ThirtyTwo TM-Two
Thirtytwo TM-Two boots review.
| OVERALL RATING 4/5 | RETAILS FOR $299.99 | SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SNOWBOARD SHOP |
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ThirtyTwo TM-Two Women’s Boots: Who Might Ride ‘Em
Let’s kick things off with this: I fucking love ThirtyTwo women’s snowboard boots. I’ve ridden the ThirtyTwo Lashed for over fifteen years, and I’m now on day ten or so with my ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots. After some months of trying out other boot options, I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back to riding without ankle pain or swaths of numbness in my feet or much heel lift at all. Seriously.
While I have a lot to say about the women’s version of the ThirtyTwo TM-Two boots, most of which has to do with the details of my arriving at their cushiony doorstep, I’m going to cut myself off, save that shit for later on in this ThirtyTwo TM-Two boot review, and wax a little about whom these rad boots might mesh with.
““...if you want a women’s snowboard boot that lets you take control of your riding the way a pair of slingback stilettos lets you take control of the stage at a titty bar, the ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots are it.””
Alright, to the fucking point: who wants to ride the ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots? Well, for one, definitely a more aggressive rider. These boots offer a medium-stiff flex that’s markedly stiffer (and advertised as such) than the Lashed I had been accustomed to. The TM-Two boots also really dig their claws in in the flex retention department. Historically speaking, I can move through a pair of ThirtyTwo Lashed boots in a fairly short period of time. The TM-Two boots, however, hold their spines upright and continue to offer an ideal amount of structure, pushback, and support, regardless of my continuing to blast around in them.
In addition to a medium-stiff flex and enduring flex retention, if you also want a women’s snowboard boot that lets you take control of your riding the way a pair of slingback stilettos lets you take control of the stage at a titty bar, the ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots are it.
On-Snow Feel
The women’s version of the ThirtyTwo TM-Two boots is fairly stiff to start and then… pretty much stays the course. By no means does this stiffness translate to “unmanageable,” especially if you’re a more advanced rider. In fact, I’d say my ThirtyTwo TM-Two boots feel damn close to the kind of boot for which I am forever searching. Slightly defiant at first. But, after some coaxing: supportive, responsive, and dependable as all get-out.
““With the TM-Two boots, you have to persevere. For the right kind of rider, they’re worth it. Promise.””
Admittedly, the TM-Two toe box does feel kind of weird at first (as if it curves upward?). This is one thing the professional boot fitter at Mt. Bachelor took care of (note: I have never gone to a boot fitter for snowboard boots, as I narrowly assumed boot fitting was just for skiers; I’m glad I went). Also: I’m fucking picky. Also-also: while waiting in one of those epic powder-day lift lines a month or so back, I ear-hustled a conversation two dudes were having about the “weirdness” of their TM-Two toe boxes. I guess it’s a thing, which may or may not also be a thing for you. If it is, a good boot fitter and some dollars ($20 or less) can change that for you right-quick. With the TM-Two boots, you have to persevere. For the right kind of rider, they’re worth it. Promise.
As far as traction goes, the ThirtyTwo TM-Two boots definitely boot-pack the cone at Mt. Bachelor with grippy finesse. Landing shit is also fantastic,. Basically, the TM-Two boots are what I’d been hoping for after coming off a sweet and comfortable (but too soft for me) pair of Nitro Crown TLS boots.
““With all the women’s snowboard boots I’ve pulled, laced, speed-laced, BOA’d, and ratcheted into in the past eight months, I can say with confidence that ThirtyTwo boots are, hands down, the most comfortable I have ridden. Ever. In all of time... ThirtyTwo makes some insanely comfortable boots. Try to tell me otherwise.””
Turn initiation? Medium at first and then, again, after letting the boot fitter do his thing and add a little heel wedge in order to reduce heel lift (I get heel lift with every fucking boot, no joke), much faster. Like, holy shit I didn’t know what I had been missing in terms of turn initiation. But I see now, thanks to these boots and their steadfast boot surgeon.
With all the women’s snowboard boots I’ve pulled, laced, speed-laced, BOA’d, and ratcheted into in the past eight months, I can say with confidence that ThirtyTwo boots are, hands down, the most comfortable I have ridden. Ever. In all of time. I’m always down to be proven wrong, of course. But fuck, until I am, I’ll keep saying it: ThirtyTwo makes some insanely comfortable boots. Try to tell me otherwise.
Why Steer Clear of These Kicks
If you don’t want to have to do a little bit of fine-tuning or engineering with your boots before they’re just right (though, folx do it with ski boots all the time, so why should we expect otherwise with snowboard boots; yes, I understand the materials are different, but still, boot fitting for snowboard boots should not not be an option), and if you don’t care for a longer break-in period on a stiffer boot, I’d opt for something other than the ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots. Maybe something like, say, the ThirtyTwo Lashed (with traditional laces ) or the ThirtyTwo Lashed Double Boa (if that’s your kink). Also, if you want a women’s snowboard boot that boasts a smaller footprint (less volume), the ThirtyTwo lineup won’t give you that. While I love the larger volume present throughout the entire ThirtyTwo women’s boot collection (it fits better into bindings, and has a nice look to it), there are plenty of folx who don’t.
And, of course, the toe box on the ThirtyTwo TM-Two boots could get weird on you. Don’t say I never said anything.
Why Pull on These Moonwalkers
Pretty damn sure I covered this one already, but… aside from how the ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots perform and feel, I am totally down with their style. Mostly because it reminds me of black fishnet tights, and black fishnets are a wardrobe staple for me. Anything meshy or fishnetty or see-through or hole-y, really (I’m an 80’s kid, and a product of the grunge era). Whether you go with the sheer black with mint accents (very nice) or the black over floral print (my own personal choice) for these boots, the result is dope. Stilettos (on snow) atop fishnets? Yes, please.
Final Notes: ThirtyTwo TM-Two Boots
First. I understand, and feel compelled to note, that the majority of my “boot issues” most likely stem from the specific construction of my own feet, ankles, and calves (to see if your foot/ankle/calf combo matches mine, and thus make a more informed boot buying decision, check out my profile). I mean, I love my feet, ankles, and calves. They just don’t love snowboard boots. In fact, their loathing of boots is sort of what got me to start this whole Gold Snow thing to begin with. That and the fact that the internet has hardly any women’s snowboard boot reviews written by women floating around in its strange blackhole of a web.
Second, but really first. Snowboarding is this thing I love dearly and, when there’s boot discomfort or heel lift or numbness going on, I kind of become this pouty little bitch. I know, not sexy to admit. But it’s true, and it happened a bunch after I made the decision to venture out and ride a variety of different women’s snowboard boots.
““...I kind of just became this little asshole, quietly and to myself, every time I pulled on a pair of boots that weren’t made by ThirtyTwo.””
After giving it my all with at least four different women’s snowboard boot models from four different companies, I kind of just became this little asshole, quietly and to myself, every time I pulled on a pair of boots that weren’t made by ThirtyTwo. Oh, I’m on the side of this gorgeous fucking mountain and the snow is piling up and I’m among dear friends, and there’s this lift that takes us to the top of it all whenever the fuck we want, but my boots hurt and that’s all I can focus on.
Know what my Italian-Jersey background has to say about such first-world complaints? Vaffanculo, babe.
Thanks, heritage. You always keep me in check.
Much like when you’re in a relationship and it kinda sucks and you’re probably (read: definitely) going to go back to your prior fling, I knew that I’d return to my original ThirtyTwo mistress. I just wasn’t sure when, or in what form.
After years of riding the Lashed, a model I adored and which served me well while lapping the park in Jersey day in and day out, I knew that the comfort and response of a pair of ThirtyTwo women’s boots were what my feet and ankles and riding style longed for. And now, at last and by way of the ThirtyTwo TM-Two women’s boots, you could say the band’s back together and we’re rocking the fuck out.