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January, 2025

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Replacing spk’s

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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 786
Looking to finally get new boots but obviously the spk boot is not something I can get anymore I am looking for similar recommendations on what to switch to. Something other than the phaenoms the aren’t really available where I’m at and I’m not buying a boot I can’t at the very least put on before buying.

so if you used to ride spk’s and liked then what boots have you switched when the time came?
Jan 2 2025 4:21PM
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 13,924
Switched from SPKs to il Moros back in 2011 and haven’t had any other boots since. I really prefer the flex of a three piece boot compared to a two piece. That’s my two pence
Jan 2 2025 4:51PM
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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 786
bennwithtwonsSwitched from SPKs to il Moros back in 2011 and haven’t had any other boots since. I really prefer the flex of a three piece boot compared to a two piece. That’s my two pence


I had some krypton’s a few years ago and had nothing but issues, ended up going back to the spk’s because of the endless pains and inconsistent pressure point’s. I wonder how much different Ill moros feel from the krypton’s
Jan 2 2025 5:04PM
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Isaac58
Posts: 8 - Karma: 51
first anewer is alway go to a boot fitter but now that’s out of the way the phaenom boots seem like a pretty cool evolution on the high volume three piece and would definitely be cool to check out. K2 method shell also fits the bill.
Jan 2 2025 5:52PM
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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 786
Isaac58first anewer is alway go to a boot fitter but now that’s out of the way the phaenom boots seem like a pretty cool evolution on the high volume three piece and would definitely be cool to check out. K2 method shell also fits the bill.


I’ll look in the k2 option for sure, when I bought some krypton’s it was through a boot fitter, unfortunately the only real way to know how a boot fits is to take a lap or two in them.
Jan 2 2025 6:08PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9234 - Karma: 5,569
Those pheanom boots definitely look like SPKs https://www.phaenom-footwear.com/en-us.
Jan 2 2025 6:22PM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 11,077
bootfitter etc buuuuuut the phaenom boots were designed after the original SPK mold
Jan 2 2025 6:22PM
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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 786
powpatrolbootfitter etc buuuuuut the phaenom boots were designed after the original SPK mold


Ya I’ve been looking into since last year when they dropped in the euro market, there just isn’t any retailers that carry them near me and I don’t trust buying a boot I haven’t seen in person. Ideally that would be the first boot I would check out, hopefully next year I might be able to check them out in person. I still plan on using a boot fitter I just want an idea of boot models are the go to switch so I can take a look at those first and maybe save some time and effort when I do go to the fitter
Jan 2 2025 6:31PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7231 - Karma: 18,206
The phaenom is the closest in terms of fit but I found the way they ski is pretty different. The spk was super upright and that is what I always liked about them. They were also surprisingly torsionaly stiff. I would say try on the phaenom but if you don’t like the feel weirdly you may want to check out something like a k2 bfc or a hawx magma. They may actually be closer to the feel. If those are too big then you could go down to the recon or hawx prime.
Jan 2 2025 10:39PM
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skidemon22
Posts: 4454 - Karma: 2,023
When I finally ditched my SPKs in 2014 (haha) I went with a Panterra 120. Solid boot, very comfortable, ok/decent performance, needed zero work. Though… a touch on the heavy side in that generation.


but go to a boot fitter and try on boots!!
Jan 2 2025 10:57PM
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tdollo
Posts: 3830 - Karma: 19,200
a_pla5tic_bagThose pheanom boots definitely look like SPKs https://www.phaenom-footwear.com/en-us.


Phaenom bought the old SPK mold from Salomon
Jan 2 2025 11:58PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6714 - Karma: 11,500
tdolloPhaenom bought the old SPK mold from Salomon


The Phaenom is an entirely different boot and it doesn't use any parts of the last/mold of the SPK. If Phaenom bought the SPK molds they did it to preserve history, not use them for producing anything.
Jan 3 2025 7:20AM
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tdollo
Posts: 3830 - Karma: 19,200
onenerdykidThe Phaenom is an entirely different boot and it doesn't use any parts of the last/mold of the SPK. If Phaenom bought the SPK molds they did it to preserve history, not use them for producing anything.


I was told by my Salomon rep they sold them the mold but he must've been mistaken. thanks for the clarification.
Jan 3 2025 9:43AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6714 - Karma: 11,500
tdolloI was told by my Salomon rep they sold them the mold but he must've been mistaken. thanks for the clarification.

Yeah, this boot definitely puts out SPK vibes but Salomon had nothing to do with it.
Jan 3 2025 9:49AM
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profa_212
Posts: 9015 - Karma: 37,539
Unfortunate that nobody near you sells phaenoms. It may be an okay idea to utilize the return policy at backcountry or evo etc and try them out in the house for a few days. They are pretty similar to the older spks
Jan 3 2025 11:21AM
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officechair
Posts: 282 - Karma: 2,407
GorillaMarketGMKI had some krypton’s a few years ago and had nothing but issues, ended up going back to the spk’s because of the endless pains and inconsistent pressure point’s. I wonder how much different Ill moros feel from the krypton’s

The new il moro and cabrio have the middle buckle re-angled, so they have a little latch that locks them in. I didn’t have the old ones so can’t compare. I have new cabrios and like them after one day (small sample size I know). I tried an il moro and it fit worse on me than a cabrio.
Jan 3 2025 11:58AM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4962 - Karma: 17,827
profa_212Unfortunate that nobody near you sells phaenoms. It may be an okay idea to utilize the return policy at backcountry or evo etc and try them out in the house for a few days. They are pretty similar to the older spks


Anyone who downvotes this reply is foolish. This is a fantastic use of big company return policies. These guys make $$$ off volume, don't worry about wasting a bit of their time on something like this.
Jan 3 2025 9:12PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14528 - Karma: 10,982
Non_State_ActorAnyone who downvotes this reply is foolish. This is a fantastic use of big company return policies. These guys make $$$ off volume, don't worry about wasting a bit of their time on something like this.

I won’t go into details on why free shipping & returns has made everything you buy more expensive because it’ll go over your head. Call me woke but this is bad advice for a number of reasons.

What shops are carrying these? I’m guessing freestyle specific shops, your normal shop isn’t going to risk shelf space on a new boot brand which is too bad. Until these get a set of bellows it won’t matter to me anyway
Jan 3 2025 10:48PM
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