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Nitro Vertical TLS+ Splitboard Boots
Nitro Vertical TLS+ Splitboard Boots
The Nitro Vertical TLS+ is a splitboard-specific soft boot for riders who want a mountaineering-capable boot that still rides like a snowboard boot. Hike 'N' Ride construction switches the cuff between a softer hike mode and a stiffer ride mode with an integrated forward lean adjustment, and a Dual Density Power Tongue Stiffener slides into the shell tongue in two interchangeable stiffness levels, so flex is something you set rather than accept. A Vibram outsole with Litebase, XS Trek Evo compound and Arctic Grip carries the boot over rock and wet ice, and a molded crampon heel cup takes a semi-rigid crampon when the approach turns to a boot pack.
Is This the Right Boot for You?
CCBB Boot Ratings
CCBB Boot Profile
Why We Like It
- Flex is adjustable rather than fixed. The Dual Density Power Tongue Stiffener slides into the shell tongue in two stiffness levels, and Hike 'N' Ride switches the cuff between hike and ride, which means one boot covers a long approach and a hard descent.
- The outsole is a genuine mountaineering sole rather than a lugged snowboard sole: Vibram with the XS Trek Evo compound for multi-surface grip and Arctic Grip All Terrain, which is the compound Vibram built for wet ice.
- Litebase cuts the rubber base thickness to 5 percent and tread weight by up to 3 percent while keeping the same traction pattern, so the grip does not come with the usual weight penalty.
- TLS+ is a dual-zone speed lace on a locking cleat with no moving parts, so the upper and lower zones tension independently by pulling two handles. Fewer moving parts is what keeps a lace system working when it ices.
Best Uses
- Splitboard touring that includes scrambling or boot packing
- Objectives needing semi-rigid crampons
- Cold conditions and long days on the skin track
- Riders who want to tune boot flex rather than accept it
- Unisex sizing across mondopoint 23.0 to 32.0
Bootfitter's Advice
Nitro publishes this as a unisex boot across mondopoint 23.0 to 32.0, which is US men's 5 to 14, EU 36 to 48 and UK men's 4 to 13. Nitro publishes both scales and either works, so size on the published boot size rather than converting from your everyday street shoe, which converts inconsistently between brands. Nitro publishes no last width and no boot sole length, so a shell check in the shop is the only way to settle volume and length questions.
Two setup decisions come with this boot. The tongue stiffener is interchangeable in two levels, so a rider who finds the boot too firm on day one has a real remedy rather than a break-in wait. And the forward lean adjustment lives in the cuff alongside the Automatic Power Strap, so lean and strap tension want setting together rather than one at a time. If you plan to run crampons, note the heel cup is shaped for semi-rigid crampons rather than fully rigid ones.
Technical Specifications Full spec table · Click to expand
Fit and Sizing
- Sizes
- Mondopoint 23.0 to 32.0
- Size Conversions
- US men's 5 to 14, EU 36 to 48, UK men's 4 to 13
- Gender
- Unisex
- Lacing
- TLS+ dual-zone speed lacing with a locking cleat and Dyneema laces
- Liner Retention
- ILS internal lacing system, a harness fixed to the shell that wraps the liner
- Forward Lean
- Adjustable, integrated in the cuff with an Automatic Power Strap
- Flex Adjustment
- Dual Density Power Tongue Stiffener in two interchangeable levels
- Nitro Scales
- Comfort 7 of 10, Response 8 of 10
Construction and Compatibility
- Outsole
- Vibram with Litebase, base thickness reduced to 5 percent and tread weight by up to 3 percent
- Outsole Compound
- Vibram XS Trek Evo, multi-surface and non-marking, with Arctic Grip All Terrain for wet ice
- Outsole Geometry
- Vibram Traction Lug
- Midsole
- Molded EVA for dampening and thermal insulation
- Sole Insulation
- Therminator Shield, a reflective thermal layer between sole and liner
- Heel
- Armored Spine, anatomically shaped 3D molded heel reinforcement
- Toe
- Endure Gravity Foam, up to 5 percent lighter than rubber, from recycled pre-consumer sources
- Ankle
- Internal Ankle Support distributing lace pressure over the instep
- Gaiter
- Speed Gaiter with a diagonal one-handed zipper
- Crampon Compatibility
- Molded crampon heel cup, shaped for semi-rigid crampons
- Binding Compatibility
- Soft snowboard boot. Splitboard soft bindings only. Not compatible with ISO 5355 (Alpine), GripWalk (ISO 23223), ISO 9523 (Touring), pin/tech or telemark bindings
- Materials
- Zero PVC 6P phthalate, recycled rubber where possible, plastic free packaging
Compare the Nitro Vertical TLS+
Vertical TLS+ vs. ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Lite Splitboard Boots
The two cross-shop directly as splitboard-specific soft boots. The ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Lite is sized in US rather than mondopoint, which changes how you size it. Compare on lacing preference, outsole compound and whether you need an adjustable flex, since the Vertical TLS+ is the one with an interchangeable tongue stiffener.
Shop the ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Lite Splitboard BootsVertical TLS+ vs. Key Equipment Disruptive x Kopala Splitboard Boots
Different families entirely. The Key Equipment Disruptive x Kopala is a hardboot, which means pin-tech bindings, a rigid cuff and a ski-touring style walk mode. The Vertical TLS+ is a soft boot on a puck-and-strap binding. Hardboots tour more efficiently and ride less forgivingly, and the two systems share no hardware, so this is a whole-setup decision.
Shop the Key Equipment Disruptive x Kopala Splitboard BootsVertical TLS+ vs. Spark R&D Arc ST Bindings
Not an alternative but the other half of the setup. The Vertical TLS+ needs a soft boot splitboard binding, and the Spark R&D Arc ST is the medium-flex option we stock. Boot and binding flex are worth matching: a response 8 boot pairs naturally with a medium or stiff binding rather than the softest one available.
Shop the Spark R&D Arc ST Bindings