K2 Flexon a Reality

**milkman** · 03-16-2006, 07:15 PM

Just fondled the new K2 Flexon at my shop (Swiss Sports Haus). It's not really new, just the same Flexon everyone has come to know and love. The shell and buckles are identical to Flexons of old. The liners will be Intuitions and Rolf (the owner) told me that there will be numerous tounge variations including a camo option for all you steezy kids out there. The liner can be baked, but doesn't need to be (it will conform to your foot by skiing it a few days). The liner is also slightly different than current Intuitions in that the tounge (or wrap area where a tounge should be) is stiffer. The result is a stiffer boot than the last Flexon Pro. The pair he had there were black with orange accents and were called "Full Tilt". The K2 name is not on the boot yet and he's not sure when it will be. Apperantly, these boots were available in Japan this year already and will be available in Canada next season. He said they may be a mid season or 2008 offering in the US. Price is expected to be over $100 cheaper than the Dalbello Krypton. So there's the scoop. The Flexon lives and will be out in Canada by mid to late Sept.....

**jonski** · 03-16-2006, 08:40 PM

Already in Japan? Google.......

**altasnob** · 03-16-2006, 09:39 PM

Hell ya, good to see K2 dominate the old raichles/reverse sidecut niche of the ski world.

**skimasterflex** · 03-16-2006, 10:08 PM

I'd pay $100 more to ski a boot that didn't say K2 on it, oh wait I can it's the Dalbello!

Anyways that is so lame that a small brand gets ahold of something cool and then some conglamerate investment bank that owns 20% of sporting goods in the world steals it and markets it cheaper. My store will never sell these.

**bossass** · 03-16-2006, 10:36 PM

It's cheaper because it's the same old flexon. Everyone knows Krypton is an improvement over the flexon and is more burly. So the Krypton will always be the more modern boot. The line boot never took off, don't expect this one to.

**slim** · 03-16-2006, 10:41 PM

Does it matter who markets it or if it takes off? So long as the Flexon junkies are able to get their fix this is a good thing.

**YetiMan** · 03-16-2006, 10:45 PM

I can imagine that Plake was bitching about this for years and perhaps had something to do with this.

just a thought...

**Particle** · 03-16-2006, 10:55 PM

As much as I loved my Flexons, I'm not sure I could go back. Now that I found my narrow-last Sally Pro Models, it has changed my skiing - they're more powerful, better construction, stiffer but still forgiving...hmmmm.

**YetiMan** · 03-16-2006, 11:06 PM

and I've found daleboot.

I would have been a lifer if they hadn't gotten so scarce there for a while.

Squatch · 03-17-2006, 01:03 AM

Just curious, what's the deal with flexons? If they are so great why did boots change? [/ducking from wrath of flexon fanatics]

**ulty_guy** · 03-17-2006, 01:24 AM

dunno particle, i've tried pro model/gun pro model, narrow last sollys and they still aren't narrow enough. for now, it's still my kneissl flexon pros, the krypton are just too wide. it's just so damn hard to find a very narrow freeride boot, i'll try the falcon when i see it, but i'm not holding my breath.

squatch- they didn't change the flexon, kneissl stopped doing it. dalbello made it wider in order to fit more of the market, flexons are damn narrow.

**comish** · 03-17-2006, 01:43 AM

If you really need Narrow try the Dobies. I'm not kidding here.The Flexon is too wide for me. Ulty, go see the dudes at footwerks in Cham and they will set you up right with Dobies or what ever really works with your feet. The had a very good selection of boots a few years ago and really knew their deal.

My softened Dobies are an awesome skiing, totally comfy boot.

Now for the disclaimer/bad stuff: They leak like a son-of-a-bitch, nothing a little neoprene/duct tape couldn't fix, needed some significant grinding/pouching/softening (I have the 150's which are stiff as shit right out of the box), but are very comfy, has by far the best liners out there, and ski lfricken awesome.

**ulty_guy** · 03-17-2006, 01:58 AM

comish- not a bad idea at all. is used to always be in lange race boots, but for freeskiing, they were just too stiff and too much forward lean (i like a more upright stance). i assume the dobies have a lot of forward lean as well? can that be adjusted at all?

**The Dad** · 03-17-2006, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Highway Star

The key to bringing back the flexon will be in making it work for agressive skiiers. The last versions of the boot were not stiff enough at all.

Race tounges.

There have been many race tounges in the past, of various stiffnesses. I have two pair. One is about 5 years old and probably gives a flex index of 90 to 100. They are worn and semi retired. The are a solid color and use the same mold as modern flexons. I'm on pair of much older race tounges currently, and they are massively stiffer than the other race tougues - when you flex them by hand and on the boot. Stiffer plastic, and a rounded shape to the flexon ribs. I almost get shin bang with them (tough in flexon since the flex is so deep), and can drive any ski with them. The flex index is around 120 or 130, so pretty stiff actually. They are a little low at the cuff, so I had to T-nut a plastic shank to them at the top. The stock "dual density" or "racing flex" toungues are probably around a 70 flex - complete noodles, IMHO.

I would like to see a plug shell with slightly thicker walls on the inside, with a beefed up rear/upper shell, and race toungues up to a 150 flex index (yes, I'm dead serious). I think that the boots beeing too soft in flex to drive a big ski is what killed them a few years back, I could never ski them in stock form, and the softer race tounges I have were always somewhat limiting. They are awesome with the very stiff race toungue I use now. Something even stiffer and beefier would be money, since the design and feel of the flex keeps it forgiving for freeskiing. Making the plastic a little thicker would only slightly add to the weight, but give you more to grind on the inside. It would with be quite low volume, but hey, it's a plug boot.

I would also like to see some sort of minr redesign to the buckles. They aren't terriable, but they just don't hold up so well.

The flexon is very easy to take apart and customise, having a variety of shell parts and misc parts to choose from would be go a long way in bringing back the success of the boot.

HSUPPS
(HS Useful Post Preservation Society)

**seatosky** · 03-17-2006, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by ulty_guy

dunno particle, i've tried pro model/gun pro model, narrow last sollys and they still aren't narrow enough. for now, it's still my kneissl flexon pros, the krypton are just too wide. it's just so damn hard to find a very narrow freeride boot

Lange low fit?

**the_eleven** · 03-17-2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Highway Star

Race tounges.

I would like to see a plug shell with slightly thicker walls on the inside, with a beefed up rear/upper shell

Something even stiffer and beefier would be money, since the design and feel of the flex keeps it forgiving for freeskiing. Making the plastic a little thicker would only slightly add to the weight, but give you more to grind on the inside. It would with be quite low volume, but hey, it's a plug boot.

I would also like to see some sort of minr redesign to the buckles. They aren't terriable, but they just don't hold up so well.

The flexon is very easy to take apart and customise, having a variety of shell parts and misc parts to choose from would be go a long way in bringing back the success of the boot.

Sounds like you are describing the Krypton with the stiff tongue....

I am guessing that this tongue is around 130 flex.

Slightly thicker plastic, redesign of the buckle system, still plenty of forgiving flex.

**milkman** · 03-17-2006, 10:55 AM

FWIW, the new stiff version of the Flexon is reportedly stiffer than the Krypton Cross. Not sure if this is true, but that's when the guy that skied both told me....Racing tounges will also be much more readily available than they used to be....

**Free Range Lobster** · 03-17-2006, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by skimasterflex

Anyways that is so lame that a small brand gets ahold of something cool and then some conglamerate investment bank that owns 20% of sporting goods in the world steals it and markets it cheaper. My store will never sell these.

investment banks tend to just buy things instead of stealing them.

**Particle** · 03-17-2006, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by ulty_guy

dunno particle, i've tried pro model/gun pro model, narrow last sollys and they still aren't narrow enough. for now, it's still my kneissl flexon pros, the krypton are just too wide. it's just so damn hard to find a very narrow freeride boot, i'll try the falcon when i see it, but i'm not holding my breath.

squatch- they didn't change the flexon, kneissl stopped doing it. dalbello made it wider in order to fit more of the market, flexons are damn narrow.

yeah I hear ya ulty...my pro's are definitely higher volume than my old flexons. looking forward to trying the falcons as well. the thing is, the construction is just sooo much better. despite not feeling quite as snug in the forefoot, I feel like I have better control over my skis than I ever did with my flexons.

now if a narrow AT boot only existed...there's a pipedream

**Dromond** · 03-17-2006, 01:10 PM

I'll at least be psyched to have some more options out there. Can't wait to see them. If only for the availability of stiff tongues!

Excuse me while I go re-rivet my buckles.

**edg** · 03-17-2006, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by likwid

investment banks tend to just buy things instead of stealing them.

SRSLY?

edg

**tcross.au** · 03-17-2006, 03:12 PM

any one find a photo of them in japan
and prices?

**Krash** · 03-17-2006, 03:29 PM

Here is the deal with K2 and the Flexon, Kneissl went bankrupt, Dalbello bought the patents on the Flexon, K2 bought the molds, it has taken 2-3 years for K2 to find someone to inject the old molds (almost 30 years old) I wonder is K2 paying Dalbello patent rights? The Dalbello is a better boot, but not the same fit.

**Camilo** · 03-17-2006, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by tcross.au

any one find a photo of them in japan
and prices?

I'm in Japan right now. I'll try to find a ski shop today and sneak a pic if I find some.

**Spats** · 03-17-2006, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Krash

Dalbello bought the patents on the Flexon

If the Flexon molds are almost 30 years old the patents almost certainly have expired. Maybe that's what K2 was waiting for?

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