Would like to try a pair of hardboots once to see what all the hype is about. But for now i got a pair of DC something something BOA boots that i drove my car over a few times to get them softer.
Splitboard touring Boots
Whats everyone using for touring?
I got 32 TM2 Jones for Xmas. Best boot I've found. Based on TM2, very light with great flex and support. Vibram sole. Intuition liner. A velco strap that when released opens up back of cuff for touring. It also has heel and toe for crampons which unfortunately gets hooked up on my union resort bindings. Not a big deal and could be ground off if you don't need it.
22/23 catalog has a redesigned Jones TM2 and MTB. Past MTB was way too heavy duty for me. New one has a cool walk mode released by a boa. Can't quite figure out the TM2 version from the picture but it's quite different looking from this year.
I've also tried Burton Tourist and K2 Aspect but returned them. Tourist is really light and comfortable but didn't like how soft and thin the liner was and sticking was starting to fray just trying in the house. Aspects were really impressive quality. Great leather and construction, mountaineering vibram sole, and nice Intuition liner. Bit heavy and I couldn't find in my size or I would have kept them.
Hardboots vs soft?
Hardboots with tech toes are certainly superior for touring but then AT skis are even better suited to touring. I'm sticking with my comfy soft boots. Really wish someone would put tech inserts on a soft boot so I wouldn't have to stomp uphill with snowboard bindings on my feet. Sparks design is great but compared to my buddy on AT gear it's a very clunky setup. Anyone try to convert a soft boot?
I got 32 TM2 Jones for Xmas. Best boot I've found. Based on TM2, very light with great flex and support. Vibram sole. Intuition liner. A velco strap that when released opens up back of cuff for touring. It also has heel and toe for crampons which unfortunately gets hooked up on my union resort bindings. Not a big deal and could be ground off if you don't need it.
22/23 catalog has a redesigned Jones TM2 and MTB. Past MTB was way too heavy duty for me. New one has a cool walk mode released by a boa. Can't quite figure out the TM2 version from the picture but it's quite different looking from this year.
I've also tried Burton Tourist and K2 Aspect but returned them. Tourist is really light and comfortable but didn't like how soft and thin the liner was and sticking was starting to fray just trying in the house. Aspects were really impressive quality. Great leather and construction, mountaineering vibram sole, and nice Intuition liner. Bit heavy and I couldn't find in my size or I would have kept them.
Hardboots vs soft?
Hardboots with tech toes are certainly superior for touring but then AT skis are even better suited to touring. I'm sticking with my comfy soft boots. Really wish someone would put tech inserts on a soft boot so I wouldn't have to stomp uphill with snowboard bindings on my feet. Sparks design is great but compared to my buddy on AT gear it's a very clunky setup. Anyone try to convert a soft boot?
1 - 20 of 73 Posts
my current setup is a pair of Remind liners inside an older pair of lace-up Burton Driver X's. No Vibram sole or anything. It works OK, not stellar. Not great with boot crampons, but I seldom use those. I would also like to see some innovation on this front. I've never tried hard boots but have been with those that swear by them. The hardboot setup is pretty expensive from my observations. I'll just stick with what I have for now. Just yesterday, my Spark bindings broke on the skin-track. The plastic piece under the aluminum toe plate that hinges up broke and the bindings would not stay in the touring brackets. It ruined the day and my partner on skis was pissed off. He was cursing up a storm about how much splitboarding equipment sucked. His Scarpa AT ski boots have cracked twice and he is on his 3rd pair. Funny how he didn't mention that when ripping on my setup...
I have the TM2 Jones boots and like them a lot. I only use them splitboarding, and use TM2 double Boa as my solid board boot. I haven't had any issues with my Sparks bindings or my boots yet. I have no desire to try hard boots.
I just use my standard Vans double boas to fit my Jones Solution and Karakorum bindings. Has served me well over 40 times on the way up and down. I’m happy with them.
K2 Thraxis on Karakoram primes and jones solution 169w. I dig the thraxis for the stiffness uphilling and the internal cuff boa for keeping my heel planted, finally having vibram soles doesn’t suck when kicking about at the summit
Aspirational buy for me are phantom slippers to keep up with my AT pals
Aspirational buy for me are phantom slippers to keep up with my AT pals
I ride my Vans Verse, which are good 50/50 (resort/touring). The added lateral stiffness is very noticeable compared to my old Malamutes (which weren't soft by any means). The double boa is pretty cool for tuning between the ascent and descent. The sole is not vibram, but still pretty good. They are a bit heavy though, which you can feel at the end of the day. And they really need to be broken in, like a good ten days before they stabilize in their flex and volume. Overall, not the gear I'm the most in love with ever, but really solid choice for splitboarding while keeping good freeride feeling on the way down.
I half regret not taking the Salomon Trek at the time, but they seemed too complicated. The people I've seen in the Fitwells swear these are the best boots ever, but they just look like hard boots to me. The ThirtyTwo Jones seemed way too stiff for me too when I tried it, but should be excellent climbers.
The hardbooters I have been touring with were just way faster and the more the conditions were shitty, the more it was noticeable. You also pull the crampons out later (both ski and foot crampons). They were not that convinced on the way down, but it seemed to be rideable, also you need quite some tuning to the boot (spring/lever). All in all, there is no magic: soft boots are better for going down, hard boots are better for climbing—but so are skis and skimo gear.
I half regret not taking the Salomon Trek at the time, but they seemed too complicated. The people I've seen in the Fitwells swear these are the best boots ever, but they just look like hard boots to me. The ThirtyTwo Jones seemed way too stiff for me too when I tried it, but should be excellent climbers.
The hardbooters I have been touring with were just way faster and the more the conditions were shitty, the more it was noticeable. You also pull the crampons out later (both ski and foot crampons). They were not that convinced on the way down, but it seemed to be rideable, also you need quite some tuning to the boot (spring/lever). All in all, there is no magic: soft boots are better for going down, hard boots are better for climbing—but so are skis and skimo gear.
Seams like pretty much any boot will work and after buying splitboard, bindings, skins, poles, avy pack, transponder, probe, and shovel, it was nice to just use boots I had for resort riding. Adding hardboots wasn't even an option I considered. I still think a softboot with tech inserts could be best option.I ride my Vans Verse, which are good 50/50 (resort/touring).
I half regret not taking the Salomon Trek at the time, but they seemed too complicated. The people I've seen in the Fitwells swear these are the best boots ever, but they just look like hard boots to me.
The hardbooters I have been touring with were just way faster and the more the conditions were shitty, the more it was noticeable.
I used Rome Guides for a year. Basically just a resort boot with good hiking sole and BC look. I think I got swayed by the look. Maybe I'll drill out the toes and convert to tech.
The Salomon Trek look pretty interesting. Would like to checkout in person. Fitwells would be a good choice if I was doing more challenging mountaineering accents, but I'm into mellow safe terrain so I can bring my dog. I haven't seen the model everyone was hyped about on their website anymore. They now have a freeride model specifically for snowboards. Anyone check them out yet?
fitwell had the backcountry, which was stiffer. saw quite a few of them around. then they made the freeride which was supposed to be softer, more comfy and more boardfeel. they had boa lacing before, but now theres just the freeride with regular lacing. probably a really good option for splitboarding. for tech inserts you would need the whole sole of the forefoot to be hardboot stiff, like the teleboots, or it would just twist too much.
AT boots ftw. The ride down is better than my soft boots. If your ride down...sucks, it's you, the bootfitter that sucks or is just too lazy to take the time to get it right.
You ride Phantom slipper? They look nice. Very conflicted about trying them: On one hand they should make touring much easier, even allowing for a bit of kick and glide in the flats, reduced weight being able to carry bindings in pack, and adjustable pivot for true walk mode range. I'm sure the down would be fine. I'll go out touring for hours and end up with only 1000' vert so how important is it as long as it gets me some fun turns coming back down. I should point out I like to get out into wilderness not just yoyo laps. Then on the other hand skiboots suck and god dam that's gonna cost a lot! But I would certainly try them for a season if it wasn't such an expensive changeover. I wouldn't be surprised if I got used to them that I wouldn't want to go back. For now I'll just keep clanking around the BC and hope boots keep evolving.AT boots ftw. The ride down is better than my soft boots.
No slipper, they were not being made yet when I got into AT boots, but are essentially very similar with the mods. If you found some nos backlands, then just do the pivot buckle and the link levers they would be essentially slippers. Fwiw, have 2 demo pairs (essentially new) that were both found for about %50You ride Phantom slipper? They look nice. Very conflicted about trying them: On one hand they should make touring much easier, even allowing for a bit of kick and glide in the flats, reduced weight being able to carry bindings in pack, and adjustable pivot for true walk mode range. I'm sure the down would be fine. I'll go out touring for hours and end up with only 1000' vert so how important is it as long as it gets me some fun turns coming back down. I should point out I like to get out into wilderness not just yoyo laps. Then on the other hand skiboots suck and god dam that's gonna cost a lot! But I would certainly try them for a season if it wasn't such an expensive changeover. I wouldn't be surprised if I got used to them that I wouldn't want to go back. For now I'll just keep clanking around the BC and hope boots keep evolving.
My ongoing notes are below.
edit: Uphill touring, back when in 32's with Spark Afterburners on a factory c2btx billygoat split...certainly doable, but a pita...compared to the AT backlands, phantom binders and S-profile amplid. There is a lot more range of motion for gliding, the stride is un-restricted, the edge hold when traversing is locked in with very little ankle roll, kick turns are easy...touring will be fun or at least funner. Huge difference! If you touring a lot (or even just a little) or long distances, you will beat the socks off the soft booters with energy to spare.
The hardboot ride...downhill? | Snowboarding Forum - Snowboard Enthusiast Forums
One of my prejudices against hardboots comes from experience with XC BC touring: Leather boots are best while hardboots are hated for touring and only tolerated when touring for turns for better downhill control. AT being an even worst design to tour on just to be able to lock in heel, again just for the downhill. So my thought is why should splitboarders be using tech that was designed as a compromise for skiers to decent? Not arguing there's a better option just why adapt the worst touring platform from skiing?!! About as stupid as touring with snowboard bindings on your boots!
At first, your resort boots are just fine. Then some latteral stiffness, wichever way you get it, is really a big plus.Seams like pretty much any boot will work and after buying splitboard, bindings, skins, poles, avy pack, transponder, probe, and shovel, it was nice to just use boots I had for resort riding.
The phantom link lever are really a huge plus for boarding with AT boots: Link Lever - SINGLE
There is a new french brand that has an interesting splitboard specific hardboot: Why Key Equipment — Key Equipment Don't know if it's any better than the Phantoms 🤷♂️
The Key boots look interesting, even more simple with the buckle and assuming velcro straps. Just emailed them to ask if they were heat mouldable shells.At first, your resort boots are just fine. Then some latteral stiffness, wichever way you get it, is really a big plus.
The phantom link lever are really a huge plus for boarding with AT boots: Link Lever - SINGLE
There is a new french brand that has an interesting splitboard specific hardboot: Why Key Equipment — Key Equipment Don't know if it's any better than the Phantoms 🤷♂️
Wow! If the Verse stays the same otherwise, that makes it quite the freeride/freerando boot! Damn, bought mine two years too early…
If you found some nos backlands, then just do the pivot buckle and the link levers they would be essentially slippers.
In a crazy turn of events I just bought NOS '18 Backland Ultimates for $250. 80% off is hard to resist. My intentions were to start cutting them up and attach leather upper and tongue to create mutant touring boot. My wife (in her infinite wisdom) suggested I just try them 1st. Swapped out the liner and they feel pretty good. Not even sure they need any mods. Waiting on spark dino bindings to give them a try.At first, your resort boots are just fine. Then some latteral stiffness, wichever way you get it, is really a big plus.
The phantom link lever are really a huge plus for boarding with AT boots
Backlands are really nice for touring. Ridiculous ankle articulation in tour mode. Super light, shell is 700 grams and 1000G with liner from my Rome boots. That's about 1/2 the weight of my Jones. I can motor in these things! Kick turns and edge hold is really good. It's what I expected but it's going to be hard going back to touring in clunky soft boots.
What I didn't expect was how they would ride. I know you won't believe me but they feel just like snowboard boots. Not even the stiffest boots I've owned. People say they need more lateral flex but I didn't notice. I have canted pucks so maybe that helped. It was just like using soft boots but with better edge control laying into a hard carve. I rode with normal stance +15/-3. Think they would really be nice +/+ for low carves. I was even slashing around on banks and they just felt like normal boots while riding. Of course they're ski boots which suck but they don't feel weird and hard like I expected. I had planned all kinds of mods but don't see the point.
I read a lot of posts on soft vs hard boots for touring. One thing I noticed was pretty much every hard booter switched from soft boots while the soft boots guys would never even try hard boots.
What I don't like:
They are ski boots and ski boots suck.
They look really uncool. Style matters.
They are comfortable but don't have that comfy softboot feel.
They are white plastic and look like they belong on Starwars storm trooper.
At the resort people think you're strange and avoid looking at you. This is actually a bonus.
What I didn't expect was how they would ride. I know you won't believe me but they feel just like snowboard boots. Not even the stiffest boots I've owned. People say they need more lateral flex but I didn't notice. I have canted pucks so maybe that helped. It was just like using soft boots but with better edge control laying into a hard carve. I rode with normal stance +15/-3. Think they would really be nice +/+ for low carves. I was even slashing around on banks and they just felt like normal boots while riding. Of course they're ski boots which suck but they don't feel weird and hard like I expected. I had planned all kinds of mods but don't see the point.
I read a lot of posts on soft vs hard boots for touring. One thing I noticed was pretty much every hard booter switched from soft boots while the soft boots guys would never even try hard boots.
What I don't like:
They are ski boots and ski boots suck.
They look really uncool. Style matters.
They are comfortable but don't have that comfy softboot feel.
They are white plastic and look like they belong on Starwars storm trooper.
At the resort people think you're strange and avoid looking at you. This is actually a bonus.
1 - 20 of 73 Posts
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