DCSki Forums

wgo - DCSki Supporter

yesterday

Member since 02/10/2004 🔗

1,815 posts

What flex do you all have for your ski boots? I've never been a super fast hardcharger so my boots have been on the soft side (95) but I am in the market for a new pair of boots and am thinking of moving up to a 100 or 110.

needawax - DCSki Supporter

yesterday

Member since 04/19/2019 🔗

167 posts

I like it around 100. I've always been a believer that the boot is key to how things go down on the snow. On the other side of that, I do adjust throughout the day, depending on how warm it gets in these parts, and I will crank up the buckles accordingly.

I do like the ability to push the shins into the boot down to the toe, so I do like flex and maybe just a little slop in the boot in general. A boot shouldn't feel uncomfortably tight, nor should it feel like a typical shoe.

wgo - DCSki Supporter

yesterday

Member since 02/10/2004 🔗

1,815 posts

The ski shop I spoke with has a couple options for my size at both 90 and 100. 90 may be a bit on the soft side but OTOH I guess may help with pushing my shins into the boot, which I something I realized I do not always do as much as I should especially on moguls or steeps. And honestly my old 95 flex boots were packed down so much that even a 90 flex may be a bit more stiff. I'll see what I can tell when I try them on.

SKI-PSU

23 hours ago

Member since 11/25/2019 🔗

27 posts

I ski a 130 given I want maximum contact/impact but I also formally ski raced. Boot tech has come so far that stiff boots are now exceptionally comfortable compared to what existed 10-15 years ago.

As a related topic - I love the BOA system so far on my Salmon S/Pro Supra BOAs

Stephen

23 hours ago

Member since 02/16/2024 🔗

195 posts

Height and weight are a big part of what determines the best flex. Numbers thrown out there without those specs don't mean much. I'm 5'11" 165 pounds, and I use the number 8 tongue on Full Tilt classic. I think that corresponds to 110. Full Tilt comes with the 6 tongue, so I started with that, but it was definitely too soft for me. People from every aspect of skiing tend to cover the full range of philosophies when it comes to flex. You can find mogul skiers that use very stiff boots like racers tend to use, but that's really the exception, not the rule. On average, mogul skiers use softer flex than racers, but not too soft. I think 110 is pretty common for someone of my size. If you're bigger, then you'd need more. If you're smaller, then you'd likely want less. There's an optimum amount of flex in the boot for a turn style, and because it's a spring, that is directly dependent on weight and leverage.

wgo - DCSki Supporter

23 hours ago

Member since 02/10/2004 🔗

1,815 posts

That's actually very useful. I am a similar weight (170 lbs) but several inches shorter (5'7")

marzNC - DCSki Supporter

22 hours ago

Member since 12/10/2008 🔗

3,601 posts

wgo wrote:

What flex do you all have for your ski boots? I've never been a super fast hardcharger so my boots have been on the soft side (95) but I am in the market for a new pair of boots and am thinking of moving up to a 100 or 110.

My understanding is that flex numbers are only relative for a given brand.

How old are your boots? When my liners packed out on my previous pair of boots, I replaced them with Intuition liners. Not only did that mean new liners, it also increased the functional flex for those shells. I moved those Intuition liners to my current boots when the stock heat-moldable liners packed out after a few seasons. Since I also replaced the heel and toe sole pieces, have been able to keep those boots for a longer time.

Recently replaced the power strap with something invented by a boot fitter from Vermont. That was an experiment that has worked out well.

needawax - DCSki Supporter

22 hours ago (edited 22 hours ago)

Member since 04/19/2019 🔗

167 posts

The boot shouldn't feel uncomfortably tight, otoh, it shouldn't feel "roomy." "Comfort" is a subjective thing. I've had insanely cheap dalbellos (kinda sloppy) that have worked wonders for me, and also Salomons that were more rigid - that I also liked. Beyond that, you're talking about numbers wrt bootmakers and their brands. If you can't throw some pressure efficiently to the tongue of the boot from your shin with a decently snug fit, you aren't "using" the boot. That said, I have blown out many footbeds from teaching. Once that happens, I typically start again with a new pair of boots. I don't do much surgery on boots.

Leo

6 hours ago

Member since 11/15/2005 🔗

390 posts

This can definitely be true. I replaced my boots last season and went with the K2 Recon 130 -- they are perfect for me, but if you skied them blindfolded you would never ever say they were 130. That boot is probably a bit of an outlier from that standpoint.

marzNC wrote:

wgo wrote:
My understanding is that flex numbers are only relative for a given brand.

wgo - DCSki Supporter

6 hours ago

Member since 02/10/2004 🔗

1,815 posts

I have heard that K2's tend to be on softer size so it makes sense that the 130's would maybe have a bit more flex than expected based on the numbers.

@Marz - lets just say my boots are old enough that they definitely need to be replaced and leave it at that

needawax - DCSki Supporter

1 hour ago

Member since 04/19/2019 🔗

167 posts

A lot of people get hung up on boots (brands, price, etc) - and that's not to say that they aren't important, they are at least as important as the ski you choose/use for sure. But I've often found that price and build technology often don't translate directly to the performance or comfort you expect. Sometimes you just hit a great fit and no problemo. Could be a $700 boot or a $1200 boot.