Ski boot flex.

[prophet0426]

What boots are your daily drivers, and what's the flex? Getting a new pair of boot, possibly the Atomic Tracker 130's and they have a 130 flex. I'm wondering if that will be to stiff for skiing the tree's and occasional bumps. Coming from and old pair of Atomic B9's that have a flex of 90, so this will be a big step up.

 

[snowmonster]

Black Diamond Factor 130
Lange World Cup 120

I ski the trees all the time. Remember that the flex ratings indicate the relative stiffness of a boot within the same brand line. They don't necessarily translate across brands. The BD Factors, though rated 130, actually feel less stiff than the Langes. I actually went from a 90 flex boot to the Lange 120s but, at the time I made the switch, I felt like I had the skill and strength to drive the Langes.

 

[wa-loaf]

What boots are your daily drivers, and what's the flex? Getting a new pair of boot, possibly the Atomic Tracker 130's and they have a 130 flex. I'm wondering if that will be to stiff for skiing the tree's and occasional bumps. Coming from and old pair of Atomic B9's that have a flex of 90, so this will be a big step up.

What do you weigh? I use Atomic RT CS 130 for both racing and tree skiing, but I'm 200+ so it works for me.

 

[Philpug]

Inferno 130 as a regular boot, I will also have some Bushwacker 110's...that are a stiff 110 as a B/C slack country boot.

 

[riverc0il]

Not only are there no standards in flex and flex is not consistent across different brands, but flex may not be consistent within a given brands' entire lineup, especially over time. A company may be more inclined to explore (and by explore, I mean label) higher flex numbers in an attempt to appeal to macho men that think they are stronger than they are. The only way to know for sure is to try it on and flex the thing.

 

[deadheadskier]

I ski Dalbello Krypton Pros that are set up at their stiffest setting, which is supposedly 140. Even at that setting, they feel relatively soft to me. I weigh 185. I think a 140 flex ratings in a three piece shell design is far different than 140 in a traditional 4 buckle overlap boot.

It comes down to personal preference. A boot that is as stiff as a brick might work better for some in trees and bumps than a softer boot. I know they do for me.

 

[Puck it]

I ski Dalbello Krypton Pros that are set up at their stiffest setting, which is supposedly 140. Even at that setting, they feel relatively soft to me. I weigh 185. I think a 140 flex ratings in a three piece shell design is far different than 140 in a traditional 4 buckle overlap boot.

It comes down to personal preference. A boot that is as stiff as a brick might work better for some in trees and bumps than a softer boot. I know they do for me.

Dalbello Kryptons suck, gaper boots!!!!:beer:

 

[deadheadskier]

doubtful I get Kryptons again when it comes time to replace them. They lack balls

 

[Black Phantom]

Dalbello Kryptons suck, gaper boots!!!!:beer:

Soft as a sandal. Fit like a brick.

 

[skiberg]

My experience is that a lot of people ski too stiff a boot. If it is too stiff, you end up skiing in a defensive position with your weight back. Henceforth, you can't weight the ski properly. I see this all over the mountain. You need ankle flexion, if you can't force it you can't work a ski properly. At 130 you better be good and strong.

 

[The Sneak]

I don't know how you guys do it with those big boy boots. I mean, my 90 flex superchargers feel too stiff at times. I'm only 5' 8" 155 lbs though.

 

[Puck it]

I don't know how you guys do it with those big boy boots. I mean, my 90 flex superchargers feel too stiff at times. I'm only 5' 8" 155 lbs though.

Newton's Second Law!!!!!!!

 

[bigbog]

Agree with the fflex by itself, but I've often found that the best balanced shell fit will help buy you good response out of a boot...particularly after liner packout. Don't become married to a brand...slightly different boot shapeoften pop up now & then that often hit the mark as one's foot changes shape slightly.

 

[Madroch]

Lange WC ZA-- about a 140. Did not seek out a boot that stiff- only boot that fit my very narrow feet (AAA). It is fine carving- a little stiff for the bumps when it is uber cold out-- but I was a back seat driver all too often even in super soft boots before getting these, so it may be me not the stiff boots. I may pull a rivet in them this year and see how I like it.

Overall-- they fit like a glove and that, to me, is paramount. Super responsive, never painful-can leave em buckeld all day long - never need to ratchet em down (I can't- they are still on the first (loosest) buckle- only occassionally on the second when it is super cold out- after 3 years).

Question-- does the flex stay the same throughout a model in different sizes? I am 5'8" and weigh anywhere between 145 and 160 (depending upon how fit I am at the time) and in a 25 boot. I can't imagine the flex is the same in my 25 as it for the 28 or larger for the big boys weighing 2 bills plus.

 

[ToddW]

Since you're looking to upgrade to a moderately stiff boot, it is important to work with a good bootfitter. The key to skiing well in a stiffer boot is having your fore-aft alignment tweaked and dialed in by a good bootfitter so that you're balanced neutral when your legs are centered in the cuffs rather than trying to "push plastic" to get to neutral. Make sure s/he knows what bindings you'll be skiing in because they have noticeably varying degrees of built in ramp angle ("delta") which will also affect your fore-aft balance. If you don't know a top-rate bootfitter, ask some of the racers at your mountain for recommendations.

Going from a 90 flex to a 130 flex for the first time, you'll find that the 130 transfers your commands immediately to the snow, including finer nuances of movement that didn't translate to snow with the 90. This means there will be a learning curve as you refine your movements to control a performance boot.

Get the boot that can best be fitted to your foot rather than what someone else uses. My boots are Head Raptor 130 RD. They're great below 20 *F but are on the soft side for me at higher temps.

 

[Geoff]

Newton's Second Law!!!!!!!

F=MA doesn't quite express it. A 6'3" guy uses his tibia as a lever to flex the boot. He has both more mass pressing against the lever and a longer lever to amplify the mass.

 

[Highway Star]

Have to comment on the quality of flex here. Most boots have at very progressive or uneven flex - starts out soft and ramps up/hits a wall. I like the flexons / full tilts, which flex like a linear spring - their stiffness increases in a very linear way, which makes for a very predictable and non fatiguing boot. A full tilt with a 10 tongue is around a 110-120 flex.

 

[Puck it]

F=MA doesn't quite express it. A 6'3" guy uses his tibia as a lever to flex the boot. He has both more mass pressing against the lever and a longer lever to amplify the mass.

It was a joke. The lever does work on the boot. W=Fd, which is in Nm. And even that is more complex because it is not simple lever but a complex lever arm. Go on?

 

[Hawkshot99]

I am not a fan of super stiff boots. I have had a pair of Dalbello Proton 12's that had a thick carbon fiber plate on the back of them. I could barely get them to flex. I hated them. I am happy around a 100 depending on the company. My Atomics last year were the Hawx 100, and i loved them for everyday and racing.

I may get a pair of Dalbello Boss's this year which are advertised as 110-120, but they feel similar to the Atomics.

Edit- For my size. I wear a 26 boot, I am 6' and weigh around 260#

 

[Ski the Moguls]

How much should a boot flex in the shop? The boots stiffen when cold, so when trying them on in the warm shop what flex characteristics do you look for?