Boot Setting – Hard or Soft?

I know that this is to do with the flex of the boot (I think) but I have never really understood what this is about, quite possibly an indicator of my skiing ability. I am currently a piste skier and when I have flicked between the two settings I have not really been able to feel any tremendous difference which I guess is because I am not yet at the skill level necessary to appreciate what to me seems to be a subtle hardly noticeable change.

My boots are 'Nordica 110 Speed Machine'. Mmm yes I am laughing at that as well. I picked the boots because they were the best fit for me, I was looking for a boot that would potentially help progress me and take me to the 'next level' and believe this is the one for me. .... or at least that's what I was told! Well they are certainly better than the sloppy 9 year old Salmons I previously had.

Is there a general rule for the type of skiing / terrain you are on which determines whether to flick to Hard or Soft? What would you suggest for powder? Thank you.

It's not so much terrain that determines the flex needed, as your ability to flex the boot. Although your ankles may feel locked in ski boots, they do need to flex. More advanced skier can flex a stiffer boot. This allows them to put more pressure on the ski. If a boot is too stiff, you won't be able to move forward and your technique will suffer. If your boots(and binding ramp angle) are set up right, you should be able to feel yourself standing on your whole foot and be able to flex the boot a little.

Thanks for the feedback Trencher. I think I will probably flick the switch to Soft on the presumption that I will get more flex overall and can work on things and move my technique forward. Thanks again.

Sounds good. But if you feel you are out of control, flick them back to stiff again and see if that makes a difference.

As a general rule, as a ski boot fitter I look for no more than 1 inch of forward movement in a ski boot and I make sure that when flexing the side of the boot below and in front of the ankle doesn't bow out.

If it does you may be overpowering the boot.

PS When flexing make sure you are flexing with both legs. Anyone can bend a boot too much when they are one leg flexing. Most times one boot doesn't have all your weight on it.
PPS Make sure your power strap is nice and tight, that has an effect on stiffness and control too.

Andy

andymaxwell wrote:PPS Make sure your power strap is nice and tight, that has an effect on stiffness and control too.

Andy

Is that the Velcro strap at the top?

Yep ;)

I try to balance the pressure from the power strap and the cuff buckles to even out the pressure on my shins. Too much on just the power strap can hurt after a while. On some boots the lower cuff buckle does seem to have some effect on the stiffness of the boot and gives a little adjustability.

What Trencher and AndyMaxwell note is very important.
Those "power straps" do the fine tuning of the boot and boot flex!

As a general rule of thumb;
+130 flex is for "thunder thighs" racers! Most skiers do not need such flex levels.

100- 120 range is fine for most male skiers

60-80 range for most women skiers except those "dynamic". top level women skiers who know what degree their edges are bevelled!

One small hint to those top level women and men skiers! Get a second power strap just for tongue and boot liner ( not boot shell ) !

You will discover an added benefit !

Hope this helps you all !

Hard or soft setting,,,,that is up to you,,,but once you decide,,,,,, stop playing around with setting ! You want your brain to adjust to boot/ski mating !!!