K2 freeride boots "Mindbender" equipped with this season's hottest new feature "BOA®". Impressions of three guides who worked hard on the snowy mountains

Why Mindbender is gaining support from skate fans

The K2 boot ``Mindbender'' is highly supported by skiers who value skiing as a boot that has high glide properties and is easy to walk on.
Among these boots, models equipped with the BOA® fit system have been released in the Flex 130 and 120.

There are many reasons why the ``Mindbender'' is popular among skating enthusiasts, but the biggest factor is the construction of the shell, which does not impair gliding performance. By arranging four types of TPU materials with different hardness and thickness for each part, all the force is transmitted to the boots.

Taking 130 as an example, the black part is the hardest and thickest TPU material, followed by the blue part.
It's a little hard to tell, but the pale gray instep part is made of thin, soft TPU material that helps you put it on and take it off smoothly. The cream-colored upper shell uses Pebax, which is resistant to changes in hardness due to cold weather. ``Mindbender'' is a boot that combines the three features of detecting quick reactions, transmitting power, being light and easy to use.

What are the benefits of having BOA® installed?

There are four brands, including K2, that have newly adopted the BOA® fit system for ski boots for the 24th season. ATOMIC and K2 are the only boots with walk mode that use the BOA® fit system.

The BOA® Fit System uses wire laces that tighten from the top of the foot to the toes.
The method of tightening the buckle by hooking it onto the clasp felt like it was being pulled from the thumb to the little finger.
On the other hand, the BOA® Fit System features a fit that wraps around the entire foot. Another benefit is that the heel fits better into the heel of the boot, and the improved heel lock enables higher power to be transmitted from the boot to the ski, improving delicate edge control performance.
Also, turning the BOA® dial in the opposite direction loosens it, and the fine adjustment of 0.25mm per click is amazing.
Compared to buckle systems, it has the advantage of being able to function reliably even under harsh conditions because of its simple operation of just turning the BOA® dial.

In addition, there are many opportunities to touch boots in the backcountry where you repeatedly walk and slip.
Things change every time you visit a place, so it's hard to say things will always be the same. Even the smallest things can become a hassle, and when they add up, they can lead to a little bit of stress.
For example, if the buckle is covered in snow, the snow will freeze and it won't fit smoothly.
Your toes become tight while walking and you want to loosen them quickly, or vice versa. It is not necessary in calm weather, but in bad weather the work of making such adjustments becomes quite tedious.

With the BOA® Fit System, this can be done with just one action. It fits perfectly when you're skating, and it's easy to maintain the perfect fit when you're walking, neither too tight nor too loose.

From here, let's listen to the voices of guides who used the MINDBENDER 130 BOA® last season. I would like to refer to the feeling I got from walking and skiing on snowy mountains almost every day.

“The entire lower shell feels wrapped” says guide Yuzuru Handa

Profile
ZAOC representative who guides the Tohoku area, mainly Miyagi Zao.
Since childhood, he has enjoyed sliding around Zao. In addition to being a professional skier and backcountry guide, he also serves as an advisor for FWT Japan, and continues to pursue aggressive skiing even as he grows older. ZAOC https://steep.jp/guideclub/zaoc/

"I wore the shoes for about two months from early March to late April. I tried them on the snow for about 20 days. My first impression when I put them on was that they were not that different from the buckle model, but when I tightened the wire, As I went along, I had the impression that the entire lower shell was wrapped.When I

turned the dial, the wire moved and tightened in millimeters, but it was very easy to finely adjust the tightness.The shape of the buckle has 4 levels. You can tighten it with any of the following, but BOA® is incomparably more adjustable and fits better.I really like the way it tightens around the sides and top of the front part of the foot.Even if the buckle type is tightened firmly, there is a bit of looseness
. I used to feel like it wasn't tight even though I was tightening it, but now I'm free from that.It's a matter of
personal preference, but I personally like it very much.

I frequently open and adjust the second buckle.

Especially when I get on the lift at a ski resort, I open it all the way, and the system that allows you to open it with just one action is very convenient. It's equally easy to switch when hiking or skiing. To be honest, before I got the item, I wondered if it would be okay.
However, once you get your hands on it and start using it, you'll notice that the wire is strong, and you can easily reattach dials that come off due to bumps. I used it for 2 months and had no problems.
Maybe it's just that I'm not used to seeing them, but I think one of the novelties is that they don't have the bulky appearance of ski boots.''

“It saves you a lot of work and allows you to move smoothly.” Voice of guide Kazuya Igarashi

Profile

: All-Japan Mogul Champion, National Team Olympic Coach, and climbed Mount Everest with Yuichiro Miura. Currently based at Kagura Ski Resort, he works as a BC guide and mountain climbing guide, teaching the real pleasure of powder skiing to beginners and intermediate skiers in particular. Kagura Powder Station https://steep.jp/guideclub/kagura-powderstation/

``I wore them for about 100 days over a four-month period from mid-January to mid-May.One major difference between the buckle type and the BOA® Fit System is that there is less effort and work to tighten the buckles.

In the backcountry, there are various tasks such as setting up the shoes before walking, and when skiing, removing the stickers, switching from walk mode to glide mode, and tightening the buckles.

With BOA®, there was no need to remove the snow or, in some cases, remove the ice so that the buckle would fit properly. I wouldn't say it's stressful, but the more frequently you use it, the more you can save yourself the trouble of doing this. Also, it is good that the front part of the lower shell is tightened with exquisite strength. The location and strength of the buckle are determined in advance. If it's a wire system, you can tighten or loosen it by about 0.25mm with one click of the dial. With this, you can set the fit just right.

Also, I can feel that the ankle is being held better, and the whole foot is properly tightened.
I'm not sure if this is directly related, but I have the impression that my inside foot catches the snow faster when starting a turn. I've been using it for four months and have never had a problem in the field."

``The airtightness has improved, reducing water intrusion during crossing.'' Voice of guide Iwao Saeki

Profile

Born and raised at the foot of Mt. Tateyama, he became familiar with mountain climbing and mountain skiing from an early age. He competed in the Inter-High in competitive skiing. He is also immersed in competitive canoeing and has won a prize in the national polity. Currently, he guides in the backcountry over a wide range of areas, from the Tateyama area to Hakuba and Myoko. He serves as a director of the Japan Mountain Guide Association and supports the younger generation. Tyrol https://steep.jp/guideclub/tyrol/

``I used it for about three months from late December to March.The fit feels like nothing I've ever experienced before, and I think it's appropriate to describe it as being wrapped in.By changing from buckles to wires, I got the impression that the rigidity in the torsional direction has increased. Also, thanks to the improved airtightness of the lower shell, I feel that there is less water intrusion when crossing etc. For buckle boots, it is difficult to decide where to fasten them

. You can tighten it with one touch, but if you fully open the BOA®, it will take some time to turn the dial to tighten it.In that case, the BOA® will tighten all the way, so be careful not to tighten it too tightly
. You do need to be careful, but even with that in mind, the exquisite fit that wraps around your entire foot is amazing.

I think the key point is that since there is no buckle, it does not interfere with the molding of the shell, making it easier to handle molding such as sticking out.

In addition, the inner boots also use BOA® for a better fit. However, the dial is a little taller, but you'll get used to it as you use it more. I used it for most of the season, and there were almost no problems. On rare occasions during the harsh winter months, the dial would freeze and be difficult to open, but once I turned it in the tightening direction to break the ice, I was able to open it, so it wasn't a big problem.

``BOA® Lifetime Warranty System'' allows parts to be replaced free of charge even if they break.

The BOA® Fit System is backed by a warranty that is limited to the life of the Alpine boots. In the unlikely event that the dial or wire is damaged, you can order a free repair kit from the BOA® official website and repair it yourself. If you have the part you want, you can exchange it at any shop that handles it (separate installation fees may apply.For details, please see each shop).

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