Hemel Snow Centre Boots

Hello,

Can anybody who has used the new Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre comment on the quality of the boots they provide?

The reason I ask is I have tried Xscape in Milton Keynes a couple of times and their boots are awful (for me). I have skinny feet; their boots fit me length-wise, but even fully buckled up, I have the impression that I could pull my foot out of the boot without too much effort. (They tell me they only provide the one model of boot.) I don't have the same problem when hiring boots at proper ski resorts - so boots normally do fit me fine. I know I should get my own boots, but I don't want to right now.

I don't really want to waste my time in Hemel Snow Centre if their boots are as poor as Xscape.

Thanks.

All their kit was new when the centre opened and there is a photo of the boot style on the website. If in doubt you could phone them and ask.

http://www.thesnowcentre.com/gallery#

Hi - sorry I don't know anything about their boots, but a friend of mine said their snow is wonderful compared to MK Snowdome. She said it was like fresh powder compared to MK which is often icy with plastic carpet coming through.

The boots pictured in Bandits link are a junior rental boot. Assuming they are using Head boots for their adult sizes then its going to be a pretty big volume boot and your 'skinny' feet wont feel 'held' in them. There is also the problem of the liners packing out with use (as with any rental boot) Because there is a different shaped foot in the boot each time its used the liner packs out in an amorphous, sort of foot shaped way, after a fair bit of use the boot will have a much bigger volume than it had when it was new. So I guess what im saying is that the quality of the boots when new has little to do with how they will fit now, and each boot will be different!

Skiing with your feet in such a boot will be like driving a car with a very loose steering wheel. Is it worth the money that they charge for you then to compromise on the most important piece of equipmemt.

If you really dont want to buy your own boots now then try and go to Hemel when they are quiet, have a chat with the ski techs, explain your problem, you never know they might have a few other makes about or some newer boots. I find that being friendly and asking nicely can work wonders sometimes! and then sometimes it doesn't :evil:

If you haven't got them yet, then I would try driving in the other direction for a tad further but it'll be worth it. I read on here the other year that two places were fantastic for ski boots. One was in Morzine but the other in Leamington Spa! I went to the Leamington place and the boots they fitted took an hour and a half and are PERFECT! They put padding on your feet where you might need a bit of extra room and take numerous measurements of your feet AND legs so they can recommend the right boot for you. I can't recommend them enough. Their name is Lockwoods... details
125/129 Rugby Road, Milverton
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 6DJ

Good luck!!

Anyone with "difficult" feet, should head for J2skier cem who is now offering about 30 different boot models for sale from his "office" in Bicester.
Find him here..
http://www.solutions4feet.com/

He used to be at Lockwoods, and I understand he was responsible for setting up the bootfitting regime there, before setting up his own biz several years ago.

rental boots at hemel are from the Head range, it is a specific rental boot from the range and is medium to high volume fit, so if you have a long narrow feet then you will rattle around in them.... the main reason for the selection of most rental boots is to fit the majority so the people with narrow feet are generally left out...... your foot will go into it but you will have leittle or no control...if they were a narrow fit then no one with a ewide foot could wear them

if your feet are that narrow then it is probably best to get a pair of boots proberly fitted for your feet, narrow boots are less common than wider ones but there are plenty out there, more at the upper end of the market in stiffer flexes but there are a few in mid ranges. one thing you must do is may sure that you get shell checked this involves having yuor foot in the empty shell with the liner removed, there should be between 10 and 20mm max 25mm behind your heel, any more and the boot will pack out once you have skied for a week or two..... if a fitter does not shell check you then leave the store running. Also realise that a boot the correct size will probably feel too small when you try it on, your toes will hit the front ...clip the boot up top clips first, do not overtighten the lower clips and flex a few times to pull your heel into the back of the boot...only after this has been on your foot should you even consider making a judgement.... many boots often need the liner to be moulded and a good footbed to feel correct


based on the linked question an your other thread..if you want someone in London then go see frank at finches or profeet (can't give you a name as the team has changed a little this year)
if you are willing to travel then either lockwoods in leamington or give me a call... BTW i am fully booked for weekeds slots till mid november but we do have a few week dsy slots available

good luck sorting your fitting problems

Edit:
just seen the last line in your first post so the above was probably a waste of typing :)