$249 Advanced to Expert All Mountain to Freeride If you like the DC Judge but want something that isn't BOA then take a look at the Ceptor. It doesn't have the top of the line tech of the Status but it's pretty stiff for DC and makes for a fun mountain ride. It's right in between the Judge and the Status in terms of stiffness. DC has a softer forward lean than most other boots but the Ceptor's forward lean is pretty normal. DC makes pretty good boots and although they don't have that magic that can make them feel good the first day you ride them they do conform to you after a little break in period. Some will think we are crazy and fell the boots felt fine immediately and others will agree with this statement. The Sole Cushioning is similar to the Status and this makes for a damp ride and good shock absorption when you go big but average when you go small. It also has a pretty good feel with the board and you feel like your feet are closer than they are to the board. The Ceptor is a good boot for those that ride a stiffer board and want something a little more than just a soft lace park boot.
If you don't know what an articulating cuff is the upper and lower panels of the boot are separate. The top cuff is only attached at the back and then wraps around the front. When you flex forward it doesn't stretch out the boot and over time it stays closer to its original shape and stiffness. It also creates a more natural and comfortable forward flex when riding. It can be made to be stiff or very soft and is generally more comfortable than a standard boot. We love this tech!
The Good Ride Take on DC Snow DC has been making boots forever and has a very unique take on the snowboard boot world. DC has a very soft forward flex compared to many other boots out there. It makes the boot more comfortable and has a good following in the park. It is a good bet to choose their boots that have been around for a while because sometimes new boots from DC can disappoint. They have recently entered the snowboard making business and have a few Good Wood Awards. They have a small line of mostly well made freestyle snowboards that have some original tech but mainly just stick with other designs that have worked in the past. Most of their boards are freestyle focused but a few have an all mountain feel. DC also has clothing but we can’t speak that much about it. The DC customer service is good but not in the realm of Burton. They can handle issues and repairs where some companies don’t even have a call center. All in all DC is a solid choice for boots and could be a good choice for a freestyle focused snowboard.
The Ceptor is the most versatile lace boot on the planet. There are no gimmicks when it comes to this boot, just technical features to provide you with the best days of your life. It's the boot of choice for Devun Walsh and Lauri Heiskari.
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.
