[cha1n]

New instinct lace. Looks like a fair few changes. Stix toebox, XSedge rubber, split sole, instinct vs heel. Take care when 'reverse hooking'.

[benno]

Good to see they've left that handy little patch of soft material to wear through for big toe knuckle ventilation.

[36chambers]

Good to see they've left that handy little patch of soft material to wear through for big toe knuckle ventilation.

I was thinking the same thing

[cha1n]

I think this is the toebox from the stix v2, where they closed up the area around the big toe with rubber. I'm guessing people don't get problems with the area around the other toes going through and they left it exposed to mould to your feet a bit more? People who use the stix/old boosters will be able to clarify.

I'm looking forward to these, it looks like they've addressed some minor problems with the old ones (toe patch delaminated easily, heel was ok but not great). Not sure how splitting the sole will effect stiffness as the old version was very much an edging shoe in my opinion. If this ends up being a lace version of the VS it could end up being a bit useless. Wait and see I guess but at least they appear to be trying to move things along!

[cha1n]

Something I forgot to mention about the video is that he's suggested that RRP will be 120 euros, which is about £90 at the moment. That's a lot of shoe for the money in today's market, especially when many of the retailers seems to knock £5-10 off of stuff. I think that they could end up losing their VS model customers!

[T_B]

I reckon boulderers will still prefer the velcro cos it's easier to take on/off and might be better for toe hooking.

You may be able to buy it for €120 but I doubt it will srp for £90 in the UK!

Anyway, more importantly, where's the new version of the Phantom 6000 promised "just before or just after Christmas"!?

[adam_NE5]

http://www.outside.co.uk/shop/Phantom+6000?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=shopping&gclid=Cj0KEQiAxMG1BRDFmu3P3qjwmeMBEiQAEzSDLh346cUAlfc54Qe5jSZVSZvww7pAYRfCHJEXQp0_eloaAoN28P8HAQ

[T_B]

Skills!

[cha1n]

Just something to add in anticipation of these, I've been using the Stix for a few weeks now and I really like them. It appears that these will be using the stix toebox, so that's good imo.

My only gripe is the use of XSedge rubber, I've worked out that the only shoes I've ever not liked with Vibram rubber on are the ones that use XSedge. I'm about to send my Scarpa VS off to be resoled as I went through one toe very quickly (screw you Powerplant) and am looking forward to trying them out with XSgrip on.

On that subject, I was speaking with Gaz Parry at a Scarpa shoe demo and he said that the Instinct VS is switching to XSgrip and that the Scarpa athletes have had XSgrip versions instead of edge for quite a while to stop them feeling so clumpy on indoor routes (good for comps I guess).

Shoe geek out.

[Duncan campbell]

My housemate Michaela has just got a pair of these and as we have similar sized feet I tried them on. They feel really good. I recently got some instinct vs and found they hurt my big toe on the tip of the nail. These don't at all and feel like they should edge very well whilst also being able to smear... Potentially a good white replacement? I might flog my vs and buy a pair when they come out...

[cha1n]

Good to hear!

Having a Scarpa sponsored athlete (with the same sized feet) as a roommate - the stuff of dreams.

[Bencil]

Gahhh these look so good! Best toe box / heel combo imaginable. For my feet anyway.   

UKC vid says we have to wait till autumn/winter 2016