bobdea Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 from what I understand is that it's a couple hundred thousand to get a new boot from the cad to the hill, after all the development costs. not sure how reliable that number as it came from a solomon rep, same guy also went on for 45 minutes about why capped skis are better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJFluff Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I think Sorel should get into the snowboard business. Make a hardboot. I don't know about you guys, but that was my first pair of boots for riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I think the shells are injection molded, but they might be roto-molded. If they're roto-molded, an aluminum mold for each size would be around $20k if you went off-shore. Injection molded - more like $80-120k (off-shore again) as they'd have to be steel and a multi-piece mold with moving parts. Then you need the machines, the process time, and a prescribed plastic formulation. Probably the biggest cost of all would be the liability insurance. :( I worked in the plastics industry for a few years. It's a crazy business that's all about efficiency in huge runs. How anyone makes snowboard boots for such a small market is amazing to me! We had a $2-million manufacturing cell that made tubs and lids for cake frosting. Sixteen 16-oz tubs came out of the machine every ~4.3 seconds - 24 hours a day/7 days a week. That's a LOT of frosting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abakker Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 i have a hard time believing that it can really be that expensive. how do companies like daleboot offer such unique boots in what i assume to be limited runs? it seems like there should be a cheaper way to do this. alternately, a member of the bomber forums could win the lottery and start a boot company... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 One word: Liability Perhaps so, but it seems likely to me that the PR payoff would be a bigger boon to them compared with the minor headache it would take for their team of lawyers (who are almost certainly on retainer or working in-house anyway), to draw up the necessary liability-assumption and waiver paperwork, to make the transfer safe for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0ardski Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Guess I better buy a powerball, It's the only way I'll ever get the Oneboot that does it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUD Posted November 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 i have a hard time believing that it can really be that expensive. how do companies like daleboot offer such unique boots in what i assume to be limited runs? it seems like there should be a cheaper way to do this. alternately, a member of the bomber forums could win the lottery and start a boot company... It's true. Now you understand why the boots we have, are the boots we had. The cheapest injection molding mold I have seen recently with NO moving parts other than the ejection pins was a handle piece for a biomed device, it was $20K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 i have a hard time believing that it can really be that expensive. how do companies like daleboot offer such unique boots in what i assume to be limited runs? it seems like there should be a cheaper way to do this. alternately, a member of the bomber forums could win the lottery and start a boot company... I am on it. Played again this week. If I do win I am only going to make them in 28.5. Sorry guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUD Posted November 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I am on it. Played again this week. If I do win I am only going to make them in 28.5. Sorry guys. That's a little selfish....... unless you make them big enough to stuff a 29.5 into...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUD Posted November 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Perhaps so, but it seems likely to me that the PR payoff would be a bigger boon to them compared with the minor headache it would take for their team of lawyers (who are almost certainly on retainer or working in-house anyway), to draw up the necessary liability-assumption and waiver paperwork, to make the transfer safe for them. One would think so. It would be nice, I would love to pick up a pait of "improved" Fires.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus the virus Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I was Burton furnace, fire boot rider for more than ten years and bought three sets of boots to have enough for the rest of my life! I tried all boots from other brands in that time and couldn´t ride with them ! Then I switched to the UPZ Prototypes and we put a lot of input and knowledge in that boot. I think the first two series had been a little bit too stiff for the average rider, because they were too much influenced by racers who want a stiff boot. For 2008 we made the flex 15% softer! I can definetly say that the new 2008 UPZ has the best performance I ever could feel, not too stiff and totally comfortable with the strongest hold of the heel without bombing the buckles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUD Posted November 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I was Burton furnace, fire boot rider for more than ten years and bought threesets of boots to have enough for the rest of my life! I tried all boots from other brands in that time and couldn´t ride with them ! Then I switched to the UPZ Prototypes and we put a lot of input and knowledge in that boot. I think the first two series had been a little bit too stiff for the average rider, because they were too much influenced by racers who want a stiff boot. For 2008 we made the flex 15% softer! I can definetly say that the new 2008 UPZ has the best performance I ever could feel, not too stiff and totally comfortable with the strongest hold of the heel without bombing the buckles! Cyrus, Thanks for the input. How does the new UPZ compare other boots stiffnes wise, what is it close too? Have they improved the liners? I know some riders have had issues with them in the past. I ride KTM's so I find myself drawn to the orange ones. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus the virus Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Stiffnes of UPZ is near the old Burton Furnace or little bit softer like the new white colored Deeluxe! Liner is a brand new one made from a material which is like a mixture between gel and a foam which is molding to your foot by the body temperature! Bola has ordered the orange ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.