K2 Thraxis Review

Hello and welcome to my K2 Thraxis review.

In this review I will take a look at the Thraxis as freeride snowboard boots.

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

Overall Rating

Boots: K2 Thraxis

Price: $499 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freeride 

Flex Rating: Stiff (10/10)

Flex Feel: Stiff (9/10)

Rating Score: 92.6/100

Compared to other Freeride Boots

Out of the 22 freeride boots that I rated:

Overview of the Thraxis’s Specs

Who are the Thraxis Most Suited to?

The Thraxis are for anyone of an advanced level, looking for a stiff boot for bombing, carving and freeriding. 

Especially suited to those who like boa - there are 3 of them after all! And need boots that help with heel hold. 

Matches best to stiffer boards/bindings. 

The Thraxis in More Detail

Board Demoed With: Rossignol One LF 2018

Bindings Demoed With: Burton Malavita

Outersole Length:  31.2cm (mondo 28cm)

Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 3.2cm

Backstay Height: 27.5cm

Weight: 1140 grams*

* Average of a sample of boots I weighed was 1006 grams, so a decent bit heavier than the average, but pretty close to average. Heaviest were 1320 grams and lightest were 740 grams. Stiffer boots tend to be heavier, so for their flex, they are normal. 

Flex

Not quite as stiff as the Ride Insano or Burton Driver X that I rode the same day, but still quite stiff. One of the stiffer boots I've ridden still, but just a notch down from those 2. 

Fit

Width: Medium width. Not particularly wide, but not overly narrow either. 

True to Size?: I usually ride a 10, and these felt really good in the 10. So, I would say true to size. 

High or Low Arch: Snug on the top of my feet like they should be, but not painful, so I'd say medium in terms of arch. My right foot has more arch than my left, which is quite flat, so this is going off my right foot. 

Responsiveness

Really nice in terms of bombing and getting that quick turning at speed. And in terms of being able to hold carves nice and deep and long. Made my board more carvy than it otherwise is. 

What I really liked is that it felt like I had to put in less energy to get that energy out of them vs other boots with a similar feeling for carves. And a little more maneuverable at slower speeds than other boots with a similar flex. 

Heel Hold

Really good in terms of heel hold. I had very minimal heel lift, and only noticed it when I was really trying to notice it.

Having that third boa that cranks on the liner around the ankle also meant that you could very easily crank down on the ankle if you felt like the heel was starting to lift a little more after riding for a while. 

Adjustability

Really good adjustability on these boots. There are two boas that work on the shell of the boot. One controls the upper section and the other the lower section. So you can tighten those areas differently. 

Then there's a third boa that cranks down on the ankle around the liner of the boot. Because that is controlled from a boa coil on the outer boot, it's super easy to adjust that on the fly, without having to open your boot right out, which I really like. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Comfort

Nice comfortable feeling, plush liner. And overall very comfortable.

At first I had pressure on my inner ankles. But that pressure was greatly lessened from heat molding and then even more so just with a walk from the car park to the lift. By the time I started riding, it was barely noticeable and after a couple of runs was all but non-existent. So, just something that took a bit of breaking in, as is often the case with any boot, but particularly with stiffer boots. 

No cramping at all, which is one of the biggest things I look out for in boots.

Shock Absorption

Decent shock absorption for flat landings and absorbed chatter pretty well too. 

Board Feel

They have quite a rigid firm sole and a good tread depth. Nice for traction but not so much for board feel. And stiffer boots tend to be not as good either. All that said, they weren't terrible in the board feel department, but also not amazing. A little better vs the Ride Insano. About the same as the Driver X.  

Traction

Sole is really high quality, firm and good tread depth. Felt good walking in them. Didn't have anything too technical or icy to walk in - just the car park and up to the lift, but from sole inspection, I imagine they would have great traction. 

Reduced Footprint

They aren't super bulky, but definitely not low profile either. A little longer on the outersole vs mondo than the average. 

Entry/Exit

Easy enough to get foot in and out - and easy to work with the boas. A little longer than something like a single boa, naturally but still fairly fast. 

Apart from the 3 boas, there's also a velcro strap that tightens around the top part of the liner. This is another little step, but doesn't take long and gives a nice secure feeling around the shins. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

The Thraxis are my personal favorite freeride boots. Nice and stiff and responsive, but with just enough feel for them and without having to put too much energy into them vs other stiffer boots. 

And I really like the triple boa system on them - and just all round comfortable with great heel hold and no real weaknesses at all, but with a lot of strong points. 

Just really nice boots to ride in that give nice spring, energy and power.