After over a dozen years of suffering from sixth toe pain in my Garmont Radiums, I decided it was time to pull the trigger on a new pair of touring boots. At 60% off list price, the previous season closeout was too good of a deal to pass up. No amount of adjustments could relieve my fit issues in the Garmonts.

I bought the Radiums when there were only two “tech-touring-beef-boot” manufacturers. My feet did not fit either Scarpa or Garmont, but the Garmont was less painful. Such was life before tech touring boots took over the industry in recent years.

I took my new K2 Dispatch Pro boots to the local bump for a shakedown. Uphill and downhill comfort was much improved, ski control was significantly better, and I was not crying in pain after a single run.

I skinned up for a second run as the sun was starting to set, which given the unseasonably warm temperatures, meant that the snow was about to become lunar. In some places, it already was.

The boots still need some fine-tuning but I am satisfied with the upgrade at a value price. Tenney was a snozefest like always.