Hardboot Splitboarding - the pros and cons

[@jamiemerkler6825]

super helpful concise overview of pros + cons. thanks for the vid! helped me finalize my decision

[@poacherproducts]

Good info..thanks. I rode those 32 Jones boots for a bit…great stiffness but the weight is like having two cinder blocks on your feet!!!

[@xavierh.kennedy1278]

Exact video I was looking for thank you

[@christianmehlsteibl574]

Hey there. I‘ve been riding on an additional hardboot setup for 4 years now. Definitely understand your cons. But there is a pretty simple solution. Try the phantom boot or their link lever to an atomic boot. That makes riding in hardboots so much better and you can dispense toe pressure very accurately. Cheers

[@alaskagearguide]

Thanks for that! I definitely have the link lever on my wish list. Too bad they don't make it for other boots yet besides the Atomics.

[@gregone]

Can confirm. I’ve been using the backlands for two seasons, initially without the link lever and then with the lever. That part makes a big difference in the downhill feel!

[@simo-lorenz]

@@alaskagearguide i have it on my dalbello quantum evo , they do fit there aswell

[@56466bhggh]

@@simo-lorenz How do you like the evos? I was looking at possibly getting the Dalbello Quantum Asolo

[@tobiascarlberg2204]

Such a good breakdown of the differences. Thanks a lot for sharing the nuances in your experience!

[@birkmh]

Finally! exactly the video i was looking for

[@paulinapiechowiak348]

Try to put your snowboard boots liners into your hardboots. My friend advised me to do that, and it feels much more comfortable

[@colincarver893]

You cant. It fuks the walkmode of the hardboot

[@BryanPike]

Wonder how they stack up to Phantom Slippers...

[@zg-shred]

Do you ride the same stance angles on your hard boot setup as you ride with soft boots? Are you using canted pucks or non-canted? Do your heel risers contact the boot on the arch or the heel portion of the boot. Thanks. Great video.

[@alaskagearguide]

Hey Richard - yes I ride the same stance pretty much on all my setups. For my hardboots, I use canted pucks and I'd echo everyone's suggestion to do that with hardboots. As for the heel risers, they sit right in the heel portion of my boot. Hope that helps a little.

[@lorenzomarangon1419]

@@alaskagearguide what angles do you use? Thank you!

[@alaskagearguide]

@@lorenzomarangon1419 I use a duck stance around +17 and -15.

[@Simon-bu4kc]

funny, I'd have thought that especially in powder and technical terrain hardboots would mean trouble. I've only used hardboots in the resort so far on really aggressive stances with large, hard race-orientated boards and it felt amazing on the "manmade" slopes. so much stability, so direct and such precise edge control. at the moment I'm trying to decide weather to go for a soft boot setup again on my new split or if I dare to use hardboots. as nice as this video and it's content was, it only made me LESS certain 😂

[@peterbradshaw6147]

Phantom Slipper, in my opinion

[@henrybamforth2704]

Hi thanks for your useful comments. I have wide feet and find hardboots restrictive. I have tried TLT 5 boots but they were tight. Do you know if the Fischer boots have a wide fitting and are the strong enough to heat and blow out wider? Did you favour the Spark bindings over the Phantom bindings setup for any particular reason? Many thanks HB

[@alaskagearguide]

For what it's worth - I've talked to 4-6 different people (with a variety of foot shapes), and haven't heard anyone mention issues fitting wide feet. I tried on a couple sizes to gauge fit before sticking with them. As for the bindings, I have not used the phantom system, so can't comment on it. I fully endorse Spark R&D though. I've had great experiences with both their strap and hardboot systems. Plus, when something breaks, their customer service has been fantastic.

[@floimschnee4275]

Henry, I had the same issue with the TLT5 in the forefoot area. Brought them to a good bootfitter that punched them 5-10mm wider in that area over the duration a few days.

[@gardiot5509]

Are you able to ride with the same binding's angle than your soft boots ? cuz I always see hardboots setup with both feet set in postisive angle

[@alaskagearguide]

I ride the same angle with both hard and soft boots, yes

[@soptywitness]

Just took my hard boot setup to a steep slope yesterday on hard pack condition, and as you said it’s very scary - There’s no transition or forgiveness transitioning between edges and it’s hurting both the calf and the shin. I was wearing the same downhill hard boot for skis (Salomon shift pro 100) and later I realize the problem - I dialed it all the way into the ski downhill tightness. Loosing the top 2 buckles (it’s a traditional 4 buckle boot) and loose the strap a bit to allow it have a little play seemed to be helpful. I’m wondering if you ever found it helpful as well? Also can you talk about canted pucks ? I can’t wrap my head around how they would be helpful to hardboot setup and if it’a essential. Thanks!

[@alaskagearguide]

Hey, sorry for the slow reply...must have missed this comment a while back. Anyway, I agree that you can "fine tune" your hard boot by adjusting the straps without going full-modification mode on your boots. That has worked well for me. As for the canted pucks, they are pretty universally recommended for hard boot setups. My best explanation is that canted pucks help line up your legs in a more ergonic angle, which is especially important in hardboots with limited lateral flex. With softboots, I notice less of a difference, but still prefer canted.

[@soptywitness]

@@alaskagearguide thanks for sharing! My boots are getting better now with locks open and fine tunes on the buckles. 😅

[@peterbradshaw6147]

Gotta have the ability to flex toe/heel for control in steeper/slower more technical terrain.

[@3HouReNerGy]

What are your feelings about the carbon board? I have heard that although its lighter, there is way more chatter on harder pack snow.

[@alaskagearguide]

Hey Jacob, I really like the Weston BWs carbon. You are right that there is a trade off when going super light, but similar to using hard boots, the benefits far out weigh the costs in my experience with this board. It is great in soft snow, and it is reliable on hardpack. These days, I'm not usually riding full-speed on hard snow but I imagine that's when the chatter could be a bigger issue.

[@peterbradshaw6147]

@@alaskagearguide Def more chatter, not as damp. Find the happy medium. The down is so much fun, I'd rather sacrifice some weight for better downhill performance any day.

[@mbeo7818]

your bindings board setup is my dream but it's way too expensive

[@alaskagearguide]

I agree that it's not cheap! It took me several years to upgrade to this setup. Keep your eyes out for deals and it's possible to save a lot of money. I just looked and Weston is selling a demo carbon backwoods 160cm for $770 on their website ($400 off)

[@harveylyons5516]

AGG and KRIB this video gives a good description and comparison but this kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoCYYWawdreUgrc already existed, as did Joey's G3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoDCYWygmNRkZq8 video. I came from a mountaineering background and went direct to hard boots for my split set up. First with a Voile Plate, but the uphill stride and was rubbish with pivot behind the toe, so moved to Phantoms. I started on a TLT 5 but have moved onto a Scarpa Alien although Transverse was a strong contender for the replacement. I do find the AT boots even more comfortable than my soft boots. in terms of ride performance this is a useful comparison although not direct kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX3Fdaqsa6-qfqc

[@colincarver893]

Dude, there is no was you can say you cant tell the diff while riding between hard and soft boots. Hard boots are locked at the knees, compared to soft, hence the need for canted pucks, and substantial mods to boots.

[@cypriano8763]

i highly recommend skiing, save yerself the hastle. snowboarding is simply inapropriate for the backcountry. maybe they should bring back the Split Decisions, i bet ya most guys would end up skiing if they had the option to have real skis that make up their board when they are out there.

[@oldgreg506]

What a cold ass take

[@tomgrande8169]

Haha I can say the same about skiing. Dude your statement and opinion don’t mean anything. How about on a breakable crust when I carve perfect turns down a nice line, and on your skis your drowning and make the worst looking traversing ski tracks, funny you didn’t mention that. Crazy how you discredit splitboarding saying it’s inappropriate. I primarily splitboard, but have a ski touring setup so your not gonna convince me that 1 is superior to the other. Both just tools for mtn travel. Define yourself, don’t let your chosen mode of travel define your life.

[@cypriano8763]

@tom grande snowboarding is for sled lapers and the hill. Just done waiting g, just fnn ski if your gonna go in the bc

[@SnakebitSTI]

Good info but hard to listen to. Your lav mic is too close to your throat, and I can hear every single time you swallow in way too much detail.

[@marissacapito4659]

Haha! I can definitely hear what you're talking about! It was my first time recording audio with a mic like that, so I will try and place the mic differently next time. Thanks for the feedback!