Nitro Crown TLS
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Nitro Crown TLS Boots: Who Might Ride ‘Em
Whether you’re just starting out snowboarding, or you have years of riding under your belt but prefer a boot that’s… more sock and less boot, you’ll want to make some turns in a pair of Nitro Women’s Crown TLS boots. Even though I knew they were going to be a bit too soft for my liking (something I realized after about four days of riding them), I also saw how a specific type of rider might really dig what these Nitro boots had to offer.
““...the overall softness, comfort level, easy and quick speed-lacing system, smaller volume, and reduced footprint are all excellent selling points.””
The general laxity in flex and flex retention of the Nitro Crown TLS boots, as well as the overall comfort level, easy and quick speed-lacing system, smaller volume, and reduced footprint are all excellent selling points. I almost wish I could keep riding these, because fuck I love all of the aforementioned points (minus the minimized footprint, as I feel like I can’t get these boots to fill out my small Burton Cartel bindings, even with them set up to hold a smaller boot and ratcheted all the way down… my ThirtyTwo Lashed used to work with these bindings, but those have much more volume).
Basically, the Nitro Crown TLS boots are soft to begin with, and then just turn into glorified socks over a short period of (constant) riding. So, if you’re into that sort of thing, they’re great. If not, you’ll want to recalibrate and adjust your riding style, or bypass the Nitro Crown TLS boots altogether. All of these things said, I recently handed my Crown TLS’s over to a friend of mine, and she loves them. It’s all about personal preference, riding style, foot/ankle/calf construction, and frame of reference.
On-Snow Feel
I’m the only one to blame for not realizing how soft these boots would be. Did I mention they’re soft? I think the fixation on softness is perhaps due to the fact that I had been testing some too-stiff options in the months prior to slipping on a pair of Nitro Crown TLS boots. I wanted the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction, and to get my feet and ankles as far away as possible from The Stiffness. In my overzealousness to do the exact opposite of what I had been doing, I perhaps swung a little too hard and too far in the other direction. C’est la vie (or rather: story of my life).
That said, I have still been able to stomp landings, ride powder chop, bop through tree runs, hit a rail or two, and on and on with the Nitro Crown TLS boots, albeit in a rather loose fashion. Mostly, I’ve adjusted my mindset to meet the current on-snow experience halfway, and it’s worked so far.
Why Steer Clear of These Kicks
It’s best to wear one pair of socks while riding, and one pair of boots. Not two pairs of socks, sans boots.
While there’s a lot to like about these boots, they are definitely a step down as far as performance, stiffness, and durability go. Additionally, the inner boot on the Nitro Crown TLS is rather thin and doesn’t offer much in the way of cushioning for my sensitive ankle bones and shins.
Why Pull on These Moonwalkers
While I’ve spent the last week riding powder (sweet baby jeeeeesssuuusss powder) with these boots, a period of time which has included everything from mellow tree runs and soft landings to rowdy cornice drops and launches into whiteout ether, I can feel my true park-rat roots calling. In other words: I have a hunch that the tweakability of these Nitro Crown TLS boots is going to be dope in the land of terrain parks; my plush boots and I are coming for you, monsieur up-flat-down box.
Final Notes: Nitro Crown TLS Boots
I’m still (forever?) searching for that elusive combination of medium flex, consistent flex retention and heel hold, all-day comfort, infinite adjustability, and... basically the ideal fucking boot for my myriad needs. While the Nitro Crown TLS boots are soft and sweet like cotton candy, they're not for me. For the friend, however, who is now currently rocking them, they’re perfect.
After 10+ years of riding the ThirtyTwo W's Lashed (boots I adore, and that stand firmly in the medium-soft range), I decided to look for something with a faster lacing system and better heel hold (and that takes less time to pack out). Such a decision led me to the Nitro Crown TLS boots, among several other women’s snowboard boot models.
““...we are creatures of context and my current affinity for the Nitro Crown TLS boots is more likely about starting points and measuring sticks than it is about the actual boots themselves. Meaning: for the right person, these boots are guaranteed to be rad. For moi, I’m cool with lax and malleable at the moment, but not for the longterm.””
On one hand, I have a blast riding these boots, but it’s mostly because my feet and ankles are no longer in pain (which is what I encountered with the handful of BOA systems I most recently tested). What does this mean? Well, we are creatures of context and my current affinity for the Nitro Crown TLS boots is more likely about starting points and measuring sticks than it is about the actual boots themselves. Meaning: for the right person, these boots are guaranteed to be rad. For moi, I’m cool with lax and malleable at the moment, but not for the longterm. Like most things in life, I want solid and enduring with a break-in period. Not easy getting easier. Make me work for my shit.