I've spent years in the backcountry splitboarding and never needed anything but normal boarding boots. However, once I got into split mountaineering, crampon-usage and the wear & tear of off-trail spring + summer backcountry travel really started to wear down my normal snowboarding boots. These splitboard mountaineering boots were a massive upgrade for so many reasons.
Note: If you're looking for just normal splitboarding boots, these will be overkill. Just use your normal snowboarding boots. It's not just the price and features, but these are also the stiffest boots I've ever felt because they are designing for hiking steep lines in the backcountry. I still plan to use my older 32 boots when skinning in the backcountry during the winter or at the resort when I'm not hitting the steepest of lines.
What's great about them:
- The toe protection is incredible; very stiff, which is perfect for protecting your toes when scrambling small distances when you don't want to throw hiking boots on, and crampon usage is a huge plus; I feel more secure kicking in booters up steep lines (plus the heel welt allows for semi-automatic crampons).
- The ease of which you can get your foot in and out of the boot is almost magical. My previous 32 boots were easy to get on if I was standing, but these, I can literally slip on while sitting without a bat of an eye. Maybe it's because my last pair were so old (2015/16) that I've just been behind on the "tech", but I still haven't gotten used to it.
- Both the sole and outer layer are very rugged and will definitely withstand the backcountry, especially in late spring/summer when hiking on foot exposes them to a lot more than winter ever does. I do still put a plastic bags over each of them when I have them strapped to my board on my backpack in case of branches snagging on the top part, but that's more of a "why not protect my expensive purchase" than a necessity.
- The zipper cover will not only help preventing frozen laces (which was Jones' original intention), they also provide extra water protection during spring/summer river crossings & moister snow conditions.
- The liner is very comfortable and is also different than what I've been used to; it's hard to explain it but instead of belt-like velcro straps, the entire front has velcro flaps near the top that you put on the outside of the liner when getting your foot into the boot, which helps prevent the liner from closing in on you when you're getting your feet in. Then, you flip them back inside when you're tightening the liner down.
- Lastly, the BOA **** are even easier to turn than older versions. They feel somewhat effortless. Probably just because I've been on old boots, but still worth mentioning