Unbuckled boots

[geepers]

Who skis with unbuckled boots?

How much unbuckled - a couple loose to everything including the power strap undone?

How frequently - rarely or always a few runs per day or always?

If an instructor do you get students to do this? What type of students? What type of runs?

 

[James]

The top 2. Booster is on. I liked the Fischer race boot because the top buckles have a bale above the grooves to hold the buckle in the groove. That way it doesn't come out, flop around and possibly break or get ripped off on hard snow. I've lost one before.

Prob spent half of last season unbuckled. It's not optimal. Sonetimes I go to just the lower cuff buckled.
Runs? Almost all types. I had to try and tape the cuff/clog part to kerp snow out on pow days.

It's an attempt to circumvent a boot issue.
You will feel it in your calves for awhile. You also get pitched forward in soft snow at times.

Students? No, but for another instructor I would. This being the US, everyone is terrified of recommending anything like that. I didn't have time to brow beat the two people with frozen ankles I wanted to try it with.
Other issue is it works well with lace up liners. Without, it's a little different I'd imagine. Booster is key - Booster is flexible.

Otherwise, try it.

 

[KingGrump]

Usually all four unbuckled. I usually pull the pants gaiter over the top buckle to keep out the snow. If the gaiter is snug then only three. Expert Booster strap inside the shell up against the liner tongue.

Sometimes I go weeks without buckling my boots.

Not an instructor. .I believe @LiquidFeet voiced some liability concerns regarding students in the past.

 

[Chris V.]

Who skis with unbuckled boots?

Do you mean on purpose?

 

[Chris V.]

Booster is key - Booster is flexible.

I love my Booster Straps. Flexion into progressive resistance.

 

[KingGrump]

Do you mean on purpose?

Yes.
For some of us, it's senility.

 

[HardDaysNight]

Yes.
For some of us, it's senility.

Unbuckled isn’t the same as unhinged

 

[Noodler]

On my B2 Raptors they only need to be buckled enough to keep the snow out. Does that count?

But seriously, what are the "good" things this does for your skiing (for those of you that do)? And I'm not talking about using this as a drill to develop balance awareness. I mean keeping your boots unbuckled for your full day of skiing. Warmer feet? Probably, but what about the ability to control the skis precisely?

 

[KingGrump]

The good - Even though the connection between the feet and the boot is looser. I am more sensitive to my skis. Better feel for what the skis are doing. Improved snow and terrain feel.

Controlling the skis precisely? Precisely enough for me.

 

[KingGrump]

I think to properly answer the question why I ski with unbuckled boots. I would have to take a step back and ask myself, “Why do I ski?”

I can only speak for myself. I ski for fun. To have a good time. The enjoyment and sensation aspects of it.
I don’t race, so time is not critical to me. Time, I have. In the short term, anyway.
It relaxes me and allows me to flow with the terrain. It’s more of a flowy feeling activity rather than one with hard impact. Often time skiers need to put the hammer down to get out the aggression. I don’t have a requirement for that. Some skier go out to beat the mountain. Me, I am here to dance. Don’t need all that control and precision. Just the flow and the travel.

Think of it this way, we are all here to paint the Mona Lisa.



Some will be more comfortable starting with this.



Me, I like to start with this.



Sometimes, my Mona Lisa looks like this.



But that is all good. Had a good time in the process. That's all that matters.

 

[CalG]

I "forget" to buckle about as often as I forget to lock in "ski" mode.

That's about every day.

But as long as I keep searching to go down the mountain, I don't do so badly...

When hauling sleds, I check my buckles!

 

[crgildart]

Top loose bottom tight... Only buckle down the top when feeling frisky or about to take a NASTAR run.

 

[Pequenita]

All four unbuckled, but in place, for the first few runs in the resort. Several instructors advised that I do this. I keep my gaiters up to remind myself to buckle.

My instep buckles often come undone on their own, and I'm too lazy to fine-tune them, so there are days that they're flopping around.

 

[S.H.]

All four unbuckled (but in place), booster strap tight.

100% of the time, except when running gates.

All over the mountain (east/west/Europe/NZ).

Why? It's more comfortable, more convenient, and doesn't greatly hinder my ability to do what I want on snow...

 

[CoPow]

Every boot is different. It could be super tight that you need to unbuckle every run. Or it could be so loose no amount of buckling hard don't make them tight enough. In any case the purpose of OP is making the balance challenging for warm up. Unbuckling probably works, so do other things. Doesn't really matter as long as it's working, imo.

 

[KevinF]

I’ve skied with them unbuckled (well, hooked into the first notch but not closed). I took a half dozen runs like that to start the season just to find balance and feel my ankles working again, etc.

The first turn after buckling was like having a Ferrari on my feet instead of a Yugo.

I still ski unbuckled occasionally if I’m not feeling it, etc. (Or to win a bet one time from a friend who didn’t believe I could do it...).

 

[Philpug]

Much easier to do in a well fit race derived (or plug) boot that is stiff plastic. I don't suggest trying this is a typical recreational boot that might not fit as snug.

 

[Tony S]

I think Grump must have somehow talked geepers into starting this thread, just to set up the Mona Lisa routine.

 

[LiquidFeet]

--My feet are very low volume, super narrow & flat. If I leave that forefoot buckle unbuckled, my forefoot & heel lift when I tip the skis.
--I have an extremely narrow ankle, heel, and lower leg. If I leave the bottom cuff buckle unbuckled, my heel lifts when I tip the skis.
--I have a huge range of dorsiflexion. Those tongues against my shins support my hypermobile ankles so they don't fold forward to a dangerous degree.
--No, I'm not in a race plug, but I am in a performance boot with aftermarket Zip Fits and have a very snug fit. Race plugs would be too cold for my Reynaud's Syndrome, although probably would provide a better fit.
--For these reasons I am not one to ski with boots unbuckled. This is personal, of course.

There's a reason manufacturers make boots with metal buckles and clogs and cuffs composed of stiff plastic. Those qualities must benefit most of the skiing public.

Perhaps the people who do benefit from skiing with boots unbuckled do that because of some aspect of their foot/lower leg anatomy. Maybe they lucked out in being able to purchase boots whose shell corresponds very well to their foot shape, and they are not plagued by foot hypermobility.

 

[Crank]

Mine are always buckled. Forgetting to take them out of walk mode is a thing though.