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Hey guys, can anyone help me with this?..
I just started riding park last season and I truly fell in love with it. However, I ride the Salomon xAccess 70 wide, (I’m 5’7 and 170lbs) and was wondering if this boot after one season is still sufficient for park riding? Or do I need to go and spend the money to get a “freestyle” marketed ski boot?.. is there anyone who can give me an honest answer so I don’t go crazy trying to decide.
I believe that, but are there any examples of “pros”, of the sport if you may call it? Or Anyone who does this now so that I can not feel stupid at least for wearing these in the park?
There's litteraly no such thing as a "park" ski boot. The new faction boot is based off an old salomon boot. The full tilt models were never originally made for freestyle. Get what fits your foot and that's what'll give you performance
An honest answer would be to go to a boot fitter and get fitted for boots that suit your ability and skiing style, if those boots work great for you already, then stick with them and don’t buy “Park Boots” because you think it will make you look cooler. I actually used to have those boots my first couple years getting into skiing, I’m an inch taller than you and 20lbs lighter and they were too soft, too wide, and too painful once I started skiing more aggressively, so I went to a boot fitter and got new boots.
BIIIGZAn honest answer would be to go to a boot fitter and get fitted for boots that suit your ability and skiing style, if those boots work great for you already, then stick with them and don’t buy “Park Boots” because you think it will make you look cooler. I actually used to have those boots my first couple years getting into skiing, I’m an inch taller than you and 20lbs lighter and they were too soft, too wide, and too painful once I started skiing more aggressively, so I went to a boot fitter and got new boots.
Thanks man… looks as if I may run these back one more time at least for the beginning of the season and see where they take me … I just didn’t want to feel stupid or anything without using the proper equipment… didn’t know FT’s weren’t even freestyle originally. Wow.
JuviticusThere's litteraly no such thing as a "park" ski boot. The new faction boot is based off an old salomon boot. The full tilt models were never originally made for freestyle. Get what fits your foot and that's what'll give you performance
Thanks for the reply … I feel better about my decision to run my boots back one more time it seems … we’ll take it from there. They were a quick rush buy… I got lucky they aren’t horrible on my feet … but again, I just feared lacking performance in park solely because the name isn’t accurate to what a “park boot” brand sells and Solomon would be completely wrong or something ….. sounds stupid but that’s where my head was at. Lol.
GulianWell that is why I’m asking, why is a 70 so bad ? To much flex? to soft ?
Just eyeballing your weight and assuming you're at least an intermediate skiier, I'd say it's too soft. BUT even though I am a bootfitter I'm still gonna tell you to go to a shop and get their feedback.
Okay cool..I may have to after all… lot of good feed back, Just curious as to what will work for the time being but I guess there really is no way to rush a boot-buy. Time is needed …. Should’ve known but…
it’s just crazy how many different versions of a response I can get on a topic lol. Someone says they’re great and then someone says they’re terrible. Lol
Usually a pretty wide range of opinions on this site, from people who work in the industry and know their shit to people who intentionally give bad advice. IMO the only opinion you should trust is that of your bootfitter. Good luck!
most people here will mindlessly say “whatever boot fits best”.
but the fact is majority of pro freestyle skiers are using full tilt and you can’t argue that.
I’m not saying that full tilts will make you pro. But pro skiers will optimize their gear for their freestyle needs, and that includes using full tilts. Try them first and if they fit, then great. If not move on to something else.
JuviticusThere's litteraly no such thing as a "park" ski boot. The new faction boot is based off an old salomon boot. The full tilt models were never originally made for freestyle. Get what fits your foot and that's what'll give you performance
I ended up going with these instead. They’re a 120 flex (what boot fitters recommended for me) and they should be more stable in park / free ride scenarios. Apparently K2 doesn’t and hasn’t ever designed solely off a “race boot”, making each one unique and different for the type of skiing. I think this will fit my needs well.
please keep negative comments to yourself as they’re already purchased and fingers crossed they do me justice.
I ended up going with these instead. They’re a 120 flex (what boot fitters recommended for me) and they should be more stable in park / free ride scenarios. Apparently K2 doesn’t and hasn’t ever designed solely off a “race boot”, making each one unique and different for the type of skiing. I think this will fit my needs well.
please keep negative comments to yourself as they’re already purchased and fingers crossed they do me justice.
I ended up going with these instead. They’re a 120 flex (what boot fitters recommended for me) and they should be more stable in park / free ride scenarios. Apparently K2 doesn’t and hasn’t ever designed solely off a “race boot”, making each one unique and different for the type of skiing. I think this will fit my needs well.
please keep negative comments to yourself as they’re already purchased and fingers crossed they do me justice.
hey man if theyre comy and they fit then they will suit you well. Pretty sure Colby Stevenson skis on of these and he rips
RolexConnoisseurmost people here will mindlessly say “whatever boot fits best”.
but the fact is majority of pro freestyle skiers are using full tilt and you can’t argue that.
I’m not saying that full tilts will make you pro. But pro skiers will optimize their gear for their freestyle needs, and that includes using full tilts. Try them first and if they fit, then great. If not move on to something else.
The fact is those guys have access to the best boot fitters on the planet. They will buy whatever they like the looks of and get their fitters to do outrageous things to make them fit. Something most people don't have the money or time for. Joss Christensen is on K2 Recons, Qwan is in Langes, I could go on. Fit is, and will always, be the best thing for performance of any kind
That’s fine. I ordered mine already otherwise I would’ve ordered the revolver I just didn’t think I’d be doing park for longer than I’d keep these new boots, so I bought the 120’s as a safer bet …. Should I bring my boots still to a fitter after they’re in my hands ? Just to get them properly fitted and mounted to my ski etc. ?…
That sort of my big question I guess is what more can the boot fitter really do, (if I am really tight on time) for me when the boots are purchased and I like them out of the box, if I do of course.
Can I not just go straight to skiing with them? Or is there a step I miss?… I don’t plan on putting them in the oven, and I don’t plan on really adjusting to much if I like them out of the box. Do I need them to fit them on my bindings for me?
New to all this so don’t judge. Just asking…. Shouldn’t my bindings fit the new boot the same as they did the old? Or wrong.
That’s why I got the 120 flex K2 Recon boot. Everyone said it’s perfect for park so I said f** it and spent the money. Plus they’re on sale. But I was wondering what a “boot fitter” would do for me if I get the boots out of box. Can I ski them right away? Or do I need to fit them to my bindings etc. ?
Those are a solid, I'm riding the recon 120 plus, which is pretty much the same boot, just a bit stiffer, and some nicer materials. Should be mint👌
GulianHey boys.
I ended up going with these instead. They’re a 120 flex (what boot fitters recommended for me) and they should be more stable in park / free ride scenarios. Apparently K2 doesn’t and hasn’t ever designed solely off a “race boot”, making each one unique and different for the type of skiing. I think this will fit my needs well.
please keep negative comments to yourself as they’re already purchased and fingers crossed they do me justice.
For reference I'm ~6ft 160lbs. Definitely get them heat molded, and maybe throw some foot beds in em and maybe some booster straps, since the stock k2 ones are ass. The recon liners can be a bit weird sometimes if you don't get them heat molded, just a heads up
if ur comfy with that boot that's awesome, don't fall for the "freestyle" marketing. however, If ur looking to progress more I would go for a stiffer boot. you don't need a 130 flex boot that hurts to wear. but something like a 100-120 is a good bump up from where ur at that'll put you in more control of ur skis
I was kinda in the same boat as you, I was riding a 90 flex dalbello boot for a while but when I decided to push it and progress more the softer flex kinda got in my way and almost felt muddy if that makes sense, like it made my ski handling feel super vague. I bought some Salomon shift pro 120's which are sort of a "backcountry/light touring" boot, and having something stiffer made me feel a lot more in control.
Everybody is different and there isn't a 1 size fits all answer. but generally a stiffer boot in the park will give you more rigidity and therefore more control of ur skis, and you will be able to get more out of the flex pattern of your skis (butter) as well as more support for bigger landings. and a softer boot will be a little more comfortable in most cases, but as you spin around more and unlock butters and more technical rail tricks you kinda feel ur ankle wiggle around and that is not a good feeling.
also in my opinion, if you like the way ur boots feel, its good to know that all Salomon boots kinda have the same feel, this is my opinion cuz I've had a couple pairs and have loved them so much, so if u decide to go with a new boot a new Salomon might feel like the boot you already have and it may take less time to get used to a new boot
biggest advice tho is to take everybody's advice here with a spoonful of salt until you talk to a boot fitter, because even if some advice sounds good it could be coming from the guy who heat molded boots with a lift shack space heater lmao. treat boot fitters word like the word of god
**This post was edited on Nov 12th 2023 at 12:17:29pm
GulianHey guys, can anyone help me with this?..
I just started riding park last season and I truly fell in love with it. However, I ride the Salomon xAccess 70 wide, (I’m 5’7 and 170lbs) and was wondering if this boot after one season is still sufficient for park riding? Or do I need to go and spend the money to get a “freestyle” marketed ski boot?.. is there anyone who can give me an honest answer so I don’t go crazy trying to decide.
The best boot to have is a boot that properly fits you so if you are trying to find new boots to try out you should go to a bootfitter as boots are the most important piece of equipment.
Full tilt boots are the best park and freestyle boots you can buy. They were recently rebranded to “K2 FL3X” so you can find them on K2’s website. 95% of the pros you see at the X games and Olympics are wearing full tilts.
the flex pattern on full tilts is unique and not something you can find in a traditional boots. You should go try it at your local ski shop.
Wrong. The best park and freestyle boot is the one that fits your foot. A three piece boot like FT and fl3x have a more linear flex pattern, and a traditional boot has a more progressive flex pattern. The myth that theres a “best park boot” has been disproven over and over. If you really want to argue this again then il link the last thread you said this on that got downvoted into oblivion
RolexConnoisseurFull tilt boots are the best park and freestyle boots you can buy. They were recently rebranded to “K2 FL3X” so you can find them on K2’s website. 95% of the pros you see at the X games and Olympics are wearing full tilts.
the flex pattern on full tilts is unique and not something you can find in a traditional boots. You should go try it at your local ski shop.
Then explain why 95% of pros use FT? Because I guarantee that there were dozens of other boots that fit them, but then specifically chose FT over the rest. I don’t understand why this is so hard for you to accept. Just like there are freestyle/race specific skis, there are freestyle/race boots.
hamsauceWrong. The best park and freestyle boot is the one that fits your foot. A three piece boot like FT and fl3x have a more linear flex pattern, and a traditional boot has a more progressive flex pattern. The myth that theres a “best park boot” has been disproven over and over. If you really want to argue this again then il link the last thread you said this on that got downvoted into oblivion
RolexConnoisseurThen explain why 95% of pros use FT? Because I guarantee that there were dozens of other boots that fit them, but then specifically chose FT over the rest. I don’t understand why this is so hard for you to accept. Just like there are freestyle/race specific skis, there are freestyle/race boots.
RolexConnoisseurThen explain why 95% of pros use FT? Because I guarantee that there were dozens of other boots that fit them, but then specifically chose FT over the rest. I don’t understand why this is so hard for you to accept. Just like there are freestyle/race specific skis, there are freestyle/race boots.
Id love to see the stat where 95% of pros use FT. I just rewatched the Mens Ski Slopestyle from the 2023 X Games and saw a good chunk of 2 piece boots- and 10 of the best riders in the world seem like a pretty good sample. Take that to the FWT and almost every rider has 2 piece boots.
This thread right here has some discussion about 2 piece vs three piece boots. Here are some comments made by people who know more about boots than both of us do.
"Well, I think the first step is knowing that 2-piece boots work and they work at the absolute highest levels of skiing performance, whether that is on the World Cup, Freeride World Tour, Dew Tour or X-Games. That's our factual starting point, next is to figure out how it works."
"Most skiers do not need race performance and instead appreciate comfort and ease of use and its here where 3 Piece has some real advantages. Hopefully now we have brought the boots into the K2 fold they will get accepted more by the general skiing population and also by boot fitters who would never have brought out a Full Tilt in the past. Having both 2 and 3 piece in the line just gives fitters even more options in finding just the right boot for every customer."
"There's a reason why the high-performance boot world is dominated by 2-piece constructions (and ultimately why it is the only construction used in racing, but that's less important for almost everyone here). The Raichle Flexon (= Full Tilt Original) was originally a race boot - it was never developed or intended for freeskiing. But it was quickly surpassed by 2-piece boots and it couldn't keep up. It eventually faded away but was revitalized by Jason Levinthal in mid-2000s under the name Full Tilt (of which I personally consulted Jason on many times and even wore for a number of years). Major boot brands even tried 3-piece boots out for a bit. Nordica made 3-piece boots, called the Fire Arrow and Ace of Spades, but they didn't do the job as well as their 2-piece overlap boots and were eventually dropped from their lineup. More recently, about 7-8 years ago, Head tried bringing to market a 3-piece race boot, but it was a massive fail. Then they called it The Hammer and all of a sudden it became a "freeski" boot... It often seems that when a boot fails in racing/normal use, it gets rebranded as a freeski boot. The magic of marketing :)
But let's get back on track. Performance is necessarily linked to fit and a 2-piece boot wraps the foot much more efficiently and more effectively. When a boot wraps better, it fits you better, and when it fits you better, it performs better - and that means it does what you want when you want it to. That could be a high speed carve or it could be nose butter 3. 2-piece boots respond to your input more effectively because the fit of the shell & cuff better matches your anatomy. You will work less to get the ski to do what you want it to."
Not gonna say 3 piece boots are bad- Ahall and Henrik both use three piece boots. My sole claim is that there is no "best" park boot- especially for the general public who will never spin over a 7. The best boot is the one that is fit to your foot by a reputable bootfitter. Even if you do all the research you want, but I promise you, if you want the best park performance then go to a bootfitter and buy the boot that fits.
So OP- your decision. Do you trust the facts, or do you trust a guy with a bunch of negative karma because he saw Henrik triple in full tilts and all of a sudden knows more about boots than every bootfitter in America?
The rolex guy may be a troll but i figure its fair to point out the truth just to stop misinformation
**This post was edited on Nov 26th 2023 at 12:52:05am
Let me ask you this then. Let’s say you are a park skier who lives in a perfect world where your foot happens to fit every ski boot perfectly and money isn’t an issue. Are you choosing Full tilts or regular 2 piece boots?
i would be very surprised if you didn’t pick full tilts
hamsauceId love to see the stat where 95% of pros use FT. I just rewatched the Mens Ski Slopestyle from the 2023 X Games and saw a good chunk of 2 piece boots- and 10 of the best riders in the world seem like a pretty good sample. Take that to the FWT and almost every rider has 2 piece boots.
This thread right here has some discussion about 2 piece vs three piece boots. Here are some comments made by people who know more about boots than both of us do.
"Well, I think the first step is knowing that 2-piece boots work and they work at the absolute highest levels of skiing performance, whether that is on the World Cup, Freeride World Tour, Dew Tour or X-Games. That's our factual starting point, next is to figure out how it works."
"Most skiers do not need race performance and instead appreciate comfort and ease of use and its here where 3 Piece has some real advantages. Hopefully now we have brought the boots into the K2 fold they will get accepted more by the general skiing population and also by boot fitters who would never have brought out a Full Tilt in the past. Having both 2 and 3 piece in the line just gives fitters even more options in finding just the right boot for every customer."
"There's a reason why the high-performance boot world is dominated by 2-piece constructions (and ultimately why it is the only construction used in racing, but that's less important for almost everyone here). The Raichle Flexon (= Full Tilt Original) was originally a race boot - it was never developed or intended for freeskiing. But it was quickly surpassed by 2-piece boots and it couldn't keep up. It eventually faded away but was revitalized by Jason Levinthal in mid-2000s under the name Full Tilt (of which I personally consulted Jason on many times and even wore for a number of years). Major boot brands even tried 3-piece boots out for a bit. Nordica made 3-piece boots, called the Fire Arrow and Ace of Spades, but they didn't do the job as well as their 2-piece overlap boots and were eventually dropped from their lineup. More recently, about 7-8 years ago, Head tried bringing to market a 3-piece race boot, but it was a massive fail. Then they called it The Hammer and all of a sudden it became a "freeski" boot... It often seems that when a boot fails in racing/normal use, it gets rebranded as a freeski boot. The magic of marketing :)
But let's get back on track. Performance is necessarily linked to fit and a 2-piece boot wraps the foot much more efficiently and more effectively. When a boot wraps better, it fits you better, and when it fits you better, it performs better - and that means it does what you want when you want it to. That could be a high speed carve or it could be nose butter 3. 2-piece boots respond to your input more effectively because the fit of the shell & cuff better matches your anatomy. You will work less to get the ski to do what you want it to."
Not gonna say 3 piece boots are bad- Ahall and Henrik both use three piece boots. My sole claim is that there is no "best" park boot- especially for the general public who will never spin over a 7. The best boot is the one that is fit to your foot by a reputable bootfitter. Even if you do all the research you want, but I promise you, if you want the best park performance then go to a bootfitter and buy the boot that fits.
So OP- your decision. Do you trust the facts, or do you trust a guy with a bunch of negative karma because he saw Henrik triple in full tilts and all of a sudden knows more about boots than every bootfitter in America?
The rolex guy may be a troll but i figure its fair to point out the truth just to stop misinformation
**This post was edited on Nov 26th 2023 at 12:52:05am
Being totally honest if that were the case id pick the cheapest one if a brand i liked. But thats not the case. If my foot fit fts id ride those, but i got fitted to technicas and will ride technica cochise 130s with custom footbeds til i die
RolexConnoisseurLet me ask you this then. Let’s say you are a park skier who lives in a perfect world where your foot happens to fit every ski boot perfectly and money isn’t an issue. Are you choosing Full tilts or regular 2 piece boots?
i would be very surprised if you didn’t pick full tilts
Also in this perfect world literally any boot fits so youre admitting its marketing If you think i pick full tilt. I actually like the flex in 2 piece better so id pick a 2 piece anyway
RolexConnoisseurLet me ask you this then. Let’s say you are a park skier who lives in a perfect world where your foot happens to fit every ski boot perfectly and money isn’t an issue. Are you choosing Full tilts or regular 2 piece boots?
i would be very surprised if you didn’t pick full tilts
Have you all considered that many athletes dont have access to 3 piece boots? If they ride for basically anyone but k2, Dalbello or roxa they have no option but to wear an overlap boot. That does not mean they want to they just have no other option.
Not trying to stir this up more but from brands which offer both overlap and 3 piece boots most park athletes choose 3 piece, not all but most.
hamsauceAlso in this perfect world literally any boot fits so youre admitting its marketing If you think i pick full tilt. I actually like the flex in 2 piece better so id pick a 2 piece anyway
Yeah its all personal preference and the reason why pros like HH wear k2 fl3x is because they are sponsored by them.
VzxYeah it’s all personal preference and the reason why pros like HH wear k2 fl3x is because they are sponsored by them.
Just FYI we don’t actually pay anyone to wear FL3X boots. They come to us for the most part. If an athlete gets a pro model they get a royalty for using their name but for the most part we just provide boots.
tomPietrowskiJust FYI we don’t actually pay anyone to wear FL3X boots. They come to us for the most part. If an athlete gets a pro model they get a royalty for using their name but for the most part we just provide boots.
Yeah, Do they get a pair for free or do they buy a pair at a very low price?
As the guy who wears 130 race boots in the park... I wish FT, dalbello or someone else would make a stiff, beefy and narrow 3 piece. Boots I've tried like the Dabello krypton 130 or a FT with the stiffest tongue just isn't even close in control and stiffness as a good 2 peice overlap boot. And 3 peice always have shity buckles and cables that are bound to break.
I feel like 3 peice boots could be so much better than they are
