$240 Intermediate to Expert All Mountain The Lilly has been around for a while and that is why many people swear by this mid flexing boot. It lasts a long time and works well anywhere in the mountain or park. It's slow to lace up but the adjustability and performance is worth it. For 2011 the Lilly added a bit more articulation at the ankle that you could call an articulating cuff. Salomon just makes great long lasting boots and although this might not be for everyone the Dialogue could work very well for the right rider. If you have large calves or wide feet Salomon might not be the best choice.
The Good Ride Take on Salomon Boards Salomon is small compared to some companies but they have the complete line up and a very strong following. You will either love or hate a Salomon board. They are faster than other boards in their price range and very very damp. Their Zeloit base on the Salomon Special and Burner is possibly the fastest production model base you can buy. It is really scary how fast it is. They have also made a nice jump into the park world many years back and now have some Good Wood Award Winners for the park and pipe. Boots It is almost undisputed amongst most knowledgeable riders that Salomon has some of the best boots out there. They have spent a lot of time making a boot that fits well for medium and wide feet. They also have made a boot that won’t pack out much. Even though there is a semi-traditional lacing system it still has a speed lace tightening system and it can lock at each rung on the upper part of the boot. Bindings Salomon’s bindings are not as popular as their boards and boots but still do a good job competing with the other big name brands. They still have a more traditional old school feel compared to the leading companies like Burton and Union. That being said the turn initiation and general feeling is good but it is more about the individual user’s preference. All in all Salomon is never a company that should be ignored when choosing snowboard gear despite the fact they were a ski company first.
The Lily’s Balance 3 Liner delivers maximum heel hold for fuss-free control through fluffy white fields of pow or chopped up valleys of chunder. Mystic foot beds and toasty toes warmth wrap feet with heavenly comfort and subtle designs complement any kit.
We care about the future. Walk with us in the Lily GIFT, our first women’s boot to incorporate natural bamboo fibers and water-based glue. Lesson your carbon footprint with warm, happy feet!
BOA vs. Speed Lace vs. Traditional Lace A Snowboard Boot Lacing System Comparison by The Good Ride.
The Good Ride Take on BOA Boots- A BOA Boot has a steel cable attached to some sort of plastic Coiler mechanism that tightens the boot instead of laces. There are 2 main types of BOA boots. 1. Single BOA- This uses just one BOA Coiler to adjust the entire boot. 2. Double BOA - This uses 2 BOA Coilers for upper and lower adjusting. Some have 1 for the outside and 1 for the inside but most are for upper and lower. BOA boots are the easiest to get on, get off and adjust out of any boot. Single BOA boots have the least upper/lower adjustability of any boot because the bottom and top is tightened by one coil. If you have a Double BOA (2 Dials for upper and lower) they are closer to other lacing systems but still not as good. Both the upper and lower dials adjust the ankle in the same place. This means you don't have complete separation like you do with Speed Lace and most Traditional Lace Boots. The biggest issue with BOA boots is if they break it requires a shop or the manufacturer to fix them. It’s usually not the cable that breaks but the dials. Out of all the boots you can crank a BOA tighter than any other boot which can be a good or bad thing. There have been some complaints that BOA boots can have some pressure points from the cable system when tightened too tight. The bottom line is BOA tech is a cool technological advancement that will work well with many riders and is super easy to adjust. In the end it comes down to personal preference and BOA could be right for you.
The Good Ride Take on Traditional Lace- Traditional Lace is what most people know. It’s reliable and easy to repair. Lace boots take a lot more effort than BOA or Speed Lace. Also many riders complain about blisters in attempts to get them tight. Some Lacing systems have handles at the top that connect to the laces and we love this. Another thing we like is when the upper lace hooks hold the lace in place so each section can tighten independently. When you have this along with a handle connected to the end of the laces it’s more adjustable than BOA and Speed lace. We really like this but it’s almost not a traditional lace boot. It’s more a hybrid but whatever you call it we like it! However it’s not great in terms of the time it takes to get things dialed out or make minor adjustments on the hill.
The Good Ride Take on Speed Lace- Speed lace is a perfect compromise between BOA and Traditional lace. It’s almost as fast as BOA and more adjustable. Some Traditional Lace is just as adjustable but speed lace is easier to do so. We really like how the upper and lower laces are 100% separate. This is a huge advantage over BOA Boots and some traditional laces that don’t lock at each hook. Speed Lace is super easy to tighten up and dial out. It’s also pretty easy to make small adjustments throughout the course of the day. If the laces break out on the hill it will be a lot more difficult to fix than traditional laces but it can be done without help from a shop or sending it back. If you are a 100 day a year rider then plan on changing out your laces half way through the season. We have been lucky so far and never had one break on the hill because any time they start to get frayed they break. We mainly ride speed lace boots but we aren't that high on ourselves to say that's the way it should be. Everyone is different.
All lacing systems have strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to you to figure out what will work the best.
