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SPK vs Krypton

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Burrito
Posts: 1864 - Karma: 930
Just general curiosity here (I have a pair of Kryptons that I love but have never ridden SPKs):

Both boots have similar but slightly different buckle systems.  The SPK's lower buckle directs energy down toward the foot while the Krypton's is more diagonal toward the ankle.  Discounting the facts that the two boots differ in flex, 3-piece vs 2-piece shell, foot shapes, etc., which buck system do you guys prefer?   Which is more comfortable, performs better, etc?
Feb 16 2009 12:06PM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
If you fit comfortably in Kryptons, there is no way Spks will fit you.
Feb 16 2009 1:03PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
The kryptons buckle system is meant to pull the heel back and down, and lock you in the heel pocket.  SPK is just a four buckle boot, but the two top buckles and two bottom buckles are replaced with two huge buckles.  It's basically just two buckles pulling double duty.
Feb 16 2009 2:17PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 151
Assuming both fit your foot perfectly, (which just isn't possible)
The Krypton would offer more control
Feb 16 2009 3:51PM
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Burrito
Posts: 1864 - Karma: 930
I know they both won't fit.  I'm not looking for new boots.  I was just curious about opinions on the tech.
Feb 16 2009 5:07PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Salomon makes horrible boots in my opinion. They are too basic, and incredibly soft.

SPK pros:
super comfortable
lots of padding

SPK cons:
tongue-style liner
only 2 buckles
soft

Dalbello and Full Tilt make the best boots on the market I believe. they have the 3 buckle design, intuition liners, and boots with various flexes instead of just soft ones.
Feb 16 2009 5:58PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
You know that salomon makes 4 buckles race boots right?  To say they are all soft is dumb.  And dalbello and full tilt just sell intuitions WITH their boots.  It doesn't mean you can't put intuitions into any other boots.  And what does "They are too basic" mean?  They're the same as every other boot on the market, with the exception of fit.
Feb 16 2009 6:37PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
yes, and those are plug boots. And anybody who has worn plug boots knows that they suck to freeski in due to the fact that they are cold and uncomfortable. And a little too stiff for my liking, but that part is really preference.

And I realize you can put intuitions in any boot. I'm saying it should be a norm to have boots come with them though, because tongue-liners blow balls.

and yes, I believe they are too basic. Two buckles? what if one of them breaks? And they're made of plastic? yukko


I dunno man, if you're perfectly happy with SPKs, then more power to ya, I just personally wouldn't ever pay money for them. To each his own eh?
Feb 16 2009 6:46PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
Now they're too stiff?  And whether or not tongue liners blow or not is also preference just like flex.  And the buckles are metal, not plastic.  And I don't particularly like spks, I wear ghosts, which I LOVE, but you're saying you don't like an entire companies line of boots because they make one model you don't like?
Feb 16 2009 8:44PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
no, I'm salomons are either

A) plug boots which suck for anything but racing
B) soft ass park boots (yes that includes ghosts)

the buckles ARE plastic, I have a pair sitting upstairs. And tongue liners? who in their right mind would prefer tongue liners over intuitions?

and I dont like any of their boots. why would I judge a company based on one product?
Feb 16 2009 8:46PM
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Capurnicus
Posts: 9947 - Karma: 1,886
Well, I've ridden SPK's, Dalbello's,and Full Tilt's and I've come to the conclusion that I like the SPK the most by far. The Dabello's skied well but they hurt my foot on the top a lot and I couldn't ski more than a couple runs with them. Also the Dalbellos are heavy as fuck. The Full Tilts were super light, which is really nice. And they seemed to fit well off hill, but as soon as I went skiing I realized that this boot just didn't work for me. It didn't keep my heel down at all no matter how tight i made it, there just wasn't enough calf support and the boots really weren't working..I only lasted one run on those. So I ride my old ass SPK's on which the buckle has half fallen off...but hey after about 200 days, I can't really complain..so I bought another pair of SPKS because I feel though they are the best boot for me. Say what you want about the SPK, but it's definitely a rad boot and the design works.
Feb 16 2009 8:57PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
haha did I not just say it was preference?
Feb 16 2009 8:58PM
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Capurnicus
Posts: 9947 - Karma: 1,886
Also, I don't know what kind of SPKS you have, but I have the original black and white ones and the buckles are indeed metal. Mine don't have any paint on them, they're metallic colored. Full tilt's buckles are plastic, though.

I'm in my right mind and I prefer the tongue liner over the intuition liner... Boot's are all just personal preference dude...you can't say that all Salomon boots suck, that just doesn't make sense. All the companies make good boots, its all about what boot design works for you and your preference for fit and feel. Salomon's done their work though, and they do make good shit, you can't deny that.
Feb 16 2009 9:02PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
denydenydenydeny
Feb 16 2009 9:04PM
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Capurnicus
Posts: 9947 - Karma: 1,886
I do not see where you said anything to that effect. I see where you said that Salomon makes no good boots.
Feb 16 2009 9:05PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
adfsdgfhj
Feb 16 2009 9:06PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33

YOU don't like any of their boots.  Don't tell someone they make shitty product, because boots are INDIVIDUAL.  They may not work for you, but other people love them.  Some people can't stand full tilts or dalbello's.  And no, the buckles aren't plastic.  There's a hard coating of I don't know what on the buckles, but once you go scrape that off, you'll see the buckles are METAL.  And plug boots don't suck for everything but racing.  And some people like park boots.  Fuck you're just contradicting your self.  Both those things you listed are PREFERENTIAL.

Feb 16 2009 9:16PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Glad we can agree.
Feb 16 2009 9:30PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
Don't say salomon's shitty then, because some people PREFER those traits in their boots.
Feb 16 2009 10:04PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,403
well i own spk pros and they are so nice, perfect flex for everything, never got shin bang, super nice boot for me, fit me perfect.
Feb 16 2009 10:08PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
haha why are you even arguing over boots? I simply dislike them because they don't suit my purposes. golly gee
Feb 16 2009 10:22PM
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Six.0.Tree-ski
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 67
^ it is all preference but you didnt need to go dissing salomon because of some boots you dont like and whats not "good" to your standards.
Feb 16 2009 10:30PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
bitch please I diss who I wish
Feb 16 2009 10:32PM
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Six.0.Tree-ski
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 67
good for you. wanna cookie?
Feb 16 2009 10:33PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
and besides, I think Salomon is a great company for what they're doing to promote young kids. I mean I've never liked any of their product whatsoever, but a company is MUCH more than their product, ya digg?
Feb 16 2009 10:34PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
yeaaa doggie
Feb 16 2009 10:35PM
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Burrito
Posts: 1864 - Karma: 930
I'm glad I started this.
Feb 17 2009 7:30AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
But seriously, the performance with a ski boot (as with any sports equipment) relies on your preference for "feel" of the ski. For instance, if you just cruised around at slow speeds, you definitely wouldn't want a stiff boot. You wouldn't exert enough momentum to take advantage of such a resistive flex.

Stiffer boots respond to movement faster, and channels more force into the flex of the ski, thus making butter tricks easier as well. Stiffer boots are also good for high speeds because at such speeds you are exerting much more force on your boots, so generally a fairly resistive flex is wanted in order to compensate for such force.

I personally don't know any advantages to softer boots, but many good skiers prefer them for their own legitimate reasons.
Feb 17 2009 7:50AM
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steezyme
Posts: 212 - Karma: 10

Gimme a break the Krypton is nowhere near as stiff as a Ghost.

The Ghost is a 120 flex. The Krypton is not even a 100 flex.

Intuition liners nowhere as precise in term of foothold as the Salomon Custom Fit Race  liners. In fact the intuition liners are the same ones as from the 1990's...

The second skin liner and the 1 pull lacing on the Ghost liners are a million time more precise then the Intuition's.

The Spk Promodel is a 110 flex. Also stiffer then a Kryptons.

That said Spk are park boots and Kryptons are considered free ride... So who's too soft???

As for plastic buckles... All spk and ghost and next year's shogun/poison's are all micro alu buckles.

Feb 21 2009 2:23AM
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Burrito
Posts: 1864 - Karma: 930
No one uses the same flex ratings.  Comparing number is irrelevant.
Feb 21 2009 12:30PM
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