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April, 2025

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Stiff boots? yea or nay

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.otto.
Posts: 3495 - Karma: 12,909
Trying to get out of my baby booters at 60 flex- they are pretty much mush and give no support- however ive never park skied in anything stiffer

will i have alot more control with a stiffer boot?

What flex is your guy's ski boots?
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8 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9177 - Karma: 39,945
Depends on your foot etc etc...go to a fitter.

But yes in general the stiffer boot gives you more control. I ride in a gpx 130 right now...it's an awesome boot
8 years ago
0 0
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
I hate soft boots, even in the park. I find stiff boots especially useful in park during the springtime. When it gets warmer your boots will not be as stiff, and you will want the extra control to drive through the choppy slush.

130 dalbello krypton pros for me. If they fit your foot I would highly recommend them. If they end up being too stiff you can still swap the tongues out. Or you could go with the 110 flex KR fusion and swap in the stiffer tongues when you want.
8 years ago
0 0
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.otto.
Posts: 3495 - Karma: 12,909
250rI hate soft boots, even in the park. I find stiff boots especially useful in park during the springtime. When it gets warmer your boots will not be as stiff, and you will want the extra control to drive through the choppy slush.

130 dalbello krypton pros for me. If they fit your foot I would highly recommend them. If they end up being too stiff you can still swap the tongues out. Or you could go with the 110 flex KR fusion and swap in the stiffer tongues when you want.


thanks for this- 130 flex is pretty big! do you not find them too stiff?
8 years ago
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
.otto.thanks for this- 130 flex is pretty big! do you not find them too stiff?


I do find them a bit stiff at times. I have tongues from the 110s that I use sometimes. How much you weigh will determine what flex you like. I only weigh 140 but am used to a stiffer boot so I'm right on the edge between a 110 and a 130.
8 years ago
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kbrando
Posts: 1208 - Karma: 904
Like already mentioned, stiffer boots will give you more control. Its one of those things, once you get used to something, it will just feel normal. Go to a shop and try on lots of different boots to find something that feels good for you. Don't get too caught up on the actual flex rating from the boot company, those can vary from brand to brand. I ski a Nordica Pro 130 race boot and I can almost guarantee that 130 flex is a lot stiffer than a 130 from someone else. It's all preference and finding something that feels good for you.
8 years ago
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.otto.
Posts: 3495 - Karma: 12,909
250rI do find them a bit stiff at times. I have tongues from the 110s that I use sometimes. How much you weigh will determine what flex you like. I only weigh 140 but am used to a stiffer boot so I'm right on the edge between a 110 and a 130.


i weigh 180

i race also and have a pair of fishcer rc4 that i think are 120s and those seem pretty damn stiff to me
8 years ago
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SKRockies
Posts: 606 - Karma: 1,690
.otto.i weigh 180

i race also and have a pair of fishcer rc4 that i think are 120s and those seem pretty damn stiff to me


I weigh between 180 and 190 and even when im charging a 110 flex is pretty good, its never felt too stiff but that being said i have felt it kinda give out once or twice but thats bound to happen hitting drops
8 years ago
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.otto.
Posts: 3495 - Karma: 12,909
SKRockiesI weigh between 180 and 190 and even when im charging a 110 flex is pretty good, its never felt too stiff but that being said i have felt it kinda give out once or twice but thats bound to happen hitting drops


word- currently im looking at the head thrahsers which are 100 flex and the nordica two stars which are 110 i think

dabello is a possibility too
8 years ago
0 0
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
I am of the opinion that you should be in the stiffest boot that you can still properly flex. For some people this might mean 80, for some this might mean 150.

Your ideal boot flex is ultimately determined by your weight, strength, technique, ankle flexibility, personal preference, and some extent your height. Your skier type does not factor into it. Bigger, stronger skiers need more support while smaller, less strong skiers need less support. And sometimes even smaller, less strong skiers need stiff boots because they are hitting huge features and the forces applied to the boot require the boot to be stiff in order to survive.

Here's a shot from Keefer at last season's Nine Knights in our Redster World Cup 130 (with foamed liners):

I post this picture not to say that people should ski in super stiff race boots, but rather that you should find the right thing for you and your feet, which more often than not will surprise you.
8 years ago
1 0
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tfsh
Posts: 190 - Karma: 554
I weigh 140 and ski on 130 flex plug race boots. Its all personal preference and also what you can flex. Bootfitter is the way to go imo if you don't know.
8 years ago
0 0
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cozyco
Posts: 360 - Karma: 825
onenerdykidI am of the opinion that you should be in the stiffest boot that you can still properly flex. For some people this might mean 80, for some this might mean 150.

Your ideal boot flex is ultimately determined by your weight, strength, technique, ankle flexibility, personal preference, and some extent your height. Your skier type does not factor into it. Bigger, stronger skiers need more support while smaller, less strong skiers need less support. And sometimes even smaller, less strong skiers need stiff boots because they are hitting huge features and the forces applied to the boot require the boot to be stiff in order to survive.

Here's a shot from Keefer at last season's Nine Knights in our Redster World Cup 130 (with foamed liners):

I post this picture not to say that people should ski in super stiff race boots, but rather that you should find the right thing for you and your feet, which more often than not will surprise you.


Thanks for saying. So many people think they need some 130 flex race boots to "stompt that cliff bro". ridicolous. currently ripping in Lange RX120, I sadly lost all my bolts in the back so the boot is more like a 100-110.

This survey kinda proofs it. I d say 5-10% of 130 flex boot owners actually need it.
8 years ago
0 0
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,036
yea stiff boots!
8 years ago
0 0
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Rennis_Deynolds
Posts: 2739 - Karma: 19,059
I rock a seth morrison with an 8 flex in the park, not sure what the equivalent of a fulltilt 8 is but i'm assuming somewhere between 110-130
8 years ago
0 0
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SKRockies
Posts: 606 - Karma: 1,690
Rennis_DeynoldsI rock a seth morrison with an 8 flex in the park, not sure what the equivalent of a fulltilt 8 is but i'm assuming somewhere between 110-130


Ive been told by a shop that an 8 is around 110 and a 10 is around 120-130 when i went to get fitted for them
8 years ago
0 0
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Brule.
Posts: 3981 - Karma: 6,682
To answer your first question, OP, yes and no. It's all about personal preference and what you're able to flex, but you're better off going to your local ski shop and talking to a boot fitter.

I'm currently in a pair of Lange SX120s after spending roughly two seasons in a pair of 6 flex Full Tilt Classics. IMO this was a better decision because I'm not feeling like I'm over-flexing in my boots, despite my wide ass feet not fitting in the narrow toe boxes in my Full Tilts.
8 years ago
0 0
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randymeetsworld
Posts: 185 - Karma: 248
A stiffer boot feels more confident and solid to me... but then again I am skiing all-mountain and powder rather than park. I'm guessing softer would be more forgiving for tougher landings for a park skier. Different types of skiing and skiers would warrant different flexes I suppose.
8 years ago
0 0
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
Depends. If I had strong legs I'd be better able to manage soft boots, but as it is I need stiff boots that can compensate for my weak legs.
8 years ago
0 0
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,151
Im skiing RX130's. I popped the top bolts when I first got them, but now that they have been broken in I'm riding both bolts in the back. So much more control than when I skied in Fultilts. I hate soft boots.
8 years ago
0 0
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Cyanicenine
Posts: 966 - Karma: 2,291
I'm skiing 130 flex full plug race boots. The one thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that you can make a stiff boot softer by removing some of the rear bolts or making a V-cut in the shell. However, there is nothing you can do to make a soft boot more stiff. Better to go too stiff than too soft imho (within reason). As stiff as you are still able to properly flex. I also have poor ankle mobility so I need my boots to be supportive so I don't overflex my ankles.
8 years ago
0 0
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turnt_table
Posts: 56 - Karma: 88
SKRockiesIve been told by a shop that an 8 is around 110 and a 10 is around 120-130 when i went to get fitted for them


Not sure how accurate that comparison is, my 10 flex first chairs are very noticeably softer than my 130 nordica's, although the boot design is totally different so it might be kind of apples and oranges.
8 years ago
0 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38039 - Karma: 129,041
RX130's, would love to get my hands on something in the 140 range, I know its stiff as fuck but stiff boots are the bees knees.
8 years ago
0 0
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