Plugging Away

By Steve Cohen and Jeff Rich

Plug boots (so-called because the shell mold is fitted with a “plug” to make the shell walls thicker and flex with greater resistance) used to be skiing’s equivalent of the private lap dance at the Bada Bing Club. Hidden away in the back room, available only to racers who were appropriately “connected,” these super stiff race stock shoes were whispered about but seldom sold. Not anymore.

Although they still represent just a tiny portion of the retail market, (manufacturers estimate 2,000-3,000 pair are sold annually in North America) the availability and awareness of plugs is growing. These genuine World Cup race boots are becoming more prevalent and manufacturers see them as vital to validating their brands with top skiers as Motown’s auto makers do a NASCAR presence.

Plugged boots often resemble the street-legal racers they are derived from in color and name only. Sometimes they are built from a completely different mold. Atomic’s VIP, for example, is a two-piece shell that merely mimics the look of the multi-component Tri-Tech racers.

Most plugs, most notably Tecnica’s new Diablo Race Pro, are stripped of virtually all extraneous features (including cuff cants) and their liners are wafer thin. They fit, as OJ would say, like a glove, which makes them extremely difficult to get on and off. They also lack insulation making them the coldest class of boots.

Not surprisingly, plugs are a challenge to fit, often requiring an hour or more of stretching and/or grinding and repositioning of buckles and cuffs with screw rivets. If your tech doesn’t grind it to make it fit, the boot is most likely too big. Manufacturers routinely limit distribution to shops with highly trained boot technicians on staff.

The bulk of plugs are bought by serious club racers who bust it down race courses toting small numbers FIS points in their wake. They are willing to sacrifice creature comforts for ultimate performance. Recently, however, plugs have become popular with less-accomplished skiers with ultra low volume and narrow feet. In these cases, the boot tech will soften the flex of the boot substantial.

Currently, plug models are available from Atomic, Fischer, Head, Lange, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon and Tecnica.