Replying to Boots - help me decide..
Hey new here but long time lurker.
Before I get the "go to a bootfitter".. I was one in a past life and have tried on nearly a dozen boots over that last few weeks where I have it narrowed down to a few.
Namely:
Atomic Hawx Prime 110
Nordica speedmachine 120
Rossi alltrack 110
All 26.5
I have an average size foot overall 269ish left and 272ish right. Wear an 8.5us shoe C/D width with a High instep. Average gait.
I've been in 2 different pairs of 26.5 solly X waves over the last 15 or so years. My current pair are 100flex off the shelf fit.
I'm 37 with 35 years skiing and getting pit more now than 10 years ago but still lucky to get over 10 days on the mountain a season. Mostly groomers, I'm a fast solid upper advanced skier with (if im lucky) 2 days cat skiing in BC thus I don't want to spend $600-$800 On boots (cad $).
I bought all the boots and bringing them home where I can get some good time in them, compare side by side and mostly at night when my feet are swollen.
I'm using green super feet in all and stock footbeds. Superset rock.
My first impressions are the rossis are #3. I tried some solly xpro's which I didn't feel good in.
the Hawx are the most comfortable boot I've tried to date that still offer great support and performance (In my basement). Of all the 100-120 flex I've tried they are the strongest
I've had them on For hours at a time now and have broken them in as good as you probably can in the house. For a 100mm last they seem to have the most room for me with no real pressure points (slight at right instep and left ankle bone). The extra room compared to the others actually concerns me that when they pack out will be too big.
Thoughts?
- How much can i expect them to pack out skiing 8 days a year? Will heating the shells for more ankle bone room give too much elsewhere?
The custom fit shell is awesome tech but I'm not even sure if need to heat them - maybe just the liner?
The hawx plastic feels strongest where it needs to be. No creaking like most of the other boots.
I haven't had a chance to try any hawx ultras but I have a feeling they may have the added forefoot support the prime dont. Unfortunately I've looked around and none are available locally to try on. I've got a few day trips I want to break in any new boots before I head to whistler in 3 weeks. Not a lot of time to have boots shipped... also see back where I didn't want to spend $600. The ultras appear to be much more expensive than the boots I'm looking at. I've also never skied a 98mm last and all other boots I've tried are 100 or 102. A real pickle..
Which brings me to a pair of nordica speedmachine 120.
They are noticeably more snug than the Hawx and have better Achilles support (some unwanted pressure there and other common spots where each of the nordica "infrared" spots are.) Trouble is I have no bootfitter around me with this system I'm aware of (rural canada).
Also, the nordys are a 120 flex but feel noticably softer than the Hawx 110 (stock flex). The hawx are the strongest 110 not I've tried and I like that they can be bumped up a bit. The hawx overall feel like a better boot and I feel mpre comfortable in their stance (perhaps cuz no pressure points.
I feel taller in the hawx.
So this is my dilemma. The hawx feel great at home but I worry they will pack put too much.
- would the ultras in the same size be big enough to support my high instep? It's attractive that the shells can be molded in my oven. Is it worth the extra $300? I wpuld spend it if I could try them on tomorrow and for right.
Any other boots i should try?
Thanks in advance and for all the posts I've read to get here.
Cheers
Klr
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