Gear Review

Garmont Mega Ride G-Fit

light weight
good downhill performance
low-to-med volume fit
top A/T contender

Garmont's Dyna-fit compatible Mega-Ride boot has emerged as the top contender in the Alpine Touring gear market.

If the low to medium-volume Mega Ride fits you, you'll enjoy the best blend of alpine and telemark performance currently available in a ski boot—at less than seven pounds per pair (size 26).

The Mega Ride has become the boot that all other boots are compared to. Does it climb as well as the Mega Ride? Does it weigh more? Does it ski as well? The answer is usually no.

Climbing Mode

Nearing Mount LeConte

As a final selling point, the Mega Ride is mercifully free of many of the fit quirks that plague other A/T boots.

You'll particularly like the Garmont's flat-enough last (the interior of the shell upon which the liner sits), which will prevent the usual A/T boot headaches if you're partial to using custom footbed inserts.

The Mega-Ride uses Garmont's G-Fit thermofit liner, which requires you to visit a bootfitter unless you're very confident with your home baking skills.

The G-Fit liners are certainly comfortable, though there is some criticism about thermofit liners in general tending to break down faster than ordinary liners.

Garmont has addressed this issue with its newer G-Fit incarnation, which uses multiple-density foams to better control fit and wear.

The result has been a success: the G-Fit liner is widely held to be one of the finest stock thermo liners on the market.

The Mega Ride has earned a reputation as a fine climber. Many riders, however, will be more concerned about what happens when you turn around and point your skis downhill.

Certainly, switching from an Alpine boot to an A/T boot takes some getting used to. The Garmont is of course softer than my Alpine Lange L10's, for example. You may also find, the first time you try them on, that the boots have a disturbingly meager feel to them. However, the plucky Mega Ride does an outstanding job delivering solid downhill performance yet weighing so little. Flex hard against the Garmont's shells, and you'll enjoy a surprisingly firm, progressive flex profile.

The Garmont's low weight gives the boot a quick, active feel that downhill skiers will immediately appreciate. Heavier skiers will find they tend to overwhelm the boot, and may want to choose a heavier boot to compensate.

As a DynaFit compatible boot, The Mega Ride can be used with Dynafit bindings for the ultimate in weight savings, as well as standard A/T bindings, such as the Fritschi Express and the Naxo. Because of the nature of the lugged rubber sole, A/T boots should not be used with ordinary Alpine bindings, due to diminished release performance.

The Garmont fits a low to medium volume foot. If you have a wide foot, or tall arch, you may find it hard to get a good fit. Like all A/T boots, the Mega Ride ships in 10mm shell increments, which can pose fit challenges if your foot falls in between sizes. 'Pushing Out' the boot shell to make more room is not officially recommended by Garmont due to the use of thinner, more brittle Pebax plastic in the shell.

For its fine blend of up and downhill performance, and its freedom from design quirks, the Mega Ride easily earns a recommendation. As I said, if it fits your foot, get a pair. You won't be sorry.

Note: I finally broke down and had a shop push out my Garmonts' shells to make more room. Despite my fears of Pebax disasters, the boot suffered no damage, and I got an excellent result. If you do visit a shop, be sure the fitter is experienced working with Alpine Touring Pebax shells.

Also: for the 07-08 season, the MegaRide returns essentially unchanged, which is good, because this isn't a boot that needs fixing. Still my favorite pick — AL.