Absolutely love this video. The points are all bang on. One thing I would add for the case for hardboots is perfect foot placement in skin mode. you never have to deal with ice or improper ratcheting affecting your foot placement. A very small amount of over pronation/supination can cause a lot of discomfort when repeated on a side hill over and over.
@@aaallllen best is hot glide wax (same on the base) but if snowboard is white (like mine) you could see a colour change. If not, i guess a silicon spray should work also but effect not long lasting (hot wax is very long lasting).
@@dinubunica Ooh interesting. Do you scrape and brush it off, too? My split has a texture to it, so maybe I'll start off next season by trying a liquid wax.
Don't have much experience with other boots. I've tried the Phantom Link Levers on my old, stiffer Backland Pro boot. I'm 136 lbs, and I had to run the stiffest available spring and the boot still felt too soft..... So I went to a softer Backland model, which I can now run without any modifications. It's preference after all. But there's a reason why Phantom started offering some sort of plastic tongue for that boot... The link lever makes forward flex really, really soft... Never done any other mods, like drilling material out of the cuff and such... No clue! Scary! :-)
I'd like to try splitboarding someday and I really appreciated this video for not only explaining this particular method, but also showed a great overall view of the process and what to expect in splitboarding in general. Thanks!
Thanks Lars! In case you didn't know, you can mount a BD Whippet axe to these poles. I bought mines for this feature. Btw someday I need to try hardboots, usually I go touring with skiers and sometimes it's not easy to keep up with them. I just wish I could test those boots and bindings before buying but it's hardly possible in my area
@ @ i was joking bro, i can definitly see the advantages in hard boots but i am just getting into splitboarding after 15+ years of resort riding so im gonna start with the softboots and see from there ! But i am open to trying them and feeling how they go about
The phantom heel risers have a slot you can slide a ski strap into and lock your boot down with for skiing. Obviously no eject possibilities here. But even split skiing without one you need to lock the toes or you'll just pop out anyways. Just choose to split ski mellow terrain and not turn split skiing into a sport in and of itself. I broke a carbon board three years ago split skiing a steep gully I should've just been split boarding. The flex of a split splitboard isn't designed for aggressive skiing.
Thanks for the informative video. I'm a recent hard boot convert using Spark R&D with Dynafit modded boots and am interested in more information on the 'ski' safety straps that you were using. They look like an elegant solution...
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Sorry, I meant the straps that you're using to stop losing a ski if you come out of the bindings (they have a coiled strap and are clipped to your boot)
Ze accent...... Hahahaha.... Can't lose it, can I?! Yeah, boot comparison would be cool, but is also a bit irrelevant. A boot - no matter how cool some features may be - needs to fit. And fit is subjective. So IMO boots are a topic where people simply need to find their own way. As an example: I had the opportunity of trying Burton StepOn through the shop I worked in. I've never fitted Burton boots well - too much volume all over for my skinny feet. So I ended the day with a terrible experience that had nothing to do with the system at all and everything with the fit of those boots... That could/would easily happen with a hardboot comparison, I guess. I'll see... maybe the Key Equipment people would consider sending me a pair. I think I might have a connection there...
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Thank you for your answer man :) Yeah makes sense that it is a bit irrelevant. I am with a pair of Key Equipment (easer to find in EU) but I'll try to get my wide feet in a pair of Atomic Backland. See ya !
I just found your channel. Great content! I've been thinking about switching to hard boots for a while now, and this video gives me new confidence to do so despite the quite expensive setup. What bindings do you use in the video? Im thinking about Key Equipment Shoes and Plum SOK + Plum Pekye and Spark dual height wires as bindings :) I don't however understand where you tie the ski strap around for ski mode.
I have been riding hardboots from 1985 till 2000 and some stiff ones. But then only softboots. Last year i try Spark dyno with hardboots Dynafit tlt7 on my splitboard...just feel so horrible downhill riding 😱 It was not the best set-up, Dynos are really stiff and tlt7 have no lateral flex. I'm quite ok with my fitwell boots for hiking mode, and the new Vibram sole i put is just incredible for walking/climbing in the rocks. And of course amazing boots for riding. Difficult to split to hardboots. And my Enfuse bindings are also great, because i can put 45° on front foot. I don't know any other splitboard binding that can do that. Perhaps i will have a new try next year with softer plates and the new hardboots from Disruptive because i must agree that hardboots have advantages. I also practice ski touring if i want to go fast to one place so i know the advantages.
@@Bob-ru6nw it’ll be better on that end, but the boot itself will ultimately collapse laterally at the ankle. Burton boots are particularly bad for that, because they don’t offer an articulating upper cuff. So every time you flex the ankle in whichever way, the material breaks down a bit more… Plus, you still have a binding attached to the foot rather than in your backpack. Weight on the feet is much worse than in your pack. But you’re right, that system might well be a bit better for splitboarding than a standard strap binding.
Hi Lars, which backland model would you suggest for splitboarding? I think the carbon ones are too stiff, but between the expert and the sport models, which wuould be the best in your opinion? I weight 66kg and it would be my first pair of hard boots. There are some others models that would be a good choice? Thanks!
The Expert can be used out of the box without modifications. They’re soft enough to ride in. At least in my opinion. The Pro is already a bit stiffer and not so great in the down without mods.
As I said, the lateral stiffness is something to get used to and required a narrower stance for me - that's a compromise! This is all relative, because of the percentage of uphill vs. downhill time! For splitboarding and its 80% ski mode time I think it is smart to make those 80% easy and efficient at the cost of a slightly different feel on the down. In the resort I don't have to think about this, so why would I?! I do prefer softboots, there's no doubt about that! But splitboarding is its own beast, and that was the idea or the message I wanted to convey. That being said, If someone could give me a hardboot (plastic sole) with softboot performance above and around the ankle, I'd buy that - 100%!! Moldability is so much better with a shell! Buckles are so much easier to dial in and release on the lift and all of that... Snowboard softboots are everything but well designed, long lasting high end pieces of gear...
Great video, Lars - you got all the arguments nailed down 👍 but as long as you don’t go extreme alpine, you can do it all with softboots. I stick with the softboots even if it might be easier sometimes with the hardboots, as for me the „snowboard“ feeling is lost when using hardboots. it‘s all a matter of perspective of course, but I think: YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG AND YOU ARE DOING IT IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS!!!! 😂😂😂 cheers & keep it up 👍
162W! On hard, icy faces the xtra width keeps me from booting out. On the skin track I wish I was on the standard width in the 161 length... Can't have it all! I'm a mondo 28 in my boots (US 10 to 10.5 depending on brand). That board is a weapon!! Amazing, really!
Phantom everything + Plum Pekye tech toes is the way to go. Phantom just gives a better board feel + canted bindings. The connection points of the hardware makes it feel like a solid vs Spark/Karakoram, Plum. Hardboots definitely require a stance change +/+
Would love to try Phantom. I must say, connection is by far the best I’ve ever had with Plum. I added that centre D-Board for additional overlap. Big difference to torsional flex!
Obtaining phantom within Europe is a massive hassle as you pay through the nose for the import customs, and if something goes wrong sending it back and getting replacement parts (preferably fast) is pretty much impossible. 650 euro for bindings + cleats, add probably another ~30% on top of that for all the customs, and you need to deal with the additional delay. That's starting to look close to 1000€ for just the binding part, this doesn't even give you tech toes, or raisers.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel There are some techniques that you can use to mitigate the cons of soft boots you brought up. For instance on the sparks R&D high back there are two slots left and right of center that allow a volle strap or Sparks specific straps to be installed to increase lateral stability during skinning. Also a tecniqque I use to keep from loosing my downhill ski is to ride it up onto the upper ski track while in a skin track. It makes me skin with my skis closer together creating a tighter more efficient skinning profile. If you ski the terrain Krister skis ,like mountain climbing routes, I can see how hard boots would be preferable however Xav with Sam did some incredible alpinist routes in soft boots.
Hard boots? Unfollowed and unsubscribed. 😁. I have seen people talking about the phantom stuff but i dont get it. I ride real soft boots and love it for up hill. Just strap your highback and boot together. And when it gets steep i just go boots/verts.
Before I discovered snowboarding I was a cross country skier. I like what you’re saying about the uphill advantages.
Absolutely love this video. The points are all bang on. One thing I would add for the case for hardboots is perfect foot placement in skin mode. you never have to deal with ice or improper ratcheting affecting your foot placement. A very small amount of over pronation/supination can cause a lot of discomfort when repeated on a side hill over and over.
100% true!!!
In order to avoid big mass of snow sticking to the upper part of the board, wax the upper also 😉 it will save a lot of weight to drag with the feet.
What do you use? I've been trying a cheapo spray car wax, but have had mixed results.
@@aaallllen best is hot glide wax (same on the base) but if snowboard is white (like mine) you could see a colour change. If not, i guess a silicon spray should work also but effect not long lasting (hot wax is very long lasting).
@@dinubunica Ooh interesting. Do you scrape and brush it off, too? My split has a texture to it, so maybe I'll start off next season by trying a liquid wax.
@@aaallllen I didn't scrape or brush. But I guess you can do that.
Thanks!
Thank you very much!!
Great content. I would love to hear you talk about the various hardboot options and if you think that altering the walk mode/ forward lean is useful.
Don't have much experience with other boots. I've tried the Phantom Link Levers on my old, stiffer Backland Pro boot. I'm 136 lbs, and I had to run the stiffest available spring and the boot still felt too soft..... So I went to a softer Backland model, which I can now run without any modifications.
It's preference after all. But there's a reason why Phantom started offering some sort of plastic tongue for that boot... The link lever makes forward flex really, really soft...
Never done any other mods, like drilling material out of the cuff and such... No clue! Scary! :-)
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel check out Key Equipment Distruptive. hardboots made for splitboarder and not ski boot for splitboard
I could swear Phantom said something about offering stiffer springs years ago... But they never did.
I'd like to try splitboarding someday and I really appreciated this video for not only explaining this particular method, but also showed a great overall view of the process and what to expect in splitboarding in general. Thanks!
Awesome!! Love this! Thanks! 🙏
Thanks Lars! In case you didn't know, you can mount a BD Whippet axe to these poles. I bought mines for this feature. Btw someday I need to try hardboots, usually I go touring with skiers and sometimes it's not easy to keep up with them. I just wish I could test those boots and bindings before buying but it's hardly possible in my area
Haha, same here. And there’s also a camera adapter for those poles, which I purchased with them.
bro I'm thinking of switching to Hardboots this season in the Tetons....
plus those Halgofs jackets look super quality
Game changer! And yes, the Vassi series from Haglöfs is pretty rad! So are the bibs!! Antti Autti kit! :-)
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Arctic Lines
I was concidering it but than you got me on the “i dont want to look like a skieër part 😂
You are a lost sheep, son! There is no hope with you no more! 🙂
@ @ i was joking bro, i can definitly see the advantages in hard boots but i am just getting into splitboarding after 15+ years of resort riding so im gonna start with the softboots and see from there ! But i am open to trying them and feeling how they go about
If you want to ski, you could use a heel piece of a minimalistic ski touring binding.
Not sure if you need some kind of adapter.
Unfortunately it interferes with the rear binding. Would force me into a pretty wide stance...
Ah damn, then its not good either.
The phantom heel risers have a slot you can slide a ski strap into and lock your boot down with for skiing. Obviously no eject possibilities here. But even split skiing without one you need to lock the toes or you'll just pop out anyways. Just choose to split ski mellow terrain and not turn split skiing into a sport in and of itself. I broke a carbon board three years ago split skiing a steep gully I should've just been split boarding. The flex of a split splitboard isn't designed for aggressive skiing.
Thanks for the informative video. I'm a recent hard boot convert using Spark R&D with Dynafit modded boots and am interested in more information on the 'ski' safety straps that you were using. They look like an elegant solution...
Thanks!
These are the ones:
www.sparkrandd.com/gear/bd-touring-straps/
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Sorry, I meant the straps that you're using to stop losing a ski if you come out of the bindings (they have a coiled strap and are clipped to your boot)
Hi man,
You are touching all the subject that I love : carving and hardboot splitboarding
Ze accent...... Hahahaha.... Can't lose it, can I?!
Yeah, boot comparison would be cool, but is also a bit irrelevant. A boot - no matter how cool some features may be - needs to fit. And fit is subjective. So IMO boots are a topic where people simply need to find their own way.
As an example: I had the opportunity of trying Burton StepOn through the shop I worked in. I've never fitted Burton boots well - too much volume all over for my skinny feet. So I ended the day with a terrible experience that had nothing to do with the system at all and everything with the fit of those boots... That could/would easily happen with a hardboot comparison, I guess.
I'll see... maybe the Key Equipment people would consider sending me a pair. I think I might have a connection there...
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Thank you for your answer man :)
Yeah makes sense that it is a bit irrelevant.
I am with a pair of Key Equipment (easer to find in EU) but I'll try to get my wide feet in a pair of Atomic Backland.
See ya !
I just found your channel. Great content!
I've been thinking about switching to hard boots for a while now, and this video gives me new confidence to do so despite the quite expensive setup.
What bindings do you use in the video? Im thinking about Key Equipment Shoes and Plum SOK + Plum Pekye and Spark dual height wires as bindings :) I don't however understand where you tie the ski strap around for ski mode.
@@1onfire619 that’s my exact setup. I tie around the climbing wire.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel great thank you :)
Been looking at hard boots for the sidehilling benefits
I have been riding hardboots from 1985 till 2000 and some stiff ones. But then only softboots. Last year i try Spark dyno with hardboots Dynafit tlt7 on my splitboard...just feel so horrible downhill riding 😱
It was not the best set-up, Dynos are really stiff and tlt7 have no lateral flex.
I'm quite ok with my fitwell boots for hiking mode, and the new Vibram sole i put is just incredible for walking/climbing in the rocks. And of course amazing boots for riding.
Difficult to split to hardboots.
And my Enfuse bindings are also great, because i can put 45° on front foot. I don't know any other splitboard binding that can do that.
Perhaps i will have a new try next year with softer plates and the new hardboots from Disruptive because i must agree that hardboots have advantages. I also practice ski touring if i want to go fast to one place so i know the advantages.
This video gave me the best arguments to never ever split board at all. I cant and will not ski. If i did tho, i would hard boot.
Hahahaha, love it!! :-) Fair enough!!
What about Burton step in split board bindings and stepin boots? No straps, so no lateral movement?
@@Bob-ru6nw it’ll be better on that end, but the boot itself will ultimately collapse laterally at the ankle. Burton boots are particularly bad for that, because they don’t offer an articulating upper cuff. So every time you flex the ankle in whichever way, the material breaks down a bit more… Plus, you still have a binding attached to the foot rather than in your backpack. Weight on the feet is much worse than in your pack. But you’re right, that system might well be a bit better for splitboarding than a standard strap binding.
Hi Lars, which backland model would you suggest for splitboarding? I think the carbon ones are too stiff, but between the expert and the sport models, which wuould be the best in your opinion? I weight 66kg and it would be my first pair of hard boots. There are some others models that would be a good choice? Thanks!
The Expert can be used out of the box without modifications. They’re soft enough to ride in. At least in my opinion. The Pro is already a bit stiffer and not so great in the down without mods.
Puzzled now then, why simply no hard boots for snowboarding too?
As I said, the lateral stiffness is something to get used to and required a narrower stance for me - that's a compromise! This is all relative, because of the percentage of uphill vs. downhill time! For splitboarding and its 80% ski mode time I think it is smart to make those 80% easy and efficient at the cost of a slightly different feel on the down. In the resort I don't have to think about this, so why would I?!
I do prefer softboots, there's no doubt about that! But splitboarding is its own beast, and that was the idea or the message I wanted to convey.
That being said, If someone could give me a hardboot (plastic sole) with softboot performance above and around the ankle, I'd buy that - 100%!! Moldability is so much better with a shell! Buckles are so much easier to dial in and release on the lift and all of that...
Snowboard softboots are everything but well designed, long lasting high end pieces of gear...
Great video, Lars - you got all the arguments nailed down 👍 but as long as you don’t go extreme alpine, you can do it all with softboots. I stick with the softboots even if it might be easier sometimes with the hardboots, as for me the „snowboard“ feeling is lost when using hardboots. it‘s all a matter of perspective of course, but I think: YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG AND YOU ARE DOING IT IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS!!!! 😂😂😂 cheers & keep it up 👍
😂👍
Are you riding a 161 or 162w?
162W! On hard, icy faces the xtra width keeps me from booting out. On the skin track I wish I was on the standard width in the 161 length... Can't have it all! I'm a mondo 28 in my boots (US 10 to 10.5 depending on brand).
That board is a weapon!! Amazing, really!
Phantom everything + Plum Pekye tech toes is the way to go. Phantom just gives a better board feel + canted bindings. The connection points of the hardware makes it feel like a solid vs Spark/Karakoram, Plum. Hardboots definitely require a stance change +/+
Would love to try Phantom. I must say, connection is by far the best I’ve ever had with Plum. I added that centre D-Board for additional overlap. Big difference to torsional flex!
Obtaining phantom within Europe is a massive hassle as you pay through the nose for the import customs, and if something goes wrong sending it back and getting replacement parts (preferably fast) is pretty much impossible.
650 euro for bindings + cleats, add probably another ~30% on top of that for all the customs, and you need to deal with the additional delay. That's starting to look close to 1000€ for just the binding part, this doesn't even give you tech toes, or raisers.
Cool lars ❤
but victor doesnt use them or his brother
Sure! Neither does Jeremy Jones.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel There are some techniques that you can use to mitigate the cons of soft boots you brought up. For instance on the sparks R&D high back there are two slots left and right of center that allow a volle strap or Sparks specific straps to be installed to increase lateral stability during skinning. Also a tecniqque I use to keep from loosing my downhill ski is to ride it up onto the upper ski track while in a skin track. It makes me skin with my skis closer together creating a tighter more efficient skinning profile. If you ski the terrain Krister skis ,like mountain climbing routes, I can see how hard boots would be preferable however Xav with Sam did some incredible alpinist routes in soft boots.
@@taotracy4431 they're also incredible alpinists.... hahaha! 🙂They didn't do BECAUSE of the softboots, but despite of the softboots!!
Hard boots? Unfollowed and unsubscribed. 😁. I have seen people talking about the phantom stuff but i dont get it. I ride real soft boots and love it for up hill. Just strap your highback and boot together. And when it gets steep i just go boots/verts.
It's not for everyone! Just putting out some ideas and info to give people a bigger picture and options and food for thought.
Ride on!! :-)
So that lateral rotation in soft boots can be fixed by Burton Step-On bindings, no?
Yes, correct!! However, it's still a softboot. The boot's lack of lateral stability would still be there. But you're right, StepOn will help.