Comments on: A Brief History of Why There Aren’t More Innovative Ski Boots

By: John Whitney

John Whitney — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 19:01:47 +0000

Bil,
Could you give some feedback on how the support of the Apex compares to traditional overlap boots? Is it comparable to 110, etc flex?
Thanks

By: Rick Glesner

Rick Glesner — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 17:00:47 +0000

In reply to Jon Williams. Jon when were you there? I was working in customer service for about 6 months in the summer of 1971. I was 19 and found being in the windowless confines of that building too depressing so I got a job at Andel's Ski shop. I later got to know RB a lot better working for him at the RBL ski factory(s).

By: Paul Deely

Paul Deely — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 20:43:18 +0000

yes… the rear entry boots present the foot w/ the same cuff every day regardless of the inter play of tongue wrap/ placement , temperature and seating arrangement at put on…. I learned this from Hanson’s and Solomans… I was lucky enough to fin d the last pair of new SX92’s in Salt lake in the late 90’s w/ unused foam liners … the shop owner Earl of Sport Loft was able to adapt newer foam to give me a perfect fit and as I’d inquired about his stock of spare parts he discovered another pair of boots in a box w/ ample spare soles and parts so that I have a lifetime supply of boots ,liners and parts in a comfortable adjustable boot… one feature not mentioned is the Soloman’s forward flex adjustment which allows independent flex without change to the fit ( buckles) ..In deep dense. Snow I soften the flex it allows more time/ movement to smooth balance in these tougher snows and on groomers and harder snows I stiffen… I agree it was a superior design but I suspect the young bucks of design start by discarding the old so that the new is all they’re… much as we did in our time at bat

By: robert cohen

robert cohen — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 03:57:32 +0000

I started skiing with leather lace up boots so I’ve seen all the changes in boot design. I even used to wear a boot (don’t remember the brand) that came all the way up to just below your knee. Every year each boot manufacturers comes out with so many different models that it’s impossible to demo all the top new models so I disagree about the lack of innovation in ski boots.
With all the new models coming out each year I doubt that the cost of making new molds or return on investment is limiting new boot design. Also the lack of a uniform measurement of boot flex would not be a reason for a lack of innovation in new boot designs – that just doesn’t make sense.
The difference between the design of the old long straight skis and the short parabolic ski and the way you ski them is huge. The Real Question is if there is an innovative new boot design that would work better with the short shaped skis? The boot manufacturers have talented design
teams and the potential for profit is so large that if there was an innovative new boot design that was as big as the change in ski designs they would produce it or at least be working hard at it.

By: Bil lMarx

Bil lMarx — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 23:49:23 +0000

In reply to Herb Gliick. Jim, I retired after 40 years active National Ski Patrol. I've skied all the models of boots shown (and then some) starting with leather lace/buckle boots to Rosemount, Hanson, Scott and every other mfg. I now ski in retirement with the 1st Apex design. What a outstanding boot. Warm, comfortable, easy entry/exit.Removal of shell makes for easy wallking on decks and stairs. This is the best boot I've had ! Try it, you'll buy it.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:16:08 +0000

Only ski boots I found that were comfortable for me were Raichle. They didn’t survive. Luckily Full Tilt bought their molds and makes an acceptable clone that works for me. Otherwise I don’t think I could stay on the slope at 68.

By: prdoucette

prdoucette — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:15:53 +0000

Sadly the real reason there is really no development of alpine ski boots is because the growth in skiing is coming primarily in snowboarding rather than alpine. There is no economic incentive for boot manufacturers to develop new or better alpine ski boots when there are higher profits to be earned from catering to snowboarders who tend to be younger and more willing (both financially and temperamentally) to upgrade their boots more frequently.

As much as better designed boots and skis have allowed many senior skiers to keep skiing, for the vast majority of senior skiers boot stiffness is unlikely to be the primary concern of whether one enjoys their trip down the hill. Boot makers know this which is also why they are not rushing to bring back a reasonably priced and easy to put on rear entry boot. Sadly if you want ski boots that are reasonably easy to put on and keep your feet reasonably warm you have to take up snowboarding.

The above notwithstanding I must admit that every once in a while I enjoy putting on my 20 year old rear entry Salamon SX91 Equippes and stepping in to my equally ancient 210 Dynamic Slalom skis and letting them fly by taking a few runs on a smoothly groomed black diamond run at my local ski hillock before switching over to my new Lange boots and Head iGSR skis. Enjoying skiing on both these set ups which perhaps proves the point made in this article, that ski boot design really has not changed all that much since plastic boots first came in.

By: Richard Jeltsch

Richard Jeltsch — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 20:56:41 +0000

The best boots I ever had were Hanson rear entry, so I echo Herb Gillick: Why was this design abandoned by the industry?

By: Wayne Ferguson

Wayne Ferguson — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:10:56 +0000

Best of the “old school” leather boots had to be Ernie McCulloch’ boots from 1957-ish. I used them until I couldn’t get them repaired any more. Tried Lange Standard and still have the gouge in front of one ankle – ski boot equivalent of the Edsel. Finally discovered Salomon rear-entry boots. They were comfortable and warm even in the Great White North. Eventually I succumbed to the industry’s tactics and got a pair of overlap boots – the X-Wave. When the liners gave up the ghost, I got a pair of ZipFit liners. Comfortable and warm, still working well, but a bitch to get on and off. Too much work for an advanced septuagenarian.

By: Jon Williams

Jon Williams — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 15:13:24 +0000

I spent a long winter molding boots at Lange in Broomfield. Nasty work-pre OSHA!
Before that I work 40 hour weeks logging in boots with hard liners. Apparently the flow reacted with the Naugahyde, turning the latter stiff as a board. Once bagged in a poly bag, problem was solved.
Lange really brought the plastic boot along over the years. I still ski in a pair of baby blue world Cup 130s But after 60= years on the slopes, a new knee and a spinal fusion, I can barely get them on and off my feet.