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Boot Flex for Competitive Freestyle Kid

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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
My son is 12, 5', 85lbs and competes in Slopestyle, Big Air and Mogul competitions. He is inverting and is overall a good/aggressive skier. He's kinda in between kids/adult boots. Probably a 25.5 (size 7.5 shoe), but still a relatively small/skinny kid. He's looking at Full Tilt and keeps gravitating towards the 90 flex. Wondering if that's still too much boot? He'd love something with a cuff given the shin bang on the moguls......Any thoughts?
Sep 30 2019 10:25AM
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,756
85 lbs that correct?
Sep 30 2019 10:38AM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
SavageBiff85 lbs that correct?


Yes, he's 12years old. About 5' exactly and about 85lbs. I am sure he'll be closer to 90lbs come ski season.
Sep 30 2019 10:41AM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4613 - Karma: 16,021
Where do you live? Ski?

Really this is a question to bring up with a competent bootfitter who can assess strength, anatomy, mobility, etc.
Sep 30 2019 12:48PM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
mystery3Where do you live? Ski?

Really this is a question to bring up with a competent bootfitter who can assess strength, anatomy, mobility, etc.


Thanks for the reply. Ski in New England mostly. We do plan to meet with a boot fitter in a couple of weeks, but I am trying to set expectations early as he has certain things stuck in his head! Figured this forum is the best place to ask for now. I am trying to simply understand if a 90 flex is out of the realm of possibility for someone with the metrics provided. We'll get the right fit for sure.

**This post was edited on Sep 30th 2019 at 1:04:16pm
Sep 30 2019 12:56PM
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CalumSKI
Posts: 4121 - Karma: 23,050
if full tilts go for like a 6 flex
any other boot it will be a 90 flex
Sep 30 2019 2:23PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,045
TaxiRooterThanks for the reply. Ski in New England mostly. We do plan to meet with a boot fitter in a couple of weeks, but I am trying to set expectations early as he has certain things stuck in his head! Figured this forum is the best place to ask for now. I am trying to simply understand if a 90 flex is out of the realm of possibility for someone with the metrics provided. We'll get the right fit for sure.

**This post was edited on Sep 30th 2019 at 1:04:16pm


It comes down to a bit more then simply how much he weighs and how he skis. Strength and flex in ankles play a big role. Honestly until he gets some boots on it’s super hard to give much good advice. He wants to hav both boots on then flex in them. He should be able to get his knee to roughly the front of the toe box. An less they will likely be too stiff any more they may be a bit soft.

But try to make him understand that the bootfitter knows best and what he recommends really will be the best for him. Explain all the best park riders get boots fitted and often ski what a fitter recommends to them. Maybe this will help him realize that he should not pick boots himself.
Sep 30 2019 2:27PM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
As far as I know a lot of boot companies don't use a standard numbering system for flex. For example a 90 flex for Lange's could be completely different from a 90 in Nordica boots. A big part of how much you can flex the boot also depends on how well your heel sits.
Sep 30 2019 2:28PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6809 - Karma: 23,688
Really up to you and also the boot. Some guys that ski way harder than me are in some very soft boots but I am always liking the 120 or 130 flex. Different boots can be way different too so take the numbers with a grain of salt. Also the amount of plastic that overlaps can make a big difference too so it depends how skinny you are and how much a particular boot has to be tightened down etc. I guess just feeling the flex with them on your feet is probably the only way to go and a boot fitter can probably help guide you.
Sep 30 2019 2:32PM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
OK, thanks. I get all of this. I guess it sounds like a 90 isn't out of the realm of possibility and that we'll just have to rely on the boot fitter. He's a reasonable kid....just can't stop talking about and looking at boots so was trying to educate myself further. It sounds like it's basically what I told him - "let's wait till we get to fit day".
Sep 30 2019 2:32PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,100
If a boot fits well then its ok for it to be a harder mold of plastic. Im sure 90 isnt too hard for him tho
Oct 1 2019 1:49AM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
DolanReloadedIf a boot fits well then its ok for it to be a harder mold of plastic. Im sure 90 isnt too hard for him tho


I appreciate the insight. Opens a lot more options for him. Just a weird size (foot too big for his body).
Oct 1 2019 10:50AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,045
TaxiRooterI appreciate the insight. Opens a lot more options for him. Just a weird size (foot too big for his body).


I think you will find he will be closer to a 24 if he wears a 7.5. I wear a 9.5-10 and wear a 26 boot. You can really base boot six from shoe size as no one wears shoes that really fit. If you think about a ski boot your toes want to be hiring the front when you standup straight. If this was how we wore regular shoes we would have bruised toes all the time. So best to forget shoe size. I find the best way to show people what size they are is to physically show them when I measure. Can’t really argue size when you see it yourself.
Oct 1 2019 1:14PM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 2526 - Karma: 23,983
omg just buy the full tilts already ffs
Oct 1 2019 1:27PM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
tomPietrowskiI think you will find he will be closer to a 24 if he wears a 7.5. I wear a 9.5-10 and wear a 26 boot. You can really base boot six from shoe size as no one wears shoes that really fit. If you think about a ski boot your toes want to be hiring the front when you standup straight. If this was how we wore regular shoes we would have bruised toes all the time. So best to forget shoe size. I find the best way to show people what size they are is to physically show them when I measure. Can’t really argue size when you see it yourself.


Shoe size was just a reference point. We've already had him measured for ski boot/length/size. That part is easy.
Oct 3 2019 10:17AM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
KilaTsunamiomg just buy the full tilts already ffs


Son? Is that you? haha. Yeah, Yeah. He'll get FTs I have no doubt.
Oct 3 2019 10:17AM
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dizzydizzy
Posts: 300 - Karma: 1,017
Your kid should definitely not wear a 25.5 boot at 12 years old and 5' tall. I wear an adult size 9.5 as a 5'10'' 30 year old and I wear a 25.5 boot

Get him a 4 buckle kids boot in like a 24, and probably be prepared to buy an adult boot in a 25.5 in a year or two. i made the mistake of getting way too large boots when i started freestyle skiing, same age, same size, and it makes it very very difficult to ski. as always, fit is the most important thing about boots...shin bang, for example, happens from skiing backseat and having too large boots. don't buy full tilts just cause you see them a lot in the park, go try on 10 pairs of boots and buy the one that fits
Oct 3 2019 12:55PM
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TaxiRooter
Posts: 7 - Karma: 24
dizzydizzyYour kid should definitely not wear a 25.5 boot at 12 years old and 5' tall. I wear an adult size 9.5 as a 5'10'' 30 year old and I wear a 25.5 boot

Get him a 4 buckle kids boot in like a 24, and probably be prepared to buy an adult boot in a 25.5 in a year or two. i made the mistake of getting way too large boots when i started freestyle skiing, same age, same size, and it makes it very very difficult to ski. as always, fit is the most important thing about boots...shin bang, for example, happens from skiing backseat and having too large boots. don't buy full tilts just cause you see them a lot in the park, go try on 10 pairs of boots and buy the one that fits

Thanks for the reply. That's his size. Believe it or not. He's small, but his dad (me) is 6'5". Big foot, small kid. Shin bang also comes from having skinny ass legs and skiing moguls aggressively and a highly regular basis 50+ days a year and going as big as he does. Hs 24.5s he has right now are way too small. He'll get the right boot....not worried about that. His coach is a former US Ski Team member....he'll make sure it's right. My post was about flex and getting a better understanding of how stiff is too stiff.
Oct 3 2019 1:13PM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 2526 - Karma: 23,983
TaxiRooterSon? Is that you? haha. Yeah, Yeah. He'll get FTs I have no doubt.


try n grab em used on here. Just search around for his boot size. I copped Ft's last year from the For Sale section and it was a wise decision.
Oct 24 2019 12:32PM
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