K2 Trance Snowboard Boots Review

Hello and welcome to my K2 Trance snowboard boots review.

In this review I will take a look at the Trance as all-mountain-freeride snowboard boots.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Trance a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other women's all-mountain-freeride boots.

Overall Rating

Boots: K2 Trance 

Price: $409 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain-Freeride 

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (7/10)

Flex Feel: Stiff (7.5/10)

Rating Score: 86.7/100

Compared to other Women's All-Mountain Boots

Overview of the Trance’s Specs

Who are the Trance Most Suited to?

The Trance are best suited to advanced to expert riders who want to be riding fast most of the time - or for physically strong riders who can apply the force needed to get these boots to respond well at slower speeds.

If you are the above and also have trouble finding stiff boots that are comfortable, these are definitely worth a try. Everyone's feet/ankles/calves etc are different of course, but for me these were the most comfortable stiff boots I've ridden in. 

Definitely not for beginners. Way too stiff for that. 

Best matched with boards in the 6/10 to 8/10 flex range. 

THE Trance IN MORE DETAIL

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 19.5" (49.5cm)

Board Demoed With: Ride Saturday

Bindings Demoed With: Ride DVA

Rider Height: 5"7" (170cm)

Rider Weight: 125lbs (56kg)

Rider Boot Size: Women's US8.0 Ride Hera

Outersole Length:  27.9cm (mondo 25cm)

Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 2.9cm

Backstay Height: 10.4" (26.3cm)

Forward Lean: 7.4°

Weight: 1lb 16oz (900grams)*

* Average of a sample of  women's boots I've weighed was 1lbs 15oz (880g). Heaviest I've weighed were 2lbs 10oz (1200g) and lightest were 1lb 10oz (740g)

Foot Fit

Length fit: 

Not to sound dramatic, but the K2 Trance are pretty much the best-fitting boots I’ve ever worn. I almost like them more than my own. The length is right in that sweet spot of my toes just reaching the end, but with enough room to comfortably wiggle my toes.

Width: 

Just like the length, the width of these boots was just right. They hugged my feet tight without creating any pressure or discomfort. Even the width in the toe area was plenty spacious, which can be hard to find.

In-Step: 

The in-step was just right, too. This was the only area of the boot that seemed a bit snug when I first put them on, but after a few runs, it molded out to feel quite roomy. Not too much room, though. It was just enough space to feel like I had a ton of control without creating an uncomfortable pressure point.

Around Ankles:

There was a little bit of room here, but not in a sloppy fit way. I can’t believe it, but this was pretty perfect, too. Even after breaking in a bit with some wear, the area around my ankles had space while still providing security.

True to Size?:

I’m super impressed with the fit of the Trance. Absolutely true to size. These offered a perfect fit for my size in every aspect, and they were super comfy to boot. (LOL. See what I did there?)

Binding Fit

Really good fit in heel cup. And fit the ankle and toe straps with no adjustments, so very similar binding fit to me control boots. This was in the Burton Lexa bindings. 

Traction/Sole Quality

The Trance's sole seemed good quality to me and the material felt grippy. But I was surprised that the tread depth was quite shallow. 

Carving

I know I’ve been hyping these boots up quite a bit, but I’m not done yet. The carving capability of the Trance was superb. I could lean hard and fast into turns and feel totally stable and confident doing it.

Slow Speed Response

At last, we’ve reached this boot’s one downfall. Being on the stiffer side, slow, relaxed riding just wasn’t its strong suit. It lacked the forgiveness to respond well at slower speeds.

Heel Hold

The heel hold was excellent. Even though these boots were so roomy that I wore them all day long with zero discomfort, I was still completely locked in. There was the smallest amount of lift, but not enough to cause problems with my riding.

Adjustability

These offered a good amount of adjustability. The double BOA system controlled the upper and lower independently of each other, which helped me to get a great fit quickly and effortlessly.

Comfort

These are honestly super comfortable boots. They were the perfect fit right out of the box and kept my feet comfy all day. Sometimes it seems like comfort has to be sacrificed in the stiffer, more advanced boot category. That was not the case here!

Shock Absorption

Not the best for shock and chatter absorption, but not bad either. 

Entry/Exit

Getting in and out of these boots was quick and easy- as it should be! With the standard lace lock system on the liner and the double BOA, I was in, out, and well-adjusted in no time. The ample room inside this one made slipping in and out surprisingly simple, especially for a stiff boot.

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

The Trance felt like I'd been riding in them for years on day 1, that's how well they fit and how comfortable they felt. This is rare for any snowboard boot, but particularly rare for boots this stiff. 

Definitely a boot for hard charging and carving, rather than riding slow/casual or wanting to be able to do quick turns at slower speeds.