New Hybrid Soft/Hard Boot [Deeluxe Ground Control]

[lonbordin]

Only online information I've found so far:

http://www.boardsportsource.com/2018/12 ... s-preview/

and

http://www.boardsportsource.com/trend-r ... s-fw19-20/

Then you get to Deeluxe’s unique Ground Control; we’ve been excited about this awesome hybrid hard-meets-soft boot carver since we saw the first prototypes eighteen months ago. “It absolutely revolutionizes carving,” says Deeluxe’s Marketing Manager, Florian Heim. “The totally fresh design provides the power and precision of a hardboot while still delivering the enduring comfort that makes a softboot so appealing.” Great job, guys.

Boot innovation? Yes, please.

[jax]

They looks interesting

[H2O]

I think better an AT boot with a good spring system; as lighter, simplier and with a vibram sole.

[alex34]

They looks interesting

+1 !

[fivat]

For many years I say that for bringing more people to alpine carving we need an hybrid boot! Something in between softboots and hardboots, which looks new and not like ski boots. When something looks new, it is more attractive for people outside of our sport and it can make a small revolution.

I'm very glad that Deeluxe had the balls to create these boots.
This could show the way to other models and innovations. It's time!
Personnally I would also like to see the opposite of what is shown here: low part made soft, and upper part made hard, with a spring system.
And why not something as we discussed here and drawn by Nils?

Maybe a carving revolution is finally coming!

Patrice Fivat

[huuska]

And why not something as we discussed here and drawn by Nils?

I am monitoring your discussion about boots for couple of years and the only sence to me seems to take UPZ shells and customize tongue and cuff with springs exactly for EC needs. e.g. to create something called EC kit for UPZ...

But I guess you might have got throught this idea already.

I do not know whether it is right thread to place this question here but have some of you tried to ride UPZ without tongues?? (expecting that first buckles are closed by kind of strips or something)

[fivat]

Some of us in the team (like Arnaud) are using modified UPZ red tongues which are so thin that they just protect against the snow: they let the boots bend only along to the linear behavior of the springs.
We are making many tests with the new RC12 now.

Patrice Fivat

[everts72]

I've heard RC12 are much better than older models. But what is the difference between RC 10,11 and 12 except buckles and colors?

Thank you

[fivat]

Different plastics and reinforced cuff with carbon at proper places...
You can already read some info in this other thread.
More is coming this winter.

Patrice Fivat

[huuska]

Some of us in the team (like Arnaud) are using modified UPZ red tongues which are so thin that they just protect against the snow: they let the boots bend only along to the linear behavior of the springs.
We are making many tests with the new RC12 now.

Patrice Fivat

Thank you Patrice for your feedback.

You have posted this red tongues recommendation to several places. I have not seen this plastic physically but your information that "protects" only against snow answered my question.

Little background behind is that I have older UPZ RC8 model who doesn't have this replacement option. Even I think plastic is the same as there are seen toothpart placement marks on my tongue. So I am thinking about reverse engineering exercise and making my own modification...

[fivat]

You can make your tongues thinner with a small grindstone (I'm not sure about the proper word in English).
With Jacques we already did that in 1999 on NW!!
It's also what we did on some UPZ tongues, as well as some MS tongues for testing. But be careful to not make a hole!

Patrice Fivat

[huuska]

...sandpaper or file it and polish at the end to avoid any notches

I got your point!

Thank you for this tip.

[rahan31]

Don't know what to think about these hybrid concept
Like Pietro I think I would prefer My Atomics with the LPSS spring system for carving, but if Deeluxe need testers i am volunteer
The Nils 's drawing:

Nils_boots.jpg (104.96 KiB) Viewed 25975 times

This is the strarting point of my reflection on modifying AT boots. When Arc'Teryx procline arrived I thought these was close to Nils concept but finally they didn't work. Then I tried all the models of the market and noticed the Backlands were very close to the concept and easy to modify, you have seen the result.

Atomic Backlands are literally a revolution (360°): we start 30 years ago with AT boots, go to hardboots, put springs on it and go back to modern AT boots with springs

[Silver]

Hello hybrid boots riders!

Another atempt of hybrid concept (with open chassis and customizable flex) has already been made by Apex a few years ago and still exist. They seem to be used by some freestyle skiers.

However, you will note that the design of the lower part is closer to that of soft bindings as the front is opened (just a buckle).

https://unofficialnetworks.com/2013/07/ ... ski-boots/

Silver

[jax]

It seems that they added a buckle

https://www.apexskiboots.com