Member Taylor

A saint and a visionary for having stockpiled the Gen 1s.

Another outlier at 6’4″ and 225 lbs and a penchant for fast, larger radius turns. My resort quiver ranges from 162 to 195. My split quiver ranges from 173 – 190. Length is important, but there are many other factors that affect how a shape rides too.

As a very general rule, I won’t go below 170 or so, depending on the shape, because for the…[Read more]

Hey @permnation – got any non-split gen 1 173s left? I’m looking for one. Hope you’re well. I’ll let ya know if I make it up to your neck of the woods anytime soon. Good southwestern storm cycle setting up now…

Yeah, looks sweet for railing groomers. But for splitting, what snurfer said plus it probably needs a diet.

Good stuff, Scooby.

Man, I’m sorry to hear about the 165. That was a beautiful and shockingly lightweight board. That veneer deters failures is just the snowboard gods reinforcing the idea that style always matters.

I wouldn’t have thought of it, but it makes sense that ultra light splits are vulnerable to failure in tour mode: That’s when…[Read more]

@scooby2 Are those core compression failures typically located underfoot, or near underfoot, where the board is dispersing binding pressure, or throughout? If the former, I wonder if there’s a way to reinforce construction underfoot to reduce potential for failures while retaining weight savings.

Also, @russman, you guys have done a beautiful job with your system, and if I were buying a new soft-boot system, this would be the one. – Taylor

This is my second attempt at a reply, the first disappeared.

Well… Here’s one example of your failure to disclose your affiliation with Karakorum while dissing AT boots. There are many others.

I’ve been active on this forum for many years, and have been splitting for over 15 yrs, and I had no idea you were affiliated with Karakorum. I…[Read more]

Agree with Summersgone – I’m about your size and ran a 181 Storm in my split quiver for years.

Trees – in my experience Storms ride loose; the rocker pivots and slarves more easily than you’d expect given a board’s length. I loved the 181 even in tight trees, so shorter should be fine.

Float – more length, surface area, and taper will float…[Read more]

I didn’t know that you have financial interests in a soft boot binding company. Your failure to disclose that fact in your public dissing of AT splitbaord systems on this forum reflects poorly on you and Karakoram.

The Talons – at least the model year that I own, which is a few years old – have a lace liner and BOA outer, so, they don’t fit your criteria.

I keep hearing BOA horror stories, but my soft and AT boots both use BOAs, and, in their years of use, both have worked without any issue. Saying so probably ensures a blow out this season, but, so far…[Read more]

Now that it’s autumn, I’ll resume your education, Russman.

What you’re failing to understand is the difference between flex and dampness.

I prefer my AT boots to “soft boots” in soft snow conditions precisely because they have a looser, softer flex and have a more surfy feel than my “soft boots.”

I prefer “soft boots” in hard snow conditions…[Read more]

I too have big feet and like my softies compact, light, and with two-zone stiffness adjustment. Flow Talons have performed well for me splitting and at the resort. They’re BOA — but the BOA has been totally fine.

Oh my God that’s rich. Almost worth a billboard with those quotes on the road up to Silverton.

If you “find weight quite critical, and want to stay below 1000g for each boot,” and you want a crampon heel welt, then you need AT boots. There’s no such thing as a light “soft” boot with a heel welt.

Contrary to Russman’s sweeping statements of opinion as fact, many of us love how those AT boots ride. Mine outperform my softies in all but…[Read more]

Hey @shad –

I sort of suspect the wear on the toe shelf is coming from pairing Spark’s aluminum toe clip to the polyamide toe shelf. Pairing hard aluminum to comparatively soft plastic at an interface that transmits so much force seems like a risky design.

My understanding is that all AT boot toe designs, their geometry and material hardness,…[Read more]

The design of this boot is very similar to the Alien. Clearly more robust, and I expect not as compact (BSL) or light. Looks like a good option (if my Aliens every die). Thanks for the reviews.

Cool. And, watching that would be an excellent snow-waiting activity; good tip!

Thanks for that additional beta, Snurfer.

Yeah, I don’t know why soft boots aren’t made with walk friendly rearward flex or a walk mode. It’d be way better for touring, but also just for walking, and everyone who’s wearing snowboard boots walks. It could be done easily and inexpensively too.