Intuition Liners Power Wrap 2020 Preview

Manufacturer's Description: POWER WRAP liners are a cult classic. One of the original models loved by the “hard cores”. They upgrade performance, and fit in most shells. Recommended for intermediate to advanced level skiers and riders who want to stiffen up their shells. A high-density, medium thickness, wrap style liner with reinforced cuff wrap overlay to add volume and stiffness, while providing maximum support and heel hold.

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Newschoolers Review:
My boots are pair of 18/19 Tecnica Cochise 105W’s with a booster strap. My first season in them I put in around ~100 days between resort skiing and touring and they felt great for the most part. I had minimal boot work done– we put in a pair of shims to take up some space and added some padding around my heels to take up space in the heel pocket. I have a pretty skinny foot and ankle, and for not being a super aggressive boot, the Cochise has been good to me. Last season as the stock liner packed out I had been getting gnarly hot spots on my pinky toes (I eventually got a punch on each boot) as well as looseness in the ankles. I reached out to Intuition and I’m really excited about restoring my boots with a fresh set of liners.



The Liner:
Based on my problems (I need to take up more space and would like a stiffer flex), we went with the Power Wrap in a size 25. Intuition has a great questionnaire and will work with you to find the liner that fits your needs. Because my shell fit is a little big (around 2 fingers), we sized up from 24 to 25 for the Power Wrap.

Manufacturer’s Description: POWER WRAP liners are a cult classic. One of the original models loved by the “hard cores”. They upgrade performance and fit in most shells. Recommended for intermediate to advanced level skiers and riders who want to stiffen up their shells. A high-density, medium thickness, wrap style liner with reinforced cuff wrap overlay to add volume and stiffness while providing maximum support and heel hold.


Molding:
When I first got them in the mail and shoved them in my boots (pre-mold) they seemed pretty large. It was difficult to buckle my boots, but I was reassured by a friend who has been using Intuitions for as long as they’ve been around that they would be fine once molded. He has been molding intuitions for over 30 years and helped me get them dialed. Intuition provided me with directions and a toe cap, but if it’s your first time I’d recommend going to a shop to get your liners set up.

Performance:
On my first day, my heels were locked into place much better than my previous liners. I also was experiencing my toes freeze off all season, and I think it was the first day that they didn’t go numb in colder temperatures. I had a new pressure point come up on my right big toe (where I formerly had no issues). Just like any new liner, it takes the boots a few days to break in, and with another couple ski days in the boots, the hot spot packed out.

Overall, I experienced increased precision, stiffness, and foothold in my boots, and the liners gave a second life to my shells. The Power Wrap is one of the stiffer liners if that’s what you’re looking to increase in your current shell. The Cochise, being a hybrid boot with touring compatibility, I was curious how these would impact the boots touring performance, however, there was no notable change to the touring mode versus the stock liners.


I would recommend an Intuition liner to anyone trying to increase performance in an existing or new boot, with warmth as an added bonus. If you have any questions on if this model is right for you, check out Intuition's Fit Evaluation Form.


- Erica