New Northwave 900

[harald]

Hi,
Now I have experienced Northwave 900 since November. Last season I used UPS RSV and before that Raichle 323. In sum, the Northwaves are far the best ones. They are stiff (good ancle support) and flexible (with spring modification) at the same time. I had the chance to test the boots in cold weather in Zinal (-19 C) and there were no problems with cold feet or hard shells as with other boots. It also seems that the stiffness of the shells is not so influenced by the weather as the UPS and Raichles were. Since I use ordinary bindings, no intecs, as recommended by J&P, this is no problem for me. Furthermore, I have no problems with the linings. The only modification that I have done in addition to the springs is a custom molded innersole, which I recommend for everybody regardless of boot brand. These soles gives better contact with the board and prevents the feet cramping when tightening the boots.
When this is said, the number required to start production seems large, the size of the alpine market taken into consideration. So I think that the lucky owners of Northwaves 900 have to watch them and take care of them as gold. The other ones can only hope for a miracle.

[The Blitz]

I am trying to convince Northwave to produce the 900 again. I already contacted them, but having a good idea of at least our internal demand would be of great help.
Thanks for voting!
francesco

Goog luck

[skywalker]

I don't see things that pessimistically any more. As Arnaud mentioned, molding precess in only lucrative on high numbers. BUT: some 100 Euros for a plastic molded part are totally overpriced. So you have to relative this statement. As thr production price might be well below 25 Euros, there are no 10 000s needed to make it worth the production. Furthermore the tools can be used for years and for different models (900, 950, etc.) as they did in the past already. Also they might have some tools left, which they could adapt with minor cahnges to step in compatibility for example.

I think, they were earning very easy money a few years ago with their softboots. This may have changed completely as the market went down and the competition grew. Also I don't think, making hardboots is more expensive than making good softboots. If you look at the malamutes with their carbon inner shell, the stitched outer shell, the complex closing-mechanism,... , I think, most of the hardboots are cheaper in production.

Although I don't think that Northwave will be enthusiastic about it (They made some bad experiences with that product I guess), I don't think, that there is no chance at all. Let's try all we can. Maybe we can al least find somebody who is working in plastic parts production, who will buy the tools from Northwave to build these boots for us again

[The Blitz]

Maybe we can al least find somebody who is working in plastic parts production, who will buy the tools from Northwave to build these boots for us again

[eaglefly]

Maybe we can al least find somebody who is working in plastic parts production, who will buy the tools from Northwave to build these boots for us again

...just finding somebody in plastic injection to buy the tools might not be enough...injection molding is not so easy...you need to make sure to know the right polymer used (and any other magical powders or litlle secrets; as we say in french, poudre de perlinpinpette!) for instance and find someone able to inject it (well) to have a similar product (in quality). I don't think that companies making cosmetic caps or automotive parts will be willing to make hardboots! So this option is, IMO, possible with a company that knows already how to do hardboots, no?
More likely, to solve our little problem, we shall tell companies that are still making hardboots to produce better products, according to OUR needs for next season!

[rcrobar]

Hi

I have found that the boot tongue, on my NW’s, to be quite a bit stiffer in colder temps. I notice this most when REALLY trying to bend my legs a lot.

As a test I put ONE of my NW boot tongues in my home freezer (-15/-20C), the other stayed at room temp. The difference in stiffness between the two was very, dramatic, the frozen boot tongue was like a rock.

I have been considering cutting notches into the tongues of my NW boots, so that they bend easier.

The idea is to place MORE flex control on the springs, which do not seem to be affected by the cold and LESS flex control onto the boot tongue which does seem to be affected by the cold.

I know Patrice has cut his boot tongue, but I’m not sure about Jacques?

Has anyone tried this? Can anyone offer any insights here?

Rob

PS - Broke my TD 2 heel bail this weekend, so now I dream of a binding company and the NW boot company designing an EC step in system as a joint venture, guess a guy can always dream:)

[Silber]

Arnaud,

I checked the modifications on the head boots...very interesting..if you remember I broke my right boot in zinal (the inside plastic on the heel partly got stuck in the rab device and part bent towards the inside..) and to fix it I actually had to make the same modification (removing the inside plastic on the heel) and on Sunday it worked very well. Do you need to make the same modification on the front boot?

[Arnaud]

I broke my right boot ...... Do you need to make the same modification on the front boot

Right boot = rear
and front boot = left

The technical section of the site, chapter "settings" says "Set the same calf canting to both of your boots ." I think you should cut the front boot to get symmetrical behaviour.

Arnaud

[rilliet]

But also like to share my personal feelings why i would not select 900's, there is no change to get Intec step-ins work with them, according my understanding they dont come with thermo inner boot ?

Pokkis, you a a marketing victim!
Intec is way too stiff and uncomfortable.
After testing the Deeluxe thermo liner I can tell you the Northwave ones are 10 times better: much more comfortable (thermo liners were molded to my feet!) and much better foot holding.

Jacques

[pokkis]

Pokkis, you a a marketing victim!

I doubt that cause i've been riding with pretty much anything available starting from old Burton-wire bindings, first Burton step-ins, Cateks, TDs, TD SIs.
For me SI are comfy not vice versa
Same goes with stiffnes, i dont have any problem with that, specially cause i like precise feeling of stiff binding, there is no slopyness as on traditional bindings. But i must admit than on very crappy race track sometimes slopyness can be good, but on free-carving, no thanks for me

[harald]

Rob,

The idea is to place MORE flex control on the springs, which do not seem to be affected by the cold and LESS flex control onto the boot tongue which does seem to be affected by the cold.

Have you tried to compensate for stiffer tongue with softer springs on cold days? I wonder to substitute the yellow below the blue with a red one in same length when it feels difficult to bend the legs sufficiently. Using a green spring instead of the blue might also be an option. Have you tried this? I think I will give it a try.

BUT: some 100 Euros for a plastic molded part are totally overpriced. So you have to relative this statement. As thr production price might be well below 25 Euros, there are no 10 000s needed to make it worth the production.

You might be right. I am not a technician but as a former product and marketing manager I have calculated a lot of different products and services. Unfortunelately, most of us underestimate not only production costs (the shell is not the only component in the boots), but also distribution costs and other direct and indirect costs.In addition the producers and distributors should earn a little profit, otherwise they will not be interested in producing anything. So in order to have good quality equipment we also should be willing to pay the price for it. Even if we want equipment as cheap as possible it is in our long-term interest that the manufacturers and distributors are profitable.

[skywalker]

all I wanted to point out was: Usually one talks about very high numbers of molded parts. This is, because the price for them is ridiculous as there is very high cost for the tools and rather no cost for the product afterwards.

But this IMHO is not the way, the price a snowboard hardboot is calculated. I know, that a hardboot is not as cheap, but the production of a shell is not that unbelievably expensive, that one needs thousands of them made to earn a single euro. Si I think, the price for these rare models is o.k., but the numbers mentioned by NW might be a bit high

[frunobulax]

Since pokkis mentioned there is no way of fixing intec heels on the 900's - would it be the same with every step in system, esp with Burton Race Physics which I use on my boards?

(Besides, I know what you're saying about step in bdgs but I cannot use normal bdgs because there's too much titanium in my backbone so no chance to bend down deep enough to close a normal bdg....)

[fire of babylon]

Yes, it is exactly the same problem with burton heels (same screw system than the intec for the shoes heels).

Head statos are a good alternative with few tuning, and for the same (foot) size, the length is about 10% less than the point 900.


FOB

[Felix]

@ fruno

Do you mean this serious. There is too much titanium in my backbone to close the binding. that's fucking scary. My knee is not that clean either.
But at least you can still snowboard