Do boots actually matter?

[doubleblackjack]

I have some on sale lange boots that I chose just for comfort. i think they have a 90 flex. Anyway, do they really matter? Maybe i'm not good enough to tell a difference between good boots and bad, but i really don't care about flexes and performance so long as its comfortable. Do you have a preference for flex or whatever in boots? Do they matter to you?

 

[SofaKingSick]

it pretty much only matters that they fit you well (and brands and models vary a lot in their sizes/shapes/fits) and that they're somewhat in the range of the type of boot, primarily re: flex level, that fits your skiing

so if your boots fit and you like the flex of them, boom yes you're set dude

performance and COMFORT are kind of interdependent-- take an extreme example of a world cup racer, if you put their boots on you'd say they were uncomfortable, tight as hell, and super stiff, and you simply don't desire or require that for your skiing

but the basics always remain the same, they need to fit you well and they need to be in the general range of flex and boot type for your skiing. after that it's mostly just a question of bells and whistles, weight if you care, marketing, etc etc

 

[Schoess]

There's an old saying that the best camera in the world is the one you have on you at the time you need to use it. The best boots on Earth are the ones that fit your feet and are comfortable enough to let you ski all day every day and progress your skills as much as you want.

 

[doubleblackjack]

it pretty much only matters that they fit you well (and brands and models vary a lot in their sizes/shapes/fits) and that they're somewhat in the range of the type of boot, primarily re: flex level, that fits your skiing

so if your boots fit and you like the flex of them, boom yes you're set dude

performance and COMFORT are kind of interdependent-- take an extreme example of a world cup racer, if you put their boots on you'd say they were uncomfortable, tight as hell, and super stiff, and you simply don't desire or require that for your skiing

but the basics always remain the same, they need to fit you well and they need to be in the general range of flex and boot type for your skiing. after that it's mostly just a question of bells and whistles, weight if you care, marketing, etc etc

soooooooooo your saying i need to get fitted?

**This post was edited on Apr 23rd 2021 at 11:26:14am

 

[SofaKingSick]

soooooooooo your saying i need full tilts?

i know you're just kidding around but this is why the "get full tilts" meme is (funny but) stupid when people take it seriously. if full tilts fit your feet and perform how you want, great, but there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all ski boot, certainly not full tilts. for instance i can't stand them

 

[TheDriftingDad]

Now that I am not a broke college student I am going to buy decent boots and get fitted. I am looking at 120 flex so I can have some edge control.

 

[doubleblackjack]

i know you're just kidding around but this is why the "get full tilts" meme is (funny but) stupid when people take it seriously. if full tilts fit your feet and perform how you want, great, but there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all ski boot, certainly not full tilts. for instance i can't stand them

Yeah comfort absolutely comes first for me. I only buy boots from ski shops so i can try them on

 

[Session]

soooooooooo your saying i need to get fitted?

**This post was edited on Apr 23rd 2021 at 11:26:14am

Yes

 

[Tayphil]

it pretty much only matters that they fit you well (and brands and models vary a lot in their sizes/shapes/fits) and that they're somewhat in the range of the type of boot, primarily re: flex level, that fits your skiing

so if your boots fit and you like the flex of them, boom yes you're set dude

performance and COMFORT are kind of interdependent-- take an extreme example of a world cup racer, if you put their boots on you'd say they were uncomfortable, tight as hell, and super stiff, and you simply don't desire or require that for your skiing

but the basics always remain the same, they need to fit you well and they need to be in the general range of flex and boot type for your skiing. after that it's mostly just a question of bells and whistles, weight if you care, marketing, etc etc

Found a “big kids” size 275 flex 80 which is exactly what I need as a small frame beginner. Rossignol Alltrack Jr $170 vs Rossignol Allltrack Pro $330. In comparison to how skis are made, would you say kids boots are cheaply made too?

 

[SofaKingSick]

Found a “big kids” size 275 flex 80 which is exactly what I need as a small frame beginner. Rossignol Alltrack Jr $170 vs Rossignol Allltrack Pro $330. In comparison to how skis are made, would you say kids boots are cheaply made too?

sorry, i can't tell you confidently. but i would definitely guess that yes, they're made more cheaply than adult boots. i guess the question is whether they're just made for smaller lighter less demanding riders, or there's more to it than that

i'd suggest you find a handful of adult boot models you might like, ideally go try them on-- ski boots vary drastically in size/fit/shape by brand and model-- and then keep an eye out on Google Shopping this spring and summer. boots can go on killer sale prices in the offseason

 

[Park.]

Found a “big kids” size 275 flex 80 which is exactly what I need as a small frame beginner. Rossignol Alltrack Jr $170 vs Rossignol Allltrack Pro $330. In comparison to how skis are made, would you say kids boots are cheaply made too?

When you get cheap skis there’s usually no benefit besides price.

Boots are a little different, and cheaper plastics have certain traits that nicer plastic don’t have, and vice versa, but FUCK working on cheaper plastics. I turn down anyone who asks for punches/grinds with rental quality gear. Maybe I’m in the minority on that, but if you grab cheap boots, make sure you aren’t planning on getting shell work done.

If the kids boot fits you and suits your needs, save the money and get them. I’ve put plenty of small adults in kids boots to save money and I haven’t received anything but positive feedback.

 

[anders_a]

boots matter way way more than bindings & skis. Sad but true.

 

[cobra_commander]

People who only buy on fir and not performance are missing the point. You can change how a boot fits but are much more limited on how it skis. I can absolutely tell the difference between how various boots ski even if they are about the same ‘stiffness.’

 

[anders_a]

130 = from 100 til 150 kinda... I have 3 x 130 flex boots from same mfg, they are *vastly* different flexes.

 

[CatdickBojangles]

I would rather ski rental skis with boots that were fitted to me than ski super nice skis with boots that don’t fit.

 

[animator]

Do skis matter? Do bindings matter?

 

[BradFiAusNzCoCa]

If your boots don’t fit, it’s very frustrating

 

[tomPietrowski]

Found a “big kids” size 275 flex 80 which is exactly what I need as a small frame beginner. Rossignol Alltrack Jr $170 vs Rossignol Allltrack Pro $330. In comparison to how skis are made, would you say kids boots are cheaply made too?

You want to dig into the specs of the boots to find where money is being saved. To produce a boot cheaper money needs to be saved somewhere. Usually on Jr products that may be in shell and cuff materials or liners as these are areas its easy to save money.

Cuffs will often change from PU to PP for example. PP is lighter which is desirable in Jr products but its not as durable, but often this may be less of an issue then it would in an adult boot but something worth considering if you are buying a large size in a Jr boot.

Liners will often be more basic and forgo many of the "custom" features. If they fit well great but there may be less chance to change them if you need work doing.

So if you look at the specs of the AllTrack Jr 80 and the Alltrack Pro 100 they are similar.





Shell and cuff on paper are the same. PU shell and PP cuff, but it does not say any more than that really. There is a possibility they use regrind in the Jr model which will be a slightly less high quality product. But more or less they look similar but cant really be confirmed from just this.

The big difference is the liner. T4 on the Jr and T3 on the 100. So the adult boot get the better more custom liner.

So in this case on paper not a huge difference but the adult boot does get better specs which in most cases will be the case but if the Jr boot meets your needs and fits well it could still be a good choice.

 

[isaacwrong]

Finally pulled the plug on getting fitted at a shop this past year. Shop immediately tossed me in a few 26.5's with some footbeds and insisted they were the right size. Told them was looking for a tighter fit and threw me in a pair of 25.5 k2's. Fitment was good, along with solid heel lock. Thought they fit alright but after just 15 days my foot's starting to feel pretty sloppy as i have more room in the toe are when my foot slides back into the pocket. Def looking to downsize to 24/24.5's (wear a size 8 shoe). 25.5's shell fit is a just shy of 1.5 fingers. Needless to say, def go to a well known bootfitter, I didn't want to make the treck up to southern vt and am shooting myself in the foot. rip

 

[Tayphil]

You want to dig into the specs of the boots to find where money is being saved. To produce a boot cheaper money needs to be saved somewhere. Usually on Jr products that may be in shell and cuff materials or liners as these are areas its easy to save money.

Cuffs will often change from PU to PP for example. PP is lighter which is desirable in Jr products but its not as durable, but often this may be less of an issue then it would in an adult boot but something worth considering if you are buying a large size in a Jr boot.

Liners will often be more basic and forgo many of the "custom" features. If they fit well great but there may be less chance to change them if you need work doing.

So if you look at the specs of the AllTrack Jr 80 and the Alltrack Pro 100 they are similar.

View attachment 1001884

View attachment 1001885

Shell and cuff on paper are the same. PU shell and PP cuff, but it does not say any more than that really. There is a possibility they use regrind in the Jr model which will be a slightly less high quality product. But more or less they look similar but cant really be confirmed from just this.

The big difference is the liner. T4 on the Jr and T3 on the 100. So the adult boot get the better more custom liner.

So in this case on paper not a huge difference but the adult boot does get better specs which in most cases will be the case but if the Jr boot meets your needs and fits well it could still be a good choice.

This is great info. Thank you so much!

 

[cobra_commander]

Finally pulled the plug on getting fitted at a shop this past year. Shop immediately tossed me in a few 26.5's with some footbeds and insisted they were the right size. Told them was looking for a tighter fit and threw me in a pair of 25.5 k2's. Fitment was good, along with solid heel lock. Thought they fit alright but after just 15 days my foot's starting to feel pretty sloppy as i have more room in the toe are when my foot slides back into the pocket. Def looking to downsize to 24/24.5's (wear a size 8 shoe). 25.5's shell fit is a just shy of 1.5 fingers. Needless to say, def go to a well known bootfitter, I didn't want to make the treck up to southern vt and am shooting myself in the foot. rip

Keep in mind a decent chunk of skiers would be back bitching about how small their boots are in a “1.5 finger” shell fit (~15-20mm). everything feels pretty good in a shop at ~68F compared to what it feels like at 0-20F.

selling 15-25mm shell fits and taking returns/exchanges on boots being too big is a much more sustainable business model then selling 10-20mm shell fits and taking returns on boots being too small.

Customer’s generally have a better experience. It’s a lot easier to turn the return into an exchange with a used boot you can resell above cost. “Looks like you’re looking for more performance” is a better conversation than “turns out you’re actually a bit of a sensitive bitch.”

 

[isaacwrong]

“Looks like you’re looking for more performance” is a better conversation than “turns out you’re actually a bit of a sensitive bitch.”

lmao

 

[gorbdawggybrent]

this is literally the dead-est horse on ns, Yes.

 

[piss.boy]

I mean yeah. Not a huge deal but your gonna ski differently depending on if your boots fit correctly, and are a perportional weight to your bodyweight and or strength