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Burton vs 32 Boots vs The World

So to get to it I’ve pretty much ALWAYS had problems with my boots and I’m so over it… I have a size 11 with kind of a skinner foot and ankle. I currently ride the Burton Hails with that stupid little J-Bar in it and I still get the occasional heel lift, plus they always feel loose… My toes are at the end and I tighten them like hell but it seems like after a couple runs I gotta redo the whole thing. I ride at Bear Mountain which is Rails, Rails and more Rails, so some questions are:

What should I be using??
Is the custom molding on 32 boots as good as it looks??
What about all those fancy lacing systems? Will those keep my boot tighter longer?

Any opinion, big or small, is appreciated

i ride dc, but thats just me

i used to ride some burtons for a few years but now i've switched to DC and i love them. although i've never tried 32 out, i've only heard good things about them.
and as for the lacing systems: i've never heard anything bad about them yet, whether its on DC's or Burtons or whatever

myspace.com/codylee_199

1.Whatever you do, stay away

1.Whatever you do, stay away from vans unle you want your feet to hate you.

2. Burton makes a damn comfortable boot.But it's a Burton boot.

3. try salomon out.You'll be amazed.

4. 32 makes some very lightweight and low profile boots that seem to benefit the bigger footed dudes.

Maybe not DC

My homey rode some DCs last season. He rode them the whole season but they barely lasted two thirds. he shoulda thrown em away. His feet were cold everyday and they fell apart so fast. This season he was amazed with what he was missing out on. It might just be one persons bad experience, but he surely had an awful run with DC. They were the park boot one, whichever model that is. Lower end.

///™

i would recommend trying salomon boots. they are much better designed and built than that of burton (the former boot industry leader). salomons have a reduced overall volume, flex amazingly well where you want them to and deliver support at the same time. their lacing system is the best (its what burton wishes they could achieve with their shitty speed zone system)...and did i mention the boots don't way 600lbs (like burtons).

as far as 32 go, i have never been a huge fan (i like the company and the peeps behind them are way cool), because i like having a foot bed which 32 does not incorporate into their liners. i also find getting into their liners is a pain in the ass...but i am sure this would change as they broke-in a bit. regarding their custom molding, it's so-so...personally salomons thermal mold is just as good (and you don't have to put any of the really painful toe caps on your feet for the process).

having said all of this, i would not sway you from 32. a lot of people really like them. i would tell you to checkout salomon boots, as well as deeluxe (remember them?) who are on a big come back with c3's help (capita, coal, union, etc.). word is that deeluxe is making some very good fitting boots, also. http://www.deeluxe.com/2006/

not sure if that helped, but i was in your, ehh, same shoes in regards to my burton ions. burton, not sure why, has fallen off the map as a boot leader, as far as i am concerned.

Craig Kelly Forever.

Second That

I'd have to agree with LJJ on the Solomon boot. The Solomons and Northwaves have always seemed a solid boot and I have always really like them both- plus they dialed in (primarily Solomon) the speed lace from the getgo. I've been rocking Vans for a long time and loved them, but I'm also a creature of habit and really stick to my brands and a good product when I find it. The Vans were great for me then cause the ones I've had were stiffer and better for the style of riding I did more of in the Tahoe area. Down in Bear/Mammoth, it was way more freestyle and those boots killed me and never fit into my Cartels well. The 32's were my first choice because I tried em on, they fit well, they were way more low profile then my bulky Vans which helped w/my Burton binder, however, I also got all of this plus some with the Solomons. And their speedlace really is the shiiii... they are superlight for hiking and I'm in and out of em quick and easy (NICE feature). So, my rec would def be the Solomon.

I'd also rec having your setup with you for fitting when you finally decide too.. that might be the deciding factor if you like them both. I've known many people that have the Burton boots and love them- but only in a Burton binder.

Though...

Thirtytwo says to use the toe-caps no matter what size, we only use them for pushing toes out if the rider needs to fit an 8 into a 7.5 boot, and so on, sorry for the caps, those things hurt!

thanks

thanks, thats all helpful stuff

wtf is snow? i ride at bear

Yo dood...

Well, as I'm sure Lumberjack already knows this, Mike Fox, the ex designer of Burton (who was aquired by Thirtytwo), was the man responsible for putting the Burton line into respectable boot catergories. The SL series, Ion, Sabbath, were all his handy work, and now that he works for Thirtytwo, you can only imagine the fantasic upgrades Thirtytwo now offers. As far as the heat-moldability, I work at a shop that runs through hundreds of boots a winter, and I have not found another boot that has personally fit as well or as comfortable as a Thirtytwo. DC's are a bit boxy, may have changed for 07/08, but as far as precision fitting goes, heat-moladbility is the way to go. Other companies will claim to have form-fitting boots, but there is nothing better than putting your feet into a steamy hot liner (which have been upgraded for 07/08, I've personally worn the new Lashed/Ultralight/Prime) and having a perfect fit custom to your foot after 15 minutes. Are you looking for a softer or a more stiff boot, fliexier or supportive?

More supportive...

i wouldnt mind something in the middle, just nothing super flexy.. mainly i just want something with the best possible fit/hold for my foot and ankle.

wtf is snow? i ride at bear

Try

the Lashed and the TM-Two's, and even the Prospects (don't let the price fool you.) The Lashed has been slimmed, cut down, supported more evenly for 07/08 and the TM-Two is a different shape with a little more support/stiffness. Rome also has a boot for 07/08 that I did like the fit of called the Bodega, a little bit more on the ball of your foot feel, again, pre-production boot, but regardless, fit really nice considering it was heat-molded (yes, Romes can be heat-molded also) and did have a good flex and support. However, Thirtytwo has been the leader in snowboard footerwear for how long now? Reputations don't get started from having bad product...unless you are the Forum 8, then everyone will ride what you want them to ride.

Mike - my bad if I've already

Mike - my bad if I've already asked you (I remmber asking someone, but forgot who), but have you ridden in the Ultralights? I'm really considering them because I want something light but a tad stiffer than my Lashed. ThirtyTwo's new 07/08 site says the Ultralights should do just the trick for such. Do you know if they stay relatively firm despite the nearly all-EVA foam construction?

As...

I ran them, they were pre-production. The liner is raw EVA, again, pre-production, probably going to be somehow tagged with Thirtytwo logos, but the boot may be slightly supported for production as they did with the Timba's when they were first tested, and released later with a stiffer ankle support/calf for consumer production. I know the Lashed did feel stiffer right off the bat, but I did also try a Ultralight that was half a size too big, so hell, haha just try them on when your shop gets them. For how light they are, just buy them. You'll be able to kick higher than Bruce Lee with them.

Higher Than Bruce Lee??

No shit!?!

SOLD.

: )

Haha

Yea, and the women get the better color too. Pearly white is way cool that Spacetron Silver, dang!

Ha ha! All right, cool. I'l

Ha ha! All right, cool. I'll definitely give 'em a look. My Lashed are pretty old, so I'll try on this season's too to do a side by side comparison for stiffness. Thanks, mang!

boots

the only complaint i have regarding 32's are that they are VERY hard to get into, i have the 305s and it is a chore getting into them. once into them they are the best boots ive ever run. ive taken knuckles, and flat landings and still no heel bruising, very good boots, with a nice stiffer flex and good support.

The Judge

I rode Vans Fargos for like three seasons and loved them. Then I got DC's The Judge and initially thought they were way too soft and unsupportive. After a while though, I got used to them and tried to run my Fargos again after accidentally leaving the DC's in Japan. They felt like ski boots. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, now I'm a fan of the DC's, although I must admit I'm not half as picky as I used to be. Pretty much anything with a Boa is good in my book.

Fight for the little guy - Read SNOWBOARD Magazine!

Gotta represent Burton, becau

Gotta represent Burton, because all the other brands got some love here. I've been rocking the Ions for the last 4 season. I added Superfeet and some extra padding in the ankle area, but after those two modifications, my feet have been in heaven. And I swear by the Speedzone lacing something, not just for convenience, but they provide a secure fit without cutting circulation. I bought some Salomon F20s for comparison and they are solid boots too, but I prefer my Ions because of the Speedzone lacing and the padding in the calf area is more comfortable.

There's really no wrong answer to boots as whatever fits your feet is the best boot.