Phaenom Footwear FR 01 2025 Review



Newschoolers' Quick Review:

"I've had my hands (feet) on various prototypes of these boots and despite not being the ideal tester, I'm super impressed by how they ride. For reference, I normally ride in a 97-98mm boot in as much as that is a metric of anything. Even in those, I'm generally adding foam on top of my toes, or an additional shim under the liner, because my foot is super low volume and pretty much nothing feels locked.

So, for me, the Phaenom boot is fundamentally too high a volume (as are nearly all boots). But what amazed me most about the FR01 is that with no add-ons, they were very rideable. The heel hold is phenomenal (pun intended) and the amount of power the boot drives from the cuff and heel area, courtesy of that crazy-looking strap and partial overlap meant I could get away with them being too big in the forefoot. It's worth saying that overall, these are NOT a high-volume boot, despite the 102mm last denomination. They are pretty wide up front, however above the foot and in the ankle area they are more mid-volume.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1098505/InShot-20241016-155555497-mp4

The perfect application for a touring boot after the lifts close


The combination of overlap and three-piece boot elements works really well, providing more power than a traditional 3 piece design but a more natural flex than an overlap (traditionally 4-buckle) boot, thanks to a mini-flexon style tongue. The flex does feel, on balance, pretty true to its denomination. I don't particularly like stiff boots, and I've been in the 110 & 120 options and generally preferred the softer of the two day-to-day. The power strap, is probably the highlight here, in terms of performance for me. It looks crazy but feels like a booster strap on steroids, with just a smidge of elasticity and great power distribution courtesy of the width. The walk mode is perfectly fine for its application. One look at the weight stats will tell you these are not a pure touring boot, but they do a good job when the task at hand is short tours to access challenging terrain, for which you want a proper boot. Most of the team riders I have spoken to ride the FR boot happily as a daily resort and even park boot, which goes to show they perform just as well as the FS boot, which comes sans walk mode.

Combine impressive performance with the sustainable side of things (modular boot, easy to repair, and fully recyclable) and you have a very compelling product. Of course, with boots, fit is king but if these truly fit you then you're going to be very happy (and I will be very jealous)." - @Twig


Specs:

Flex Pattern: 130 | 120 | 110 | 100

Sizes: 24.5 - 28.5

Weight: 2130g - 26.5


Brand Description:

The fr 01 freeride boot is equipped to take you off the beaten path. It's engineered for powerful downhill performance with a true alpine ski boot flex index. The boot is available in 130, 120, 110 & 100 flex versions.

The innovative hybrid cabrio / overlap construction combines the best of both worlds: the close fit and edge control of the overlap, and the progressive flex of the 3-piece. Paired with the patent-pending phaenom strap, the fr 01 130 provides rebound, shock absorption and exceptional flex control. The elasticity of the strap generates tangible rebound through your turns, for increased power transmission, turn initiation precision, comfort and predictability.

The sleek all-black design supports restoration and reuse of the boot and its parts. Each element of this product — from panels to buckles to straps and screws — is designed to be repairable and recyclable.




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