At this year's boot test the ST1 was submitted for testing with one of its two different liner options. We tested the split-tongue, lace-up "Performance Liner," though this year the DEL 141 Thermoflex Liner (an EVA, spiral-wrapping style) is also to be available through First Degree dealers. The original ST1 liner is no longer available. While testers had some issues with the original liner—primarily grievances with how thick the tongue fit over the mid-foot, they were unsatisfied with the new ST1 Performance Liner, across the board. Testers unanimously found it too thin along the shin which made for an uncomfortable, unsupportive flex feel, they disliked the poorly shaped heel pocket and they struggled with the laces upon entry and exit. While we weren't able to test the spiral-wrapping EVA liner version we are confident that this (with proper molding) could provide many improvements over this year's split-tongue option as well as over the original liner. We will update this review with additional information as new models become available for testing.
With that said, the review below has been adapted from last year's to reflect what we know are the boot's best elements, which should really come to light with the right liner. The tester comments below are from this year's test.
For skiers looking for an all-mountain, park/pipe crossover boot with options on uphill access that's insanely easy on and off, and at seriously value pricing, look no further. The ST1 was a hit with testers for how it compared to big brother ST2—similar, but at a discount.
ST1 offers the same classic three-piece shell construction as the ST2 but with a slightly softer build-out, though testers said that the flex feel is strong for its 110 flex rating. The ST1 was less powerful on edge than the ST2 but for lighter or less-demanding skiers it offered plenty of horsepower, testers said. They like the highly adjustable fore-aft stance enabled by the five-position forward lean adjustment on board, though most prefer one of the middle three settings. The rugged-looking forward lean mechanism also offers a cuff-releasing hike modality as well as a free-flexing mode that offers a softer forward flex while maintaining rearward support. This unique adjustment is one of the ST1's best features.
The fit is V-shaped in the modern trend of a snug rear area (ankle and heel) with a very ample fit in the forefoot and toebox—a good combination for all day skiers looking for control matched with warmth and creature comfort up front. Several testers noted that the fit across the top of the midfoot was quite firm—the liner tongue (note: this is about previous liner version) is thickly padded in this area near the front of the cabrio opening and can be compressed for additional room by way of pre-padding the foot there for heat molding. The fit is a little shorter than most other boots in the category but not as short as the sole length, which measures 299 mm for a 27/27.5. This is due to the boot's design origins in the alpine snowboarding world where minimal boot length prevents toe and heel drag at high edge angles. Here it can help minimize the boot and binding's negative influence on a ski's natural flex pattern, or it can be a reason to need to remount your skis bindings.
Speaking of cabrio—this boot is one of the easiest on and off of the test, with the only hindrance being the laces (note: again, the previous version) which needed to be managed to maximize slack, though these could be removed as well. The boot offers single sided cuff adjustment for lateral stance tweaks and a Booster strap for snug closure at boot top.
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