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Making boots stiffer?

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lakers2010
Posts: 74 - Karma: 10
is there any way to make ski boots stiffer?
Sep 12 2010 4:15PM
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DJ_Pauly_D
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 42
We need details on the boot cuzwith some yes you can.. for example full tilts have changeable tongues to adjust the flex
Sep 12 2010 4:38PM
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lakers2010
Posts: 74 - Karma: 10
they are called alpina free 180's.
Sep 12 2010 4:43PM
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Luc.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 59
i THINK those are my old boots...not to sure.

if i remember correctly they had an adjuster along the backside of the boot, i forget the technical name for it, but basically it adjusts the flex from a 80 to 100. (if i have the right model in mind)

most high(er) end boots and even some mid-end boots have similar adjustments typically found on the Achilles area of the boot(back lower portion of boot)

otherwise, its very hard to make the boot stiffer, unless you can buy plugs for the boot which is typical for high end race boots... but FYI its fairly easy to make it softer.
Sep 12 2010 5:10PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,862
You can make a boot stiffer by fixing the cuff to the shell, usually by drilling hole(s) in the spine of the boot and putting in large screws and t-nuts which keep the cuff from pivoting at the hinge points. If your boot already has those in place (SPK or Ghost for example), you can add plastic "plates" to the cuff of the boot.

There are a few more tricks but it depends on how stiff you need it to go and what boot you have (more so the arrangement of how it's put together which will dictate what to do).
Sep 12 2010 5:21PM
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Luc.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 59
the problem with plugging the boot like that is it yields little to no flex, so i doubt that would be practical in this spot.

the change would be so drastic he would insta-regret the decision unless he wants a plug boot
Sep 12 2010 6:14PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,862
This is not what "plug boot" refers too, and it doesn't yield little to no flex otherwise no one would be skiing SPKs. A boot will still flex after you rivet the cuff because flex also depends on the lower shell configuration and how the deep the v-cuts in the ankle area are.
Sep 13 2010 12:27AM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
BOOSTER STRAPS AND CUSTOM LINERS
Sep 13 2010 12:29AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
.
Sep 13 2010 12:52AM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
this haha

you can add a rivet if you want, you probably just need boots that fir though
Sep 13 2010 12:56AM
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Luc.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 59
yea but drilling a hole in the back of a boot and putting a screw in it is different mechanics than the spk, and other, ski boots stiffening designs...or am i mistaken?
Sep 13 2010 6:58PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,862
Boots like the SPK/Impact/Volt/Jah Love etc have their cuff riveted/bolted to the lower shell. The boot is still able to flex because as you flex forward, the cuff of the lower shell flexes inwards still (it's why there are "v" type cuts above the cuff alignment rivets). These "v" cuts move as you flex and allow the boot to flex. Plus you'll see the lower shell slightly bellow out as you flex a boot, letting you know that, despite the cuff being bolted to the lower shell, you are still flexing the boot forward. Mega stiff race boots sometimes lack the "v" cuts in order to be, well, mega stiff.

What this depends on is the boot in question... How deep are those "v" cuts? How stiff is the lower shell? This is what has to be taken into consideration when (before) you start drilling holes and adding screws to the boot.
Sep 14 2010 2:33PM
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stephengillboy
Posts: 462 - Karma: 191
buy full tilts
Sep 16 2010 9:18PM
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