can you expalin flex angles?

Bandit,

I should have also "discussed" women's boots and the flex index range.

Just some background information if you do not mind Bandit. All relavant scales are based on; comparison sample groups ( like IQ scales) or specific standards ( like temp scales which are based on absolute zero)

If ever you want an example of "male oriented, narrow focussed topic,,it is this boot flex scale!

I asked a boot rep once if flex range is same for men and women! That is does 70 index equal same for men and women! I was told yes! Then I researched how companies arrive at these values!!!!! Seems to me that a force exerted by a male to get a male boot to flex 10 mm. is not the same force as a women flexing a women's boot 10 mm.

All this to say that I believe that women's flex index range should not be interpreted IN REFERENCE to men's!

I am meeting soon a great guru of ski safety and ski "mechanics" . He is Carl Ettlinger and I will ask him about this issue since it has relevance to all women!

My wife has a pair of Heads ( not women's boots) and I asked her to try some Head women boots that had same flex index! I asked her specifically about flex feel! (I had not told her about what Bandit brought up)! Her comments, "too soft" too much play!

Same boot company, same flex index,,,,different feel!

Great research project! I promise to follow up on this issue since I will be meeting boot reps soon!!!!

Pavel. Here is one seller's view of my boots.
http://www.skiequipmentuk.com/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_605085

Of course, this is not the dealer I purchased from. That dealer categorised them between sport and performance on their use scale.

Then again, up until about a year or two ago IIRC ise was using Salomon X-Wave 8, so I guess he must be a beginner as well, since they only have a flex index of around 80 :mrgreen: I don't think he got the ultra soft women's flex tho'.

So it's looking like he skied the North Face of Bellecote in carpet slippers.
http://snowslider.net/2006/04/18/2006-04-18-bellecote-north-face/

:lol:

Hirsty wrote:

I have a pair of Salomon X-Wave 10s. I love my boots very much and have had them for about three to four years now.

They have a flex rating of 95.

Sorry I meant 110

Bandit,

I checked my technical manuals for ski boots and found something "interesting" that I had never noticed before your comments!

I hope this will "clarify" the issue of women's flex index and men's flex index values! In essence you should not compare the two!

The range of a women's flex index is from 40-100

The range of a men's flex index is 60-150

It is clear then that a women's flex index of 40 (lowest) is "equivalent" to men's 60!


I will wroite to all ski boot compamies and see if I can get them to confirm this idea!

Will get back to you!

As explained in previous posts,,,,the flex indice for women's boots and men,s boots do have different ranges thus women should not compare men's flex index and women's index!

Several reps from boot companies have confirmed that the two types of values are different!

Hope this helps some of you!

Flex indexes from different manufacturers can't be compared. There is no standard that allows for a comparison.
I wouldnt get too hung up on the flex index or the angle of forward lean. If you take two different boots from two different makers, providing they are for the same skier level and the same type of skiing, then the flex and angle of lean will be fairly similar.
Much more important is that the make of boot suits your shape of foot. Any good ski shop can help you here, they should also be able to 'fit' the boot to improve snugness at the heel if that is the only problem you feel with a particular model.

bitoffluff wrote:i tried on a comfy pair of boots (Nordica SM8 - i have a narrow heel and struggle to get snugness around there). Im a bit of a lightweight girly and im not sure maybe they are too stiff. The flex number (angle?) was 80. Im an intermediate (reds but have a odd shot at blacks), but i only weigh about 53kg so not awful lot of power. Im looking for something that is a bit forgiving of my loads of enthusiasm but maybe not the most consistent style. Any advice much appricated.

I weigh the same as you and my boots have a flex of 80 which I think reading up on it is pretty standard for someone of our size. If you are worried about 'snugness' but not sure if that will compromise your need for a 'forgiving' feel why don't you get a boot with an 80/90 adjustable flex.

Macski wrote:Flex indexes from different manufacturers can't be compared. There is no standard that allows for a comparison.
I wouldnt get too hung up on the flex index or the angle of forward lean. If you take two different boots from two different makers, providing they are for the same skier level and the same type of skiing, then the flex and angle of lean will be fairly similar.
Much more important is that the make of boot suits your shape of foot. Any good ski shop can help you here, they should also be able to 'fit' the boot to improve snugness at the heel if that is the only problem you feel with a particular model.


This is a very good point - I have not tried nordica boots. I have head 8 boots but found soloman boots to have a tighter fit in general. Maybe you should try those.