My last two pairs of boots before this season were Burton Ions but I found they seem to get soft relatively quickly and the boa version created hot spots on my inner ankle where the tongue overlaps the liner. So inspired by Angry's love of the Thraxis I decided to give these a try.
Overall impression: Thraxis is a stiffer boot and after ~50 days on it I can say it stays stiffer too. They are also "cushier" with less board feel and much warmer. They also fit AT LEAST half a size larger than the Ion. The Ions have tighter heel lock from the liner but the Thraxis has a third boa that tightens a plastic plate in front of your ankle which keeps your heel locked in. The Thraxis is a more comfortable boot and more compatible with aftermarket insoles. Size 9 Ion weighs 39 oz and size 9 Thraxis (really a 9.5) weighs 37 oz. So could be better for touring if you have wickedly cold feet.
Storytime: In Burton (and by wiredsport method) I am a size 9. Since no one in my whole state seems to stock the Thraxis I had to buy sight unseen. I went by a shop to try on a maysis in size 9 and my toe seemed up against the end and not wanting to waste too much of their time I decided size 9 = size 9 and bought them online. Comparing the footbeds side by side I could immediately see the K2 Thraxis was at least half a CM longer. First putting my feet in I could feel there was way more volume in the toe box than the Burtons.
I had tried insoles with the burtons but their footbed design is not particularly compatible with aftermarket insoles. Their footbed is shaped like a footprint (very skinny at the arch). I think to reduce the footprint some of the arch support comes from the liner rather than the footbed. So wider insoles makes for way too much support at the arch. The FP insoles were a huge improvement in the K2s however and since they are moderately thick they soaked up some of the extra volume in the toe box.
For a few months I was happy. Then spring conditions came. The K2 boots are warm AF. Nice for blower pow days where your boot is buried in snow for hours, not so nice for bluebird 45 degree days. So I put the Burtons back on. On the first run I was hit with the wave of realization when you first wear properly fitting boots. Even though they are broken in to hell (they just fold over at the ankle now) I knew I could not go back to the K2 boots.
I've got 1 day on my new size 8.5 Thraxis and I am in snowboard boot nirvana (as long as temps stay cool again). Hope I can save someone from spending the prime of their season in boots that are too big.
Overall impression: Thraxis is a stiffer boot and after ~50 days on it I can say it stays stiffer too. They are also "cushier" with less board feel and much warmer. They also fit AT LEAST half a size larger than the Ion. The Ions have tighter heel lock from the liner but the Thraxis has a third boa that tightens a plastic plate in front of your ankle which keeps your heel locked in. The Thraxis is a more comfortable boot and more compatible with aftermarket insoles. Size 9 Ion weighs 39 oz and size 9 Thraxis (really a 9.5) weighs 37 oz. So could be better for touring if you have wickedly cold feet.
Storytime: In Burton (and by wiredsport method) I am a size 9. Since no one in my whole state seems to stock the Thraxis I had to buy sight unseen. I went by a shop to try on a maysis in size 9 and my toe seemed up against the end and not wanting to waste too much of their time I decided size 9 = size 9 and bought them online. Comparing the footbeds side by side I could immediately see the K2 Thraxis was at least half a CM longer. First putting my feet in I could feel there was way more volume in the toe box than the Burtons.
I had tried insoles with the burtons but their footbed design is not particularly compatible with aftermarket insoles. Their footbed is shaped like a footprint (very skinny at the arch). I think to reduce the footprint some of the arch support comes from the liner rather than the footbed. So wider insoles makes for way too much support at the arch. The FP insoles were a huge improvement in the K2s however and since they are moderately thick they soaked up some of the extra volume in the toe box.
For a few months I was happy. Then spring conditions came. The K2 boots are warm AF. Nice for blower pow days where your boot is buried in snow for hours, not so nice for bluebird 45 degree days. So I put the Burtons back on. On the first run I was hit with the wave of realization when you first wear properly fitting boots. Even though they are broken in to hell (they just fold over at the ankle now) I knew I could not go back to the K2 boots.
I've got 1 day on my new size 8.5 Thraxis and I am in snowboard boot nirvana (as long as temps stay cool again). Hope I can save someone from spending the prime of their season in boots that are too big.
