heroshmero Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 Reluctantly, I have to think about replacing my aging Clicker boots and bindings. I weight about 240 lbs and wear a 13 wide. I need a wider boot that will be supportive in the ankle. This would be for a softie setup (not "soft boot carving" necessarily). I would like good feel for the pow but I am a big guy and like to charge it so I need something beefy. I'd like to find boots with a lacing system that I don't have to tie (why don't they make soft boots with hard boot buckles?!!). I tried on the ThirtyTwo Focus Boa last season and liked the fit. Any opinions on the Boa lacing system? I like the idea but have heard that the system can break down fairly quickly. I've also heard good things about Burton Driver. I've heard that it has a wider fit and that the Speed Zone lacing system works well. Opinions? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boostertwo Posted September 2, 2011 Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 I have wide size 13 feet and have used Burton Driver X softies for many years. Have been happy with fit (you can thermo-mold the liners) and performance. No issues with the speed lace system. 2011 and 2012 model years also include a removeable plastic tongue to fine-tune forward flex. <img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6106529369_17427373b6_b.jpg" alt="Sando blasts one, Pepi's Face, Vail, CO."> The past few years the Driver X boots been sized so that I've been able to use a full size smaller (men's 12) with no fit issues. Still suffer some overhang and occasional boot-out when trying to tip the board high on edge, but less than with size 13. As you are similarly afflicted with big feet, it might be a good idea to check if the smaller size works for you. Mi dos centavos, B-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heroshmero Posted September 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2011 B-2, what bindings do you like? Boot out won't be a problem with the custom Donek fatty I had made last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBump Posted September 6, 2011 Report Share Posted September 6, 2011 I am a big guy with a wide foot. I rode the 32 focus boa for a few seasons and loved them. I changed last season to the Ride Insano and I absolutely love the Insano. The fit is great and they are very stiff. The only issue I had with the 32 focus boa is they would break in too soft. The Insano's were great all of last season. Very stiff and supportive but as a big guy that is what you need! Also, I am a big fan of the Boa system, particularly the Focus Boa and would never go back to laces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 I'm still an avid softbooter, so I will throw in my experience here: I currently ride, and absolutely love, my K2 T1's. I have the "DB" or double-boa system, and I don't think I will be going back to laces if I have a choice. I've used these boots for a little over a season now and they have held up flawlessly. I like a very stiff boot, so for me at 150lbs these work great for softboot carving. I have even mod'ed them a bit to help with this. FOR YOU: At your weight I think these may be great. I can still flex mine a bit, so for you that shouldn't be an issue. For bigger terrain, K2's padding, the "harshmellow" stuff, is great. Fit-wise, I have a wide, high-volume foot. The T1's were the only boot I tried (and I did try the Drivers and the Ion from Burton) that had enough room for my feet. They felt almost perfect right out of the box, and once I molded them they were perfect. Again, I put many days on my equipment and these have held up great - no tears or breakdown in material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapster Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 I've tried about all of the above and most were great boots. If you go for the Boa system, I'd suggest the double. It really does tailor the fit to your feet. For me, the K2 T1's were a little short in the toe, but the width was fine and the stiffness solid. I ultimately settled on the Driver X's with speed zone lacing and have been loving them. I even picked-up a spare lace kit at an end of season sale. (BTW, I have flat, wide feet with a high arch.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mxjas38 Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 and once I molded them they were perfect. I am planning to get a set of the Driver X boots for this season. Do you mold these in the same way as a Thermoflex liner or is it a different process. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted September 9, 2011 Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 UPZ ATBs? :rolleyes: Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heroshmero Posted September 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2011 I am a big guy with a wide foot. I rode the 32 focus boa for a few seasons and loved them. I changed last season to the Ride Insano and I absolutely love the Insano. The fit is great and they are very stiff. The only issue I had with the 32 focus boa is they would break in too soft. The Insano's were great all of last season. Very stiff and supportive but as a big guy that is what you need! Also, I am a big fan of the Boa system, particularly the Focus Boa and would never go back to laces. I found a discounted pair of last year's Ride Insano boots from REI. Hopefully the fit will be good. Looks like they might be showing up at my house today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBump Posted September 12, 2011 Report Share Posted September 12, 2011 Awesome! Hope you like them. They feel impossibly stiff if you try to flex them by hand but wearing them, my 225lb frame had no problem flexing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heroshmero Posted September 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 Received the Ride Insano boots and they look like they are going to do the job nicely. Fit is excellent. Length is good for my feet and they are wide! This is great for me as I have a hard time finding footwear that is wide enough. They do feel quite stiff and I'm happy about that. I'm sure they will soften up a bit. The liner has a nice lace hold down inside the shell and the Boa system looks sweet. Outsole of the boot seems a little soft but that might be a trade off for weight. These boots are really light! Thanks for the input everybody. Now, on to bindings. Again, I'm not looking for a "soft boot carving" setup but I'm a big guy and like to charge it. I will need something strong and durable. Any recommendations? I was leaning toward Flow bindings. Anybody have any opinions on them? Anybody in love with any other binding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapster Posted September 13, 2011 Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 Finding bindings can be tough (as tough as boots, actually) as most are softer than you would like for carving. If you're a big guy, Catek Freerides may be perfect. I don't think anything is as stiff and burly. I'm riding Nidecker Carbons, which can be hard to find. The new Burton Diodes are promising. Flows are love 'em/hate 'em. They have a very unique feel--but you can find stiff ones, and they are certainly convenient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heroshmero Posted September 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 Flows are love 'em/hate 'em. They have a very unique feel--but you can find stiff ones, and they are certainly convenient. What do you mean by "unique feel"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapster Posted September 13, 2011 Report Share Posted September 13, 2011 Ha! My phrasing was very intentional as the feel of Flows is hard to describe. From my experience, you have to learn to trust them. You don't have that familiar feeling of a strap tightened over your toes and one over your instep that both can be adjusted individually. The pressure is more evenly distributed, so it's hard to even feel it. (Though there can be a pressure point at the top of the in-step.) Still, it feels like I'm missing something from the description that I just can't put into words. They hold, but they don't feel like they're holding. Maybe it's also that making micro adjustments to the fit of the bindings while on the mtn seems harder--and I have finicky feet to boot. Take this all with a grain of salt. I tried Flows many years ago and my boots were probably 1. too soft, and 2. too big. Not a good combination when you don't have bindings that strap down tight to help hold your foot in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heroshmero Posted September 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Posted the question about opinions on bindings to this thread: http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=351646 Thanks for the input on the boots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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