WHY ZAY SKI BOOTS
MEET THE WORLD’S FIRST AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SKI BOOT
The five elements of our unique system work in tandem to deliver comfort, performance and warmth for longer, better ski days.
ZAY SKI BOOT TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Unlike traditional boot manufacturers, the Zay high-performance ski boot is built from the inside out. Our design started with the biomechanics of the foot, then the liner with the shell coming as the final step. Every step of the way, we prioritized comfort and performance to ensure a precision fit for the ultimate all mountain skiing experience.
DYNAMIC RADIAL CLOSURE
The radial closure action is the best part of the system – once dialed in, the boot closes around the foot in a “round” or “high ceiling” manner. As the buckle tension increases, the lower boot shape is maintained without any sensation of crushing down onto the foot, evenly reducing volume. The cable tension stiffening also provides an additional feel of closure or containment, as the boot is pulled into a more upright and firm flexing position once the rear buckle is activated. Being able to have a simultaneously softer flex and more relaxed fit with the buckle undone is convenient for walking or riding a lift.
The radial closure cable system not only provides a consistent fit during closure and maintains a “tall” fit over the mid-foot and instep, but also provides a progressive flex feel that remains consistent through a broad temperature spectrum. It also manages to restrain the boot’s flexion via the cable routing, rather than relying upon a fixed upper and lower or the collision/distortion of plastic where the upper and lower boot meet.
LARGE TOE BOX
We expanded the toe box shape by 7% to enable a more natural resting foot position without losing stability. This shift in biomechanics improves balance and control for a comfortable ski boot that delivers toe wiggling warmth. Spreading of toes inside the boot may help with plantar fasciitis as well.
OUTER SHELL
Ski boots are the most important part of your gear. The Zay polyurethane outer shell is engineered for and remains pliable in extreme cold environments. Our ski boots are 50% less sensitive to cold – they won’t stiffen up when temperatures drop like traditional boots.
Our shell stores energy and then releases it, much like a bungee cord, rubber band or a spring. This phenomenon is called Elastic Potential Energy (EPE) and adds “rebound” to every turn, for a powerful response and faster edge-to-edge movement.
CUFF HINGE
Most ski boots connect at two ankle points and in the back of the upper shell, creating a cuff which restricts forward/backward articulation, so you’re fighting energy vs. flowing with it.
With Zay, only one point connects the cuff to the lower shell on each side of your ankle, creating natural forward/backward ski motion for a better ski stance. This dynamic design articulates with the skier’s motion for crisp edge control, precision fit and ankle flexion. The result? No shin bang.
In concert with the cuff hinge, the two cables underneath the sole connect to the upper shell; along with a resistive force that tightens around the forefoot once buckled in, our boot provides a smooth and progressive flex. The result? Effortless power transfer between your foot and the ski.
Zay is the only automatic tensioning ski boot with progressive flex, because we know how much a customizable fit improves both comfort and performance.
BOOT BOARD
Our under-the-foot boot board, or “zeppa,” offers a unique biomechanical design with a 3mm foam strip down the length of the inside of the foot (ball of foot), enabling the big toe to drop down. When initiating a turn, your shifting body weight compresses the foam, allowing the ball of the foot to naturally articulate. Like a dimmer switch, this provides sensitive edge control to the skis, less fatigue to the skier and greater power for carving turns.
ZAY Z SERIES SKI BOOT FEATURES
