Lori_K
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
About me: 5'3", 135lbs. Advanced/expert all-mountain skier.
After several seasons in my Lange CRL70s, the liners were well packed out and I was looking for something a bit stiffer to match up with my Volkl skis. I tried on several pair of women's boots, and the Instinct 9 fit my foot best. Nice snug fit all around, although the heel could be a bit tighter. (Fairly average foot, but very narrow heels).
I've had 4 days on these boots now, ranging from man-made snow on groomers, to cut up heavy snow, to deep blower powder. I used the boots with my Volkl Attiva S5 and Volkl Aura skis.
The more I wear them, the more I like these boots! First day was a bit interesting. The Instinct 9 has a pretty aggressive forward lean. My legs seemed to get tired more quickly due to this, but my overall stance on the skis has improved. I was able to stay centered on the skis better, and my bad habit of breaking at the waist on steep terrain is going away. The boots are stiff enough to transmit steering input quickly to the skis, and I can use much more subtle movements to direct the skis. And on those few occasions where I catch a bit of air, there is no harsh jarring in the bottom of my foot upon landing. No toe bang, either. When I get tired toward the end of the day, the boots won't put me on my butt, either. I can relax a bit and let the boots do the steering. :D
From a comfort level, the boots are wonderful. After the first day, I found a couple hot spots on the inside ankle of each foot. I took the liner out and ended up removing the large butterfly pad around the heel that the boot fitter put in. It wrapped around into my ankle and caused the hot spots. I replaced the large foam piece with a smaller foam piece right at the heel where I need it most. This is temporary until I get back to the bootfitter for final adjustments.
The boots are warm, and most important-- waterproof! I only had a few minutes of "powder toe", but my feet warmed up quickly after getting back on the lift.
The boots are a fairly tight fit getting into and out of, especially in the instep area. But the soft liner fabric helps with the transition. The boots aren't frilly or very girly looking (just fine with me!). The performance is very good, while still retaining enough warmth and comfort for all day skiing. I'm not one to unbuckle my boots during the lift or even during breaks, and I never felt the need to with the Instinct 9. They seem to be a good match with my Volkl skis so far, and I'm quite happy with the purchase.
