Full Tilt First Chair Ski Boots 2010

Comments about Full Tilt First Chair Ski Boots 2010:

I bought the Full Tilt First Chair boots after years of searching for a boot to fit the fine balance between comfort and performance. I have had multiple different boots that would offer comfort but no performance, and then boots that offered performance yet killed my feet. Then I came across FullTilt. I admit I was very skeptical at first. However, after having them heat molded and skiing on them a few days I became a believer. I no longer have hot spots, cramping, or cold feet. I still have to unbuckle them at the bottom of each run, but that's because I like to really crank my boots down at the top of each descent. The Intuition liners are extremely comfortable and the two-piece design doesn't cut into the top of my feet. So, if you've had problems with traditional boots, go "old school" with Full Tilt.

Comments about Full Tilt First Chair Ski Boots 2010:

If you have a narrow forefoot and skinny calves, you probably have the same problem I did before trying these boots. Buckles moved to the tightest mounting hole and still on that last tooth? Drilled your own mounting holes on both cuff buckles? Still have some lateral movement? Can't go to a smaller shell size without losing both of your big toenails midseason?

If you answered yes to the above, these boots are made for you. The narrow fit and progressive flex make these the most comfortable boots I have ever owned, especially when skiied hard. They allow for good ankle flexion when carving, teaching, absorbing bumps, dropping cliffs, and ripping powder. They make it comfortable and rewarding to charge.

Yes, my AT boots are better for walking and skinning, but lack the lateral stiffness and forward flex pattern that make these a no-brainer on any day I'm not touring. If they made a boot that unlocked the cuff into a walk mode, I'd tour with them easy. They don't feel any heavier than my BD Methods.

The only complaint I have are the buckles/adjusters. Tiny little locking levers that get jammed quite often, and aren't the most ergonomic solution while wearing gloves. There is alot of friction between the cable and buckle lever while tightening, especially at first. If the buckles themselves had more of a curved shape and less friction on the backside (to progressively tighten and aid initial engagement,) I wouldn't have to sequentially tighten-and-move the buckles every time I use them. It is a small price to pay for that rare occasion when new gear makes you a more capable and confident rider all by itself :)

Comments about Full Tilt First Chair Ski Boots 2010:

Cool new remake of a classic. Great fit for narrow feet. Still need to add a little more lateral rigidity to take this classic to the next level. Still one of the best skiing boots ever!!