Arc'teryx Procline Carbon Boot
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 05:01PM 
Ah, gear reviews. Such a suspicion-worthy beast. Read them at your own peril. But read them you will since you're about to drop some serious coin on gear of some sort. We all do it and we often go to the same places in search of information to guide our decisions. Frequency builds trust, whether truly warranted or not. I'm guilty of doing the same and have made purchases based on the information. Ultimately, I don't always agree with the review and this has created a fair amount of sketicisim of late.
My cynical nature is born from the realization that there are very few truly objective reviews of gear unless one digs down beyond the first page of a Google hit list. I'm not sure most consumers realize this. But open your eyes and it becomes apparent. There are several factors that contaminate the process of evaluation. First, if you read a review from a company that actually sells the product, well, duh, they're unlikely to tell you if it sucks. They need to move inventory...period. Next, sites like TGR receive advertising dollars from companies that make products reviewed in their pages. Can't bite the hand that feeds, right? And lastly, individuals who perhaps blog like me but receive gear for free or significantly discounted (Wildsnow, for instance) may temper their comments to keep everyone happy. I don't necessarily blame them. They've got a good thing going but the stock I place in the review is tempered with healthy skepticism. I still use the information but I often need to read between the lines to get what I seek.
I'm about to throw down my own review of these sexy new boots from Arc'teryx and you should bring the appropriate amount of wariness to what I offer. First of all, I'm just one dude who loves to ski, does so with a certain skill level, prefers a certain type of skiing and fancies a genre of ski gear most of the time. Full disclosure from me reveals that I paid for these myself. Interestingly, I wrote the company last summer after finding my likeness being used in one of their sales presentations. I think they simply downloaded it off the internet. But I thought it could be my in for some swag. Not so much. Didn't even hear back. As a result, I won't be pulling any punches here. Before you dig into my take on these boots, you need to define the characteristics of the reviewer (me) so you understand from where I come. I've rarely seen this offered in other reviews so maybe you'll find it helpful.
I'm a 55 year old, pathetically immature, life-long skier who spent far too much time telemark skiing when I should've been dialing in my real skiing technique. I feel like I missed some great opportunities to develop what I lack now. My Alpine skiing technique is mostly self-taught and primarily accomplished in the backcountry. This has created a functional but not particularly pretty style of descent. No alpine racing pedigree for this dude. That said, I can get down most things and favor steep and technical skiing that scares me. Coming from a telemark background and then getting involved in skimo racing makes me tolerant of soft boots. About the time when tele boots got impossibly stiff, I locked my heel down and never looked back.
For my age, I'm physically capable and work hard maintaining fitness. I don't suffer an off-season, per say. I'm six feet tall and 170 pounds. My ski partners are usually 20 years my junior so I need to keep up. While I love skiing down, I tend to enjoy the whole experience of ski alpinism more. In other words, getting there is at least half the fun. To that end, I'll nearly always employ gear that is lightweight for the up and durable for the down. I don't ski backwards and my skis rarely leave the snow more than a few inches. And while I love to watch the antics of skiing sevants like Candide Thovex, any attempt by me to develop even a fraction of the sorcery he employs would be nothing short of foolish and perhaps career ending. With these qualifications at hand, here is my take on the boots.
Previous Boots
My previous boots are relevant to this review. My first AT boot was a montrous Raichle affair that weighed 10 pounds. The early 90's was not a good time to be shopping for touring boots in the US if you didn't free-heel. After that, I had a fairly light pair of Garmonts that I can't remember the name of. When I moved to Jackson, I got the Garmont Mega Ride which was very popular at the time. I started skimo racing and began doing most of my skiing on race-style boots like the Scarpa F1 followed by the game changer, the Dynafit TLT 5. After that, I mixed things up with the Dynafit DyNA carbon race, Scarpa Alien 1.0, Dynafit TLT 6 and the Dynafit PDG. I actually own the Dynafit Vulcan which is a pretty beefy free ride option but have only skied it a couple of times due to it's weight. Aside from the Vulcan, none of these boots are super stiff. I never used the removable tongues in the TLT's and often left off the Powerstrap. Hopefully, that sets the table.
Arc'teryx Proline Carbon
At the beginning of this season it was clear that I'd need to replace my 3-season old Dynafit DLT 6. Rivets were failing and the sole was pitted. After some research, I made a trip to Skimo Co to fondle my options and get them on my feet. It was also a good chance to hold Jason's attention for a while as I made up my mind. I tried the new Fischer, Sportiva Spitfire 2.0, Dynafit TLT 7 and the Procline. Clearly, there was some deserved hype about the Arc'teryx boot and I ended up going there. The TLT 7 lacks a toe welt which creates crampon issues. Dynafit also changed the last to accomodate wider feet and that put me in between shell sizes. Decision made there. The Sportiva boot fit great and I nearly pulled the trigger there but decided to go with some new innovation.
At nearly $1000, the Procline was the most expensive choice. But the 3 years of R and D that went into it are obvious in the lines and features. It's asthetic in many ways. But I was also wary since some of the reviews I'd read suggested that it was pretty soft and more of a "climbing boot that you can ski in...". But I'm used to soft boots so I was not swayed.
My first impression was that my skinny calves did not fill out the top half of the fit. The standard liner, which comes in a "light" version and "support" version seemed anorexic compared to my go-to Intuition Pro Tour. A few times when getting forward suddenly on my skis, I felt like I might actually pull my foot, "support" liner and all, right out of the shell. Not ideal. So, I stepped up for some Intuitions and things improved.
Although some reviewers will claim that there is no "progressive" flex to the Proclines, I wonder if these guys are 125 pounds or something. Because I can definitely flex these forward with the concominant deformation of the carbon stays about the cuff pivot. I pulled all my boots out and did some comparison carpet testing on alternate feet. The Proclines are soft but certainly "tighten up" as I flex forward. There's significant resistance at the end. Compared to my PDG, a near race weight boot, they're stiffer at the end point but actually feel similar at the mid flex. Interesting. I tend to spend more time in my light boots in the spring when snow is firmer and I'm traveling farther for it. The Dynafit Vulcan, on the other hand, is way stiffer in all configurations, tongue or no. It's also heavier. Sadly, I don't have my TLT 6's anymore so I can't make that potentially meaningful side to side now.
Operation
With innovation sometimes comes fiddle. Designers often try to be clever in order to separate from the herd. I get that. It's a competitive market out there. Arc'teryx is no different. You look at the Procline and you know you have something unique in your hands. If you've searched around the web for info you will have covered most of the ground already. I'll simply note some features that catch my attention, some good, some bad.
The cuff lock, while solid, is finicky. Sometimes it fails to snap in and I'm not sure why. It may have something to do with snow filling up the area around the hinge at the heel. But it's frustrating. I flip the lever back and forth, rock back and forth and finally, it snaps in with a reassuring click. The lever is a little more difficult to grab with gloved fingers compared to the Dynafit lever. The vertical orientation makes in easier to operate.
The power strap is velcro free which is a nice touch. I added some cord to it since there is very little tail left now that I've added the additional bulk of the Inuition liner. The middle buckle which cinches the cuff around your ankle is easy to throw but it can also advance latch postions while in walk mode. 
This a annoying as sometimes I can neither throw the lever because it's too tight nor free it from the catch because the cuff won't compress enough. There is also a keeper spring that holds the catch in place which popped off randomly at a transition once. Luckily I saw it in the snow before I stomped into a black hole. It was easily reinstalled.
Motion
The real selling point of the boot is the cuff articulation and how well it walks. Very smooth with nearly no resistance at any point. It's a feeling one only gets with lighter race boots. Kudos for that. On the other hand, I've been plagued with spectacular squeeking along the way which is quite vexing. Silicon spray seems to help.
There've been far too many words written about the alleged side-to-side articulation of the cuff. I find this to be unnoticeable and frankly, unnecessary. Nothing more to add there. It's a gimmick, IMO.
Inserts
I have no insight into the politics and economics involved with Dynafit tech fittings. The best they offer are a cut above all others when it comes to stepping into tech bindings. But some companies don't have them in their boots and the performance difference when getting clicked in is noticeable. 
Better choice of insert on the rightArc'teryx is guilty of this. I'm not sure why a company would invest so much energy into a boot design and then skimp on this critical detail. I had a Sportiva boot years ago with the same issue. I'm still not a fan.
Wear
One of the big hypes about the boot was/is the climbing nature of it. Certainly, it walks great so that's real. The rubber rand on the front is sexy but I don't really have any issues with plastic boots getting too beat up. As for wedging my feet into cracks to take advantage of said rubber...well...I don't do it. Front points of crampons do that heavy lifting for me. The rubber also complicates any after-purchase heat molding you may need to do on the boot. 
Rubber...more hype than help, IMOBoot fitters are understandably fearful of causing glue failure under the rubber. It's worth noting that Salomon, the maker of these boots, is releasing their own version of it next season and there'll be no rubber rand. Problem solved.
One of my favorite features of the Procline is the built in gaiter. Very useful feature. I sense a potential zipper failure looming on mine but so far they've held. The weak point of this feature is the lower boot plastic/soft upper material interface.
There's the typical Arc'teryx seam welding here but the carbon cuff struts rub on the area and mine have worn through. It's a real problem. I've added some Seam Grip to the area but it doesn't stop the process.
The other area of obvious wear is the power strap. It seems to be failing in the rear which likely takes place during skiing down.
Bottom Line
The Arc'teryx Procline Carbon will take me through to the end of the 2016-17 season. Some things I really like, some things I don't. But ultimately, I want a boot that skis down better. Hard to believe I'm writing this. Must be getting old. It could be a function of my skinny calves or more likely, my fattening quiver but I just don't feel like my leg is held in such a way that I have good ski control in funky conditions. I expect more from a full-feature boot. Onward.
Reader Comments (23)
Sportiva Spitfire is an amazing boot, if it fits the skinny foot. As a wider foot I ended up in Scarpa F1 and LOVE it. It skis so well, no loss of performance. Great review. Please keep them coming.
Hey Travis,
Thanks for reading and sharing. Yeah, I'm pretty sure my choice for next season will be the Spitfire 2.1. I was close to getting it this year but went with the Procline only for the reason the it was new and unique. You know what they say, though...."all that glitters....".
Brian, thanks again for another well thought out review. I also appreciate the discussion about brand sponsorship. I know the vast majority of recreational skiers are still choosing their skis by the top sheet graphics, but as more people head out to the backcountry gear does become more serious and blogger full disclosure on sponsorship seems to be the morally right thing to do. Anyway, I feel a little silly complaining about ski boots considering how far they have advanced in the last 10 years but it does seem like the original brands have stagnated the last few years. Scarpa hasn't blown my mind recently and Benedikt Boehm is still skiing his same setup he skied Gasherbrum on (PDGs and expedition bindings). I guess he is dialed in on those though and also has me beat in the weight department by 30kgs. With that said, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for boots this year. My TLTs and PDGs are both too thrashed to safely ski for another season. I looked st the Backlands but I guess you really need to ski them with the tongue and I'm not willing to fiddle with that on the summit. I've looked at the Spitfires too and I don't know why, but I just don't like how they feel...maybe something in the construction. I really wish they would come out with a PDG performance model. Beef up the spine a bit and add metal to the locking mechanism where the flip lever goes through the fiberglass cuff as mine always seem to get sloppy there. Oh well...more first world problems I guess. Again. Thanks for the review.
JCoates,
According to Jason at Skimo Co, he agrees with you about the lack of real innovation for next season. I'll be interested in carpet testing the Salomon version of the Procline just to satisfy my curiosity. It would take a lot to get me in them, however, given my experience outlined above. The one boot I'm keen on trying is the new Scarpa updated Alien RS. There are a few durability issues to work out with the cord guides and the zipper but otherwise it looks promising from the initial beta release. The other offering that may fit your needs in the Sportiva Cytron. Worth looking at. Not sure if it will fit any better than the Spitfire, however.
Brian,
Thank you very much for the thorough review. I Instagram messaged you mid winter about this boot thinking a new spring mountaineering boot. My local shop was all about this boot. I guess I will stick to my TLT5 carbons with double custom tongues, powerstrap, spoilers, duct tape, epoxy and pro tour liners. At 200 lbs. some boots just don't work for me. Thanks again for the review.
On another note TLT7 with no welt for crampons? What's the thinking behind that?? I would consider this boot if I could use crampons with it. Is 2018 looking any better for light AT boots?
Cheers,
John
Hi John,
Did I answer your query on IG (cringe)? I hope so. Sometimes I don't see those though. My apologies if I didn't. Although I knew this was in the works so hopefully you got what you needed. Sounds like it.
You know, the disappointing thing about this boot is that I've noticed a slight shift in on going reviews giving way more weight to the climbing end of it's qualities rather than talking about it like a ski boot. Let's be honest here...this was definitely marketed toward skiers and now, it seems to me, that it has come up short, the emphasis has shifted to it being a climbing boot that you can ski in. They did not hide some of this initially but I really expected more of it from a ski standpoint. Oh well.
Like many boots that lack overall stiffness, light skiers will notice this less. You, on the other hand at two bills, well...that's a big ask! You're going to have to look elsewhere. Funny you're still making the 5 work. Sounds like some serious customization there. Hard to give up, I'm sure.
As for the TLT 7, my thoughts exactly. What a mistake. There are definitely some good features on that boot but the lack of a front welt is not one of them. Plus, they altered the last enough that they no longer fit my feet. This after 6 years of love with the 5 and 6. <sigh>
As for next year I'm leaning toward the Sportiva Spitfire 2.1 and the Scarpa Alien RS. With your size perhaps the Salomon MTN Lab would work. It's going to be heavier than your hybrid TLT 5 but I've heard it's plenty stiff. Might be worth the weight penalty.
For me, I find that skiing a shorter ski allows me to ride a lighter boot. It's all about the length of the lever on your feet. Unfortunately, so many young skiers seem to think that if they haul ass and make as few turns as possible, TGR's going to call them up for the next film. Nope. Not going to happen. But they'll continue to buy big skis and boots hoping for the big break. I'll always lean toward uphill efficiency and give up a little on the down.
"After that, I had a fairly light pair of Garmonts that I can't remember the name of."
Garmont GSM!
(I suspect.)
Pretty nice boot for its day -- many fond memories of my pair.
"My first AT boot was a monstrous Raichle affair that weighed 10 pounds."
I remember those well.
From my alpine racing and coaching days: many coaches used those for casual skiing and standing around, since they were warm, comfy, and also cheap on the Raichle alpine race gear proform.
Honest. Experienced. Insightful. Field-tested. And fully disclosed. I don't know how you might work around the perverse incentives you outlined in your sponsorship observation, but you are the best damn gear reviewer I've ever read. Surely, there is a way to work your credibility into a career without compromising it?
Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful work. I'm still riding the boots, skis, poles, bindings, pack, pants, etc. etc. that you've recommended over the years. Always, always high-value.
Jonathan,
Your encyclopedic knowledge of this stuff continues to shine. I think you're right about that Garmont boot. It was gold in color, right?
Shit, Matthew, if I could make a living giving opinions like this, I'd jump at the chance. I love the gear and I love using it.
Re Garmont GSM, I think that was one of those models that before they came up with a new design (in this case the GRide/MegaRide) first they attempted to refresh it simply by changing the color periodically.
(So mine were black, but I wouldn't be surprised if you had a different color. If the rain here keeps up I might be tempted to look through old magazines to check...)
Hey Brian, really good review here, thanks for sharing!
I have a question for you regarding this "side-to-side articulation": They sell it as a good thing, because its more comfortable to walk and that, but I'm thinking of the time when you traverse over hard snow, skinning, and you want your edges biting, and also your skins gripping, all of these is easier, I may guess, WITHOUT this side-to-side articulation... Or at least that's the opinion of many splitboarders, who don't like to traverse in hard snow using soft boots, that moves side to side...
Have you had any issue with this thing out there? just wondering about it.
Again, thank you for sharing your opinion!
Agustin,
Thanks for your comment. Honestly, I really didn't notice the so-called lateral articulation. I suppose it's there but not enough for me to really notice. I suppose putting on two different boots and walking around in boulders might be a good comparison but...
Your observation makes sense to me. I think there's a certain pitch in firm snow skinning where, like you point out, you want to set an edge rather that roll your ankle out hoping to get a little more skin on the snow. I simply think that this feature, if it really has any merit at all, is a novelty at best.
Fucking props for a no bs and detailed review. Those are getting super hard to find in this day and age. Going to have to keep an eye on this site.
Hey Brian, thanks for your reply. Some time ago, I considered buying these boots, because I thought that they could work better when walking up hard snow, wearing crampons, when trying to step flat on your feet, but then I thought that the same effect could be bad for the time when you are skinning in hard snow, traversing... But in the end, I use the boots more for skiing than climbing, combine that with the price, and it was an easy decision :P
Hey Cody,
Thanks for saying as much. I try to be honest. I don't get much free stuff anymore so I have little to lose by just telling it like it is or at least how I see it. Can't say the same for others doing this sort of thing. Conflict of interest is a tough thing to navigate.
Keep reading. I was lame for about a year but feel like I'm back on it. Dropping another review tonight. Cheers.
Ouch, I could have seen this recall coming from a year away. Turns out it take a little more R&D than people think to make a solid "skimo" boot.
Hi Brian,
At some point I thought I read a field report you did on the Fischer Travers. Any thoughts on that boot at this time?
Thank you for your time,
Ollas
Always appreciate your thoughts on gear, including boots. What did you end up with for this season?
Hey Ollas,
Thanks for reading. No, must have been someone else. I had the boots on my feet last year trying to decide what to get. They are a bit too roomy for my low volume feet. They are also pretty soft in the flex. On the plus side, the tour mode is very nice. Almost like a race boot. Cheers.