Splitboard.com Forums

Could you hard boot guys comment on what set up your riding currently?

I'd like to get ONE set of hard boots to ride and randonee in. I hate having different shoes for every freaking sport...(I use my mountain cleats for the road bike, for example)

I'm thinking a Dynafit toe piece is a good idea for skinning, so that narrows the boot selection down a little.

Any brand and model recs?
Any mods you make (straps, liners etc...)?

What's the current 'state of the art' for hard boots?

Thanks.

Garmont Mega Rides...

Plenty of forward lean, and Paul Parker designed them to have a littel bit of side-to-side flex in the ankles.. good for hard-boot boarding.

I also use the Bomber, Splitboard Bindings, because I like to carve. If you plan on running low angles and trying to emulate the sof-boot style, then you probably want the Voile, Mtn. Plate bindings. They create a lot of flex and give.

Zach

In my opinion, buy the tallest boot that fits you the best. Fit is paramount, all else is details. I like tall boots as I push bigger sticks and raceboards, and the taller cuff helps with pressure points for me. I'll be trying the Crispi Freeride this season (not Dynafit). I have a narrow, low volume foot, and it was between these and the Garmonts G-Ride. The Mega Ride is a great boot as well if you need Dynafit.

Unlike skiing, a little extra flex is OK, so things like the Tornado and Adreniline are not my cup of tea, to stiff laterally.

I had a pair of Scarpa Denalis that I liked, but they were to short in the cuff and to big in the foot for me. If Scarpas fit, the Magic (or what ever they call it now) is a great Dynafit boot.

I'm also 100% sold on Booster straps instead of standard velcro power straps, though they are a little heavier. Everything seems to come with a thermo liner, so thats almost a non-issue now. Thermo's are not as stiff as trad liners, but again, for snowboarding thats a good thing in my mind.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will likely have an inch to 3 narrower stance then you are used to, and will probably run steeper angles (35* and up, usually). Neither are bad, but you might want to experiment before doing real mods to your split.

sweet. thanks a lot for the info.