Hi guys,
Can anyone advise the top recommendation of boots for EC?
I talked to the UPZ distributor in Japan. They said the EC12 has already expired and the XCR is a successor of the EC12.
https://www.upz-boots.at/xcr
That should be true from their standpoint. However, I was not sure if the community here also thinks the XCR is the best alternative for the EC12, or maybe the SWOARD team have a plan (or even they are working now) to make another boot that is specialized for the EC.
Any advice would be much appreciated as I'm super new to EC and will even be starting snowboarding this winter after over a 20 year hiatus.
* Doing EC is the biggest goal for me after returning to snowboarding!
Thank you,
D
New EC12: the first Extreme Carving boots, ready to use!
Moderators: fivat, rilliet, Arnaud, nils
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Swoard team
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Re: New EC12: the first Extreme Carving boots, ready to use!
Thank you for your question, which helps us to clarify things. 
There was confusion between the EC12 model (from Swoard) and the XC12 model, which is no longer sold.
The name XC12 was dropped by UPZ, precisely because of the confusion among the public. In addition, the model has been simplified, with one buckle less (4 instead of 5).
The EC12 model (which is in fact a complete package) is Swoard exclusive (with exclusive EC-Box & characteristics) and is only available for sale via www.swoard.com and orders@swoard.com . It is not available elsewhere, not in Asia, and has never been.
The Swoard team, including the EC co-founder Patrice Fivat and the EC instructor Arnaud (plastics & CAD specialist), has developed the EC12 model over many years, as explained at the start of this topic.
A little further down the subject, you can find explanations about the differences between the EC12 and the XC12.
Historically, the XC12 model was first produced in small series by UPZ for Asia. Then for a wider market. But it was then replaced by the XCR model. For sure, there is no longer any risk of confusion with EC12.
This summer, we have produced with UPZ a new series of Swoard-UPZ EC12 packages in sizes that were out of stock. The model has got a great success by word of mouth. Each customer is advised and guided to find the ideal size among the 20 available.
Given the great satisfaction of the team and the riders, we prefer to continue with 5 buckles, as on the RC12: the foot is perfectly supported and we can better adjust the distribution of tightenings. This is important because each foot has a different shape.
It's clear that the EC founders recommend the EC12 package. If you come from softboots world, we recommend them at 200% because the other models of the market are much too stiff (in the ankle area), or have no good system for smooth and fluid EC. With the package, you will find the proper flex for you.
You can email us for more information.
The Swoard team
There was confusion between the EC12 model (from Swoard) and the XC12 model, which is no longer sold.
The name XC12 was dropped by UPZ, precisely because of the confusion among the public. In addition, the model has been simplified, with one buckle less (4 instead of 5).The EC12 model (which is in fact a complete package) is Swoard exclusive (with exclusive EC-Box & characteristics) and is only available for sale via www.swoard.com and orders@swoard.com . It is not available elsewhere, not in Asia, and has never been.
The Swoard team, including the EC co-founder Patrice Fivat and the EC instructor Arnaud (plastics & CAD specialist), has developed the EC12 model over many years, as explained at the start of this topic.
A little further down the subject, you can find explanations about the differences between the EC12 and the XC12.
Historically, the XC12 model was first produced in small series by UPZ for Asia. Then for a wider market. But it was then replaced by the XCR model. For sure, there is no longer any risk of confusion with EC12.
This summer, we have produced with UPZ a new series of Swoard-UPZ EC12 packages in sizes that were out of stock. The model has got a great success by word of mouth.
Each customer is advised and guided to find the ideal size among the 20 available.Given the great satisfaction of the team and the riders, we prefer to continue with 5 buckles, as on the RC12: the foot is perfectly supported and we can better adjust the distribution of tightenings. This is important because each foot has a different shape.
It's clear that the EC founders recommend the EC12 package. If you come from softboots world, we recommend them at 200% because the other models of the market are much too stiff (in the ankle area), or have no good system for smooth and fluid EC. With the package, you will find the proper flex for you.
You can email us for more information.
The Swoard team
Re: New EC12: the first Extreme Carving boots, ready to use!
Thank you SWOARD team for the prompt feedback. Everything makes sense now!
My confusion started from that UPZ Japan announced they would sell EC12 but soon said they would change its name to XC12 due of the patent issue in 2019.
However, there should have been no confusion if I had enough sharp eyes as the difference between SWOARD EC12 here and XC12(firstly announced as EC12) was quite obvious in many parts...
https://www.facebook.com/upzboots.japan ... 497475062/
Anyway I understand the best boots for EC is the SWOARD EC12 that can be purchased only from SWOARD.
I've been in the hardboots world since back 1994 (incl over a 20 years hiatus) but actually I've already purchased another hardboots that have soft flex before I found a bunch of resources here...
Now I'm hoping to ask opinion and advice for the EC gears from your JP team if they hold a carving camp this winter too.
Thanks again for the illuminating advice!
D
My confusion started from that UPZ Japan announced they would sell EC12 but soon said they would change its name to XC12 due of the patent issue in 2019.
However, there should have been no confusion if I had enough sharp eyes as the difference between SWOARD EC12 here and XC12(firstly announced as EC12) was quite obvious in many parts...
https://www.facebook.com/upzboots.japan ... 497475062/
Anyway I understand the best boots for EC is the SWOARD EC12 that can be purchased only from SWOARD.
I've been in the hardboots world since back 1994 (incl over a 20 years hiatus) but actually I've already purchased another hardboots that have soft flex before I found a bunch of resources here...
Now I'm hoping to ask opinion and advice for the EC gears from your JP team if they hold a carving camp this winter too.
Thanks again for the illuminating advice!
D
-
Swoard team
- Administrator
- Posts: 658
- Joined: Thursday 21 March 2002, 11:23
- Location: Switzerland
- Contact:
Re: New EC12: the first Extreme Carving boots, ready to use!
Thank you for your explanation.
It's not only a question of soft flex or springs. The whole way the hardboot is working is crucial. As we like riding in the moguls too, or carving on the degraded snow in the afternoon, the damping (but with still great control) is a point on which we worked a lot too.
Yes, you should join the JP team at their next event! Contact: shun@swoard.com
Have a great winter!
The Swoard team
It's not only a question of soft flex or springs. The whole way the hardboot is working is crucial. As we like riding in the moguls too, or carving on the degraded snow in the afternoon, the damping (but with still great control) is a point on which we worked a lot too.
Yes, you should join the JP team at their next event! Contact: shun@swoard.com
Have a great winter!
The Swoard team