Ski Boot Sizing - Pretty urgent question...

Hi Snapzzz,

Since you've made the decision: just go for it!

However, if the online store allows returns, I would go same way as Brooksy already suggested: Order three pairs in different sizes, keep the ones which are the best fit, and return the others.

In fact, that's exactly how I bought mine last year and I am very pleased.

It's true that I also ended up bringing them to a local shop for a fitting and purchased some better insoles; But I did ski with them 1wk with the original insoles, and even so they were a pretty good fit.

(For example: Mine are Tecnica Viva Inforno Fling and I ordered the US sizes 9.5, 10, and 10.5, expecting that I'll most likely keep the 10, but to my surprise the 10.5 was the best fit. I also got them in mid-March, thus towards the end of season, so I caught an awesome sale-price of $249).

Good luck!
-Cat

Trencher wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:I have a good selection of boots in my basement that I can't ski in. They were all "snug" until liners packed out - which for me happens in well under one season.

Sounds like me. Although ebay has helped reduce the collection :lol: Recently it has had more to do flex, than size.

When I have guests visiting and they want to go skiing, they don't need to rent boots - they can always take mine. Size 24 is one of the most common, so at least my boots are useful for some people. The flex of these boots also varies - I have from softer beginner boots and up to flex 90. I stopped on a 100 for myself. Also think that I found a perfect shell, so with ZipFit liners hopefully there will be no more money spent on ski boots for long time.

Every 'Distance Purchase' in the UK allows 7 days for the customer to return the goods, in their original condition, no questions asked.

However you are likely to have to pay for the returns yourself. Weigh up the pricing of heavy boots, in a parcel sized box as part of the cost of the purchase if you intend to go that route. If it's a NI based store the price for a private courier is likely to be expensive, I'd go for Royal Mail. You'll also want to get it via a service that gives proof of postage and confirmation of receipt, which will add to the return costs.

Snapzzz ......

I await with interest the feedback on the boots when they arrive - primarily the reaction of Snapzzz Minor.
:D

But ....

As a linked but separate issue - everything you talk about purchasing seems to be for your good self or Little Snapzzz ????

Where is Mrs Snapzzz in all this???

Hope you are not forgetting her as without her goodwill the posibility of one, let alone several, ski holidays will diminish or evaporate.

Top Tip - look after OH to facilitate skiing trips.
:thumbup:

Call me a heretic if you will but have you considered Ebay?
A cheap option for often barely worn ski boots - look at it as a mail order hire shop.
Different manufacturers have subtle differences in sizes - so what I would suggest is search on the net for each manufacturers interpretation of the mondo size for it's eauivalent in Euro shoe size or UK shoesize for your daughters current size (I'd wait until the winter)

Then search eBay - find some that look in good nick & put a bid. if they don't fit then put them back on eBay & all you are down is the cost of postage.

The average "boot fitter" in a hire shop isn't going to spend too much time on a hire boot.

At the end of your hols flog them on eBay & repeat next winter|!

A cheaky option is to try a few on at a ski outlet like Decathlon!

OldAndy wrote:Snapzzz ......

I await with interest the feedback on the boots when they arrive - primarily the reaction of Snapzzz Minor.
:D

But ....

As a linked but separate issue - everything you talk about purchasing seems to be for your good self or Little Snapzzz ????

Where is Mrs Snapzzz in all this???

Hope you are not forgetting her as without her goodwill the posibility of one, let alone several, ski holidays will diminish or evaporate.

Top Tip - look after OH to facilitate skiing trips.
:thumbup:

Mrs snapzzz already has her own boots and is well looked after in other areas so there is no need to worry there.

The sad news is that the shop refunded me this morning, the boots are now out of stock! Gutted. It was a cracking buy.

Don't be too upset about it. The deal was probably good (I am not in the loop regarding prices for kids ski equipment) but it's not something your daughter truly need. There is a difference between buying something you WANT to buy and buying something you NEED to buy. My friends son got his first boots when he was 13 - and he'd been skiing since he was 3 for two weeks every year, so the boots were bought because he really needed them as typical rental stuff was simply not suitable anymore for his skiing. He's 16 now and still growing so all of a sudden the whole thing became very expensive - he needs a pair every year and prices for junior race boots are comparable to prices for high end adult boots. Plus if you really want your daughter to have her own boots now you can keep looking for online deals or even wait for begining of the season and have your daughter try the boots you want to buy. With footwear it's often a pot luck - she's at the age when her feet may start growing and will grow half a size per year for the next couple of years or not grow for a while (or at all). Buying too big shoes thinking that feet will grow IMHO is the same as buying too small clothes thinking you will lose weight. If you want to buy, buy something that is usable now and be prepared to buy again once it's not usable.

Mekka wrote:Every 'Distance Purchase' in the UK allows 7 days for the customer to return the goods, in their original condition, no questions asked.

However you are likely to have to pay for the returns yourself. Weigh up the pricing of heavy boots, in a parcel sized box as part of the cost of the purchase if you intend to go that route. If it's a NI based store the price for a private courier is likely to be expensive, I'd go for Royal Mail. You'll also want to get it via a service that gives proof of postage and confirmation of receipt, which will add to the return costs.

I believe the returns cost have to be paid by the trader, but as I also said check out the current DSRs as there could have been some changes from the EU on this.