Phaenom’s MO is to catalyze the transition to circularity within outdoor footwear - blending sustainable business with product performance and style. It's a bold mission statement and it all starts with the launch of two ski boots, the Freeride (FR) and the Freestyle (FS). Both boots are offered in a range of flexes, and with two different liner thickness options. The pink liners are thicker, slightly reducing the volume of the boot.

We, and in particular @Twig , have been pretty hands-on with the boot since its conception, both in the early feedback meetings and in testing prototype versions. In short, it's good. Really good. A truly new entrant to the boot market is a rare thing and for the Newschoolers audience, we reckon this boot could be a really good option. Just to nip the rumor in the bud, it is very much NOT just an SPK in disguise. You can feel that the second you put it on. Despite the wide last on paper (102mm), the boot is fairly mid-volume throughout, except for the forefoot, which is pretty roomy. The heel hold of the boot in particular is very impressive. The fact that Twig manages to ski it for testing despite his stick feet, is a testament to that.

The boot has quietly gathered a passionate following throughout the testing and seeding phase. Phaenom has built a team based on those who genuinely loved skiing the product, including Antti Ollila, Koga Hoshino, Laurent DeMartin, Remco Keyser, and many more. The general feedback from testers, industry insiders, and pro riders is hugely positive. The most impressive factor is how much power the boot delivers to the ski for what is ultimately a freestyle-inspired product. The flexes are true, in as much as such a standard exists. The 130 is a properly stiff boot, unlike many of the '130s' out there. That's the performance box checked. Style? Well, that's subjective, but the all-black colorway and textural elements of the boot look almost futuristic. However, the standout is that top strap. Love or hate how it looks, it's amazing. It blew us away with how much power it delivers through the cuff of the boot.

It's a key part of the boot's core mission too, which is sustainability. And on that front, Phaenom has smashed it. The whole boot is both modular and recyclable. It's very easy to take apart, requiring just a single screwdriver. Thankfully, it's intuitive to put it back together too. That means home repairs are a.breeze, and spare parts are readily available. Few products these days are designed to be repairable, and even fewer to be easily repairable at home. That's a huge step towards a long-lasting product and therefore minimizing its overall impact. That's something team rider and styler Remco Keyser was keen to emphasize when we discussed the boot with him.

"All the screws being the same is super nice actually. The one time I broke a buckle it was so easy to replace. I’m really impressed by the rubber strap too. It adds this kind of constant flex that feels safer and gives more control than other boots I’ve ridden." - Remco Keyser

Another huge factor for a lot of people we've spoken to who ride the boot, aside from the boot being black which everyone we discussed the boot with loved, is that they feel like they can run one boot from the park to the pow, thanks to the FR01.

"This is the first time I've really found a boot that I can use everywhere. I ride the 130, the Freeride ones and it works for the touring I do. It holds up in the park as well and for bigger hits. It's so nice not to have to carry two sets of boots with me all the time." - Laurent DeMartin

With all ski boots, fit is a huge factor and we'd always recommend working with a bootfitter. But these boots are well worth a look if they do fit you, and worth a little effort to make them work because they tick a lot of boxes for a LOT of people.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1098172/InShot-20241009-230102241-mp4

Antti doing Antti things in the FS01

Check out our first-look boot review below: