I like it around 100.  I've always been a believer that the boot is key to how things go down on the snow.  On the other side of that, I do adjust throughout the day, depending on how warm it gets in these parts, and I will crank up the buckles accordingly.  

I do like the ability to push the shins into the boot down to the toe, so I do like flex and maybe just a little slop in the boot in general.  A boot shouldn't feel uncomfortably tight, nor should it feel like a typical shoe. 

The ski shop I spoke with has a couple options for my size at both 90 and 100. 90 may be a bit on the soft side but OTOH I guess may help with pushing my shins into the boot, which I something I realized I do not always do as much as I should especially on moguls or steeps. And honestly my old 95 flex boots were packed down so much that even a 90 flex may be a bit more stiff. I'll see what I can tell when I try them on.

I ski a 130 given I want maximum contact/impact but I also formally ski raced. Boot tech has come so far that stiff boots are now exceptionally comfortable compared to what existed 10-15 years ago. 

As a related topic - I love the BOA system so far on my Salmon S/Pro Supra BOAs

That's actually very useful. I am a similar weight (170 lbs) but several inches shorter (5'7")

wgo wrote:

What flex do you all have for your ski boots? I've never been a super fast hardcharger so my boots have been on the soft side (95) but I am in the market for a new pair of boots and am thinking of moving up to a 100 or 110.

 My understanding is that flex numbers are only relative for a given brand.

How old are your boots?  When my liners packed out on my previous pair of boots, I replaced them with Intuition liners.  Not only did that mean new liners, it also increased the functional flex for those shells.  I moved those Intuition liners to my current boots when the stock heat-moldable liners packed out after a few seasons.  Since I also replaced the heel and toe sole pieces, have been able to keep those boots for a longer time.

Recently replaced the power strap with something invented by a boot fitter from Vermont.  That was an experiment that has worked out well.

  This can definitely be true.  I replaced my boots last season and went with the K2 Recon 130 -- they are perfect for me, but if you skied them blindfolded you would never ever say they were 130.  That boot is probably a bit of an outlier from that standpoint.

marzNC wrote:

wgo wrote:

 My understanding is that flex numbers are only relative for a given brand.

I have heard that K2's tend to be on softer size so it makes sense that the 130's would maybe have a bit more flex than expected based on the numbers.

@Marz - lets just say my boots are old enough that they definitely need to be replaced and leave it at that

wgo wrote:

Thanks for the responses everyone. I went with the Salomon S/PRO Supra Boa, 100 flex. Made the drive from Charlottesville to the Richmond Ski Center to try them on and buy them. The guy I bought them from actually recognized my last name from when he used to work at Public Lands in Charlottesville and was at Snowbird the same week I was there so it was fun talking to him about that.

Congrats on finding boots locally.

Did you make an appointment with a boot fitter or did you just go when it was convenient?

I've moved to the Atomic Hawk Ultra 100 and last season it was great but I'm 25 pounds lighter this season at 150.  If the weather is warm they flex fine but on colder days not so much.  Due to the boot construction and plastic used, softening the boot is an issue according to Greg at Ski Boot Fitters who is one of the best.  If I don't bulk up some, I'll look at another boot for next season, probably a Dalbello which I used to ski.  I might do a little notching on my own possibly.... At 74 YO I hate to go to the expense of a new boot.