Why we're excited about the new K2 Ski Boots
Some of the biggest news for the upcoming 2013-14 ski season is that market-leading ski maker K2 is getting back into the ski boot business. It might come as a surprise to some when we say that K2 is back in the boot business, because many skiers won’t remember K2's brief entry into that market years ago. For sure, they were in and then out again rather quickly back then. This time around, we expect K2 to be in the market to stay and for a long time to come.
In introducing a brand new boot line into an established market, K2 wisely chose not to try and completely re-invent the wheel so to speak. Rather, K2 looked at existing boot models and shapes and chose to refine many of the existing shape and fit technologies along with the addition of an entirely new external spine/hinge feature called the “Powerfuse Spyne”.
The Spyne is a new take on the integration between the upper and lower shells that eliminates the unnatural rigidity that can be caused by the common practice of using rivets to join the upper and lower boot components. This generates a smooth and consistent flex pattern regardless of the boots flex rating. This feature also allows K2 to design a very efficient hike mode version called “Synchro Interlock” for the K2 Pinnacle Backcountry Ski Boot. The Synchro version allows a walk mode boot to still have powerful downhill performance as well. See what our backcountry guru, Craig Dostie, has to say about the Pinnacle on his blog here: Earnyourturns.com
For this entry year, K2 has addressed the two most popular last widths in the high end market by introducing various models of men’s and women’s boots in both the high performance 97mm shape and the slightly more relaxed 100mm fit. The fits of these boots are very good and are reflective of accurate shell shapes and excellent liners in which the lower foot is fully encased in heat moldable Intuition foam while the upper liner is conventional. K2 has also made some models in the 102mm fit range in some selected lower end models. In fit comparisons and in on snow testing, we found the K2 models to be fully competitive with the current market.
The men's conventional models are topped by the flagship (called the K2 Spyne 130 ski boot) in a 130 flex and both the 97mm and 100mm fits. The next model in the Spyne line is the very practical 110 flex, also available in the 97 and 100mm fits. The men's hike mode boots are called K2 Pinnacle and again the flagship 130 flex is available in both fits. The second men's model in the Pinnacle line is the 110 flex and this one comes in the 100mm fit.
The women's collection (called the K2 Spyre) features the high performance Spyre 110 with a 110 flex and the snug 97mm fit. The Spyre 100 features a 100 flex and the slightly roomier 100 mm last. The women's collection does not feature hike mode boots for this year.
To see the specs on all the new K2 ski boots, go to our K2 Ski page.
