Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Ski boot flex

profile picture
zavskier
Posts: 72 - Karma: 21
so, for the past year i've beens skiing in boots that don't really fit me, cause i didn't have the money to buy new boots. the boots are alittle too big, and used alot before i bought them. while skiing in these boots, i'd always found it necessary to tighten them with the upper buckles as much as possible, to the point that it took alot of effort to clamp down the top buckles, because if i was able to flex more than a very little bit, my heel would move about 1 ". my question is, when i get, or use, fitting boots where my heel doesn't move, how much flex should i have in my boot for steeps and bumps. i found that sometimes, with my not-perfect boots, i get a loss of control when my heel comes up, and my skis start wobbling, or i get bounced into the back seat. will properly fitting boots fix this, and, as i asked earlier, how much should i be able to flex, or should boots be tightened as much as possible?
Dec 11 2009 4:35PM
0 0
profile picture
ifli
Posts: 449 - Karma: 21
just get new boots its totally worth it. i did my first run of the day once last year without my top buckle fastened and i was wondering why i was having soo much trouble on the way down
Dec 11 2009 5:20PM
0 0
profile picture
PeeDuBzz
Posts: 1010 - Karma: 134
a boot that fits properly will be extreamly more responsive... you gotta tell ns how much you weigh cause that effects the flex that would be best, i am around 160 lbs and ski around 50% park and %50% all mt if not more outside of the park but anyways my boots are a 90-100 flex pattern and i like them alot if that helps  
Dec 11 2009 5:23PM
0 0
profile picture
ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
my boots are at 110 flex index which is a little high for my liking, I think the next pair of boots I get will be like 95. The best advice I would give you is save your pennies and dimes and go see a professional boot fitter to get a pair of boots that fit you properly.
Dec 11 2009 5:27PM
0 0
profile picture
thankagaper
Posts: 911 - Karma: -1,548
imagine boots that flex
Dec 11 2009 5:29PM
0 0
profile picture
Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Flax rating isn't universal ie. a Salomon 80 flex is about the same as a Nordica 110 flex..go for something with a medium flex rating, no need for a super stiff race flex, but something stiffer than the park boots you see..
Dec 11 2009 6:03PM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
wait, is that actually true? thats kinda crazy... can you support that?


to the OP
There is nothing better then a boot that fits. it will allow you to ski so much better
Dec 11 2009 9:21PM
0 0
profile picture
JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
yeah boot flex isnt universal at all, its different with every company. There is no universal scale or anything.
Dec 11 2009 9:36PM
0 0
profile picture
onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
True, but within a company's line it will make sense. It will at least be consistent as you go up or down within a brand.  Try some boots on, and make sure to have a different boot on your left foot than your right and see how they stack up against each other.  Find a flex that allows your knee to get just past your toes but without turning the lower shell to mush in the process.  You want it to be flexible, but still supportive.
Dec 12 2009 9:13AM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
so like an 80 flex boot is usually sold as an entry level boot
so in sollies, your saying that like a 50 is entry level? cuz its 80 = 110, then what the hell does a sollie in a 110 equal?
Dec 12 2009 3:44PM
0 0
profile picture
selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
Flex isn't the only thing to consider when buying a boot though. The most important thing is that it fits. If your boot fits well then oftentimes the flex won't matter as much as it's made out to.
Dec 12 2009 4:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
true
first, its gotta fit, otherwise nothing really matters
but then, if you've found a fit you like, flex is the next important thing
if your in the park, you wont want something too stiff
if your skiing all mountain, you might want something on the stiffer side
if your racing, you want something thats stiff as fuck

Dec 12 2009 4:52PM
0 0
profile picture
onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
it kinda depends on the stiffest boot in the company's line up and they rate them based on that. Some companies top out around 150, some 170 (at that point they actually call the race boots soft, medium, or stiff). So depending on what that company's stiffest boot is, they go down from there.  And even then, when companies add color to the plastic it actually changes the plastic's durometer and flex.  It's all weird.  Use it as a guideline and then go try them on and see what the best "100-flex" is right for you.
Dec 12 2009 6:49PM
0 0
profile picture
no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
for steeps and bumps i ride my krypton pros modded out to 140, it's as stiff as they go before you actually rivet the cuffs together

i tried on some 28's and some 27.5's and i found in the bigger shell i could barely flex a stiff tongue yet on the smaller shell i can get the best of a stiff tongue and the flex inserts
Dec 12 2009 6:52PM
0 0
profile picture
i_h_q
Posts: 223 - Karma: 10
Anyone know how Dalbello boot flex ranks among other companies? I picked up some a pair of Voodoos that fit my foot GREAT, but I'm worried that it has too much flex. I ski mostly all mountain, trees, etc.

It say's vario boot flex but I've seen on some websites it's really 75-85 :/

Will I notice a big difference? Did I screw up big time?


Dec 29 2009 12:17PM
0 0
profile picture
iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
Voodoos are pretty soft, but because they're Dalbello you can get stiffer tongues to get a stiffer flex.

Maybe try the boots for some time and if you still think the flex is too soft, get the stiffer tongues.
Dec 29 2009 2:50PM
0 0
profile picture
Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
could be wrong here, but i don't think you can replace the tongue on the voodoos. they are, however, made out of a lower quality (polyethylene) plastic, so they stiffen up a ton when they get cold. also, anything that uses a clear or semi transparent plastic tends to stiffen up in the cold more than an opaque plastic does, for whatever reason. hopefully, the shop you bought them from has a boot fit guarantee, so if they end up being too soft, you can trade them in for the appropriate boot.
Dec 29 2009 4:00PM
0 0
profile picture
Candy
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 176
Wow, I learn something new everyday. Now I can see why it makes sense that Full Tilt made up their own flex ratings.
Dec 29 2009 4:14PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)