Phaenom Launches New Generation of Ski Boots

A few years ago, a new boot brand opened its doors, quietly releasing two boot models into the universe aimed squarely at freestyle skiers. This entirely new approach to ski footwear ushered in the era of hybrid overlap/cabrio shells that took advantage of the benefits of each style of boot and combined them into something new. Phaenom Footwear and their all-black two-buckle boots quickly became a bit of a status symbol among style- and performance-conscious freestyle skiers looking for a boot that was comfy for sessioning the park all day long but had enough performance to go rip around the resort (or backcountry booters) as well.

Things were quiet for a few years after launch, but today Phaenom announced the launch of their second generation of boots, the FS02 and FR02 series. Both are refinements of the existing boots, and will now come in various colors (not just all black). A slightly narrower 100mm last (down from 102mm) and slightly higher instep gives an updated fit, and a redesigned liner promises to add more comfort. The general design remains the same—no BOAs, just heavy and damp TPU plastic construction, two buckles and an oversized powerstrap. It’s reminiscent of the Salomon SPK and Ghost boots loved by freeride and park pros of yesteryear.

Another very interesting design point about these boots is that they are fully user-serviceable. That means if you break a buckle, or god forbid, crack a shell, they are held together by nuts and bolts (not rivets), making it easy to quickly disassemble and replace a part.

Two seasons ago, I spent a few weeks testing the FS01, and while the fit wasn’t great for me, the simplicity and performance characteristics of the boot make a ton of sense for skiers. I’m excited to try the updated fit (the original felt far too wide and low for me), but for now here are the new specs of the boots.

View the 3 images of this gallery on the
original article

Phaenom FS02 Specs:

• Sizes available: 24.5-29.5
• Flex available: 130, 110, 90
• Last: 100mm
• Binding compatibility: GripWalk
• Weight: 1900g (26.5)
• Forward Lean: 13, 15, or 17 degrees
• Walk mode: no
• Price: $699

View the 2 images of this gallery on the
original article

Phaenom FR02 Specs:

• Sizes available: 24.5-29.5
• Flex available: 130, 110
• Last: 100mm
• Binding compatibility: GripWalk, Tech
• Weight: 1945g (26.5)
• Forward Lean: 13, 15, or 17 degrees
• Walk mode: yes
• Price: $699