90% of people buy boots that are too stiff

[skaredshtles]

Fuck this skiing thing sounds a bit too complicated for me. I think ima quit.

[2FUNKY]

I just buy the red ones.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Doesn't everyone have several pair of boots to suit the conditions of the day?

[SoVT Joey]

This is awesome

[Tiktaalik]

Can I Dolphin turn in soft boots?

Probably, but can you still topple?

[stealurface831]

just become a fat bastard like me and your boots will never feel stiff enough.

[Sessiøn]

I just buy the red ones.

Is blaze orange as fast as red? Asking for a friend.

[SoVT Joey]

Is blaze orange as fast as red? Asking for a friend.

No. Nor is it close to as stiff. “Bushwhacka Red” is the stiffest and fastest. Only available at Steaux.

[stealurface831]

Is blaze orange as fast as red? Asking for a friend.

nothing is as fast as red

[Bunion 2020]

^^^ Bwhahahahahahahah!

[klauss]

Have you tried driving a euro wagon in soft boots? Not gonna happen

[margotron]

nothing is as fast as red

what about cherry red vs. ruby red. also asking for a friend

[cstefanic]

what about cherry red vs. ruby red. also asking for a friend

Dog-dick red = best red

[TBS]

You sure know how to take the fun out of skiing.

It’s what they do at the Pedantic Stoke Inhibitors of America (PSIA)

[stealurface831]

what about cherry red vs. ruby red. also asking for a friend

excellent question. cherry red wins out i would say.

[TeleBeaver]

It’s what they do at the Pedantic Stoke Inhibitors of America (PSIA)

I always thought it stood for Poles Stuck In Ass but I guess you learn something new every day!

[mff353]

certainly no reason for there to be a $100 price difference between a 110-120-130 flex boots when it is the same material, same plastics, same buckle and in most options similar liner. Interesting post, and can be true for many.

[mff353]

agreed although I think even stiffer than 130 is great if the alignment is correct and the skier knows that they are doing.

agree, but there are alot of skiers that are not strong enough to power a 130 boot.

[TBS]

I always thought it stood for Poles Stuck In Ass but I guess you learn something new every day!

I dunno, yours is equally apt...

[Bushwacka]

agree, but there are alot of skiers that are not strong enough to power a 130 boot.

There are 140lb humans in 150+ plugs......

Strength has very little to do with it.

[old goat]

There are 140lb humans in 150+ plugs......

Strength has very little to do with it.

I'm 6' 180. I'm not strong. I don't ski fast. I have no trouble flexing a 130 boot because my leg is really, really long for my height--so long lever arm means I can apply enough force to flex the boot. (OTOH it really sucks doing squats.)

[CaliBrit]

I think 90% of people. Actually 98% of people who ski can’t ski for shit. The others know what boots they like. Current “130” flex boots are too soft for my preference. Even at 165 lbs.

[XXX-er]

certainly no reason for there to be a $100 price difference between a 110-120-130 flex boots when it is the same material, same plastics, same buckle and in most options similar liner. Interesting post, and can be true for many.

how about dvelopment cost

[YoEddy]

Wow, I thought 98% seemed like a high percentage but then did a little math and see that you may be spot on. Just as an example Vail daily capacity is ~55k x 2% = 1100 ripping skiers spread across ~2800 acres of advanced terrain. The other 53,900 people that can't ski for shit are spread across all of the 5200 acres, and 90% or 48,510 of them are in boots that are too fucking stiff. Do I have that right?

Wait, that seems like a lot of overly stiff boots, doesn't it? I'd say following the premise they can't ski for shit that all 98% of them are in boots that are too fucking stiff.

To summarize I think we're on the same page that there are people who 'ski', and there are skiers. People who 'ski' buy boots that are too fucking stiff.

[Marshal Olson]

I think 90% of people. Actually 98% of people who ski can’t ski for shit. The others know what boots they like. Current “130” flex boots are too soft for my preference. Even at 165 lbs.

I am with you. Boots these days are much softer than boots 10-20 years ago. Why? The shapez, the rockerz, the centered mountz, and the worze skiing levels.

also a few things:
(a) biomechanics matter. Long shins need a stiffer boot and more forward lean (relatively).
(b) location/temp matters: boots are softer warm and stiffer in the cold
(c) liners and fit matter as does how tight you clamp your buckles
(d) easy to make a stiff boot softer
(e) really hard to make a soft boot stiffer
(f) impossible to meaningfully gauge stiffness in a 70F store
(g) the pigment (color) of plastic actually does change stiffness at different temps
(h) the type of plastic (pu, pe, pebax, g-mid) changes the stiffness across different temperatures
(I) flex numbers across different brands are totally arbitrary and very greatly.
(j) in short, flex numbers are meaningless.


long story short, figure out what works for you, and ski those boots for a decade. unless you ski everyday / work in your boots, and in which l-case just keep buying the same boot over and over while you can.

nothing is better than the right boots. And nothing is worse than the wrong boots.