Salomon

Malamute Snowboard Boot - 2024

It's as bad as they say

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

I'm yet another OG Malamute rider (had my '08 pair for 15 years) who can confirm that they absolutely ruined the design of this boot by changing the liner system. The heel lift is so bad they are simply unrideable and there's nothing you can adjust. I tested them out in the living room and could practically pull my foot out of the boot. Such a shame because I have yet to find another boot that is simultaneously as comfortable and as high-performance as the old Malamutes

Fit well for wide feet

I’m happy and comfortable with the boots. I would recommend for people with wide feet.

Heartbroken

I got my first pair of Malamutes in 2004, and last week my fourth pair (purchased about 2020) had a side seam's stitching rip out, I'm guessing due to flexing rather than rot as I always use a passive dryer on my boots immediately after using them, the same dryer I've been using for about 25 years. I was planning to go to my local shop to get a new pair, noticed when I googled that there is now both a Boa and the traditional speed pull system I love so much, so I breathed a sigh of relief that the traditional system was still available. I was glad to know I would not have to use Boas, as I have some arthritis of the hand and I get more than enough twisting of Boas tightening the boots of my younger snowboarding students (I have taught snowboarding (and trained new instructors) 2 to 3 days a week for 20 years.) I have seen enough broken Boas in the past 15 years to want to steer away from them forever. I see you sell online now and I chanced to read the current reviews for the speed pull model, which are not good. It is obvious that in the move to a Boa-dominated economy that you have lost the engineering fine points and quality that made the Malamute the gold standard of snowboard boots. I really don't want to use Boas, I just want the Malamute with its excellent heel hold harness, liner lock, and speed pull, locking outer laces back, in the quality, performance, and durability levels of the past. Please go back to the old design soon, or make changes as needed to bring back the excellent levels of performance and reliability of the past. I was just demonstrating all the great adjustments and design points of my Malamutes to a first-year instructor last week. Now I will have to tell him what I have found out the last couple of days reading reviews about the current product. Please note, I wrote this to communicate with you, not the public, so feel free to not publish this on your website, but PLEASE bring your quality and design back - unless I can find a cobbler able to repair my current Malamutes (which are softened up after the 200 or so days I have on them, so I was just going to replace them), I expect I will be buying another company's boots, and I doubt they will match my Malamutes.

Worst Boots in Salomon history

Worst Boots in Saloman History, The lacing system does not work, Boots were made for Boa system, I have broken many laces and plastic clips over 5 weeks, Now Iam being played by Saloman, Do not buy.

Break On Day 1

These boots are absolute trash, broke on day one of last season, warrantied pair I was sent broke on day one this season before getting off the bus. The warrantied pair they sent were two years old. Would put zero stars if possible. Do Not Buy!

Great fitting boot!

Bought these Malamutes a month ago - opening day tomorrow for the big test. Has to be the most comfortable snowboard boot I've ever had. And extremely light. They have a robust tread that holds well on snow when getting from here to there. Love the pull up lacing and it's lace locker up top. Super easy to engage for a nice snug fit, that doeasn't loosen up while riding.

Good performance horrible durability

I bought this boot at the start of last winter and was initially impressed with the design. During a season of use I had the eyelets pop out on my while riding multiple times, and the fabric the connects the metal eyelets to the speed lacing system having all nearly worn away. Super dissapointed with what seems like a crucial design flaw. These boots have potential, they rode amazing! Just need to make them last for more then a season…

Still not fixed - do not buy

If you are reading this review, you probably rode Malamutes for years because they had an exceptional internal harness system that worked perfectly with the inner liner. Firm ankle hold with no heel lift. Stiff, responsive, and aggressive. Prior to 2021, the Malamute was the best snowboard boot ever made. This is not controversial, there's a booming secondary market for 2020 Malamutes. I would happily pay triple-retail to get a pair of 10.5s. The 2023 boot is still broken. * The internal harness is on the boot, not the liner. * The liner has too much padding to create a tight fit. This is not a performance liner. * The internal harness system maxes out in tightness before becoming tight enough to prevent heel lift. I have larger-than-average ankles. If I can't get these tight enough to prevent an *inch* of heel lift, then nobody can. I'm not wearing them too big. I know how to size boots. The design is flawed. If I am getting this much heel lift when the liner is new, it's going to get worse as they pack out. Salomon: just go back to the old design. It was perfect. I get that it's cheaper to put the same liner in a bunch of different boots. It's also bad product design. The reviews about reliability are also true. I popped an eyelet off the first time laced these up.

Buyer beware: good performance, bad durability

First things first, the tread, fit, and lateral stiffness of the boot are all great--if it wasn't for my next and only issue these would be my favorite boots to-date. But unfortunately said issue is durability and is quickly rendering these boots unusable. I've ridden them for 11 days total and they're effectively falling apart. Day 3, one of the top plastic eyelets popped from its screw, thankfully I was able to recover the eyelet and washer and my hillside board shop where I bought the boots put a new screw in it for free same-day. Day 7, one of my speed laces snapped (no, I do not rest the edge of my board on my boot while on the lift) and, again, my board shop came to the rescue and replaced it for free with something similar next-day. Day 11 another plastic eyelet popped and I've been able to recover the eyelet and the screw but not the washer, haven't gone in for repair yet. At this point, these boots need a repair every 3-4 days of riding which is completely unacceptable for a top end boot. After doing a thorough inspection of the boots before this review I'm seeing my other original lace (11 days old) is frayed and ready to snap, 4/6 fabric eyelet binders on right boot and 3/6 fabric eyelet binders on the left boot are frayed and ready to go. For context, I'm 6'1", 200lb, all-mountain rider (have not been able to take these into the back country yet) ride regular in Jones Meteorite bindings on either the Salomon Assassin twin or Jones Stratos directional (bindings and assassin bought at beginning of the season, Stratos and boots bought Jan 27, boots professionally fitted). If you ride consistently week-in week-out like I do then do not buy these boots, at this rate they won't even last half a season.

Heal Anker doesn't work

I have been riding Malamute since 1997 or 1998 and this is the first time I consider to look elsewhere for boots. The heal strap doesn't work to fix the heal. I had to return the boots and go back my old ones from 2020. Please go back to the old construction. Another thing I noticed was that this version wasn't as stiff as the old one. Please make the 2024 best the GOAT!