Scarpa Womens TX Pro Telemark NTN Boots- The New Standard in Womens Telemark Boots
Eliza Lockhart
The Scarpa Womens TX Pro Telemark NTN boots $699 have become the standard for women who want to take their tele turns to the next level. I have skied them with Bishop BMF/Rs, 22 Design Outlaw Xs and Lynxs. I’ve skied everything from the icy resort to backcountry powder and have confidence in my familiarity with them.
Most women, including me, go from the softer 75mm boots to the TX Pros. It is a big step up in terms of a stiffer flex and high precision.
TX Pro Telemark Boot - Women's regularly $699.95 on sale $524.96
Scarpa Womens TX Pro Telemark NTN Boots review
It takes about 7 days of skiing to break these in. At first the bellows are resistant to flex but eventually come around and become supple. As the liners break in (pack out) you will need to increase the tightness of the buckles as you would with any ski boot.
If you choose to mold the Intuition® Speed Pro G WMN Liner, the boots will 1. form specifically to your foot but 2. pack out faster. I’m between a 24 and and 24.5 and opted for the latter. After molding my liners I wish I got the 24.
I found the toe box to be pretty roomy which could be due to my size choice or just the fact that it is actually roomy. Every other part of the boot fits very well. The 102 mm last keeps my foot in place and the four buckles plus the Booster active power strap give the boot some rigidity.
I’m not super fond of the over-the-ankle buckle. It’s hard to operate with gloves on and it gets stuck. It has taken me up to 10 minutes to release the buckle (without gloves) and I’ve gotten very close to having to drive home in my boots. I have learned that if you twist the buckle towards yourself it releases much easier.
The TX Pros weigh in at a hefty 7 lbs (size 25). This makes them do-able for touring, but don’t expect to feel like a skimo racer. However, they do feature a walk mode to make the uphill easier. The walk mode works well enough. It is neither superb nor ineffective, so I’d say I’m content with it.
I’ve found these boots to be very versatile in the skis they can drive. From big, 111 mm underfoot boards to a shorter 100 mm waist, they have been able to provide the precision I need in different style skis. I can transfer power very effectively from my leg, through the boot to my edges.
The 110 flex provides enough stiffness to maintain forward drive but is still soft enough for you to get into a comfortable tele stance. (Pro Tip: Flex numbers are not standardized and thus the actual flex compared to the number varies from company to company. For example, if you ski a 110 flex now on different boots, these boots may be stiffer or softer than you’re used to.)
These boots vary very little from the mens version. They have the same exact flex, last and shell. The only difference is the cuff is slightly shorter on the women’s liner. This will come in handy if you have shorter legs or longer calves. However, if they are out of your size or you like the mens colors better, I think a woman would be just as comfy in them. Or, if you are a pretty aggressive skier, you could get the stiffer Mens TX Comps which have a flex of 125. But keep in mind the Comps do not have the tech toe inserts like the TX Pros do.
And, speaking of, the TX Pros are compatible with pin bindings! The tele world is pretty excited about lighter bindings for the uphill and these boots make that possible. The combination of the duck butt (the piece under your foot that makes NTN bindings stay on) and the pin inserts make them the boots to use with the 22 Design Lynx, The M Equipments Meidjos or Moonlights Pure Tele tech binding.
Scarpa is currently the only company producing women’s NTN boots. Luckily for us, they’re good. With just the one boot on the market, it would really suck for tele girls if the one boot made for us was sh*t. So needless to say, I’m happy with the product and honestly, would probably choose it even if there were other options. They make for a smooth transition from 75 mm to NTN, can drive a big ski and they keep the toes warm.
Eliza Lockhart
Growing up snowboarding and hiking in the bitter cold winters and humid summers of northern Vermont, Eliza learned how to beat up gear and quickly became infatuated with new technologies. After moving to Colorado in 2015 to pursue a degree in recreation and outdoor education at Western Colorado University, her passion for the outdoors grew exponentially. Soon after, she picked up rock climbing, telemark skiing, backpacking, canyoneering, and is slowly learning to love rafting. Through these learning processes, Eliza began to understand the importance of the right gear and hopes to share her experiences and knowledge with others through Engearment.
Now working for Beacon Guidebooks as the ‘Wearer of Many Hats’ (yes, that is her official title), Eliza has learned the ins and outs of the outdoor industry. She has also worked on marketing teams, as a photographer, media coordinator, outdoor instructor and as a wrangler. She is especially excited to encourage other women in the outdoors and is an advocate for diversity and inclusion.
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