La Sportiva Vega Review

Informal trailhead surveys suggest that most skiers choose from just a few ski-touring boots. And, regrettably, the La Sportiva Vega hasn't been on that list. The best boots on the market, including our other award winners, are slightly lighter and tour slightly better, but ski downhill about the same and cost significantly more. Skiers of all abilities will find the Vega to serve their needs across any sort of terrain. If they fit you well, choose these boots without reservation.

Downhill Performance

The downhill performance of a ski boot, after proper fitting, is a function of overall stiffness in all major directions and the “progressiveness” of the forward flex. The Vega is rated by the manufacturer at 115 flex. For once, we feel that the manufacturer is underselling the stiffness. A 115-flex rating is relatively low, while our testing proved them to be stiffer than most direct competitors.

The flex pattern of the Vega is useful and functional. It's not perfect, but it's progressive and gentle, especially for a “tongue-style” boot. As you press your shins forward against the upper cuff of the Vega, it gives way easily at first and, in a sort of “step-by-step” fashion, ramps up to eventually block all forward ankle flexion. We wish it were a touch smoother, but only a few boots with three-piece shells currently offer a more progressive forward flex than the Vega.

Uphill Performance

La Sportiva equips the Vega with a cuff that provides a wide range of motion and reasonable friction within that range. As with many traditionally constructed tongue-style boots, the friction within the range of motion will loosen over time.

The friction felt in the cuff will also depend on what liners you put in them. The stock liner is relatively flexible, while virtually any upgraded liner is bound to be stiffer. This will at least slightly inhibit the touring efficiency of the Vega. (This point holds for all touring boots.)

Weight

We weighed our test pair at 1450 grams per boot (sans any insole), which works out to under 6.5 pounds for the pair. Of that mass, the liner for one boot weighs 241 grams, and the shell weighs 1209 grams.

These weight numbers are competitive with most boots that have achieved wide acclaim in the last 10 years. At this weight, few boots tour as well as the Vega, and fewer ski as well. These hit that “sweet spot” – you could certainly go lighter to gain efficiency on the uphill, but downhill performance will quickly diminish by shaving even 200 grams.

Comfort and Fit

The toe box on the Vega is roomy, the midfoot is held securely (and can be modulated by buckles), and the heel pocket cradles without squeezing. We would call the fit “perfectly neutral,” and no one on our test team reported any discomfort. The only potential problem area is over the mid-foot and arch. Like other La Sportiva ski boots, this area is snug. If it is too tight for you, let us remind you that many DIY solutions can easily remedy this problem.

La Sportiva claims a 102.5 millimeter last, yet it doesn't feel particularly wide. We tested other boots with a similar stated last width, and team members with feet on the narrow side of average tended to wobble around a bit. Comparing last widths is an imperfect practice, to be sure. Somehow, the Vega manages to leave some extra room while still securely holding the average foot.

Warmth

How warm the Vega feels will largely depend on how you fit it, but that's true of most boots. We can compare the materials and their impact on your warmth. The shell of the Vega is relatively thick and protective, which inherently provides a bit of extra insulation.

On the other hand, the liner is fairly prone to “packing out”. It will be thick and warm at first, but rapidly lose both support and insulation value. Upgrade to a liner with stiffer foam, and you will certainly get better insulation and improved downhill ski performance. However, as we noted above, touring efficiency will suffer slightly.

Ease of Use

To assess this metric, we consider “tangibles” like transitions, getting in and out of your boots, binding and crampon compatibility, and traction for hiking. As far as compatibility and traction are concerned, there is nothing remarkable about the Vega – you can match them with most crampons, and they scramble as well as most other touring boots.

We also appreciate that the shell and buckle arrangement is pretty darn “typical”. Getting in and out and making transitions doesn't require any weird moves or manipulating any very small parts. The one weird usability issue – and this is a bigger deal for testers switching among boots than it is for the end user – is that the touring mode lever in the back of the shell is “upside down.” Common convention is that the ski/walk mode flips down for the downhill and up for the uphill, but this lever is backward. If these are the only touring boots you use, you won't notice any difference after an acclimation period. Even our testers, folks who use dozens of boots over a season, readily adapted to the Vega's “upside-down” heel lock lever.

Should You Buy the La Sportiva Vega?

These are well-tuned, do-it-all backcountry boots suitable for skiers of all ability levels. Anyone new to the backcountry will appreciate the relatively high level of downhill ski performance from these boots – they aren't just bargain kicks. Only discerning skiers will want a specialized boot that's perhaps a bit lighter for the uphill or slightly stiffer for the downhill. However, the particularly low price, relative to current market prices, is enticing for anyone on the hunt for a new pair of boots.

What Other Backcountry Ski Boots Should You Consider?