Kitvore.com

Kitvore.com

Specs that matter. Gear that fits.

Ski Boots · Boot Type / Discipline · Freestyle / Park

I spend most of my time in the terrain park hitting jumps and rails. Should I be looking at freestyle ski boots, or can I just use regular all-mountain boots?

If the park is your home base, freestyle boots are worth considering. They're built with softer flex and shock-absorbing features specifically to cushion landings and give you better feel on rails and boxes. That softer flex also makes them more forgiving when you're tweaking grabs or riding switch.

The trade-off is that you sacrifice some edge grip and power at higher speeds. Freestyle boots won't carve as aggressively as stiffer all-mountain or frontside boots, so if you're mixing in a lot of high-speed groomer runs with your park laps, you might feel that lack of responsiveness.

For dedicated park riders, though, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The cushioning alone can save your knees over a long day of hitting jumps. Just keep in mind that if you only occasionally dip into the park, an all-mountain boot will serve you better across the whole mountain.