Ok, not quite soft but Rossi and others have brought out ski boots with a stiff, er, chassis? and soft-ish uppers. Seem like a good idea for comfort for beginning / intermediate skiers but does the (admittedly limited) softness compromise control? B)
Anyone got/hired these? Opinions?
Tx,
Dave
Soft Ski boots
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Me neither so far... got chatting with the crew in the local ski shop this morning and one of the ladies (who tests for Volkl so knows a tip from a tail) rated them very highly.
We half took one apart - you don't have to remove much for them to look more like a meccano crane kit than an item of footwear! Maybe the future of a ski boot is a bunch of carbon fibre struts in all the right places, and a waterproof, thermal sock.... B)
Wow! I tried that and found I just couldn't get an edge... then I fell off the back of the sofa...
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Started by Admin in Ski Hardware 03-Nov-2003 - 5 Replies
Admin posted Nov-2003
The Admin Man
Wear The Fox Hat
reply to 'Soft Ski boots' posted Nov-2003
No compromise for people up to advanced intermediates. In fact, quite the opposite. The additonal comfort means that the skier has more control.
I haven't heard a bad word about them from anyone
I haven't heard a bad word about them from anyone
Admin
reply to 'Soft Ski boots' posted Nov-2003
Wear The Fox Hat wrote:I haven't heard a bad word about them from anyone
Me neither so far... got chatting with the crew in the local ski shop this morning and one of the ladies (who tests for Volkl so knows a tip from a tail) rated them very highly.
We half took one apart - you don't have to remove much for them to look more like a meccano crane kit than an item of footwear! Maybe the future of a ski boot is a bunch of carbon fibre struts in all the right places, and a waterproof, thermal sock.... B)
The Admin Man
Davidof
reply to 'Soft Ski boots' posted Nov-2003
I've not tried any on piste yet. The reviews in the French mags say they lack control, but they are quite light and easy to get in and out of... a bit like those rear-entry boots of yesteryear. With the walk/ski switch they may even find use for climbing or limited skinning to backcountry routes.
The control thing could be a problem for intermediates though and certainly for skiers ripping it through mogul fields or slalom courses. For cruising from blue to black pistes or even off piste powder use I can ski with my boots unfastened no problems and like a softish boot.
Is it all just a passing fad, certainly my local ski shop doesn't seem to have extended its range of soft boots for this season.
The control thing could be a problem for intermediates though and certainly for skiers ripping it through mogul fields or slalom courses. For cruising from blue to black pistes or even off piste powder use I can ski with my boots unfastened no problems and like a softish boot.
Is it all just a passing fad, certainly my local ski shop doesn't seem to have extended its range of soft boots for this season.
Annie
reply to 'Soft Ski boots' posted Feb-2004
Hired 'soft boots' at New Year. Definately streets ahead in the comfort department! I'm not really qualified to comment on the control issues as I tend to stay so far inside my intermediate limits that I could probably ski quite successfully in slippers!
Admin
reply to 'Soft Ski boots' posted Feb-2004
Annie wrote:I could probably ski quite successfully in slippers!
Wow! I tried that and found I just couldn't get an edge... then I fell off the back of the sofa...
The Admin Man
Topic last updated on 11-February-2004 at 12:59