We can't speak for the longevity of the Ozone because it's only on its second year but the SLX rides almost the same way on day 100 as it does on day one. This is a great all mountain freestyle choice that isn't a bank breaker either. The flex of the Ozone is super soft but the response is surprisingly better than what you would expect. The Ozone definitely lives on the park side of life with the freedom of movement but isn't bad at higher speeds.
The Good Ride Take on Speed Lace- Almost as fast as BOA and more adjustable. Some people, especially the 100 day + riders aren't 100% sold on the speed lacing system. 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. That being said the speed lacing system is quite amazing compared to the traditional lace. It takes 3 times more effort to tighten up a traditional lace boot and 3 times more effort to lace up in the morning. So it is a give and take kind of thing with speed lace vs. traditional. We mainly ride speed lace boots but we aren't that high on ourselves to say that's the way it should be. It’s completely up to your personal preference.
The Good Ride Take on Articulating Cuffs- 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 3D Molded Tongues vs. Traditional Tongues
A 3D molded tongue is smooth and continuous and is seen on a lot of boots. It never folds down or bites into the top part of your foot or ankle. There are traditional tongues that have different names that have a folding point that is usually at the top of the ankle. We have seen that many people with bumps and issues on the top of their feet seem to have less pressure points with 3D molded tongues. It really all comes down to personal preference but we hope this breakdown helps.
The Good Ride Take on Burton
Burton is huge. They have developed or acquired most of the technology that we use today. Burton is one of the only companies that can provide you with everything you need to snowboard from boards to beanies. Burton even owns arguably the best surfboard company Channel Islands because Jake likes to surf. They are like the Yankees of snowboarding because they can always outspend their competition to win.
The positives- Burton provides more products for each gear/clothing/accessory category than any other company. Burton has possibly the best customer service in the snowboarding industry. Burton continuously spends more money than almost any company to develop new tech or just make what they have better. Burton sponsors more pro’s and get’s more high level user feed back than any other company. They have some of the best boots, bindings and boards in the industry. They also have great clothing.
The Negatives- Because Burton spends so much money on sponsorship and tech they have to pass this cost along to the products they sell. They relentlessly continue to jack up the prices every year. You are almost always going to get a good product from Burton’s higher end line but some mid to low level products don’t stack up to the competition in the same price range. Just remember it’s not always good because it hast the Burton label on it.
Burton Ozone 2010
Anyone can make a boot lighter. Few can do it well. The result of Jussi and Mason’s challenge to purge everything but the essentials, the Ozone™ proves that weightlessness need not sacrifice what matters most: durability and rideability. Soft yet supportive, with a shorter footprint, powerful cushioning, and stupid-simple lacing, this boot’s got it all, including an EST™ midsole for magnified board feel and control.
Lacing
- Speed Zone Lacing
Speed Zone™ lets you fine-tune your fit quicker and easier than any other lacing system out there. Customize the fit of the upper or lower zone in a matter of seconds—in the lift line, on the lift, or mid-run—without forcing your friends to wait. And because it’s so powerful, you’ll get more out of your boots—more rebound, more wrap, and better response—with less effort.
Speed Zone Lacing
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Cushioning / Trac
- B3Gel
Formulated just for snowboarding, B3 Gel’s advanced dampening properties allow it to withstand repeated impacts without breaking down.
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- Low-Profile EST Optimized Midsole
Lower-profile, lighter weight, and with a reduced ramp in the heel, the EST™ Optimized midsole brings you closer to your bindings by lowering your center of gravity and improving brain-to-binding connectivity. Feel and control your setup like never before without sacrificing an ounce of cushioning thanks to ultra-dampening B3 Gel inserts.
Low-Profile EST Optimized Midsole
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Other Features
- ESS Support Shank
- NEW Park 2 Molded 3-Layer EVA Footbed
- NEW Soft Edge Tongue
- NEW Park-Specific Soft Flex 3D® Molded Tongue
- True Zonal Lacing Control
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.
