$349 A Good Ride Favorite Advanced to Expert All Mountain to Freeride A great Super expensive boot for the ultra technical back country rider or ultra rich. The DC Status is for the very aggressive and loaded with DC's high end tech. It is here to compete with the Burton Driver X and others high end stiff/responsive boots like it. Most DC boots have a very flexy forward lean but these don't. They have a pretty stiff forward lean. DC hasn't perfected the very difficult art of making a boot comfortable right out of the box but over time you can make the Status conform to your feet. Check out the detailed review below.
The DC Status Snowboard Boot Review By The Good Ride
The DC Status is the stiffest boot in DC's Line and doesn't act like many of the other boots. The articulating cuff also helps a little with longevity of flex it won't deteriorate too much over a season of riding. Another thing we like about this Double Boa system is the boots have true upper and lower adjustability Many BOA boots have cables that share the same mid point around the ankle. So if you tighten the upper or lower the ankle tightens as well. With the DC Status this doesn't happen. This is long overdue for the BOA system and we are glad DC figured this out. Now BOA has the same adjustability as speed lace.
We have ridden boots that are more responsive with a softer flex and we have encountered stiffer boots as well. Still this sits in the place with the stiffer and more responsive world of boots. There are some boots that take some time to break in to become comfortable and others that feel broken in from day one. The DC status takes some time to adjust to the shape of your foot so you might want to keep your old boots around if you have sensitive feet. All agreed that they weren't that comfortable from the start but some didn’t care because they were so stoked on the response. The biggest issue was the inside liner was almost as stiff as the outside. The sole looks like it’s going to be incredibly comfortable and shock absorbent but it’s not exactly what it seems. The somewhat thick sole actually has a very stiff feel to improve response and absorb shock on large maneuvers. It is not that forgiving on the little bumps but it' not chattery. Its actually very damp but it doesn’t give you a lot of minor shock absorption like some boots do. You feel more like you are directly connected to the board. This is a great combo with stiff aggressive board. For me the editor I it was too tight and narrow around the heel and a little loose around the ankle but the turn initiation was exceptional. DC has a great shell but as of late their liners have not been on par with their shell as of late. It can make for a ride that isn't as comfortable as some boots out there. We diddn't have time to break them in but but felt they would be better after a few weeks of riding. So you sacrifice a lot of initial comfort for performance with this boot but it will make many aggressive riding stiff boot loving people happy. All in all this is a great boot and one we would like to add to our quiver. For 2012 not much has changed except for a few minor refinements.
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 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 Status is the pinnacle of DC's men's boot line. This all mountain boot is DC's most responsive model with the diversity of every rider in mind. Developed with Travis Rice who designed the Black/Grey/Red color way. When asked how he came up with the concept he said "The boot, classy black with some subtle hits of part, then threw some Caliente Pizzazz on the "proverbial panty's high" boot for ultimate "floor next to the bed" curb appeal."
Upper Features · Aerotech Ventilation System · 3D Tongue · Articulated Upper Cuff · Internal Ankle Harness · Molded Backstay · Boa Coiler · Constrictor Closure System · Recco · Welded Toe Reinforcement
DC Status 2010
ROCK STEADY STABILITY
No holds barred! This is DC’s most supportive boot. It’s not only supportive and customizable, but also offers the pinnacle in board feel and response.
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.
