The new Freemotion ski boot is a light weight, easy to get on and off; easy to walk in boot which is claimed to make carving turns easier.
http://www.freemotion.cc/en/set1.html
http://www.proidee.de/?P=200610717&H=SHOPPING.COM
Dave Mac wrote: Swingbeep, you really whetted the interest with the Freemotion - a one clip boot. BUT - as far as I can tell, it is not a rear entry boot.
Your right, it's not a rear entry boot; it's an easy on / off front entry boot that that combines a flexible "comfort boot" with a rigid exo-frame.
It seems to be further development of the Kneissl Rail soft boot introduced in 2002. Both were designed by Kurt Hilgarth, he was head of R&D at Köflach and Dynafit, before setting up his own design studio in 1996. He has about 20 skiing related patents. The innovation appears to be a U shaped spring (the power string) that runs around the boot passing through the cuff rivets which they claim, ensures a progressive transfer of pressure to the edges when the boot is flexed.
They also plan to introduce a series of short carving skis 120cm – 150cm and have developed a simplified system of instruction "Carving in 2 hours".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oESpD5Rx_yA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U7vyWjWJNo&feature=colike
I doubt we will ever see rear entry boots again; they are simply too expensive to manufacture.
Dave Mac wrote: My Raichle are entering their 26th season, but I open them really wide, slide the foot in, and operate just one clip. OK, the soles are b*ggered.....
If you want to extend the life of the Raichles you could try rebuilding the soles using a 2 component polyurethane adhesive; such as Devcon Dev-Thane 5 it's about the same hardness as ski boot polyurethane.