Ski boots (when not in use)

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Crazy Fool

So, I've grown up being told that when you are not using your ski boots you should have them buckled up so they keep their form. It makes a lot of sense to me, and I will always do it.... doesn't matter if I'm told I'm supposed to or not. I've always thought that everyone did this as well... BUT - earlier in the week I went on a quick trip up to Revy with a group of friends and while packing the van in the morning I noticed that I was the only one who's boots were buckled up. I was with 6 skiers who's boots were unbuckled, and they said they never buckle their boots while not in use. Seamed very wrong to me... it's not like they're shitty skiers who don't know anything either, some of them truly rip.

So, it got me to thinking, how many people don't actually keep their boots buckled while not in use. Let me know what you do, and what people you know do. I'm really curious about the matter now.

Feb 27 2010 4:32PM

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SweatyBallShack

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Addict

Ijust went downstairs and looked at a pair of my boots that dont fit anymore that I left un buckled and they were loseing their shape. I always buckly the boots that I fit in though.

Feb 28 2010 8:21PM

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Forkstealer

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Ridiculous

I leave them unbuckled because i ski a lot so they rarely go more than 40ish hours without being buckled. I definately buckle them up over the summer tho.

Feb 28 2010 8:24PM

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grilledsteezeyo

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Insane

i buckle

Feb 28 2010 10:03PM

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JosephStalin

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Insane

what does the other part of you and your roommates do?

Feb 28 2010 10:06PM

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Tele_Tubbie

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Lame

it says it all

Feb 28 2010 10:15PM

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Peter.

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@th1337

i was taught to buckle them, so i always have

Feb 28 2010 10:20PM

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Malcolm

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Post Whore

i always buckle my boots. i know people that dont though. they just leave the toungue hanging out and everything its disgusting

Feb 28 2010 10:22PM

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m_nova

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Pro

depends how much you use them.....if they go for a week or more buckle em up

Feb 28 2010 10:37PM

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shredables

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Ridiculous

always buckle when not in use. i been doing it since i was..... in the womb

Feb 28 2010 10:50PM

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Half-Blood

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Insane

buckle that shit up, no excuses.

Feb 28 2010 11:04PM

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Brock.

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No Life

i actually started buckling a few weeks ago so that the cords and buckles wouldnt get tangled or caught on anything in my bag

Feb 28 2010 11:08PM

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smooticus

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Insane

I try to but usually forget, i can tell the difference when im putting them on if they werent buckled for sure tho

Feb 28 2010 11:16PM

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dylansiggers

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Insane

I used to, but now im lazy.

I just make sure they aren't all messed up with like the tongue all over the place and stuff

Feb 28 2010 11:17PM

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BShear66

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Wannabe

Thanks for this thread, I've never head of that trick before.

Mar 1 2010 12:46AM

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Yessle

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Lame

BUCKLED for sure... Like others have said, it keeps the shape of the boot

Mar 1 2010 12:51AM

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FUUUCK

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Post Whore

used to always buckle, but I have new liners which I always take out after a day of skiing to dry and usually forget to buckle

Mar 1 2010 12:53AM

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pello

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Pro

always buckle

Mar 1 2010 1:01AM

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Kotke

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Ridiculous

I was told to do it a long time ago and I've been buckling them ever since. Kind of a habit now

Mar 1 2010 1:34AM

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AlexF

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Loner

I buckle my top two buckles if they're not going to be used for a while. I do it out of habit but I'm not sure how much of a difference it should make to the calf area. I don't buckle the bottom cable. I also think how they are stored (particularly the temperature) might make a difference, and here's why:

Ski boots are plastic (duh) which means that they will try and revert back to their stress free state. This will be close to the the shape the boot was originally moulded too. How close to the original moulded shape of the boot this stress free state is depends on the processing conditions of the boot. Assuming that the the process engineers did a reasonably competent job they should be little residual stress from the moulding so the boot should stay pretty much its original shape. This should mean that the boots don't need to be buckled as the plastic will stick to its as moulded state whether you buckle them or not.

However, if you've had your boots modified (i.e the toe box punched out etc...) then the boot plastic will try and revert back closer to the shape they originally came in. The speed at which this will happen depends on the type of plastic (along with any additives too it) and temperature the boot is at. Depending on the boot this may mean that if a boot is stored somewhere warm your blown out toe box may contract back towards its original shape so after a summer your toebox may seem tighter than last season. If you crank down on your toe box buckle/cable then this will likely speed up this process (which is why I don't buckle my toe box cables).

If you've ever left a credit card in your pocket and put it in a hot wash the card will come out warped and bent, you can fix this (and get an idea of why ski boot plastics can change shape). You can get it back to it stress free state (which is pretty close to the way it was supplied, i.e. flat) by just putting it in boiling water and then letting it and the water slowly cool down (if one side cools down faster than the other it will warp the card).

Mar 1 2010 12:16PM

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