Boot Sole Protectors?

[Graham]

Hey all,

I'm picking up a set of sweet Krypton Pros this weekend, and I'm a little worried about walking around in them on hard ground, such as going for a beer after the day, or walking a bit from the parking lot to the lift through all the shitty gravel, or being a complete gaper and getting shitfaced in the bar with my ski boots on.

Anyway, I've done some searching for some things that will attach to the bottom of my boots when I'm off the hill, I've came up with the Cat Tracks: http://ecom1.sno-ski.com/product200.html, and the Walk-EZ: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001614.php.

Has anyone had any experience with either of these things? The Walk EZ things look pretty solid compared to the Cat Tracks. Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I really don't feel like fucking up my new boots, considering I'm pretty sure my old Nordicas are out of DIN standard with the wear on the toe and heel.

Thanks!

[XXX-er]

on/around the hill I never see anybody using those things and I dunno if they work but last feb at the world cup I noticed damn near every racer carrying a set of cattracks strapped to their leg .

[bfree]

They're pretty gaper, but they work. What more do you need to know?

[Sinecure]

The Walk-Ez are way more gaper than the cat tracks.

The cool kids get AT boots and don't need no stinkin protectors.

[Jonathan S.]

Cat Tracks are a must if you have plug boots with custom-planed boot sole lifters for canting.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be bothering with them.

[Altaholic]

Just take snowblades with ya, that'll keep your boot soles nice

[XXX-er]

The Walk-Ez are way more gaper than the cat tracks.

I think I could do the cattracks but I seen the walk-ez in the beer tent and NO WAY

[Graham]

Yeah, fair enough. No use spending $50 compared to $15 anyway.
Now, what to do with a pair of 28.5 Beast 10's that I'm pretty sure are out of DIN standard? Anyone want em?

[El Chupacabra]

I've used Cat Tracks for years. They work as advertised.

(yes they're dorky, but I like to believe that they keep my boot toes/heels in the DIN size they're supposed to be -- makes me feel safer.)

[Graham]

I've used Cat Tracks for years. They work as advertised.

(yes they're dorky, but I like to believe that they keep my boot toes/heels in the DIN size they're supposed to be -- makes me feel safer.)

Since I'm a dork anyway, I really don't mind. I'll err on the side of caution like you. Thanks El Chupacabra.

[harpo-the-skier]

I can't get cat-tracks to stay on so I am always loosing them. The Walk EZ stay on better. Yes they look ridiculous. Yes my boot soles look like new after three seasons.

[gisforgaper]

I was thinking about some of these to keep from having to carry a pair of boots/shoes when hiking back to the Gondola after some SC. Cat tracks just don't stay on well enough.

[Huck_Schmuck]

I don't mind saying but I always use Cat Tracks on my alpine boots. It started because I couldn't replace the soles on some old Sally Pro Models and now I just love wearing them. They give you far better grip / purchase when walking and the rubber gives a cushioning effect that is a small relief to sore knees.

Fuck you if you don't like it. I do.No body can see that you're wearing them either (until your buddies have fallen over and you're still upright).

To be fair I wouldn't use them if I didn't have to walk very far ie car to lift.

[JimLad]

I want to get some to save my new boots. It's a 15 minute walk to the lifts and the tarmac trashes soles.

[volklpowdermaniac]

i agree. with new boots without replacable toe and heel soles, I can't afford to trash a set walking around. i'm going to snag a pair for the new langes, i'll figure some modification out to get them to stay on a little better than normal.

[LightRanger]

The cool kids get AT boots and don't need no stinkin protectors.

Wrong. The cool kids tele.

[bigf00t]

cat-tracks. they say either "total gaper" or "dude with sweet boots who wants to re-up later instead of sooner"

ez-walk says only "total and complete gaper"

make sure you size the cat-tracks right. Mine are damn near impossible to get on (perhaps because of the 355BSL, duh), but just make sure to order the right ones. They also stash pretty small so even if you dont wear a backpack, they fit in a cargo or front pocket.

[Shredhead]

The walk ez are bigger and harder to stash, but I think they work a little better.

I've seen metal plates on some boots.

[cmsummit]

Walking from the office to lifts here in Breck, I spend lots of time on concrete or pavement. I use cat tracks to protect the soles. They work pretty well.

[mntlion]

if someone wants a pair of the ezwalker things, I have a sample pair for you. PM me an offer. size is bigger then my 295mm boots? 310+?

ski boots are not made for walking, ezz help more with the rocker, but cat tracks store better

[iscariot]

I was thinking about a pair of these for my Full Tilts. as the boot sole is soft ans got pretty chewed walking through the lot on a 50cm fresh day.

[CG]

I keep cat tracks on my alpine boots, work as described above. Don't care if they give me that gaper look, I don't need to replace my boots and can add to my quiver.

[hutash]

They go well with ski totes, scotch guard jeans, and a starter jacket

[PNWbrit]

PM Rontele.

He's the west coast technical rep for Cat Track Inc.

He can hook you up with the bro deals or perhaps even some of the new skunk works dynafit compatible models.

[Snow7]

Cat Traks can slip off in heavy snow. I just tie a loop onto them and attach them to the boot. That way you can also hang them from the ski racks if you don't want to put carry them with you. No one is going to steal them.

The Walk Ez are superior for long distances. Lock them to the ski rack with a cheap snowboard lock just to keep the cool kidz from dinking with them.

All my boots are planed and plated and the plates are as slippery as Zardoz. I could have used added traction on some boot hikes last season. So, if they make me a Gaper, I'll live with the ignominy...