Snowboard boots on Denali

Hey y'all. Seeking advice since there really isn't a ton out there on this for weird reasons. Looking to ride Denali in 2023 and want to do the whole thing in snowboard boots. Please keep scrolling if you want to mention hardboots, I respect your opinion, but they aren't for me. Currently rock the Fitwell freerides, but they don't fit my feet at all. Was hoping to do it in them, so I got intuition liners to fit in 'em. 

Basically, I'm looking for folks who have ridden Denali in a softboot that isn't fitwell and can attest to something that fits an intuition liner, or already has something warm enough in it to do this sort of thing. I want something that rides better, I'll let my skier friends punch the bootpack.

The ideas that I've had are Burton tourist and one of the higher grade salomon boots (Trek s/lab or synapse). 

Cheers!

I have not ridden Denali but toured on the Burton Tourists for two seasons- I would avoid them- the lacing system sucks and the toe is incredibly soft and round. I upgraded the liners in the tourists to intuition pro tours which was a huge improvement but still stiffness was lacking. I ditched them for hardboots. I also wore the synapse a few years ago and the boa system would constantly require re-tightning and the soles were very soft, fine for riding but bad for long days on your feet. I think something like the K2 Aspect, or MTB, is similar enough to a mountain boot to warrant looking at, or if you can get the fitwells to work, go with those.  

Or get serious and get hardboots   

Have you checked out the thirty two Jeremy Jones boots? I haven’t ridden Denali and those boots are beyond my budget but they seem like the most mountaineer-y soft boots aside from fitwell. 

How often does Denali see a snowboard descent?   I'd guess that's pretty rare!

Are you split boarding for the up and back down from 14-7k'?  Getting steel crampons for your boots for above 14k?

Not helpful, just curious!

I really like the Burton Tourist boots. They have a nice stiffness and hold a crampon reasonably securely up to about 50 degrees. I prefer them much over the K2 Aspect which I found I could never get laced tight enough.

I use the Deelux splitboarding boots (forget the name). They have crampon welts and are ok in technical stuff on par with the Buttress. I have led WI2-3 in them and it was miserable.

Downside is that they are really heavy compared to hardboots or soft mountaineering boots. My other option I have used is to snowboard with Spantiks. Wasn’t a great snowboarding experience, but it was a more enjoyable alternatives to just snowboard boots if you are walking/climbing any distance. 

I haven't done Denali but I've used Fitwells for multiple other splitmo objectives, including climbing up to WI5/M5. I would say if you can figure out how to get them to work for you, those would be my choice! I would also get a neoprene boot gator if I was to take them to Denali to increase warmth. 

If you really serious about not using Fitwells, I've heard people have had decent success using Spantiks on high altitude/big mountain splitboard objectives.

I know they're very different mountains, but I used Deeluxe Spark XV to ride Pico de Orizaba and really like them. I've heard of people using neoprene overboots or vapor barriers on Denali to help with warmth and insulation with their snowboard boots, too. Maybe something to consider. 

Check out the short film titled "The Big One" on Youtube. Nick Russell, Danny Davis, Ian Walsh all climbed/rode most of the big lines up there in soft boots. Seconding the 32 MTB or Jones pro boot as well as the Deeluxe's already mentioned. Ultimately, whatever you can climb and ride in well enough for Denali or any other big objective is what you should wear.

Hey all, 

Thought I’d chime in from my experience from splitboarding / climbing denali back in 2018, I didn’t summit though. I used Spantiks with Arc spark R&D bindings that fit great without any modifications, I also have the -40 below overbiots. I really don’t enjoy snowboarding with spantiks from the lower ankle support compared to dedicated snowboards boots and I own the Jones 32, they weigh similar to the spantiks and i feel confident wearing them with crampons. Let’s hope my wife lets me go back this coming spring 2023 and I’m thinking about being my Jones with my 40 below liner.

Riley, did you end up climbing Denali and what did you wear?

I wonder what Stevie Haston wore riding big lines in the Big mountains?