Strolz ski boots are quite possibly the best piece of ski equipment on the market. Even given Strolz's limited annual production of ski boots, I'm always amazed at just how few people know about this product.
Most skiers who know a bit about the sport will be quick to tell you that the most important piece of ski equipment is the ski boot. The premise here is that if the ski boot does not fit right, you'll never achieve, proper balance, optimal control of your skis and all while remaining comfortable. This combination of characteristics is what makes Strolz ski boots such an amazing product. Regardless of your foot type/structure, Strolz will fit your foot better than any other boot. As a result, you'll experience better, balance, contact with your skis while remaining comfortable all day. In fact, I crank my boots down as tight as possible before each ski day. Proceed to ski 30K+ vertical feet in a typical day and never adjust my boots. It pains me to watch everyone else adjusting their boots all the time. Especially people who spend all lot on their gear and another $65 of a lift ticket.
Strolz achieves a superior fit through the creation custom maid to order boot inserts or liners. The boot fitting takes hours, but the end result is a ski boot like no other. The fitting process can be broken down into 6 steps:
* Shell selection- Strolz makes 3-4 shell types and a shell will be selected based on your size and the type of skiing you do.
* Foot Analysis- You foot is analyzed to determine ski boot size and and the type of foot-bed to be used.
* Padding- Based on the bone structure of your foot, foam pads will be placed around your foot's pressure points.
* Foam Filling- With your foot inside the boot liner, liquid foam will be forced inside the liner creating a custom fit.
* Foam Curing- The foam inside the liner will take 12 hours to fully cure into a firm but comfortable boot liner.
When its all said and done, you will have a boot at least as good as anything used by world cup skiers. In fact many professional skiers use Strolz liners insider their Lange, Technica Solomon... etc ski boot shells.
This is not to say that Strolz does not make superior shells, they just choose not to spend millions of dollars in sponsorships to get their logo on TV. The reason being is that Strolz ski boot shells are hand made, they could not possibly create enough quality product to supply mass market stores and skiers. Strolz commitment to quality is so fierce that they actually manufacture their own buckles where most manufacturers outsource them.
Strolz ski boots are not a new product, the Austrian company has been making world-class ski boots since 1912. They have survived for almost 100 years as a boutique ski boot manufacturer solely focused on making the best boots on the market. During this 100 year run they have done just that. As result they have a dedicated base of raving fans, like me, who will never wear another boot.
The down side of Strolz quality, comfort and performance is price. These boots will set you back $750-$1000. That said, they will also last twice as long as most boots. I had my first pair when I was skiing bumps 50X a year in the Sierra Nevada area. That pair lasted 5 years and even still I was reluctant to give them up. My skiing has slowed a bit and I have now been in the same pair for 7 years. On a per day basis, and given the cost of skis, bindings and lift tix they're really worth it.
Clearly I'm a raving fan of Strolz ski boots. Simply stated, Strolz are both the best performing and most comfortable product on the market.