I tried a Powerslide 2005 R4 boot today to make sure it was going to work as good as the old R4 and I can say yes it did. They put the new BOA boot tightening system on this boot. You can see it as the round dial in the lower left part of this picture. (article continued below)
It takes a while to get used to the BOA system but once you do it works ok. The way it works is to turn the dial clockwise which tightens the cables. Then to loosen there is a little button beside the dial that when pushed and then the dial is turned 1/8 turn counter clockwise the cables become completely loose and can be completely pulled out. I like the standard ratchet type buckle but to each his own. Make sure on all the Powerslide boots that you take out the padding that they put up into the toe before you try them on. Also just like the prior R4, lace the boot down 1 eyelet.
I first laced it all the way up and was thinking it wasn't feeling well but then realized I had it laced all the way up and lacing it down 1 made all the difference in the world. Another thing different was they had sewn a plastic piece on the back of the boot just below the upper cuff which didn't allow me to put the skate flat on the ground and reach forward with my foot. While I was skating I was continually forcing my foot forward trying to break this part of the boot in. It was better by the end of the day but won't be as easy to brake in as the old boot R4.
I do believe you can go without the ankle stabilizer on this boot. The ankle stabilizer works well because it pulls the foot to the back of the boot at a 45 degree angle towards the lower back of the boot. The upper buckle on this boot is to high to do this and the BOA buckle is to far forward to do this. The BOA buckle crushes the arch down to the bottom of the boot which doesn't work well for me. A skate feels better for me if the top of my foot can expand upward and is not strapped down to the bottom of the boot (crushed arch). Try the boot as is and if you need a stabilizer you can always order one later.
This boot with the BOA buckle is better at holding the foot back than the old boot but not as good as a buckle further back pulling the foot back at a 45 degree angle to the back bottom of the boot (like the ankle stabilizer). Don't get me wrong, this boot works better than most any boot of this configuration, I'm just nit picking here. Bottom line is this boot works great and didn't go backwards from the older R4 which can happen, but I'm glad to say it didn't happen here. I'll be retiring my old R4 and will be using the 2005 R4. This boot is definitely a keeper.
(take a look at the old R4 review as most of what pertains to the old R4 pertains to this new 2005 R4)
Wow, what a surprise. I first skated on my current best working boot to compare it to the new Strut and Attitude I was trying today. After skating on my current good working boot I then tried the Strut boot. It was like there was a motor in the boot over my current best working boot....
We all know Luigino and it's good working Strut, Challenge and Bolt boots. Well this is Luigino's, Atom branded, Strut like skate, but at a lower price then the Strut....
I got to try the Roller Derby Elite Alpha skate today. At the $200 price point I wasn't expecting much. After 25 years of trying boots on I'm kind of spoiled as far as what passes my tests....
