2008 : ThirtyTwo : Ultralight

When handed a boot box with the pair of Ultralights in it, you would at first guess think only one of the boots was actually in the box. Two boots really equal close to one average-weight boot. When you put the boots on for the first time, they are very comfortable and almost feel like worn in rental boots. Their construction is of soft materials and lacks heavy rubber. Thankfully they truly are far superior to rental boots and aren’t stinky. Though they are light and soft, they provide relatively good support for such a flexy boot for playing around on a snowboard whether you are jibbing or a new rider.

My favorite part about the boot is the “naked” liner. The liner is not covered with the normal 32 antibacterial fabric liner, but rather is just the foam. According to 32, Kevin Sansalone has been altering his 32 boots for years to have the naked liners. His theory is that if your boots are damp from riding you don’t have to wait for any material to dry, you can just wipe them down and go right back out comfortably the next day. I personally have other reasons for liking the naked liner because I am not always a fan of the material 32 uses for covering the liners.

With time, the boots soften even more. I didn’t find the liners to pack out as drastically as some boots (like Burton), but they maintain their shape and steady amount of support.