Kingstonian
Well-Known Member
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I don’t think these would be covered by the ‘All Inclusive’ thread. I am not sure how many here - if any - are interested in the topic, but as The Winter Olympics kicks off it is as good a time as any to find out.
Early ski boots were leather, with lots of different companies offering them. Then plastic ski boots took over the market. These are mostly made by companies in one small town in Italy, though inevitably some production has been outsourced to the third world.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2003146/birth-boots
In the late 1980s, 80 per cent of boots were a simple single/double closure design, with a memorised fit. Ski instructors used these, but racers never took to them. The Salomon company produced the top design - the SX91.
http://pistehors.com/news/ski/comments/0773-salomon-60th-birthday/index.html
However, Salomon eventually bowed to fashion and went back to four clip racing style boots. They stopped making the old style boots.
As regards style, Technica brand boots use a distinctive orange colour. They are well regarded boots but you are stuck with that colour.
I may start using my Salomon ski boots again. Same goes for my old Salomon monocoque skis. They have a 61mm, waist whereas modern skis are shorter and fatter. Good on piste though, which is where most skiers are. Advertisers market a dream of untracked powder snow - but life is not like that unless you can afford to go heliskiing.
Early ski boots were leather, with lots of different companies offering them. Then plastic ski boots took over the market. These are mostly made by companies in one small town in Italy, though inevitably some production has been outsourced to the third world.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2003146/birth-boots
In the late 1980s, 80 per cent of boots were a simple single/double closure design, with a memorised fit. Ski instructors used these, but racers never took to them. The Salomon company produced the top design - the SX91.
http://pistehors.com/news/ski/comments/0773-salomon-60th-birthday/index.html
However, Salomon eventually bowed to fashion and went back to four clip racing style boots. They stopped making the old style boots.
As regards style, Technica brand boots use a distinctive orange colour. They are well regarded boots but you are stuck with that colour.
I may start using my Salomon ski boots again. Same goes for my old Salomon monocoque skis. They have a 61mm, waist whereas modern skis are shorter and fatter. Good on piste though, which is where most skiers are. Advertisers market a dream of untracked powder snow - but life is not like that unless you can afford to go heliskiing.
