Hello and welcome to my Thirty Two TM-Two review.
In this review I will take a look at the TM-Two as all-mountain snowboard boots.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the TM-Two a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain boots.
Overall Rating
Boots: Thirty Two TM-Two
Price: $379 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 84.2/100
Compared to other All-Mountain Boots
Out of the 31 all-mountain boots that I rated:
Overview of the TM-Two’s Specs
Check out the tables for the TM-Two's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain |
Price: | $379 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: | |
Flex: | |
Weight: | Normal |
Lacing System: | Traditional Lacing |
Who are the TM-Two Most Suited to?
The TM-Two are best suited to anyone looking for a boot with good response and decent stiffness but still with a decent amount of forgiveness too. If you need something with extra heel hold and a relatively low profile outsole too, then they tick those boxes too.
In terms of the kind of response you get from them, they are one of the cheaper options too.
So, if you're looking for a stiffer than medium option that won't lighten the wallet too much, the TM-Two fit that bill well.
Pair well with boards 6/10 to 8/10 in terms of flex.
Not for a beginner - too stiff for that, but should be fine for intermediate riders who like to carve and ride at speed.
The TM-Two in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the TM-Two are capable of.
Demo Info
Boots: Thirty Two TM-Two 2020
Size: 10 (US Men's Sizing)
Date: February 10, 2020
Conditions: Sunny first thing, with some clouds later. But good visibility all day.
Quite cold. Not much wind, but what wind there was, was cold.
Hard packed on groomer with the occasional icy patch, but only in the shade and not many spots.
Off groomer a little crunchy in places but fine in other spots.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Board Demoed With: Rossignol One LF 2018
Bindings Demoed With: Burton Malavita 2017
Outersole Length: 30.6cm (mondo 28.0cm)
Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 2.6cm
Backstay Height: 27.8cm
Weight: 1040 grams*
* Average of a sample of boots I weighed was 1006 grams, so pretty close to average. Heaviest were 1320 grams and lightest were 740 grams.
Flex
Feels about a 7/10 in terms of flex. Maybe pushing 7.5, but I'd say 7 is more accurate.
Fit
Width: Medium width. Some Thirty Twos feel a little wider than medium, but the TM-TWOs felt a little narrower than that to me. Still not narrow, but not mid-wide either.
True to Size?: I would say true to size. Borderline running 1/2 a size small though. I typically ride a 10 in snowboard boots and I rode the 10 for the TM-Two. It felt borderline too tight/snug. But I think it's something that would work out after more breaking in, but certainly would consider 10.5s for the TM-Twos.
High or Low Arch: Tightish on top of the foot - as they felt overall - not cutting off circulation tight, but I'd say medium to medium-low arch. So if you have high arches you'll def want to try these on before committing, I'd say.
Responsiveness
In terms of carving, I felt like I could hold a more aggressive carve for a little longer and a little deeper vs my test boots (Vans Aura).
They made the board slightly less maneuverable at slow speeds vs the Aura.
These two things are typical of stiffer boots (TM-Two 7/10 vs Vans Aura 5/10).
Heel Hold
Any heel lift that there is is minuscule, basically non-existent. Of course that's how I felt them with my feet/ankles etc, and everyone's feet are different.
But they do come with a heel hold kit too, so even if you didn't get the same heel hold feel I got, you can increase that heel hold with the kit (which I didn't have to use at all).
Adjustability
Being traditional lace boots, they are really adjustable in that sense.
That plus they have that heel hold kit, which helps you to adjust the heel hold as well. So, all round nice and adjustable to suit different foot shapes.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
First try on they were too tight to be comfortable at all. But after heat molding that eased off and made them more comfortable. After riding them they gradually became more comfortable. Still not ultra comfortable, but I imagine they would gradually become more and more comfortable, but would just take a while to break in.
Stiffer boots typically take longer to break in, so I imagine these would, like most boots do and particularly stiffer boots, get better and better in terms of comfort as you ride them.
Shock Absorption
A good amount of shock/chatter absorption. Not ultra shock absorbing, but better than average.
Board Feel
Not bad but not amazing board feel. A little less board feel vs my Vans Aura test boots, but those are pretty good in that regard.
Traction
Decent looking sole, decent hardness and OK tread depth. Felt fine to walk in. Nothing special but looks/feels decent enough.
Reduced Footprint
Decently low profile. More so than the typical 32 boot. 32 boots are usually just a little better than average. The TM-Two is just that little bit better than most other 32 boots (well the ones I measured anyway).
Entry/Exit
Took a bit of force to get my foot into it, but not to the extent that I didn't think I'd ever get it back out again, which is sometimes the case!
So not the easiest to get in/out of in that sense. Then you've got traditional lacing to get through, which is a little slower than speed lacing or Boa - and a little more effort, but once you're used to it it's not too bad.
Overall, not the easiest in terms of getting in/out, but this is a very small thing, IMO.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 3.5 | 7/10 |
HEEL HOLD | 5.0 | 15/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
COMFORT | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
TRACTION | 3.5 | 7/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.2/100 |
The TM-Two are a great option for those on a smaller budget, that still want relatively stiff/responsive boots. For those that like to ride slightly stiffer than medium boards and prefer to ride a little fast and carve a little deeper, but still want some level of forgiveness (both in terms of the boots flex and in terms of the bank account!).
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in learning more about the TM-Two, are ready to buy or want to research current prices and sizing availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the TM-Two compared to other all-mountain boots, or want to check out some other options, check out the link below.
Dan Hughes says
Hey, I really appreciate the detail of your reviews, but I’m a little confused when you talk about arch fit with boots in general. You refer to arches in relation to tightness on the top of your foot, but surely you’re talking about instep?
Arch fit usually refers to foot beds and whether they offer support for high, medium or low arches.
Admittedly, high arches usually accompany high insteps but that’s not always the case, as with my feet. I have quite high arches but with a low instep, which makes boot fitting a challenge regarding heel lift.
I always get recommended Salomon due to their narrow fit, but I’ve learned over time that heel lift has more to do with the instep of a boot. Salomons instep is pretty normal and I found a fair bit of lift on the new echo (laced).
Can you recommend a boot with low instep and a fairly narrow heel pocket?
Lots of comments out there for a low instep fit for TM-2s.
I find it almost laughable that manufactures refer to additional ankle padding/j bars as additional heel hold. They’re providing additional ankle support and ensuring a snugger fit laterally, but I fail to see what they do to eliminate vertical heel lift. Some sort of moulded attachable shims for the tongue would surely be better.
Nate says
Hi Dan
Thanks for your message and insights.
I’ve always seen instep and arches as the one in the same, but I’m not surprised they don’t necessarily go hand in hand, as feet are really complicated creatures! So yes, by your definition I am talking about instep. I would say Vans boots have the lowest instep that I’ve come across, so I think they’re certainly something to check out. I found the TM-2 quite tight on the top of my foot, so certainly this model in terms of 32. Other 32 models not necessarily but sometimes. I’ve found Vans pretty consistently low and typically find they have great heel hold for me.
If you’re looking for something like 5/10 flex kind of thing, then the Aura Pro are worth a look. A little stiffer (actually flex adjustable between 6/10 to 8/10) the Infuse – or even stiffer, the Verse (7/10 to 9/10 – also flex adjustable with removable tongue stiffeners.
Hope this helps