Phantom Tech new vs. old fit/sizing

Hello again,

Can anyone comment on if the fit/sizing has changed between the current Phantom Techs and the previous generation?

The current version feel much narrower. I couldn’t make the old ones work for me but the new ones are great. (I have narrow, low-volume feet)

I also have narrow, low-volume feet, but my impression is opposite from that of Graham. For me, the current version is slightly wider with a bit more volume - I need to use a thicker footbed to take up the extra volume. Check out Raf's review on The Alpine Start website for a fit comparison: https://www.thealpinestart.com/2019/10/27/scarpa-phantom-tech-2019-first-look/.

Frack

Weird request but could either of you take the stock insoles from the old and new boots and photograph them on top of each other? Assuming they're in the same size.

To further muddy the water my experience was similar to Graham's. Have a wide flat forefoot and the new techs felt closer to sportivas, old techs were just wide enough to be comfortable for me and what I ended up getting.

Just to stink things up. I did not notice any difference. Which to be honest is probably more realistic because I doubt the the lasts that the boots are made on changed. The materials probably made wee bit of difference but  probably not much.

Allen Sandersonwrote:

Just to stink things up. I did not notice any difference. Which to be honest is probably more realistic because I doubt the the lasts that the boots are made on changed. The materials probably made wee bit of difference but  probably not much.

This was my experience as well, or if there was a difference it was so minimal that I didn't notice.

If you go to scarpa’s website the last has changed to a narrower last from the previous model. 

The difference in opinion on the sizing and fit of the old and current Phantom Tech is mildly amusing to me. I own both, and I own both in the same size, and they fit about the same lengthwise but that's where the comparison stops. I don't want to argue about what the term last means, but the newer version is definitely lower volume than the previous version, in English that means it feels a hell of a lot tighter/snugger/use your term on my foot than the old version. You may need to go up a half size if the old version is pretty tight on your feet, or stay with the same size (which for me is 1/2 size up from street). 

Where there seems to be the most disagreement, is on the the heel pocket, and if the newer heel is slightly larger or the same as the older, and they feel about the same to me, but a lot of people complain about heel lift on the newer version. Both versions are not extremely tight on the heel, which works for my bulbous heels well, but if you have narrow heels, my guess is neither version this boot will fit you that well.

My take is that the newer version (aka in production last year) is by no means a slight tweak of the older version but a complete split between the old Phantom Tech and the new RibleTech OD. Again, I have both versions of the Phantom Tech and I like them both, but I feel like the previous version is more of a classic mountaineering/ice boot and the new version is more closer to a techy tight ice boot or getting close to a fruit boot (with removable 'pons) meaning the new version is lower volume, and lighter than the previous version, but I assume there will be sacrifices to pay with durability comfort etc. Like the newer version has a way skimpier zipper and shorter and lighter gaiter, it does not zip up in the spiral fashion like the old version (which took a little muscle and could be frustrating), which may not matter but I think the old one is probably more durable.