Shop Photo/Mountain shop Niseko 343
Ski pro shops not only stock the latest materials for each season, but also have amassed information over the years on past products and feedback from users who have actually purchased them. Also, since most owners and staff are skiers themselves, they have a wealth of specialized knowledge and experience
As a result, they are adept at evaluating products from multiple perspectives and comparing numerous brands across the board. So, this time, we asked the expert experts at a pro shop to recommend some excellent boots that you'd be missing out on if you didn't try them on. If you haven't yet found the boots that you'll consider your lifetime purchase, why not use this as a guide on your journey to find your perfect boots?
Excellent boots selected by the experts at a pro shop that you'd be missing out if you didn't try them on!
FULLTILT
ASCEDANT SAMMY CARLSON
SIZE: 24.5-30.5cm
WEIGHT: 1880g (26.5)
FLEX: 120
¥80,000＋tax
The best thing about it is that it can be used in any field.
Mikiya Tanno
Recommendation: TRUNKBASE
The Ascendedant Summer Carlson is an all-around model of the FT (Full Tilt) boot. Equipped with walk mode and compatible with tech bindings, these FT boots allow you to comfortably tour the backcountry. And best of all, they're great for any terrain. From tricks in the park to hard riding in backcountry areas, they're perfect for skiers who want to do it all: on the slopes, in the park, in powder, and in the backcountry
-san
Recommendation: Mountain shop Niseko 343. FT boots, with their basic concept of a three-piece structure (lower shell, upper back shell, and tongue), are one of the most popular in the freestyle world. This is the brand with the highest repeat customer rate.
The reasons for this are the wide ankle range of motion while the boots are sturdy. They are easy to put on and take off, have a warm inner lining, and are lightweight. Other factors that contribute to their popularity include the tightness of the wire buckle and the wrap-type intuition liner, which are a perfect match, providing comfort without compromising athletic performance
Although it is optional, you can change the tang flex and there is a wide range of consumable parts available, so you can feel at ease
The ASCEDANT SAMMY CARLSON is the signature model of Sammy Carlson, a rider who has won numerous brilliant titles at the X-Games and other events and remains extremely popular in the top scene. This season, it was added to the ASCENDANT series. Check out the video of Sammy riding it here
ATOMIC HAWX PRIME XTD 130 TECH GW
SIZE: 22/22.5 - 29/29.5 cm
WEIGHT: 1668g (26)
FLEX: 130
¥89,900 + tax
A must-have backcountry boot for this season
Tatsumi
Recommendation: SKI SHOP Vail This season's new MIMIC inner allows for heat molding to fit your foot more precisely than ever before. The shell is also reinforced near the heel, increasing rigidity and improving gliding performance.
Previously, the XTD series was a style favored by skiers with narrow feet, but with the introduction of the PIRIME XTD, it is now suitable for all foot shapes, which is a blessing. This is a backcountry boot that you should try this season
Grip fork adds versatility! Satisfying both climbing and skiing.
Fujisawa
Recommend: Ishii Sports Sapporo Store
The HAWX ULTRA XTD is more gliding-focused than the previous model, and the improved overall construction and GripWalk make it compatible with alpine bindings, making it more versatile. The inner lining is made of durable material and can withstand heavy use. This boot is perfect for both climbing and skiing
ROXA
ELEMENT 100
SIZE: 24.5-30.5cm
FLEX: 100
¥50,600 (tax included)
These boots are packed with high functionality and have a list price of 50,600 yen!
Takagi
Recommendation: OFF-1
A three-piece structure that makes it easy to put on and take off and allows for smooth knee movement, a lightweight 45° buckle that provides excellent heel hold, an outer shell and inner boot that are heat-molded to fit the wide feet of Japanese people, and the latest Grip Walk sole
These boots are packed with so many high-performance features and are priced at a super reasonable 50,600 yen (tax included)! These are our top pick for freestyle boots this season
Roxa is a brand that appeals to the high quality and high performance of Made in Italy products. It is supported by a team of athletes who work together with engineers, including the famous Glenn Plake. Click here for an overview video of Roxa
DYNAFIT
HOJI FREE 130
SIZE: 25.0 - 29.5cm
WEIGHT: 1550g (27.5)
FLEXl: 130
¥120,000 + tax
Emphasis on fit and stability for aggressive skating!
Washiisan
Recommendation: BLACKDIAMOND
This is an evolution of the "HOJI" ski boot series, which has been developed over many years by professional freeride skier Erik Hoji
The boots are designed for a tighter fit, with a focus on more aggressive, high-performance skiing. Changes to the shell material and shape maximize stability in ski mode, ensuring you can ski more aggressively than ever before
Here's a short interview with Hoji, the developer of these boots!
"I really like the HOJI FREE 130, and I think it's a good start to further evolving the functionality of touring boots. My ultimate goal in developing boots is to create a boot that offers the highest level of functionality to date, without compromising on performance both on ascents and descents. I
've been testing boots every day for two months now in Austria and Italy. I can't go into detail about what I'm testing yet, but this is just the beginning in developing a completely new boot. It's very exciting."
K2
MINDBENDER 110 ALLIANCE
SIZE: 22.5-27.5cm
FLEX: 110
WEIGHT: 1640g (26.5)
¥70,000 + tax
is popular for its perfect balance of practicality and performance.
-san
Recommend:
Mountain shop Niseko 343
There are many types of boot manufacturers, and it seems that high-performance boots that incorporate feedback from competitive skiing are popular. However, Niseko 343 mainly sells heat-moldable boots that meet performance requirements while also being comfortable to wear all day without tiring you out, warm, and easy to put on and take off. We encourage you to take your time to choose the right boots based on your intended use
Although K2 is a latecomer to the boot industry, they release updates and new models almost every year, and their boots are becoming increasingly popular. We especially recommend the freeride-type "MIND BENDER Series," which sold out midway through last year. Here's a rider's review:
"K2 MINDBENDER 110 ALLIANCE (Size: 23.5cm)"
I think the perfect balance between practicality and gliding performance, and the ability to successfully combine these opposing elements, is what has made it so popular in stores. In terms of practicality, the industry's lightest weight and the range of motion in walk mode are very appealing.
Also, when you turn on the walk mode, the lever rises, so you don't step on the bottom of your clothing, and the inner lining has a cutout, making climbing more comfortable. And, which I think also contributes to the lightness, by varying the shell thickness and hardness in different parts, I think this eliminates the snappy feeling that is typical of boots with walk mode, and the sticky flex feeling leads to good gliding. It felt a little softer than the set flex, but I think it was a good flex.
NORDICA
STRIDER PRO 130 DYN
SIZE: 22.5-31.0cm
WEIGHT:1910g(26.5)
FLEX: 130
￥97,900 (tax included)
TECNICA
COCHISE 130 DYN GW
SIZE: 22.0-31.0cm
WEIGHT:2035g(27.5)
FLEX: 130
¥86,900 (tax include)
TECNICA COCHISE 130 DYN GW
The difference in the bending point of the upper shell creates a difference in feeling. We recommend these two models depending on your style of skiing.
member Amari
Recommendation: Ishii Sports Shinjuku West Exit Store
I think of TECNICA and NORDICA as brother brands. When it comes to racing products, the two brands have quite similar flavors, but interestingly, when it comes to backcountry products, they are completely different. The point of difference that I consider important is the "flex point of the upper shell."
The TECNICA feels like it bends around the bottom of the third buckle, while the NORDICA feels like it bends around the bottom of the fourth buckle. As for how it affects skiing, for skiers who use up and down motions and move their body more in line with the movement of the skis, the TECNICA allows for more shin room and has a smoother boot response, making it easier to adjust to the movement of fat skis. For all-mountain skiing, the COCHISE is a good choice
NORDICA gives the complete opposite impression, and feels very similar to alpine boots (racing type). The boot response is sharp, and the side of the boot is well-composed, so I think it will make a good impression on skiers who have experience in competitive skiing or basic skiing. For skiers who want to move, I recommend "TECNICA". If you are looking for a feeling similar to alpine boots, then "NORDICA" is the one for you. If you have a chance to try them on in the store, I recommend this
I want you to experience the difference between the two brands!
FULLTILT DROPKICK PRO
SIZE: 22.5-31.5cm
FLEX: 90
￥70,000 + tax
Easy to put on and take off, lightweight, fits well, and has a good flex.
Ikeda
Recommendation: PAPASU is a highly recommended boot for freeskiing (mainly for slopes, parks, and moguls). It is lightweight and easy to put on and take off. It also features an INTUTION inner liner that can be heat-molded for a comfortable fit.
The softer flex is great for everything from parks and moguls to slopes and side country. But there are other boots that are just softer. Why are FT boots better? This is important!
FT boots have the advantage of transmitting force directly in the direction of bending of the foot. This is not just a feature of FT boots, but a feature of all 3-piece boots. The fact that they facilitate simple bending and stretching movements makes them ideal for freeskiing. They are easy to put on and take off, light, fit well, and have a good flex. This is why we recommend FT boots
K2
RECON PRO
SIZE : 24.5-30.5cm
WEIGHT: 1740g (26.5)
FLEX: 140
￥89,000 + tax
K2 RECON PRO
boots meet all your needs.
These boots make you want to ski.
Tabira-san
Recommend: Dencraft
The RECON series perfectly meets the two requirements commonly sought by skiers of all stripes: "easy to put on and take off" and "lightweight." And the all-important "warmth" is no different from other manufacturers. (For cold weather, there's the RECON 120 MV HEAT.)
What I felt when I tried skiing in this series was that lightness is also related to ski control, in other words, "lightness can also be an advantage." These boots have all three qualities: they are easy to wear, light, and provide good ski control. Please try them on at your local shop. Once you put them on, you'll want to ski. These are boots like that
A short story from Dencraft owner Tabira:
What do people look for in ski boots these days? Skiers are diverse, from those who love the slopes to those who want to race, those who want to enjoy the mountains in backcountry or sidecountry, and even those who take into account gender and age. However, there are some common requirements for boots.
1. Boots that are easy to put on and take off.
2. Lighter boots are better than heavier boots
3. Warm boots are better than cold boots
. That's about it. The rest is a trade-off between performance and functionality, but my recommendation for "boots you'll regret not trying" is the K2 SKI Boots. K2 is a latecomer to the boot industry. K2's development began with the establishment of a lab for ski boot research. They collected boots from around the world and collected data on all of them using a measuring device they developed themselves. What they discovered was a common practice among all boot manufacturers that was detracting from performance.
This discovery led to the creation of "Spyne." Spyne is a rear-mounted Y-support that adds strength and power to the energy interlock, maximising forward and rear flex and lateral stiffness for high response on any terrain.
I first wore K2 SKI Boots at a test run at Karuizawa Ski Resort in 2013. My feet are size 24cm, and the test boots I was wearing were size 26cm, but the tip of the ski automatically dropped when I started a turn, and they responded quickly to my upper body's forward movement. I was amazed at the performance of the "Spyne."
These features have been retained, and K2 SKI Boots have transitioned to their second generation since last year. This is the "RECON Series." K2 SKI Boots have finally started to attract attention. With the introduction of the MINDBENDER backcountry boots, lightweight boots with alpine-like responsiveness have gained attention. However, it is the RECON Series that I would like to recommend
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