The K2 Orton boot is a new release for the 2021-2022 season and has the distinction of having been tested by 2014 Olympic Slopestyle gold medalist and 2020 Snowboarder magazine Rider of the Year, Sage Kotsenburg. Packed to the brim with K2’s newest tech, what you get it is a high-performance boot worthy of Sage’s name. This is a high-end boot that is chock full of K2’s best tech and features brand new liner and sole designs.
If you’re looking for a stiffer boot, you’ll appreciate the extras like the strap on the liner tongue, the new BOA coiler dials and newest Vibram outsole. What I like the most is the focus on durability with the bombproof outer shell, articulating cuff and the TX3 BOA laces, all designed to make this a long-lasting boot. In addition, the K2 Orton are reasonably priced for what you get, and offer better cost performance than many higher priced boots from other brands.
Let's delve into the specifics that make the K2 Orton stand out.
Stiffness and Flex
The stiffness rating for the Orton has been quite confusing. First, in the dealer’s catalog the Orton was rated a 6 out of 10 and many review sites jumped to the conclusion that it was a replacement for the discontinued Renin, another 6 out of 10 boot. This was followed by the regular catalog where the stiffness was adjusted to an 8. Walking around the house before my first day, the Orton felt stiffer than the Maysis and the 8 stiffness rating seemed reasonable. It wasn’t until I was actually riding and trying to flex the boot that I realized that they should have been rated something higher like a 9 stiffness. The tongue of the liner is very stiff and nearly gave me a shin bruise the first day. I didn’t have the tongue tight and my shin flexing into the tongue repeatedly on every toe side turn got to be quite painful by 2pm.
The K2 Orton Snowboard Boot Breakdown
Read also: Is the Gnu Antigravity Snowboard Worth It?
Durability and Comfort
The Orton is a burly boot and the durability is impressive. I could see this boot lasting me double the length of any K2 boot I’ve worn to date. Also helping with durability (and comfort) are flex zones around the tongue, which work with the articulating upper cuff to allow for pressure point-free flexing. These are K2’s most supportive heat-moldable liners that keep your feet toasty warm. If you don’t have access to a shop with a K2 boot molding setup, don’t worry, these Intuition liners will naturally mold to your foot over two to three days of riding. If you do get them heat molded, you’ll skip those two to three days of boot break in. For me, the boot break in wasn’t too painful - on each of the first two days my feet got tired and cramped in the afternoon.
Helping to pull the tongue in tight is a strap at the top of the liner, in addition to the Velcro sections found on other K2 boots. The K2 Orton has a 3-point boot liner harness for increased heel hold and ankle support and a strap on the liner tongue to pull everything in nice and tight. I did notice that the Orton has a bit more volume around the ankle and I had to extend my ankle straps a notch to get a centered fit.
Boa System
This is a double reel Boa system that lets you adjust the upper and lower zones of the boot independently. This works great for getting the perfect fit and avoiding pressure points. The H4 coiler dial controls the upper boot and is BOA’s newest and most durable dial. It has the ability to pop out on hard impacts to avoid damage, and can be easily popped back in. The coiler dial is a step up from a regular dial as it “quickly takes up lace slack, increasing speed of entry into the boot”. The M3 dial for the lower zone doesn’t have as beefy specs as the H4 but there isn’t any noticeable difference in real world performance. Simply put, I didn’t even realize they were different until I was researching for this review.
The K2 Orton uses the TX3 BOA® Rope Laces that originally appeared on the Taro Tamai boot last year.
Read also: Battle Bindings: Performance and Value
Outsoles
These are brand new outsoles from Vibram boasting the latest in traction and durability. The V5 consist of at least 30% recycled rubber which is a positive move in making this boot eco-friendly. I haven’t noticed any increased grip from last year’s ‘Grip This!’ soles on the Maysis, but grip is usually something you only notice when it’s not there.
K2 Maysis Snowboard Boots
After a few years exploring K2’s soft-flex boot options (TT, Renin), last year I tried a medium flex and really enjoyed K2’s best-selling boot, the Maysis. The K2 Maysis snowboard boots are an all-mountain, medium-stiff flex boot that is supportive and responsive in all terrains. These are super comfortable and I really felt they were an almost perfect fit day one. The K2 Maysis Boot is a great all mountain do anything boot that is very supportive and comfortable.
Key Features of K2 Maysis:
- Intuition® Control Foam 3D Premium Liner: Provides ultimate comfort.
- Boa® Conda Liner Lacing System: Allows on-the-fly adjustments.
- Grips! Premium Rubber Outsole with Harshmellow: Offers the best performance at the lowest weight.
Here's a breakdown of the K2 Maysis features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Intuition® Control Foam 3D Liner | K2's most versatile liner built with a blend of high and medium density Intuition foam. Internal and external J bars around the ankle boost support in this critical heel hold area. |
| Boa® Conda Liner Lacing | The Boa® Conda system allows you to tighten, loosen or adjust your liner on-the-fly from the outside of your boot. A patented Conda "chip" cups the ankle and top of the foot via a soft, flexible urethane structure. |
| Grips! Premium Rubber Outsole with Harshmellow | A K2 exclusive built to offer the best possible performance at the lowest possible weight. |
Additional Thoughts on K2 Boots
If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s the K2 sizing. Consistency is what riders want and K2 delivers.
I tried the k2 Maysis 2020. They are comfortable and warm, it is not possible to tight the in-liner but it is possible to tight the boots in the upper part and low part separately. Very solid finish. Love these new boots. They are more stiff and responsive than my current Burton Ruler. This is my third pair of boots I like them very well. They fit very snug and the boa lacing system is great very simple to use. They are very light weight but have a mid to tough stiffness. If your looking for a boot with easy lacing system lightwight, with a mid to tough flex I would recommend this boot.
Read also: Renting Snowboards in Whistler Blackcomb: What You Need to Know
The custom-moldable foam liner, complete with faux-fur-lined cuffs, feels super plush-cozy, warm, forgiving on the ankles. There’s also plenty of space in the toebox without being sloppy.