Snowboard boots

[dmw]

I'm in the market for a new pair of boots, wondering if anyone has any advice or general thoughts, as well as a few specific questions.

My current boots are on their 4th season - seems like I just got them, but they have well over 100 days on them, and as a lower end K2 boot, not shocking they're pretty thrashed. Other than being toast now, I've been fairly happy with them. They're a K2 Raider with a BOA. I'm considering another pair of K2's for various reasons.

I'm intrigued by the K2 T1 and Compass - wondering if anyone has any experience with either of these. Specifically wondering about the Compass - it's designed to work with their splitboard system or traditional bindings as well - I'm wondering if the metal on the bottom is noticeable etc, or if performance is compromised in any other way. I don't currently have a splitboard, but could see myself doing it in the future. Both boots are combo of traditional lacing with a BOA to lock down the ankle.

In general, I'm looking for thoughts on stiffness vs flex, or any other factors I should consider. I think I want something stiffer than my current boots, but worry about going to far in the stiff direction, since I do like woods, bumps, and ungroomed stuff where I feel some flex and adaptability is good.

And the obvious advice of try on a bunch of boots may not apply - I'm leaning towards ordering online as I can get a good discount thru a friend. Also so far the selection I'm finding in stores isn't impressive. My hope is that by sticking with the same brand fit shouldn't change much. So, thoughts, advice?

 

[Abominable]

Are you a big dude? In my opinion, no matter how stiff these boots are (short of hard boots), I'm going to soften them up pretty quick. I have Burton Drivers, maybe two or three seasons, and they're pretty soft by now. So I always go with the stiffer boot. But I like bigger boards, traditional camber, etc., more aggressive / downhill setups overall.

EDIT: meant to mention I'm 6+ and could stand to lose a few pounds, so I think us bigger dudes overpower any soft material boot pretty quickly.

Not a fan of the fancy lace system though. Too easy to break, and not really fixable if you're on a trip or don't have time to send them back in.

 

[dmw]

Not big - 5'10, 175ish. I hear you on anything flexing out over time, my current formerly mid-flex boots have zero stiffness now. Fancy lacing - I've had a BOA fail and got it replaced in the lodge shop quickly, a pleasant surprise. But that could also make the case for the boots that have both laces and boa, if the boa should go, laces are still in effect.

 

[fcksummer]

I'm on my second pair of K2 T1's. I just ordered the 2015 model last week and wore them for the first time this past Sunday. I'm not sure if my old one's really got soft over time but the 2015's are much stiffer. Stiff boots are fine in the woods, ungroomed and bumps. Since switching from a medium flex to stiff, the only place I've ever missed the softer boot has been on rails and boxes but I don't care much for those anyways.

I ordered online as well because I couldn't find them in stores but the only reason I felt comfortable doing that was because I already owned the same model. Doubt I would order a different model without trying them on first, especially if you're unsure about a stiff boot.

 

[Jcb890]

I had to order my boots online also. I know everyone says to go on a try boots on and pick the ones that fit best. Well, apparently stores did not/do not stock size 13 snowboard boots with any regularity. So, I couldn't try anything on ahead of time. I used the internet to research as much as I could.

Finally I settled on Thirty Two and the Focus BOA boots. When I first got them, they were super tight all over, especially in the toe box. I went to Eastern Boarder and they heat molded them for me, which made them fit MUCH better than originally. I have used them this season and I really like them a lot. The dual BOA system is awesome, IMO. Like you guys said, it could pose a problem in case of a failure. However, everything is warrantied and they provided a metal "lace" with my boots, so I have a spare if I need it.

Why do I like the dual BOA so much? Well, let me tell you why!

No laces is wonderful. No worrying if I tied them too tight or too loosely. No hurting your hands/knuckles to wrench down on those laces to get them tied. Are your feet sore after working those carves hard for a while? No worries, just loosen the BOA system up when you get down to the bottom of the hill. When you get back up to the top, just tighten them back up and you're ready to rock.

These boots also have the fast-lace system incorporated in the inner boot/liner. So, no laces to tie there either. Just pull on the string and slide down the mechanism to keep it in place.

On a run down the mountain last weekend I felt like my heel was lifting a bit. So, when I got down to the bottom of the hill, I kicked my foot back and tightened up the BOA... it was too loose, but not any more.

I'm a bigger guy with wide feet. Nike sneakers don't fit me and never have because they are too narrow. Often times I wind up with New Balance in Wide variations. Not that many people have this problem, but I do. The 32 boots are wide enough for me and comfortable enough for me to ride all day.

Now I'm no 32 fanboy and I'm not sure if these are the best boots, but for the price and the technology, they seemed like a good fit for me and I have loved them. They are very stiff, but I wanted it that way - I have an all-mountain setup and everything is stiff. I ride a Ride Highlife UL 163W, Factory Union Bindings and 32 Focus BOA boots.

I don't know if 32 will be my next boot purchase when I happen to need new ones (let's hope not for a while!), but I wouldn't buy a boot without the dual BOA system. Period.

 

[dmw]

Thanks for the replies dudes, valuable thoughts. Does anyone know anything about the K2 Compass, or their "Kwicker" splitboard system in general?

 

[dmw]

A side note - I stopped at an East Coast Alpine today - they told me they have a great sale going on - buy one item, get the second lower priced item free. So, you could buy a board and get bindings or boots free. I think it applies to skis too, probably all hardgoods. I think it goes until 3/31.

 

[fcksummer]

I had to order my boots online also. I know everyone says to go on a try boots on and pick the ones that fit best. Well, apparently stores did not/do not stock size 13 snowboard boots with any regularity. So, I couldn't try anything on ahead of time. I used the internet to research as much as I could.

Finally I settled on Thirty Two and the Focus BOA boots. When I first got them, they were super tight all over, especially in the toe box. I went to Eastern Boarder and they heat molded them for me, which made them fit MUCH better than originally. I have used them this season and I really like them a lot. The dual BOA system is awesome, IMO. Like you guys said, it could pose a problem in case of a failure. However, everything is warrantied and they provided a metal "lace" with my boots, so I have a spare if I need it.

Why do I like the dual BOA so much? Well, let me tell you why!

No laces is wonderful. No worrying if I tied them too tight or too loosely. No hurting your hands/knuckles to wrench down on those laces to get them tied. Are your feet sore after working those carves hard for a while? No worries, just loosen the BOA system up when you get down to the bottom of the hill. When you get back up to the top, just tighten them back up and you're ready to rock.

These boots also have the fast-lace system incorporated in the inner boot/liner. So, no laces to tie there either. Just pull on the string and slide down the mechanism to keep it in place.

On a run down the mountain last weekend I felt like my heel was lifting a bit. So, when I got down to the bottom of the hill, I kicked my foot back and tightened up the BOA... it was too loose, but not any more.

I'm a bigger guy with wide feet. Nike sneakers don't fit me and never have because they are too narrow. Often times I wind up with New Balance in Wide variations. Not that many people have this problem, but I do. The 32 boots are wide enough for me and comfortable enough for me to ride all day.

Now I'm no 32 fanboy and I'm not sure if these are the best boots, but for the price and the technology, they seemed like a good fit for me and I have loved them. They are very stiff, but I wanted it that way - I have an all-mountain setup and everything is stiff. I ride a Ride Highlife UL 163W, Factory Union Bindings and 32 Focus BOA boots.

I don't know if 32 will be my next boot purchase when I happen to need new ones (let's hope not for a while!), but I wouldn't buy a boot without the dual BOA system. Period.

+1 on the double boa. Love how much control it provides and how quickly you can adjust them. I'll never go back to traditional or speed lace even.