S-LAB X ALP Carbon GTX®, Aka the shoe:
Sam testing out the new S-LAB X ALP GTX ® on a via ferrata in Chamonix.
What I loved most about the shoe is that it’s designed to be worn from the car to the top of the mountain – no need to carry climbing shoes. They’re comfortable to hike in, have great edging and flexibility for bouldering or rock climbing – in addition to being crampon compatible! It was rainy on the day that I tried rock climbing – for the first time – eek! The rocks were quite slippery yet the edging still made it easy to grip the rocks and not slip. They’re good until temperatures of -7 C. The only downside is that if you’re just hanging around and not moving, they can become quite warm – they’re a shoe that’s meant for walking…or climbing… or…you get the idea – get your butt in gear when you’re wearing these shoes!
S-LAB X ALP Anorak Pant and Mid-Layer:
Testing out Salomon’s new X ALP line on Mount Blanc near Chamonix.
These pieces are designed for movement and you can really move freely in them without feeling restricted and without extra bunching material. The design is truly brilliant!
On the anorak I really liked the special hood closure in which you press a button rather than pulling on draw string to tighten the hood. There are zippers on both sides which really help with cooling if you get too hot. There’s also a large front pocket designed to hold a map.
On the pants, my favorite feature was at the bottom in which the closure was adjustable so that you could ensure a snug fit to keep the snow out.
My favorite piece of gear from everything I tried was the mid-layer:
I LOVED the mid-layer. It was warm, yet incredibly light and I really like the colors.
It’s unbelievably warm, while being incredibly light and hardly takes up any space in your pack. It’s a HUGE improvement over my existing fleece – which is heavy, takes up a ton of room and doesn’t breathe. I can’t recommend this piece enough! I wore it on a hike in Germany several days after returning.
S-LAB X ALP 20 Backpack:
Loved how functional yet lightweight the X ALP backpack was. It’s a great day pack.
This backpack is tricked out much more than meets the eye. It was one of my favourites of the entire line! The zipper runs the length of the backpack so that you can easily find your stuff, without having to pull everything out. It’s also easily accessible. You can remove it from your shoulders, and twist it to around so that you can access it without taking it off! I also loved the special compartment just for crampons, which also conveniently has a hole for a rope. Despite weighing only 560 grams it’s designed to hold; crampons, rope, helmet, ice axe and even skis and that’s in addition to the rest of your gear! The only downside? It’s not waterproof. Otherwise, it makes for a great day pack!
Want to see X ALP in action? Check out Growing On and Off the Mountain or read Challenge Sophie’s review. Want to test it? Click here.
Note: Thank you to Salomon for introducing me to the X ALP line. As always all opinions are my own. I fell in love with the mid-layer all on my own and under no duress.
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