HO Animal thoughts

[wettek69]

Gidday guys

 

Anyone on the new 20/21 Animals? Read a few mixed reviews here from 2017/18, just wondering if HO sorted the issues and the new ones are worth a run. Using a Radar Profile at the moment, but like old style rubber.

 

Regards to all.

[MDB1056]

check out tfactors. Outstanding rubber bindings

[Horton]

I'm unaware of any issues. I would think front animal and rear venom would be awesome.

[wettek69]

@MDB1056 I would get a T Factor tomorrow, but I am at the very upper end of the L sizing and bottom of XL (11 & 1/2 US foot size) so am concerned one will be way tight and the other a bit loose.

[Deanoski]

@ get the L and put in hot water the EVA material will mold to your foot

[MarkM]

They look good. I just wish they would have kept the laces in the back of the boot.

I like my rear boot loose.

[wettek69]

@Deanoski Really, you reckon the L will mold enough to fit my 11 & 1/2 big wide foot?

[kc]

@wettek69 For what it’s worth, my son uses large T-factors. He’s an average width size 12 shoe.

[Deanoski]

@wettek69 I wear at 11 shoe and wear the medium T factor front Wiley rear

 

I believe you can adjust the width if needed the with the screw on the bottom of the plate

[MDB1056]

I’m a 9 1/2 and wear med Tfactors, I cinch down both laces a bit - nice and snug . @Deanoski - at 11 medium has got to be tight

[Horton]

Any rubber binding that you can not get out of without losening the laces is unsafe.

[bishop8950]

@MarkM me too, laces loose on rear animal.

[disland]

I use large and 9 /12 foot. Its what you like. some folks like it tight, I like that it comes off when I need it to

[DW]

Personal preference is the previous generation Animals with the rear laces. From a friend that tried new version, he thought the sizing nomenclature is not consistent with previous version Animals so choose carefully on size if you have a reference.

[MDB1056]

yes we all agree that anything you can't get out of without undoing something is unsafe. I've had mine release just fine so not concerned

[wettek69]

Gidday guys.

 

Ended up going with a 12/13 Animal. The 10/11 was impossibility tight, the 12/13 seems good.

 

Thanks for all the input, like I said, read a few mixed reviews here back from 2017/18.

 

Regards to all.

[loeweb]

Not having a handle on the back of the binding makes entry more difficult too. A couple buddies sewed on handles to eliminate this and are very pleased with the results.

[wettek69]

@loeweb Any chance of getting a close photo of how your mates have sewn on the handle? I would be keen to see it. Thanks

[loeweb]

@wettek69

 

Sorry it's taken so long to post.

 

[wettek69]

Thanks mate, really appreciate the photo, pretty much what I thought it would be. Any reason why he only has it on his rear boot?

[loeweb]

@wettek69 Front boot goes on first, the handle helps when movement is restricted from the front boot being on.

[BraceMaker]

@loeweb funny I put back in first always when doing dual boots. I would stand back foot in front foot out on the platform till it was time to hop in then toss in the front. Same with dual hardshells - rear first front second.

[loeweb]

@BraceMaker come to think of it, that is how he puts it on too. It's me that goes front foot in first. So, I'm not sure why he only did the back

[BraceMaker]

Its funny one of my brothers and a few friends do front first and they're always falling off the platform awkwardly.

[RAWSki]

I switched from Animals to the Radar Vector BOA LTD 2 seasons ago. Really like them from performance and comfort aspect---- except the old snow skier in me likes to crank them down too tight.

[wettek69]

@loeweb I put my front foot in first too. I could understand your mate putting the strap on his rear boot if he was front foot in first as it would give you a bit more leverage to open it up when your mobility is limited by your front foot essentially being fixed to your ski. Not sure what the advantage would be for him with rear foot first.

[loeweb]

My routine is this: Front binding, gloves, back binding, handle on the back of the boat to lean against to limit embarrassing wobbles before an ungraceful water entry.

[Rednucleus]

I was thinking about changing my laces to an elastic bungee type, hoping I could run them tighter than the non elastic originals giving more support while still having the give for a safe release. With the current non elastic laces I feel like my heel has trouble releasing. Any reason not to try a bungee?

[kylegansel]

I’ve been using them for two years. I’m a fan of the new version. Rubber fits better and definitely more comfortable. I just miss the rear strap to help pull them on.

[OldboyII]

Are there, in new Animal, same optional left/right specific insoles like in previous version?

[wettek69]

No. No left or right options.

[OldboyII]

@wettek69 Thank you. What a pity! Animal was (now was) a binding of choice among the other rubber because of this option. Broken ankle, need some support under the arch of the foot.

[wettek69]

Might be totally wrong, but is there any reason you couldn't put an off the shelf (waterproof) arch support in an Animal boot? Might need to be trimmed around the toes.

[OldboyII]

In the previous Animal anatomic insole is a part of boot construction. Normally boot was supplied with left and right footbed was in the box.

I can not imagine the way how to integrate ots insole in to this boot.