[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

7 hours ago, Kneel said:

Oh, try out Intuition Luxury liners in the 700.  I thought the stock liners were fine, but was getting some slight upward heel movement.  Not any more with the Intuitions. And they are ghetto fabulous in gold. 

 

I definitely have my eye on the Intuition liners. Thanks, great color too!

3 hours ago, barryj said:

Hey Shredsurf.......... when ya get it setup  what Mtn. you gonna pimp your new ride??

Somewhere in Vermont probably, I love Stratton, Stowe and Mount Snow, in that order...preferably somewhere during the week, when the cord is plenty and the people are not!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

I originally thought the Titanflex were sold out, but was able to snag a set.

I GOTTA be done now!?! 

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

5 minutes ago, Jack M said:

Awesome. While you wait, you can practice carving on your softboots. The test is if you can roll the board over and start carving the next turn before the board points downhill. In other words, carve the downhill edge. If you can do that back and forth, back and forth, the transition to hardboots will be easier. 

I would also plump for the metal F2s. 

I've been "practicing on my soft boot set-up for the past 20+ years!

17 minutes ago, daveo said:

Titanflex is another option...

Upgrade option complete!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

26 minutes ago, dredman said:

Awesome to see you diving back into carving! Great set up! 

Come on out to the Montucky Clear CUT session to have some wide open runs and no fear of getting run over from behind.  Cory will have some carving clinics to help get back in the game.  

Enjoy the new ride!

I am absolutely looking into some sort of "Out West" riding with a group of similar minded riders!!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

43 minutes ago, daveo said:

Intec RS @ 225lb. Hmm.

Anyone else unsure of 

Sean at Donek assures me I will be fine in the F2's. 

Now I'm worried.

9 minutes ago, billyt. said:

That looks like a great deal.  Now, walk before you run.  Go ride some nice greens and tweak your set- up.  Let your muscles remember what it feels like, and don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen as fast as you think it should.  Keep us posted with your progress!  Good luck.

My angles on my current soft set up are fairly aggressive and my boots are as stiff as you can get, so I'm hoping the re-transition back into the alpine world will be pretty quick. We shall see! Thanks for the words of encouragement!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

Well, after lots of research and lots of advice and forum suggestions, the deal with Donek is 99% done!

I decided to stay with Donek and package everything through them. The potential savings of $350.00 overall was tough to pass up.

I went back to the Deeluxe line and chose the Track 700T, seemed as if it's going to be a better choice for my feet and riding style. I coupled them with the F2 Intec RS bindings based on advice from the older dudes on this forum, and step-ins, for me makes total sense. My current K2 Auto bindings have an automatic toe strap connected to the upper strap, so I only need to crank down 1 strap as opposed to 2...and it is a pleasure! 

Once Sean and I work out the final deal and apply the advertised discounts, I hope to have everything in my mitts by mid-January!

Thanks to all who took the time to hook me up with great suggestions and advice. It's been a long time out of the hard boot scene, it feels good to get back!!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

On 12/21/2018 at 2:51 PM, Neil Gendzwill said:

The F2 race titanium or titanflex will absolutely hold your 225 lbs.   F2s are used in world cup racing, I think if they can take the strain there you should be ok.  The RS are the lighter model that some recommend against for stronger riders.

I really like the idea of stepping in...you know, as a old guy.

So I'm looking closer at the F2 intec's. Coupling the bindings with the board with Donek is a solid deal.

Thanks for the insight and advice!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

1 hour ago, Neil Gendzwill said:

The F2 race titanium or titanflex will absolutely hold your 225 lbs.   F2s are used in world cup racing, I think if they can take the strain there you should be ok.  The RS are the lighter model that some recommend against for stronger riders.

I really like the idea of stepping in...you know, as a old guy.

So I'm looking closer at the F2 intec's. Coupling the bindings with the board with Donek is a solid deal.

Thanks for the insight and advice!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

4 hours ago, Neil Gendzwill said:

I think the SGs are a little pricey for what you get.  An alternative would be the F2  RaceTitanium.  Another option is the RS - some would think they are too flexy and maybe not strong enough for a guy your size, but I have used them with no issues.  Personally I really like and recommend step-ins, F2 Intec Titanium or Titanflex would work, I run the Titanflexes.  You could also go Bomber, lots of people here use and recommend them.  My opinion is that they are on the heavy side and over-engineered, but the over-engineering appeals to many.

I thought the RC12s were pretty stiff?  Maybe others can chime in here.  Given where you are located you might be able to try on some boots.  Make sure you get heat-moldable liners.  By all accounts the stock liners on UPZ suck.

As far as boards, not familiar with that particular Donek.  However any modern freecarving board will be an improvement over your old PJ. I'd look for something with a wider waist, 20+ cm, to give you some flexibility in stance.

I am pretty much sold on the Donek Voyager, it's now down to the bindings and boots. I've heard the F2's wont hold my 225 lbs. so I'm still looking around. Same with the boots, Deeluxe 700T vs. UPZ RC12.

Thanks for advice!

4 hours ago, daveo said:

Welcome home @SHREDSURF

I think you can consider a few things, but it's just my loose change (apx 2 cents worth), so don't take any of it too seriously:

• Bindings: I'd save my pennies and get a set of F2 Race Titanium over the SG (because $ and proven results). I think forum member @Alexey is currently selling new ones for $200 shipped. Or you could get a used pair on the forum for $100-150.
• Boots: Might be worth making sure UPZ are the right boot for you. UPZ are for narrow-ish heel and medium+ toebox. Deeluxe are for wide-ish heel and narrow-ish toebox. Also, general consensus is the liner in the UPZ is garbo and most people replace them with Intuition or Palau. I like these liners for $130 shipped. You can probably get a deal on the forum for $200-300 for boots.
• Boards: Coiler is also worth a look for boards. Should be cheaper than the Voyager but it can be with a titanal layer, fully customised to you and you can add things like plate inserts and ptex topsheets basically at the stock cost, if you feel that way inclined. Donek can do this too, but at a (much) higher cost. I'm happy with my Donek and Coiler. Plate mount inserts are valuable in my experience. Might be worth posting a WTB here on the forum. I'm sure you can snag a a 2018 board with 10 days on it that's what you want for $400-500.
• Isolation plates: Maybe too early to talk of these, so I won't, but I love them for a multitude of reasons and never ride without them, now. I like the Apex Race V2 plate. Bomber, Donek and many others also make plates. Used floating plates go for $200-500 in the classifieds.

In stiffness they go AT8 (soft) < RC12 (normal, everyday carving) < RC12R (race)

Thanks, much better advice and opinions here vs. Facebook. 

Thank you!

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

3 hours ago, daveo said:

Welcome home @SHREDSURF

I think you can consider a few things, but it's just my loose change (apx 2 cents worth), so don't take any of it too seriously:

• Bindings: I'd save my pennies and get a set of F2 Race Titanium over the SG (because $ and proven results). I think forum member @Alexey is currently selling new ones for $200 shipped. Or you could get a used pair on the forum for $100-150.
• Boots: Might be worth making sure UPZ are the right boot for you. UPZ are for narrow-ish heel and medium+ toebox. Deeluxe are for wide-ish heel and narrow-ish toebox. Also, general consensus is the liner in the UPZ is garbo and most people replace them with Intuition or Palau. I like these liners for $130 shipped. You can probably get a deal on the forum for $200-300 for boots.
• Boards: Coiler is also worth a look for boards. Should be cheaper than the Voyager but it can be with a titanal layer, fully customised to you and you can add things like plate inserts and ptex topsheets basically at the stock cost, if you feel that way inclined. Donek can do this too, but at a (much) higher cost. I'm happy with my Donek and Coiler. Plate mount inserts are valuable in my experience. Might be worth posting a WTB here on the forum. I'm sure you can snag a a 2018 board with 10 days on it that's what you want for $400-500.
• Isolation plates: Maybe too early to talk of these, so I won't, but I love them for a multitude of reasons and never ride without them, now. I like the Apex Race V2 plate. Bomber, Donek and many others also make plates. Used floating plates go for $200-500 in the classifieds.

In stiffness they go AT8 (soft) < RC12 (normal, everyday carving) < RC12R (race)

Yes sir, the RC12, is reportedly for normal, every day carving...exactly what I am looking for.

Although Sean at Donek is offering a great package deal for the board & boot with the Deeluxe 700T...I am still on the fence with the Deeluxe vs. the UPZ.   

[F2 race titanium]

Any large F2 Intec Titanflex in stock? If so, total price shipped to USA?

[Getting back into the game - Hard Boot Package Advice/ Opinions]

Well, after about 20+ years away from the hard boot riding world, I am ready to jump back in.

For the past 10 years I've been riding a soft boot set-up (Burton Driver X Boots, K2 Zeppelin 164, K2 Auto Bindings). A pretty standard soft boot setup with what used to be (2008) the stiffest soft boot on the market. I can carve a pretty decent set of turns with this setup, but the riding is not at the super deep carve level I want to try to get back to. I sold all my alpine boards and boots (Burton PJ7, Burton Asym) a while back and after much research; I found that the alpine world has certainly come a long way since the mid 90's. I feel it's finally time to transition back over to a hard boot setup.

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on board, binding & boot package deal below through Donek & UPZ. Based on opinions and research, I feel this setup is best for my riding style. I don't plan on any hard core racing, but the faster and deeper I can go, the better! I am primarily riding solid intermediate groomers and the more cord I see, the better. 

I've gone back and forth with research on the UPZ's entire line and the Deeluxe 700T and from what I've read, I think the UPZ's give me more options and certainly get high praise.

I am 6'2" tall (182cm) & 225 lbs (102kg) 54 years young and rode old school alpine boards for 10 years back in the 90's, primarily in the Northeast, (Vermont, NH, Maine).

Here's is the $1,700.00+ package I put together:

~ Board - Donek - Voyager Free Carve - 175cm
~ Boots - UPZ 2019 RC12 Shoxxter - 28
~ Bindings - SG Performance – Race Bail

Thoughts, advice, opinions.

Thanks!