My DH boots are 18 years old, any advances in DH boot tech I'm missing?

[auvgeek]

The most old schooliest and race oriented boot is the Head Raptor/B3. I'd start there if you want racey.

Curious why you say that? I'd say it's a tie between the Head, the Atomic Redster, and the Dalbello DRS. Haven't tried the Redster specifically, but it has a reputation for being pretty forward and stiff. I have tried the Raptor 140 and the DMS 130, and I'd say they're pretty close, with the Dalbello flexing stiff with better heel hold for my anatomy. I know other people, like adrenalated have a different experience.

Keep in mind the OP doesn't need the stiffest thing out there. And Gary, unless you have very narrow feet, consider the 115 to 140 flex off-the-shell versions before committing to the ungodly amount of work it takes to fit a plug boot.

[turnfarmer]

Sorry but old bindings trashed my Achilles when one prereleased and the other didn't release soon enough. Would hate to see anyone else hurt by a preventable equipment failure.

[Mofro261]

OK you fucker. Now you've got me thinking...
Thanks!

Now think about this. Those 16 yro Technicas I have only get used for LBD on 225cm skis and bindings that are twice as old.


But really, ditching the free ride slippers and getting a stiffer boot (rs140) did make a significant difference when turning around gates.

[fatnslow]

I gave a friend some old San Marco boots and after a few seasons of storage in a garage they shattered when they fell off the shelf. The good thing is you can get alpine boots pretty cheap, new ones that are a few seasons old. If you want to stick with a Nordica last dobermans all over the place for around $150.

[Timberridge]

The Redster is red. So its got that going for it.

[Mofro261]

Sorry but old bindings trashed my Achilles when one prereleased and the other didn't release soon enough. Would hate to see anyone else hurt by a preventable equipment failure.

I'd like to blame my binders for my achilles, but the more likely culprit was inebriation tipping past the tippling point.

6 months out and just starting running again, strength is close to 85-90% but my first boot test yesterday came in closer to 50%, the left boot feels great, the right one was very much unpleasant.

[babybear]

Awesome guys (and gals) thanks!

Here's something cool that I only realized because you mention it. So these babies skied 98% of their days at Shames. What that meant was:
- so much snow you're almost always walking on snow from car to put the skis on place
- so few vehicles (relatively speaking) that your walk was never far.
Yeah they're beat up a bit, but not that bad. No issues with boot binding interface that's for sure. I'm not concerned with these blowing up in the least.

yea I probably would have kept my boots longer if not for the parking lot walk. the Cody peak hike off the top of JH is tough on boots too if you do frequently but tends to take out big chunks of boot vs the steady grind of the parking lot

Gary- have you put the JH BBI on your calendar yet? maybe a field trip to cody will be in order when the maggots are in town

[Norseman]

Send him down Central on his new DH gear

[XavierD]

FWIW many WC GS, Super-G and Downhill racers use boots that are softer than most everyone posting in this thread.

Then again, all those WC athletes aren't a bunch of unbalanced hacks that need the boots to keep them upright...

[TAFKALVS]

FWIW many WC GS, Super-G and Downhill racers use boots that are softer than most everyone posting in this thread.

Then again, all those WC athletes aren't a bunch of unbalanced hacks that need the boots to keep them upright...

Don't most of them start with a very stiff boot and only soften the forward flex, leaving the lateral flex intact?

[XavierD]

Don't most of them start with a very stiff boot and only soften the forward flex, leaving the lateral flex intact?

Find me a boot over $550 that isn't laterally stiff?

Many start with the '110-130' plug and cut them down. The slalom skiers are in the 14-160s.

[TAFKALVS]

Find me a boot over $550 that isn't laterally stiff?

TLT6? PDG?

Many start with the '110-130' plug and cut them down. The slalom skiers are in the 14-160s.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

[XXX-er]

Yeah it was my underdstanding WC level DH racers will use a softer flexing boot for/aft which will be very stiff lateraly

A dedicated slalom/GS boot will be stiffer ?

I cut a V in the back of some salomon 8 X-waves there was actualy some lines in the plastic, it made for a lot nicer flex in that ...they actualy flexed

My regular commute to the lift where I fear wearing out my soles is when I walk across a 2 lane road which might have some gravel

[ill-advised strategy]

A poster on here had a story about someone cracking both boot soles off

I don't think I was that poster, but that happened to me (roughly 1999...Technica explosions--ironically). I felt pretty lucky to be OK after that.

There was a whole generation of thermoplastic boots in the mid 80s that was totally unreliable and brittle. I think, other than a bad run or boots that have gotten really hot and really cold (garage kept?) a lot, they're of better quality now than back then.

[gregL]

The Redster is red.

It is now the Whitester.

[gregL]

Many start with the '110-130' plug and cut them down.

Dropping your flex index by ~20 points, courtesy of our Head rep:

http://www.randosaigai.com/head_cut.jpg

[Eluder]

Pics or it didn't happen. Lets see these ancient pieces.

[XavierD]

Dropping your flex index by ~20 points, courtesy of our Head rep:

[url]

for $50 I'll do this to your boots.

[garyfromterrace]

Gary, have you bothered to fondle new boots? Or even *gasp* try some on or do a shell fit to see what your stable looks like? You're a big rich flatlander now... walk into the shop and demand satisfaction.

Norseman! Daddy-o!
No
No
You're calling me fat.
Fuck dude, you're so nice in person too...

it's a tie between the Head, the Atomic Redster, and the Dalbello DRS. Haven't tried the Redster specifically, but it has a reputation for being pretty forward and stiff. I have tried the Raptor 140 and the DMS 130, and I'd say they're pretty close, with the Dalbello flexing stiff with better heel hold for my anatomy. I know other people, like adrenalated have a different experience.

Keep in mind the OP doesn't need the stiffest thing out there. And Gary, unless you have very narrow feet, consider the 115 to 140 flex off-the-shell versions before committing to the ungodly amount of work it takes to fit a plug boot.

Thanks man, and no I don't need the stiffest thing out there, my DH boots are old and soft and I've toured for a long time.
Don't have extremely narrow feet.
What the hell is a "plug boot" though?

Now think about this. Those 16 yro Technicas I have only get used for LBD on 225cm skis and bindings that are twice as old.


But really, ditching the free ride slippers and getting a stiffer boot (rs140) did make a significant difference when turning around gates.

Well I do plan on turning around some gates, no slalom though. Odd GS, trying for more super G, DH. ... I know blowing up old plastic boots is a remote risk factor, I'm thinking pretty remote. The boots live inside, don't see any -40C (or F), no +30C (or 100F)... they just don't seem like they've deteriorated (like your Technicas, or your spademan binders).

yea I probably would have kept my boots longer if not for the parking lot walk. the Cody peak hike off the top of JH is tough on boots too if you do frequently but tends to take out big chunks of boot vs the steady grind of the parking lot

Gary- have you put the JH BBI on your calendar yet? maybe a field trip to cody will be in order when the maggots are in town

Oh, babybear. My heart breaks and then runs out of my body, slamming against telephone poles and parked cars. Careening home after swiping a tree and fire hydrant. Bruised, bloody, rope-burned. I checked calendar and I'm skiing out of Battle Abbey hut that week (guided, catered ). Can't make BBI 17 at either locale it seems. Oh well, you guys will all forget me. I'll just be that canuck who skied at alpy a couple of times, did a couple of runs at crystal, said hi to Tap. Whatever, I don't deserve you anyway....
It's not you, it's me.

Anyway, I'm going to have to research this boot thing a little more. All this talk of 110-130 plug... and cutting them down. Jesus, I just thought I could get any old boot...

Thanks again for your input y'all.

[whyturn]

Funniest thing I ever saw was talking to an old guy with really old rear entries and straight skis and I respected his form and determination. He was like "I just keep skiing it and it works". He turns to walk away and steps down and boot completely collapses in four directions. It was classic. He walked right out of the boot in his sock. He just casually says " guess it's time for new boots". You think.....

[XavierD]

Don't have extremely narrow feet.
What the hell is a "plug boot" though?
Anyway, I'm going to have to research this boot thing a little more. All this talk of 110-130 plug... and cutting them down. Jesus, I just thought I could get any old boot...

Thanks again for your input y'all.

Pretty sure any old boot will do. All this plug talk is pretty unnecessary. I know two skiers who don't currently race on a national level that ski in a plug boot. The boots are cold, harsh, hard to find and not cheap. Plenty of people racing at the local level in non plug boots. Not sure what your local shops are like up there but I would just go in and get fit for new boots. Ski boots are not that complicated, and neither is bootfitting. No one is going to the moon.

[auvgeek]

Any old boot will do. You don't need a plug boot, which was the point of my post. When you talked about racing and how you like a forward/old-skool stance, people pointed you towards race boots and then that devolved into talk of plug boots. Maybe I started it but my point was that you should stay away—clearly that was a mistake because it only served to confuse you. But since you asked, a plug boot is a term used for race boots with an extremely narrow last (92-95 mm) that are made with a bullet-shaped "plug" that in no way resembles a human foot. The whole idea is the boot is too small everywhere, and you make it bigger so it fits your foot exactly. Does that sound painful, expensive, and unnecessary? It is. Did I need to warn you not to try such a thing? No, probably not.

Again, just go try on a bunch of boots in the 115-130 flex range and buy whatever fits and flexes best or, if you have access to a good boot fitter, whatever he/she tells you.

[garyfromterrace]

XavierD & auvgeek, thanks guys!