Comments on: Ski Boot Stiffness Ratings — Is the Number Scale BS? http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/ Backcountry Skiing Snowboard Telemark Snowsports Information News Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:14:39 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Phil Kessel http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-15291 Phil Kessel Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:23:42 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1202#comment-15291 I just bought a pair of Dalbello Proton 8s with labeled at 90 flex. it puzzled me that thew flex rating had no units, eg... Lbf Ft/Degree. Now I understand why. I bought a soft flex boot because I want to ski Moguls and reasoned that soft flex like soft tips and tails will throw me around a lot less. What is the down side? I often see hot telemark skiers doing moduls and their effective flex rating must be zero. Some salesmen disguised as boot fitters say that a stiffer boot gives you more power. Since your 'power' is limited by your body I don't understand what the boot contributes. I just bought a pair of Dalbello Proton 8s with labeled at 90 flex. it puzzled me that thew flex rating had no units, eg… Lbf Ft/Degree. Now I understand why. I bought a soft flex boot because I want to ski Moguls and reasoned that soft flex like soft tips and tails will throw me around a lot less. What is the down side? I often see hot telemark skiers doing moduls and their effective flex rating must be zero. Some salesmen disguised as boot fitters say that a stiffer boot gives you more power. Since your ‘power’ is limited by your body I don’t understand what the boot contributes.

]]> By: Core Shot http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-10998 Core Shot Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:40:40 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1202#comment-10998 Good points, but why not try? By your logic, the ski descent ratings systems would never be worth your efforts. And yet, you have proceeded with them on a peer-review consensus-building basis. Here is the TGR AT boot flex thread. It is a great place to start for AT boot stiffness feedback. Member feedback has made it pretty accurate. http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78437 Personally, I think a thread like that is great. You are right that manufacturer ratings are often wrong and not consistent, but if a new boot comes on the market, it is nice to know how it skis compared to other boots I have owned or tried, so I know whether to even bother getting excited about the new boots. Getting feedback from you, LeeLau, and other beta testers is more important to me than a manufacturers flex #. Good points, but why not try? By your logic, the ski descent ratings systems would never be worth your efforts. And yet, you have proceeded with them on a peer-review consensus-building basis.

Here is the TGR AT boot flex thread. It is a great place to start for AT boot stiffness feedback. Member feedback has made it pretty accurate.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78437

Personally, I think a thread like that is great.
You are right that manufacturer ratings are often wrong and not consistent, but if a new boot comes on the market, it is nice to know how it skis compared to other boots I have owned or tried, so I know whether to even bother getting excited about the new boots. Getting feedback from you, LeeLau, and other beta testers is more important to me than a manufacturers flex #.

]]> By: Hans http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-10983 Hans Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:13:12 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1202#comment-10983 Overall volume can be measured pretty easily, and just knowing forefoot & rearfoot width plus some indication of instep height is enough to get a good idea about fit compatibility for most people. As far as flex, isn't stiff-medium-soft good enough? Overall volume can be measured pretty easily, and just knowing forefoot & rearfoot width plus some indication of instep height is enough to get a good idea about fit compatibility for most people.

As far as flex, isn’t stiff-medium-soft good enough?

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-10981 Lou Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:31:51 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1202#comment-10981 Indeed, this has been good and I thank all you guys! Indeed, this has been good and I thank all you guys!

]]> By: JW http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-10980 JW Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:29:19 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1202#comment-10980 A great post and comments Lou and others, thanks jw A great post and comments Lou and others, thanks
jw

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1202/ski-boot-stiffness-flex-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-10979 Lou Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:01:35 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1202#comment-10979 Hans, I agree, we'll try to figure out a way to present dimensional info. I've got some ideas for cool tricks using some hardware store engineering. We shall see. Hans, I agree, we’ll try to figure out a way to present dimensional info. I’ve got some ideas for cool tricks using some hardware store engineering. We shall see.

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