum powerstrap. Loosely, let’s define the powerstrap as the adjustable closure at the top (or near the top) of the boot cuff that helps ensure better contact, and as a result, enhanced power transfer between your shin, boot, and ski interface. Power straps,…

Response

  1. Spencer Dillon

    Can’t believe powerstraps do not receive more universal welcome. Silly Barry. I find, for the weight and fiddle, they provide the best ski performance increase of any boot modification, namely being able to keep my calf snug to the spine of the boot without tourniqueting my leg using the stock closure mechanism. I’ve put powerstraps on an old pair of alien 1.0s. they wont make a boot stiffer, but they will force your leg to flex with the boot vs pulling away.

    but not all are created equal. I’ve found the velcro straps better than nothing but not by much and many of the uphill specific cambuckle straps to slip dreadfully over the course of 1000′ of skiing. The older Dynafit tlt7/8 straps have lasted 250k of hard skiing on my fischer travers. Those boots ski better with a clapped out skimo liner and powerstrap compared to an intuition pro tour sans power strap, having done both. always tight when I transition back to uphill. https://skimo.co/dynafit-power-straps . These straps are thin, but I’ve found they are way worth it. Powerstraps can also reduce wear on weak cuff closure mechanisms (such as fischer travers’ silly velcro buckle situation or atomic’s long travel cuff buckles), extending the life of your boots.

    I’ve used the tecnica, fischer and atomic modern cambuckle straps pictured above. all get loose pretty quick (or the G hook bends, but that’s probably a me problem).

    If you’re afraid to drill a hole in the cuff of your boot, you can always superglue the strap to the cuff. Works pretty well actually.

    I’d actually disagree on the fiddle factor. If you have to sequentially buckle your cuffs (i.e. bump the buckles up the rungs to your desired tightness), a powerstrap can reduce the number of bumps and make the buckling a little lower effort. I’m not going to trudge my whole boot uphill just to leave it behind (my calf) when it’s time to ski.

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