The boot thread

[scrub]

I love traditional lace, I usually use waxed hockey laces that don’t get soggy and ‘hockey tie’ them so they are nice and snug up top and loose in the forefoot.

[scrub]

I dropped my old TM2 liners into the new boots and they felt great.

[Shifter]

I like more and more my three season old TM-2's to this point that I put just a day on my Malamutes and had no desire to use my ION's, which are way more flexy than TM-2's. Heatmolding 32's and also the insoles was a game changer. No sign of wear, except the outsoles of the boots. Once sorted out how much to tighten with the performance liner trad-lace is the way to go for me. The only minor complain is that 32's laces are garbage and I switched them for a pair of Burton laces, which are much more sturdy and longer and when needed I can use them as powerstrap.

[kimchi]

What are the advantages of traditional laces? Besides getting soggy, drag in the snow when untied, always feel too tight at the ankle and too lose at the calf, and suck to twiddle about digging the double knots out of at the end of the day when I just want these damn boots off asap. I don't begrudge anyone their preference, but what makes them good?

1. Customization.

2861A1B0-D9A5-4076-9B2E-06736070E4B2.jpeg (4.45 MiB) Viewed 1505 times

Above on Tacticals, I swapped out to wax hockey laces (the stock laces were crap). I skipped lace guides at bottom to reduce tension on the widest part of my foot, and have lace locks at bottom and top hooks to get leverage and reduce lace slippage. I’ve also sometimes skipped the bottom-most interior hook for more lateral flex, so I can kind of tweak the boot to my mood on a particular day.

With this set up I can get the laced Tactical significantly tighter in the shin / calf than the BOA Acerra. I can put my whole body into that lace lock I set, and get way more leverage on the top of the tongue than I can twisting a BOA dial. (Although turns out on the Acerra, I don't want the upper fully cranked).

2. Mechanical simplicity— I break too much shit and can fix a lace boot to near-full functionality with spare shoe string. I could hobble back to the lodge with a voile strap on other systems, but wouldn’t feel safe charging on them without a full repair which I may or may not be able to get done myself or at a random resort shop.

Edit: I concede a few drawback. Untied laces are a pain in the ass and my hands can chafe tying up on especially dry, cold days in the parking lot. I don't especially see speed as a drawback... I've timed myself, I can get my laces dialed in about the same time as I can twist BOA dials (although Burton Speed Zone is probably fastest).

[C.Fuzzy]

What are the advantages of traditional laces? Besides getting soggy, drag in the snow when untied, always feel too tight at the ankle and too lose at the calf, and suck to twiddle about digging the double knots out of at the end of the day when I just want these damn boots off asap. I don't begrudge anyone their preference, but what makes them good?

1. Customization.
2861A1B0-D9A5-4076-9B2E-06736070E4B2.jpeg

Above on Tacticals, I swapped out to wax hockey laces (the stock laces were crap). I skipped lace guides at bottom to reduce tension on the widest part of my foot, and have lace locks at bottom and top hooks to get leverage and reduce lace slippage. I’ve also sometimes skipped the bottom-most interior hook for more lateral flex, so I can kind of tweak the boot to my mood on a particular day.

With this set up I can get the laced Tactical significantly tighter in the shin / calf than the BOA Acerra. I can put my whole body into that lace lock I set, and get way more leverage on the top of the tongue than I can twisting a BOA dial. (Although turns out on the Acerra, I don't want the upper fully cranked).

2. Mechanical simplicity— I break too much shit and can fix a lace boot to near-full functionality with spare shoe string. I could hobble back to the lodge with a voile strap on other systems, but wouldn’t feel safe charging on them without a full repair which I may or may not be able to get done myself or at a random resort shop.

Edit: I concede a few drawback. Untied laces are a pain in the ass and my hands can chafe tying up on especially dry, cold days in the parking lot. I don't especially see speed as a drawback... I've timed myself, I can get my laces dialed in about the same time as I can twist BOA dials (although Burton Speed Zone is probably fastest).

Okay. That's all legit. I guess the wide variance in foot/ankle/calf sizing would precipitate a need for some of that customization to fits.

I imagine if I spent the time to see if some of these lacing mods would accommodate my fit better I may have a different tune. Many moons ago I had such trouble finding boots that fit my weird feet that once I did, I've rarely looked outside of that brand. Every time I do, I'm disappointed. And they are primarily speed lace type of system which I've grown to love. After all this time, In my comfort going back to trad and fiddling around with knots and such, especially out on the hill, seems more hassle than I want. But, traditional laces look way fukkin cooler than speed and boa boots. I'll fully admit that.

[Wes Bourne]

@Kevington how's the Nidecker fit? Pretty narrow I'm guessing if you're comparing them to Vans?

Not sure if I ever tried on a set of Flows (and I believe Nidecker just adopted that program wholesale).

Also LMAO @ "And they say romance is dead".

I think it is more the supportive yet not super stiff feel that felt similar to the Infuse specifically.
The fit is semi-wide in the front, like Adidas I would say. I really like the toe box, its roomy but has a nice snug fit on top of the toes, good for heelside turns. It's also the longest (internally) 275 mondo boot I've tried. The mid foot and heel is average in width. I have a narrow ankle and calf but I can get good enough heel hold. I might need to add some foam around the ankle area as it breaks in to keep that hold. In general the fit feels good, I had Ride Fuse before and it is similar. The liner feels ultra plush, the first layer in contact with the feet is soft so there's a cosy snugness filling all gaps that then gives way to support. I don't think I'll need to heat mold.
I think for the Adidas lovers, Nidecker could probably work in terms of width. I got them at my local shop which also stocks Burton, Vans and Adidas so I had a Nidecker on one foot and tried some others for direct comparison.

Vans Aura Pro: narrower in the front, more aggressive and slightly painful ankle grab, softer flex.
Nidecker Altai: lower price point than the Rift but supposedly stiffer. It was softer, felt like it could fold in a critical situation, foam outsole with a small rubber bit at the toe.
Adidas Samba: Similar in the toe area, more pressure on top of the instep, particularly when flexing forwards, noticeable absence of anywhere for my heel to go, softer flex.
Burton Ion: Generally uncomfortable in comparison, a bit vague fitting all over but several hard bits inside causing pressure points, especially on top of the foot. Had to go up to 280 mondo for comparable inside length.

@Kevington Your posts about the Rift have definitely got me looking at a pair.

I'm currently on my 3rd pair of Infuse (I have the 2019 atm) and while I've been pleased with them in the past, I've wanted to get a double Boa boot for a while now. I thought of getting the Aura Pro, hoping it would fit me as well as the Infuse, but I ended up taking advantage of a flash sale and ordered the Burton Swath Boa in a 9.5 (27.5) and 10 (28.0).

Fwiw, the Infuse are the best fitting boots I've ever had: great heel hold and enough wiggle room in the toebox. Size 9.5 (27.5) is as good as I've ever felt in a snowboard boot.

The Swath in 9.5 fit short, like my last pair of Burton Imperials in the same size that were still too tight after 2 heat moldings that I barely wore them. The size 10 Swath is the right size/length for me, but the fit is nowhere as good as the Infuse. Similar to your experience with the Ion, It's something with the bumps built inside the liners that just don't line up well with my ankles.

So I popped the liners from my 9.5 Infuse in the size 10 Swath shell and the fit is great. I was about to settle on that combo, but now I'm leaning towards returning the Swath and getting the Rift.

All that to ask you: since you said the 27.5 Rift is the longest 27.5 you've ever tried, is it safe to assume it'll fit me if an Infuse 27.5 is great?
I could order both the 9.5 and 10, but I'm trying to avoid that because Nidecker doesn't cover return shipping...

[jota]

After the sabbaths and the laces wet from the snow and the discomfort of tying, I went to the slx and its speedzone and I was happy. Then came the TM2 and double BOA and well, but I liked speedzone better. and after a lot of boots, my last boot is the best of all. infuse. I have removed its insole and put those of the tm2 and the change has been exceptional. the boot is different. more sensitive to the board and snow. exceptional. the boot is a glove on my foot. and it’s the first boot that once put on I no longer have to adjust it all day. but it has traditional lace, boa and closure. too many things. I hate the traditional lacing and in this boot for me the custom fit is not necessary because the boot “for me” is perfect. so I miss the speedzone but I won't change this infuse and its perfect fit for any other boot in the world

[kimchi]

After the sabbaths and the laces wet from the snow and the discomfort of tying, I went to the slx and its speedzone and I was happy. Then came the TM2 and double BOA and well, but I liked speedzone better. and after a lot of boots, my last boot is the best of all. infuse. I have removed its insole and put those of the tm2 and the change has been exceptional. the boot is different. more sensitive to the board and snow. exceptional. the boot is a glove on my foot. and it’s the first boot that once put on I no longer have to adjust it all day. but it has traditional lace, boa and closure. too many things. I hate the traditional lacing and in this boot for me the custom fit is not necessary because the boot “for me” is perfect. so I miss the speedzone but I won't change this infuse and its perfect fit for any other boot in the world

If you care enough to swap out the insole, just buy an aftermarket. 32 "Performance" insole is better than most stock footbeds, but crap compared to something like Remind, SOLE, Superfeet, etc.

Side-by-side photo comparison, Adidas stock vs. 32 Performance vs. Remind:

Screen Shot 2023-04-14 at 10.57.23 AM.png (2.2 MiB) Viewed 1371 times

[G.D.]

Love the fit of my Longo Infuse and had no break in pain at all. Comfortable out of the box, first time I've ever had that aside from the Ion Leathers, but much more comfortable for my feet. I personally don't need all that customization, as Jota alluded to also, so likely opting for the Auro Pro double BOA as my next one. My feet fit in Vans perfectly, thankfully.

[eleveneightnate]

so likely opting for the Auro Pro double BOA as my next one

Hopefully they fit the same. Seems like every Vans model has a different fit haha.