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Shops review on SPK...bullshit

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thenakedcellist
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 218
So im looking at the 09 spks and I know there a great boot so I linked them to my dad whos good friends with this shop owner and gets deals...look what this dude said..

Dear Bill,

Ok.  You asked for my 2 cents.  Here goes.
 
Your son has picked one of the worst boots developed over the past 10 years.  When we carried them we could not give them away and ended up returning them to Salomon in exchange for other boots.  Now, in all fairness, that was two years ago.  The boot that he is looking at is last years boot so maybe it is better.  I doubt it.  They are very soft which is fine for landings.  It is a park boot only and is not much good for mountain skiing as there is very little leverage available to the skier when leaning into it.  They are also "buckets".  Very wide and high volume.
 
Dalbello makes a similar boot that is everything that the Salomon is not.  It has a rubber boot board for softer landing.  It has a very progressive flex and has a significantly better fit. 
 
If your son has his heart set on it because all of his friends have them and it is an image "thing"  then get them for him.  You won't make him happy any other way.  Otherwise, keep looking.
 
To answer your last question, I can't get them because they are last years boots.
 
I hope that this helps.
 


Also does anyone know if these are the 09 SPKS http://www.proctorjones.com/pjonline/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Salomon+Kaos+SPK&pf_id=97&dept_id=10720

As far as I know that link has this years SPKS...opinions?
Aug 21 2008 10:05AM
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Ender
Posts: 2348 - Karma: 112
wow, that guy is an idiot
spks have a rubber piece under the heel to absorb impact, and i dont know much about flex, but ive skied everything with them and they are legit.  didnt spk's get editors pick in the freeskier buyers guide when they first came out?
Aug 21 2008 10:15AM
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skates_mcfarlin
Posts: 214 - Karma: 10
How is that bullshit, his review sounds about right. It really is not all that good of a boot, due to the way it is designed the boot fits like a box. Which for anything but park is horrible, even for park its not all that good. There are far better boots that are better for park and more versatile then the SPK. I believe that is the 09 version though. 
Aug 21 2008 10:15AM
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Ender
Posts: 2348 - Karma: 112
it depends on your foot, my feet happen to fit in salomon's the best, they are generally wider.  that guy has probably skied in lange's his whole life.
Aug 21 2008 10:18AM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15949 - Karma: 9,431
i love my spk's so much
Aug 21 2008 10:21AM
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bp.lando
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 1,495
The SPK boot is the best thing thats happend to me personally, i have a wide foot, and a bum ankle from a tib/fib injury, its the only boot i can ski in all day without being in pain for about 20 hours afterwards. I found no problem skiing all mountain in the boot. seemed fine to me, if you have a wide boot and your looking for comfort go for the SPK, i dont feel as if ive lost any performance by switching to them.
Aug 21 2008 10:33AM
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ThaLetterM.
Posts: 8609 - Karma: 1,612
i have really wide feet so the SPK is one of my only choices..that being said it does make my arches a little sore but i think thats boot fitting more than anything.

i think ill get foot beds or something
Aug 21 2008 10:44AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10887 - Karma: 2,165
i gotta agree!

kids are so pumped on the hype of the SPK they really don't give a shit about fit or anything like that. they want the boot that TJ or Simon are wearing.

for the "oh but they're good for people with wide feet" argument: give me a break! if you wanted a wide fitting boot there are so many better choices on the market from Salomon, Lange, Technica, and Dalbello.

the SPK boot is specifically for park and only park! not bumps, not pow, nothing! if you think they're good for more than park, you've never been fit into a properly fit boot.


Aug 21 2008 10:45AM
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_steezefiend8
Posts: 659 - Karma: 271
i rodk SPK's and i love them. i dont know what this guy is talking about. i didnt go into the shop thinking i wanted SPK's i went in thinking i want a boot that fits great and feels even better. just so happened that the spks were the boot for my feet. they are a great boot. if they fit the type of foot  you have i would def. get them.
Aug 21 2008 11:02AM
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Ender
Posts: 2348 - Karma: 112
well i guess i dont fit into the hype category.  my boots were getting old and super packed out, so i skied with my friends spks one day and liked the way they fit, so i went to a ski shop in the summer and got the first years boots for $300, works for me
Aug 21 2008 11:31AM
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JesseWest
Posts: 882 - Karma: 27
they were wayyy sick the first year i got them and then completely bunk the next year. due to the spendy nature of boots these days i wish they would last longer.
Aug 21 2008 11:34AM
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Sky.
Posts: 1158 - Karma: 287
I love MY SPKs sooo much and yes those are next years
Aug 21 2008 11:35AM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
Hahahaha wow.

Shop owner clearly is not a business man.

SPK's are like any boot, if  they dont fit your foot, they wont work at all. Same would go for Dalbello.
I have SPK's and they've been great for me in all aspects. Fit, performance, features, ease of penetration and exit. (hehehe penetration) The thing is, they fit me properly, and are exactly what I want in a ski boot, not just a park oriented boot. When the best skiers in the game have them on everywhere they go, I am sure they will work for you.
Aug 21 2008 12:55PM
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RtC.
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 28
Rob, I completely respect you but you gotta chill with the hate man.

This is a completely genuine tale:
I wanted new boots last season, so i spoke to my friend who works in the shop i use and was like look man I'm gonna need some new boots but i don't want to go on looks at all. I want the boot that feels the best on my foot... So i tell him I'm going to put on some headphones and wear a blindfold so I have no clue what's going on my foot. I tried on 5different pairs of boots. The SPK, Agents, FT BBs, Superchargers and the beast. Bear in mind that I ski all mountain but am preferable to a softish boot, 90-100 is ideal.
So after 15mins in each boot walking along a handrail and flexing out and so on, I felt the most comfortable in boot C, which was the SPK...

It fits my foot and has suited my style of skiing and i have raced in the past and am competent everywhere on snow.

Now I have loved this boot but have put a Intuition Power wrap liner in it to get an even better fit and a slightly stiffer flex.

No hate, there is just no need to hate on this boot.
Aug 21 2008 12:58PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
Who are the best skiers in the game who wear them everywhere?
Aug 21 2008 1:19PM
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snowbladesforlife
Posts: 2033 - Karma: -3
I've found the intuition liners don't fit that well in SPK shells. But your foot is different than mine. Also how would that make the boot stiffer?
Aug 21 2008 1:37PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
no they guy is pretty much correct. While Flyingpelvis or whatever your name did have some good points, for the most part the SPK is just a lazy mans boot. sure if you don't need to really ski it is great (aka the park) however when you get out onto the steeper stuff, in variable conditions your going to need a boot that has a much more performance fit then the SPK, which Rob is right in saying fits like a box. And that wide foot argument is the biggest bullshit in the world. it is incredibly easy to punch out a boot.
Aug 21 2008 1:54PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
The SPK was "comfiest"? No shit. Comfiest doesn't mean best.

We carry SPK's. I tried it on one person all year and that was to a guy who came in and pointed at them straight off. An hour and a half later he was set up in Impact 8s I think and I let him try to SPK on at the end. He thanked me.
Aug 21 2008 2:07PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10887 - Karma: 2,165
i hear what you're saying.

now, you've added an intuition liner to an SPK. so you're now hugging your foot as tight as you can. unfortunately, i've had to argue with and refuse to sell boots to people because they think the boot i'm putting them into is too small. my preference to fit people is in a performance fit. this way i make the boot fit them through punching and pressing the shell to fit them perfectly.

when i put someone in a boot and imediately they say it's perfect, that worries me because later on they will come back telling me that there is too much room in the boot and they're sliding around. at this point i have to take the boot back because the shop i work at has a boot fit guarantee.

i see far too many kids coming into the store saying they want the SPK. my first response "ok cool, have a seat on the bench and we'll check out your foot" i take a look and their foot is far too narrow for any salomon boot besides the race boots. i suggest Lange, and the kid get bitchy and the parents give me crap.
if someone comes in and says "i ski park and only park" or "i have another pair of boots for trees and pow and i want something for park" (yes i've had those) then yes i will by all means put them in an SPK. if it's the two buckle system they like, this year i'll be able to put everyone into a Ghost and everyone's happy.
Aug 21 2008 2:07PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
I think every one needs to reread what you just said, It is not about out of the box fit. It is about the fit affter a week of skiing. I think too many people here either buy boots online, or go to a general sporting goods store or a shop that does not do true boot fitting (like REI) where they often try boots on themselves, and have no idea what makes a good fit.
Aug 21 2008 2:22PM
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freeskimccoy
Posts: 736 - Karma: 14
Just to put my 2 cents in,  I have owned SPK's,  and i would aggree with the guy who wrote the messege in the thread creators post.  The boot is pretty overrated.  I got it cause i have a really wide foot, and i was like sweet a boot for my dumb ass feet.  wrong!  all they did was pack out HUGE and fit me terribly.  now everyone is like just size down, and ime like A. i already did and B. how far am i supposed to size down, should my foot bleed until they pack out and should i remount all my skis to fit this boot.  anyway, i would reccomend a different boot, it will last WAY longer which boots are supposed to do and fit better as well.  Since i have gone with solly's Gun boot which i am in love with, i would highly reccomend it.  it does take some break in time by an excellent fit.
Aug 21 2008 2:38PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
Hmmm, it's advice on both sides like this that scares me. I'll never buy boots online without trying them on first...
Aug 21 2008 2:47PM
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RtC.
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 28
Comfiest doesn't relate to the slipper like fell man. It reflects the flex/stance that I was looking for in a boot. I'm not an ignorant kid that was looking for a pure park boot, I like the upriht stance which i was really suprised at.
This boot fit me tight and super perfect except for the height in the toe box, that really bugged me as it bruised my toenails.
It performed well for me, and hasn't slowed my skiing all over the mountain. i skied soem of the naughtiest BC routes with this boot in the aples this season and never once had a gripe with it. This doesn't mean it's everyone's cup of tea and that sometimes i like my Xwave 10s (which have been blown wide) But 95% of the time the SPK gets the jib done to a high standard.


The power wrap has a stiff plate on the back or the liner that can increase stiffness of a boot as well as the snapback and rigidity. You would be surprised at what a liner does to a boot.
Aug 21 2008 2:55PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
He's very correct in that its a park boot only... seeing as they are very soft and all..

granted, they are the best park boot on the market, and are insanely comfortable. But they are horrible for real mountain shredding.


overall, he's still being a fucking dick, and i'm sure the only reason he didnt sell them is because he's an idiot when it comes to selling them. I could sell them easy if we had them in my store..
Aug 21 2008 8:46PM
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Franny
Posts: 3980 - Karma: 77
Top pair of boots im looking to buy this year.
1. Kaos.
2. Mojo
3. Krypton
4. Tecnica
5. rossi scratch
Aug 21 2008 9:04PM
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ski_DC
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 53
when buying boots, you always have to keep in mind how much the skiier weighs and how hard they sk. these factors are almost as important as the fir of the boot itself. a 130 lb guy skiing lange 130s has a good chance of getting worked because of the stiff flex (those with race background aside) the stiff flex will prevent them from working the boot and getting the most out of it. similarly, a 200 lb guy in SPKs will probably be overflexing them, and they will be too soft, due to the two buckle system and the park oriented flex. I own the spks and love them for skiing everywhere, be it lapping the park, cliffs, trees, what have you. the flex is right for me because of my relative light weight, and i can ski their whole flex. i spent hours at my local shop, which is on of the best on the east coast for bootfitting, and tried on sever pairs of boots, not thinking about the spk at all. i originally bought the salomon falcons, but when breaking them in they turned out to have some pressure points. i went and tried on more boots, and settled on the spk. it ffit my foot well, and flexed correctly. the only caveat i have about the boot is its lack of forward lean, but they work 97% of the time perfectly. so the spk is not "the worst boot in 10 years," its all a matter of how it fits and how you ski.  
Aug 21 2008 9:39PM
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Noah_W
Posts: 810 - Karma: 3,238
that guy's in idiot. and ya those are 09 models
Aug 21 2008 11:28PM
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bsmith01
Posts: 1639 - Karma: 43
I went to my shop and I def wanted spks if they fit.  I told the guy I wanted to try them on and I was open to anything though.  He ended up also grabbing some kryptons which fit my foot so much better.  The spks are so f'in wide.  Maybe they fit some people good, but I'm just glad I didnt have my heart completely set on spks.  Not to mention you can change the flex of the krypton which I thought was pretty cool, anyone know if its actually a useful feature?
Aug 22 2008 10:19AM
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Celone
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 114
well i got the spk last year because i was hyped about them and now i realize it was a horrible mistake that i will never make again, luckily the boot didnt give me any foot problems, but the boot was way to wide for my foot, and so this year im gonna go try on fulltilts, hopefully those will fit me better.
Aug 22 2008 11:50AM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
uhhh well... I would go with Dumont I suppose to start.
Aug 22 2008 1:49PM
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richards
Posts: 2177 - Karma: 11
haha ya he made his son seem like a tool
Aug 22 2008 1:55PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
And look at what he skis.... Park.
Aug 22 2008 2:03PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
i kinda agree with taht guy i mean..unless u ski 100% PARK there is no reason to own spk's iv tried them fit my foot fine but they are awful for all mountain and not worth having them for the extra "padding" to sacrafice al mountain capability plus half the kids that have them dont need them and do in fact have them for the image
Aug 22 2008 2:07PM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
Ignorance is bliss aint it?

Would probably be kind of tough to set a world record in a quarter pipe with shitty sloppy bad fitting boots wouldnt you say?

Ive personally seen a huge name dropping list of riders killing more than park in them.

dont fight it.
Aug 22 2008 3:09PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
The argument is all mountain performance. You just presented another way to freestyle. The spk's blow for freeride.
Aug 22 2008 3:31PM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
I think we will just have to agree that you are pretty wrong.

I know from firsthand experience... so I mean, they killed obviously in the park and shit, but they also killed rippin lines, cruisin around, switch in pow the felt good no heel lift, they never let me down when it got steep and stiff, and they crushed every single landing while keeping my feet nice and toasty.

is there anything else you need in a boot? Anyways, sorry for the thread jacking... if they fit ,I recommend them!
Aug 22 2008 4:00PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
watch the opening segment of "Yeah Dude"

it is a pow segment.

every damn rider is wearing SPK's.
Aug 22 2008 4:28PM
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dave_m
Posts: 76 - Karma: 16

Isn't that the seggy in whistler with JP and anthony boronowski etc?? I might be wrong on that but if that is the segment you mean I'm pretty sure they don't wear spk's??

Obviously personal opinion comes into this a lot: guys who own the spk and claim they they love it, have every right to. Doesn't always make for the most reliable review though. Clearly the SPK is not a boot designed to be taken on the gnarliest lines. For my 2 cents (and I've never ridden them) I wouldn't want a two buckle, freestyle orientated boot on a pair of fat skis, on a steep section, or dropping a cliff etc.

Aug 22 2008 4:51PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Lol..

I do not recall this...

and I'd hope if they really did look like SPK's, they were really just some other boot in disguise..
Aug 22 2008 5:36PM
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