K2 Aspect

 
 
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Price

£395

Gender

Male

Brand // Manufacturers

K2 Snowboarding

 

What we liked …

Rugged sole with Vibram grip.

What we didn’t …

Power strap in conjunction with the elasticated high back..


 

The Verdict

 

Our Rating

4 out of 5

the Short Read…

The Aspect is a gnarly boot from the K2 stable and when I tested these bad boys in Kyrgyzstan, and the Lyngen Alps of Norway, they responded well in extremely challenging conditions.

The Long read …

The K2 Aspect is specifically designed for spiltboarding/mountaineering adventures, so if you’re looking for an in-bound/slackcountry boot, look elsewhere, and that could also be said for those of you who simply splitboard from the lift to gain a few extra turns. But if you’re the type of rider who sets off from a tent, carries and uses boot crampons, and is looking for a robust boot with grip that won’t let you down, read on.

I’d used the K2 Aspects while at a Yurt camp in Kyrgyzstan, in deep snow, and they performed well, keeping my feet both warm and comfortable when skinning all day.

The K2 Aspect has a near bullet-proof construction and when kicking in a boot pack trail, both with and without boot crampons, the stiff and chunky Vibram sole installed a trust in my foot placement and grip.

The Aspect’s sole is compatible with leverlock universal closure crampon, but I used the Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampons which held firm and offered up a snug fit.

There’s a Boa dial on the side of the boot, which when done up will stop any heel lift, although I found the traditional lacing, which locks into place where the foot ends and the leg begins, more than enough to stop heel lift. In fact, when I dialled up the Boa it gave me a painful pressure point on the top of my foot, so I simple left it undone.

I can’t really fault the Aspect when ascending, other than it did take a few tours to be broken in, as I had to apply second skins to my ankles before the boots softened a little.

When riding in good conditions, the Aspect is a great boot, I felt no foot movement and absolutely no heel lift. But, and at this price it’s a bit of a big but, where the Aspects falls down is the power strap around the shin, which doesn’t encircle the whole leg.

 
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When riding in the Lyngen Alps, in May, the conditions where gnarly. I had to ascend with ski crampons on, almost all the time, and on steeper sections use boot crampons. This wasn’t a problem, but on descent, when I tightened the power strap, it simply stretched the elasticated calf section, rather than locking the boot tight around my leg. The elasticated section is there so when skinning you have a good flex, enabling a long stride, and it works well, but at the cost of a firm fit at the boots top when riding. Having said that, in deep snow you won’t notice, but on the ice and hard pack of the Lyngen Alps I felt a little too much movement, which in turn lead to an insecurity and a lack of trust when on my toe-edge.

Even with the faulty design of the power strap, the Aspect is a firm favourite with me, and one of the first things into my board bag when packing for an expedition. I don’t plan to use the Aspect for resort riding, keeping it set aside for major trips, as such I expect the Aspect to last for many a year to come.

 
 

 
 
Review, BootsPeter Coombs