Burton Driver X 2017 - 2010 Review by The Good Ride

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Burton Driver X Review

The Burton Driver X has made a reputation as one of the better aggressive stiff flexing boots out there. The Driver X has been around for a long time and has the reputation of Burton’s most responsive aggressive all mountain to freeride boot.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  No one is perfect and we do make money from the “Where To Buy” links below, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

The 2017 Driver X is pretty much the same as the 2016 but in 2017 some of the industry caught up to or passed Burton when it comes to footprint reduction. Burton is still really reduced but Adidas now has boots in size 9 that are 1/2″ to 3/4″ smaller than my size 9.  I’m not 100% sure how it compares with half sizes yet but it seems that Adidas is the better boot now to reduce toe/heel drag.

The 2016 Burton Driver X is not too much different from the 2014 and 2015 but there are a couple of minor differences.

1. The Rad Pad that prevents the tongue from folding is much weaker this year.
2. The lacing system is better and it wraps better around the foot. It doesn’t really address a specifically tighter wrap around the ankle but the entire boot feels like it’s more attached to your foot.

So, all in all, there are some positives and negatives with the 16 Driver X but it’s still a very fast aggressive boot that’s a lot like the 15.

2014 and 2015 Burton Driver X Review

The Burton Driver X is a boot that my crew and I have a lot of experience with.  We have used this many days and rode this with many aggressive all mountain to Freeride boards. As you probably know this is one of Burton’s stiffest boots and it is here to create a lot of quick edge to edge response so the board underfoot doesn’t feel as difficult to turn. Paired with a good aggressive binding like the Burton Diode you have a really responsive setup. The Burton Driver X isn’t for everyone though and is more for Expert riders than advanced riders.  Often times Boots like the Imperial or Ion will have enough response to turn your board while at the same time be more forgiving.

The 2014 and 2015 Burton Driver X boots are very similar except for one thing.  The 2015 has an improved Vibram sole that has better traction across the board.  Before the Driver X was really good in soft snow but weak in ice.  The new traction pattern isn’t quite as good in softer snow but it’s much better in all other conditions.  Also, the sole has a little less material than past soles that helps reduce weight but at the same time has the same shock absorption qualities as the 2014 model.

Days: 1 on the 2014 and 80+ on the older models. 
Riders: James
Bindings: Burton Diode
Boards: Burton Custom X

James’ Foot Specs
Foot Size: Right 9 and Left 8.75
Foot Width: Right and Left between a D/E
Arch Length: Right 9.5 and Left 9
Calves (Widest Point): 17”
Calves (At top of boot): 12”

Regarding Reduced Footprint:
Burton’s footprint is almost a full size smaller on the outside but the same size on the inside. So a size 10 boot is still a size 10 on the inside but more like a size 9 on the outside.  This really reduces toe drag and Burton is the best in the industry when it comes to this. The warmth and feel of the ride are unaffected and all you have is a bootless likely to catch the snow on a hard turn or in steep terrain.  This is great for those that have big feet, ride narrow waist boards or are in between the board and binding sizing.

Fit: The size 9 boot fits my size 9 feet perfectly and I like that there is a little extra room width wise in the front of the boot so my foot can spread a bit width-wise on a forward lean.

Flex: This is about as stiff as it can get for Burton boots and this was tried without the power panel inserted into the 3d tongue and it was still very stiff. Also, you have a liner with more flex retention than the normal Imprint 3 liner.  That is why they call it 3x.

Comfort:  Despite its stiff almost old school ski boot feel the inside is very comfortable.  Obviously, with stiffer boots, it takes longer to break in but Burton does a very good job at reducing the break-in period and it’s pretty comfortable from the start. All feet are different but this is one of the better boots we came across when it comes to enjoying your first day on the hill with the boot.

Heel Hold: So there is definitely a trade-off between separate upper/lower adjustability and heel hold. This is a pretty stiff boot and when laced tight it holds pretty well.  Although it doesn’t have that massive grip around your heel it always handled our ankles no problem.

Adjustability:  For us, we really like the completely separate upper and lower adjustability and find it exceptional.  Its lacing system is great for riders like me who like the bottom a little loose and the top tighter. This is much better than the vast majority of Double BOA in terms of separate upper lower adjustability because they don’t have complete separation between the ankle like Speed Lace does. Some like more adjustability and some prefer locking in your heel over anything.  For those who love adjustability, the Driver X is the call.

Flex Retention:  The Driver X is very stiff but over time the older models broke and softened up. As the boot breaks in and softens up you have the option to insert that panel to keep it’s stiffness up or you can just keep it in all the time.  In addition to the re-introduction of the power panel, Burton has what they call a 3x liner which has what they also call a rebound rod and it gives a little extra flex retention as well.  The rebound rod is bigger and better than the older Burton Driver X’s so combined with the power panel the flex retention is better than years past. Before it would break down pretty quick and in 40 days you would have a much softer boot.

Response:  Excellent response. Some might even complain that there is too much responsibility.  If you are an intermediate or even a borderline advanced rider you might be better off with a less responsive boot because it can lead to you catching your edge easier. However, if you are a very strong advanced rider or Expert rider who loves the most response possible then the Driver X is your boot.

Traction:  The 2014 Driver X was not ideal in an icy parking lot but really good keeping its grip in soft snow.  2015 is much better in all conditions traction boot.  Its pattern is similar to all the other boots out there in Burton’s line.

Shock Absorption:  Pretty good shock absorption and although not super soft it’s super damp and made for those who like speed and big landings. There is a good bit of gel in the heel.

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