Kiteboarding Boots - Weight?

[slingshot88]

Hi All,

I have been some extensive searching about the weight of boots for kiting, but can't seem to find much info. I feel like that would be a pretty prominent item under the specifications, but alas it is not. Granted they would need a weight for all sizes, but still I would assume you could find that by the size charts. Anyways, I've been riding old school Liquid Force Transits that I had on my PS3 from back in the day. Recently I've been trying some new boots - Ronix (RXT), LF (Flex 4D), and Slingshot (RAD and KTV). I'm not skilled enough to really determine a difference in how I was throwing unhooked tricks. However, I did notice the effort required to swing the boar back around after a fall and just throwing typical freestyle moves (table top, stiffy) and really having to get that board up there.

I just got a pair of KTVs in the mail and was quite surprised by how heavy the box was. I weighed them and it came out over 10 lbs. My old Transit's were just under 6, granted they were open toed. I'm torn between throwing the new KTVs on based solely on the weight. Is it worth it to try and find a boot that may be 4-5 lbs lighter?

As is probably assumed, I am talking about dry weight here. Haven't even breached into the wet weight.

Thanks for any input,
Dan

[dylan*]

i definitely noticed a difference when i switched from older LF boots to ronix ones. board felt much more lively and playful since everything is lightened up. like most things in kiting though its mostly technique... some people like the extra swing weight

[dracop]

I eyeballed weight on Amazon.

Focus on wet weight tho not dry weight.

Funny I am upgrading my old LF Index Boots I bought years ago. I chose Hyperlite Team OT since there is a great sale in them atm. Hoping they are abit lighter than my Index boots.

Really wish LF had kept making the Ultras in OT. I have a CT pair that fit my feet perfectly but really like oversized OT better (I like size 14-15 boots for my size 12 feet - the board comes off without breaking my knees when I go down in heavy wind/seas).

[nismo98]

I eyeballed weight on Amazon.

Focus on wet weight tho not dry weight.

Funny I am upgrading my old LF Index Boots I bought years ago. I chose Hyperlite Team OT since there is a great sale in them atm. Hoping they are abit lighter than my Index boots.

Really wish LF had kept making the Ultras in OT. I have a CT pair that fit my feet perfectly but really like oversized OT better (I like size 14-15 boots for my size 12 feet - the board comes off without breaking my knees when I go down in heavy wind/seas).

Yes the big difference will be wet wight. The lf index are decent dry but cement boots when wet. My cwb are more of a shell and have no fabric to absorb water so they make the board feel more nimble.

[wind chaser]

Cabrinha H3s are good.

[TheJoe]

Personal preference really. I ride Hyperlite systems and I love them. If I was to rock traditional boots I would probably go with the KTV/Shredtowns or a velcro binding. I really do not like laces. Too much of a pain when kiting and wake-boarding for me.

[dylan*]

Personal preference really. I ride Hyperlite systems and I love them. If I was to rock traditional boots I would probably go with the KTV/Shredtowns or a velcro binding. I really do not like laces. Too much of a pain when kiting and wake-boarding for me.

yeah, i regret getting laces too, such a pain in the ass for kiting. i ended up getting the boots semi-tight and tying knots in the laces so I can still slip my feet in and out, and they've stayed like that for the last 3 years or so

[edt]

Nice comments. I'm still riding my cwb boots but at some point shoe goo won't be able to fix them anymore. 10 pounds for a boot is way too much. not a fan of the velcro just too much seaweed where I live. after 10 sessions you might as well be wearing clown shoes. I want my boots firm not too tight but tight enough that you don't pop out of your boots. Nothing is worse than one foot in one foot out.

[TheJoe]

Nice comments. I'm still riding my cwb boots but at some point shoe goo won't be able to fix them anymore. 10 pounds for a boot is way too much. not a fan of the velcro just too much seaweed where I live. after 10 sessions you might as well be wearing clown shoes. I want my boots firm not too tight but tight enough that you don't pop out of your boots. Nothing is worse than one foot in one foot out.

Man try some systems by hyperlite. I was just up in Michigan and if you want to demo a pair then go check out Action wake park. They are a hyperlite dealer so they might have some demo pairs. I use the low cut systems with AJ boots which works great for me but they do have stiffer boots in their line up. All so if your a size 10 the smaller binding works better. It's what I use.

[dracop]

I have always wanted to try Systems for kiting.

After a week on my Hyperlite Team OTs, I am loving them. Great performance, Ive been crushing the PIQ International leaderboard for over a week on them (hit number one two days ago , Maui for the win!). Major improvement over the Index. I like them better than the LF Ultra Closed Toes too, basically the Boot is exactly what I had hoped. I was surprised how well my heel is supported, damn near perfect fit. They did come off when I went down in a bad crash from ~30ft in front of a crashing wave that was 10 ft high. No pain or injury, just uncomfortable as the board was dragged off my feet. Working as planned (Size 10-14 Boots on size 12 feet).

Personally I love speed laces but I grew to love laces on my ski bindings years ago so it just feels natural. Speed laces are a quick yank to tighten and if Boot is held by just the lace, the lace will loosen or even break before your knee does. I like em, no worries if you dislike laces - just as in ski boots, thats an individual preference. SO long as the laces have a decent speed lace system it works for me.