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May, 2025

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Stiff boots > softer boots

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Thegenericskier
Posts: 2917 - Karma: 34,333
skied several boots in flexes ranging from 100 to 130. the stiffer the boot the better it felt skiing in park
5 years ago
18 11
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4239 - Karma: 10,754
Boots that are the correct stiffness for your height, weight, skier ability and style > the stiffest boot
5 years ago
69 0
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snowfinder
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 34,906
call me crazy but I like a soft boot
5 years ago
21 11
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JmckR
Posts: 1332 - Karma: 6,085
Skiing on snow > skiing on concrete
5 years ago
52 0
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Obama_care
Posts: 581 - Karma: 2,759
Soft boots decide to fuck my chins #fuckfulltilts
5 years ago
24 2
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7421 - Karma: 79,431
Obama_careSoft boots decide to fuck my chins #fuckfulltilts


Chins
5 years ago
31 0
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shoenice
Posts: 47 - Karma: 335
Wait you guys use ski boots? I’m out here clicking in with my Timbs, b
5 years ago
36 0
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,602
shoeniceWait you guys use ski boots? I’m out here clicking in with my Timbs, b


You laugh but I have seen too many work boots in snowboard bindings. But thats Michigan for ya.
5 years ago
27 0
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reeddavis218
Posts: 37 - Karma: 122
the stiff ones are better IMO, but they need to have the proper lining and flex points, such as Dalbello and FT, otherwise it will wreck your shins with the smallest wrong landings
5 years ago
5 5
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38073 - Karma: 129,483
i accidentally bought RX130s one year thinking they were the 120s and ended up loving those more than the 120s so yeah, big time 130 flex guy
5 years ago
19 0
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swagmasterflex
Posts: 399 - Karma: 2,592
Kinda off topic but I need new boots this year and have no clue where to start. I'm kinda new to park and get AWFUL shin bang, so if someone can actually confirm that full tilts help and are worth buying it would be appreciated.
5 years ago
5 4
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7421 - Karma: 79,431
swagmasterflexKinda off topic but I need new boots this year and have no clue where to start. I'm kinda new to park and get AWFUL shin bang, so if someone can actually confirm that full tilts help and are worth buying it would be appreciated.


Step 1: Buy full tilts

Step 2: if you made it this far, congrats you can read! also disregard step 1

Step 3: Go to a bootfitter.
5 years ago
38 0
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weastcoat
Posts: 6504 - Karma: 75,405
Having a really soft boot in the park is like running a marathon with your shoes untied
5 years ago
22 0
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swagmasterflex
Posts: 399 - Karma: 2,592
BiffbarfStep 1: Buy full tilts

Step 2: if you made it this far, congrats you can read! also disregard step 1

Step 3: Go to a bootfitter.


I'll take your word for it. Too bad I live in NJ and people don't know jack about park skiing and the different gear required. Landed my first front 270 in rental boots that had literal holes in the bottom. Thats rock bottom
5 years ago
14 1
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,207
Anyone know how the new Sammy C Ascents are gonna be? Looking to get away from frame bindings due to how the fuck the flex of a ski and weight and I'm pretty stoked on how they sound like they'll be.
5 years ago
0 0
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Sashac
Posts: 3197 - Karma: 88
The referenced post has been removed.


This is the real truth
5 years ago
8 0
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broken_skier0
Posts: 132 - Karma: 288
swagmasterflexKinda off topic but I need new boots this year and have no clue where to start. I'm kinda new to park and get AWFUL shin bang, so if someone can actually confirm that full tilts help and are worth buying it would be appreciated.


You might read this on some of the causes of shin-bang in the first place.

https://www.skimag.com/gear/shin-bang-and-how-to-prevent-it
5 years ago
1 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
It's all about proper fit. Flex numbers don't mean that much as there is no "standard".

I am skiing some 110's and it's all good.
5 years ago
6 0
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
snowfindercall me crazy but I like a soft boot

Lots of people do. If you like to skirp and butter it does allow you to get more leverage in some cases, like you can lean further over your tips and tails. Stiff gives more control though so it’s all personal preference, but soft definitely works in the park
5 years ago
3 0
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Dilldoes
Posts: 761 - Karma: 5,852
animatorLots of people do. If you like to skirp and butter it does allow you to get more leverage in some cases, like you can lean further over your tips and tails. Stiff gives more control though so it’s all personal preference, but soft definitely works in the park


My "midwest" boot is a 100 flex. Old home resort never built large jumps and had no vert so it was easier/more fun to butter and screw around with the soft flex.
5 years ago
4 0
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xxACIDTRIPxx
Posts: 5980 - Karma: 8,185
hot.pocketBoots that are the correct stiffness for your height, weight, skier ability and style > the stiffest boot


Owned
5 years ago
4 1
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soup
Posts: 6354 - Karma: 4,486
Soft boots are my everything. Soft doesn't mean sloppy and loose it just meansyou can flex it without snapping your shin.
5 years ago
9 1
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2784 - Karma: 12,649
Skiing < talking shit
5 years ago
12 0
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,867
soupSoft boots are my everything. Soft doesn't mean sloppy and loose it just meansyou can flex it without snapping your shin.

I like stiff boots but that doesn't mean I can't properly flex the boot. I feel like I'm more able to drive the shovel of the ski with stiffer boots. With softer boots I felt like all my shin pressure was absorbed.
5 years ago
3 0
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,903
swagmasterflexI'll take your word for it. Too bad I live in NJ and people don't know jack about park skiing and the different gear required. Landed my first front 270 in rental boots that had literal holes in the bottom. Thats rock bottom


Park skiing is no difference when it comes to shin bang, just get a boot properly fitted by a bootfitter and it will go away
5 years ago
4 0
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
If your fat enough, most consumer 130 flex boots are soft.
5 years ago
8 0
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sean2whitney
Posts: 6 - Karma: 15
I seem to like a soft boot, although i havent had much experience with a stiffer boot. and when i say softer, i mean i can lean forwards and touch the ground with my hands and the skis will only be at a slight nose press lol. I like it for buttering/olliing off knuckles and rollers. For me it seems to make playful skiing really easy.
*for background: I ski midwest only, park and the shitty "all mountain" terrain we have here lol. I'd say I'm a pretty damn good skier all mountain. Park I can ride a rail and throw some simple 3s and 7s off a 40ftr.
5 years ago
2 1
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5325 - Karma: 55,234
4 buckle gang
5 years ago
5 2
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,903
pinkcamo10004 buckle gang


I would never even consider using a boot with less than 4 buckles
5 years ago
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
If you can't flex your ankles, your boot is too stiff.
5 years ago
3 0
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CaveManSam
Posts: 10 - Karma: 37
I only ski park in my 150 flex Langes. Everyone knows freestyle skiing is actually about carving.
5 years ago
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
Its a thing, my "race" 130 flex atomics I can just lean a bit and we have butttttttters, on my technica cochise dyn 130 I gotto lean way way more.

also landings hurts less on stiffer boots
5 years ago
1 0
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
Soft sloppy boots feel so sketchy when Im skiing park. I cant even get a feel for where my skis are.
5 years ago
2 0
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
for some reason I often get more shinbang in soft boots, anyone else?
5 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
anders_afor some reason I often get more shinbang in soft boots, anyone else?


Sounds par for the course...
5 years ago
1 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
anders_afor some reason I often get more shinbang in soft boots, anyone else?

I believe that is a factor of proper fit, be it softer or harder shell.
5 years ago
4 0
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
DominatorJacquesI believe that is a factor of proper fit, be it softer or harder shell.


Yup. Shin bang means there’s too much room between your shin and the tongue of the boot, has everything to do with fit and little to do with flex.
5 years ago
3 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
animatorYup. Shin bang means there’s too much room between your shin and the tongue of the boot, has everything to do with fit and little to do with flex.

Consensus of many. Must be truth. That's what the fitter's tell us too. Fit, fit, and then fit.
5 years ago
2 0
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chef.llc
Posts: 579 - Karma: 7,648
animatorYup. Shin bang means there’s too much room between your shin and the tongue of the boot, has everything to do with fit and little to do with flex.

I was talking to a bootfitter yesterday and he said the same thing about the fit, but he did say that a softer flex would help a bit (in the context of going from 130 to 120)
5 years ago
2 0
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
chef_boyardeeI was talking to a bootfitter yesterday and he said the same thing about the fit, but he did say that a softer flex would help a bit (in the context of going from 130 to 120)


Sure! If you’re used to a plug boot with a 140 flex, a 120 boot will generally be less shin bangy because it flexes more and will follow what your shins are doing (if it’s fit correctly)
5 years ago
3 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
chef_boyardeeI was talking to a bootfitter yesterday and he said the same thing about the fit, but he did say that a softer flex would help a bit (in the context of going from 130 to 120)


animatorSure! If you’re used to a plug boot with a 140 flex, a 120 boot will generally be less shin bangy because it flexes more and will follow what your shins are doing (if it’s fit correctly)


At my old age I have gotten a bit heavy. Let's say about 135 (or a bit less I wish). I ski a 110 flex Salmon and I have no bang issues as I used to when I had boots that did not fit proper. Fit, fit and fit.

**This post was edited on Oct 20th 2020 at 6:02:27pm

**This post was edited on Oct 20th 2020 at 6:03:15pm
5 years ago
1 0
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9615 - Karma: 71,531
Also needs to be added: skinny narrow lower leg like mine will lead to shin bang because of the leverage on the shin in a boot that will never make proper supportive contact with that lower part of your shin. Im honestly going to just try putting tons of foam beer cuzies around my lower leg this year to give it more beef
broken_skier0You might read this on some of the causes of shin-bang in the first place.

https://www.skimag.com/gear/shin-bang-and-how-to-prevent-it
5 years ago
1 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
BigPurpleSkiSuitAlso needs to be added: skinny narrow lower leg like mine will lead to shin bang because of the leverage on the shin in a boot that will never make proper supportive contact with that lower part of your shin. Im honestly going to just try putting tons of foam beer cuzies around my lower leg this year to give it more beef


Shop more next time. There are boots out there for you. Many men have the same issue. Then instead of jamming some foam, see a certified boot fitter! Then go to thrift shop for more vintage onsies!
5 years ago
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.Morton
Posts: 443 - Karma: 1,559
My old boots were 90s but something was wrong with how they fit and they didn't flex at all. Now I have 120s, which are crushing my toes but fit better everywhere else, and they feel way softer.
5 years ago
0 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
.MortonMy old boots were 90s but something was wrong with how they fit and they didn't flex at all. Now I have 120s, which are crushing my toes but fit better everywhere else, and they feel way softer.

If they are "crushing" your toes, then that's a good reason to see a fitter.
The new plastics are so easy for them to stretch than ever before.
There is no need to ski in a boot that way.
If you have not broken then in, then maybe they will come around.
Buckles need to be tightened enough so that toes are pulled back too.
5 years ago
1 0
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AsherDonati24
Posts: 213 - Karma: 936
Got some 90 flex race boots an they work perfectly fine in the park. #langegang
5 years ago
1 0
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,903
AsherDonati24Got some 90 flex race boots an they work perfectly fine in the park. #langegang


I didn't know 90 flex race boots existed lol
5 years ago
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