Boot Weight

[Greg]

Is this something you ever consider? I'm replacing my Volkl AC3s due to their (perceived) excess weight, but It seems a bit futile considering the weight of my boots.

[JimG.]

Originally Posted by Greg

Is this something you ever consider? I'm replacing my Volkl AC3s due to their (perceived) excess weight, but It seems a bit futile considering the weight of my boots.

Why do you think I ski with AT boots all the time? They weigh half as much as alpine boots. And my Adrenalins are heavy as AT boots go. They're plenty stiff where it counts and I have never liked a boot with poor fore and aft flex. I like to use my ankles when I ski.

I have always believed that ski boots are excessively heavy.

[BeanoNYC]

AC3's are heavy as hell. There is nothing perceived about that...It's a fact. My only complaint about them.

[marcski]

I think boot weight definitely matters. As important as ski weight. If you're a dynamic skier the weight of your equipment plays a large roll in how tired you'll get skiing. I think my next boots will definitely be a pair of AT boots. This is esp true as they are getting beefier each year.

[riverc0il]

Man, don't even get me started on boot weight. One thing that sucks about having big feet is having to shoulder more boot weight than the average skier (the upside is stupid cheap discounts on close out sales on binders and boots because few people have a large size). My 30.5 mondo X-Wave 10s weight in at 15+ pounds. My AT G-Rides are considerably lighter but not a great skiing boot so I stick to alpine when lift serviced.

Currently, I am evaluating other options and using AT for front/back side use combined with exception of groomer/bump only days on which I would pull out the X-Waves. New Dynafit ZZero may be the ace in the hole, can't wait to try a pair of those. Until then, damn my boots are heavy Binding systems certainly add a ton of weight and having a flat mounted ski definitely helps in the weight category. A lot of overcoming weight through practice and muscle build up has been my only method of fighting the sluggish effects of heavy boots. At least until I land a good combo AT boot that works well both on the up and the down. When my X=Wave 10s need replacing, I might end up going with something like the new Axon or Shamen which are a downhill boots masquerading as AT.

[Marc]

Boot weight is not as crucial as ski weight because the skier is close to the axis of rotation. The further from the axis of rotation, the more penalty weight is because of its large moment arm and higher angular inertia. That's what lay skiers refer to as "swing weight." Unless you're doing a lot of hiking with your boots, the weight is not nearly as important as ski weight in terms of turnability.

[riverc0il]

Originally Posted by Marc

Boot weight is not as crucial as ski weight because the skier is close to the axis of rotation. The further from the axis of rotation, the more penalty weight is because of its large moment arm and higher angular inertia. That's what lay skiers refer to as "swing weight." Unless you're doing a lot of hiking with your boots, the weight is not nearly as important as ski weight in terms of turnability.

I can tell you do not have size 14 feet. For turnability, what you say may be true but boot weight is a significant contributor to fatigue which also effects turnability. Same ski with different weight boots skis markably different.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by riverc0il

I can tell you do not have size 14 feet. For turnability, what you say may be true but boot weight is a significant contributor to fatigue which also effects turnability. Same ski with different weight boots skis markably different.

This is true on both accounts, I've got 9 1/2 size feet there, sasquatch. Boot weight certainly will contribute to fatigue although considering the prices of skis compared with boots, if weight reduction for performance sake is your goal, the skis are easily the first place to look, and most definitely, as Greg said, is not futile to reduce the weight of your skis without getting lighter boots. Lighter skis will be immediately noticeable, much more so than lighter boots.

[awf170]

Originally Posted by riverc0il

My 30.5 mondo X-Wave 10s weight in at 15+ pounds.

My whole setup is only 18 pounds. I don't think I could even lift my feet of the ground while skiing with those things on.

[KevinF]

The only times I've noticed the weight of my boots has been when carrying them from the car to the base lodge and when hiking with them on (i.e., Mittersill, hike-to terrain out west, etc.). I've never noticed the ski + boot weight while actually skiing though.