For 2019, K2 will be offering an entirely new boot collection with a blast from the past named the Recon. First of all, “all new” gets thrown around a lot. The Recons are not Spynes with NGT (New Graphics Technology); they are a ground-up redesign starting with slightly shorter BSLs to completely new plastics that shave ... err … chop hundreds of grams from the previous collection, down to about 1650g in the reference 26.5 shell size.
One of my toughest jobs as a tester is reviewing early-production ski boots because most are produced in the more common sizes of 26.5 or 27.5, and I normally ski in a low-volume 25.5. K2 sent the Recon 120 in a 26.5 medium-volume 100mm shell, so what am I to do? Simple, build a footbed to take up that excess volume. I also added a Bontex shim between the liner and the zeppa before heading out to Mt Rose.While this process worked well in the initial shop fit, once I was on the slopes, it was actually taking up too much volume so I had to remove the shim. Why am I even pointing this out? Well, I took the boot off at the top of the lift on the bench where snowboarders strap in. That may not sound like a monumental feat, but it is something that I could never have done in a traditional plastic boot. This lightweight boot was easy to get off and back on even in the cold. I don't expect everyone to do this, but there has been a lot of talk of some of these newer plastics being difficult to get off when cold; this is not the case with the new K2 Recon.
With the extra shim out, it was time to ski. I have skied 100mm boots before, even in a 25.5, and it really is an act of futility, because I just swim in it. Sure it's fine just “standing on the boot” on groomers, but as soon as I go into other conditions, my foot just starts moving and I have no control, especially in moguls and other varied terrain. The Recon actually skied quite well in the mixed conditions with a level of control that was a pleasant surprise.
K2 chose to stay with a more upright stance in the new Recon with a 4° ramp and a 12° cuff angle adjustment; using the heat-moldable shell and adding a spoiler, the cuff angle can be molded from 10° to 16°. I have been skiing in the Head Raptor 140, which is much more aggressive out of the box, but I didn’t feel too upright in the Recon (with the supplied spoiler), and the 120 flex allowed me to drive the boot easily.
Models in the collection:- Men (24.5-30.5)
- Recon 130 LV/MV
- Recon 120 LV/MV
- Recon 120 Heat MV
- Recon 100 MV
- Women (22.5-27.5)
- Luv 110 LV/MV
- Luv 100 LV/MV
- Luv 100 Heat MV
- Luv 80 LV/MV
LV = 98mm
MV = 100mm
MV = 100mm
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