Need help to choose hardboots+bindings

[B@mbI]

Hello!

I have finally decided to move from soft to hard bindings/boots.
I have used SWOARD DUAL for a few years with soft boots and can confirm that it is the best board I have ever tried.
So now I decided to learn the extreme carving techniques and buy the EXTREMECARVER. I have signed for the ECS 2013 in Zinal.
Since I have never tried hard boots before I suppose that it will be a good idea to set them on my DUAL and try them for a few weeks during the NY holidays.

I am experienced in snowboarding but I am a complete newbie in "hard settings" so I would appreciate if you can help me to choose right boots + settings (I want to set them on Extremecarver during the ECS). I have checked the forum and it seems that F2 race titanium is a good choice for bindings. However the discussion was held on 2005 and many new bindings could appear during the last 7 years. And I have no idea which boots I should choose.

So can you, please, provide me any advice?

[Arnaud]

Hi B@mbi

Yes you can try your "hard settings" on the Dual.

Bindings : F2 Race titanium are still on the market and remain the best choice for EC

Boots : the choice isn't so important : Deeluxe and UPZ. Actually we would recommend the UPZ boots. 2 different models : RC10 or RC8. They're very similar. RC10 have 5 buckles and a stiff plastic, RC8 have only 4 buckles and a softer plastic. Coming from softboots, you're used to softer gear and I would recommend you the UPZ RC8 boots.

[B@mbI]

Thx a lot for your reply!
And what about Head? they are mentioned under "equipment" on the website.

And can you, please, clariy whether it is possible to choose the boots online or I need to come and try them?
I can measure my foot but how larger the boots should be? And what about socks? should I measure my foot while wearing them?

[Arnaud]

Head boots are great also (and have the most comfortable liner) but are not yet produced and it's very difficult to find these boots. Possible if you buy an used pair.

Buying boots without trying them is diffciult because nobody has the same feet. Theoritically, the modo point size is your foot length, but practically it's not so easy
What is your usual shoe size ?

[B@mbI]

I have just measured my foot it is 27.5cm and width is 10cm.
So can I simply buy 28?

And regarding the Head, is it this one?
http://www.hardbooter.com/Head_Stratos_ ... tospro.htm

I saw them on different websites at cheaper price (around 250EUR)

PS: thx a lot for your help!

[Arnaud]

And regarding the Head, is it this one?

Yes, these one.
Head are great , but as you can see on the website (hardbooter) only small sizes (< 25) or large sizes (>29) are available. But mybe you could find a used pair.

Maybe 28 would be good with UPZ boots, but Head are smaller and 28.5 should be better. Not sure.
Personally, I use UPZ in 27.5 and Head in 28 while my foot length is 26.5-27 ...

[B@mbI]

Thx a lot for your help, Arnaud!

I prefer to try boots before buying them so do you know whether UPZ RC8 are widely sold or they are quiet rare?
I will go to Selva di Val Gardena in Italy during the Christmas holidays but I am not sure whether I will be able to find them there...

[Aracan]

When I was in Corvara (Val Gardena) two years ago, Sport Kostner (on the main street in Corvara) carried UPZ/Virus. However, I do not know if they have only the Virus-branded boots (i.e. RC10 only) or other models as well.

[Arnaud]

Sport Kostner is one of the main UPZ distributor in Italia. No problem to try boots there.
http://www.sportkostner.com/it/store/scarponi-c16

[B@mbI]

I will try them in Italy.

Thx a lot for help! I do appreciate!

I hope that EC community will obtain one more member in the future)

[RicHard]

I confirm that you can find RC8 by Sport Kostner: they had several of them just a couple of days ago (I was there).

[B@mbI]

Guys, I have a slight problem)

Which liner should I choose? Termoflex or standard one?

And how good should the boot fit? The problem is that ideally I should buy 27.5-28 mondo, but if I buy 27.5 the plastic boot can not be used with 28 mondo liner (27.5 is max), while for larger boot 28 is min liner mondo. Boots are UPZ RC8 in Sport Costner.

[jax]

Head boots, quite expensive
http://www.action-outlet.ch/de/shop/pro ... ml?count=9

[joemzl]

Where is the problem B@mbI?
If the 27.5 fit you, take them.
If they feel too narrow, you take the 28,0 with the larger shell.

Standard liner for normal feet.
Thermo for problematic feet, or if you definitely want the 27.5 liners instead of 28.0 standard liner.

Hope that helps a bit.