Very stiff racing boots can be uncomfortably rigid for general use.
Ski boots stiff vs soft.
While the softest skis are popular only with beginner skiers most recreational skiers non racers choose a ski somewhere in between stiff and soft.
Soft boots create a more free flowing experience and are meant for riders looking to seamlessly float from one feature to the other.
A range of ankle dorsiflexory ankle motion of less than 10 degrees is.
Stiff boots are for slalom racing softer boots for bumps parks and trees.
Stiff boots on the other hand create a more aggressive posture that forces skiers onto their toes.
Stiff vs soft flex.
If in doubt use a softer flex to prevent pain and practices better technique before using stiffer ski boots.
Most advanced level boots combine multi density materials to make boots stiff in critical areas of energy transfer but soft in other areas.
Stiff flex boots may also be appropriate for beginner and intermediate skiers who are taller heavier or stronger than the average skier.
Some boots offer features such as shock absorption for landing jumps or slamming bumps.
Lightweight short and beginner skiers should start with softer flexes while larger taller and more aggressive skiers can use stiffer flexes.
Ski boot flex is indicated by a number ranging from 50 very soft to 140 very stiff.
All ski boots are made with varying amounts of forward lean which can be calculated by measuring the angle of the upper cuff to the base of the ski boot and subtracting the delta angle which is the ramp angle of the boot board inside the boot.
If you have to ask you are probably better off getting a softer boot.
Skiers who ski hard or who ski more than just a few days a year may desire a stiffer flex boot both because of the higher quality of materials as well as durability and ski ability of the boot.
Usually through trial and error but with some guiding parameters.
If you think your shoes are too soft you can always bolt them.
The higher the number the stiffer the boot.
A boot needs to be stiff enough to support the skier s tall neutral stance the too soft boot will collapse under the weight and leverage of the skier creating too much bend in the knee and resulting in smoking quads.
