Complete and utter beginner - ski boot hire for big feet?

Me and the better half are considering giving this ski thingy a try late feb or early march this year, probably to one of the austrian resorts that we've been previously in the summer hols hiking, like obergurgl, mayrhofen or alpbach. In all the brochures we've looked at, there's something similar in the small print that bothers me and I was wondering if it's genuine or just the tour operators covering their backsides?

For those requiring size 11 boots or bigger - my feet are about an 11.5 UK - they either say that such huge sizes (really?) can't be guaranteed to be available or they recommend taking boots with you - which seems a bit of a daft idea for a complete beginner.

I could possibly see smaller resorts not having a wider range of rental kit, but has anyone got any comments on the above?

I'd hate to have to cut me toes off just to get them in tiny pair of rental boots...

Cheers all!

Gary

Gary,
You are in the small .5% of the population in England that has this type of foot!
Ski stores are NOT going to have boots for the very very small Chinese women who has size 1 or the other extreme.

They run a business and boots that size must be made "specially". I checked my manuals to see what ski boot company makes or has molds for sizes +11.
No one! You must ask for special order!!!

Most skiers with your size have boots made FOR them!

Sorry but that is the situation in most ski resorts and shop world wide!

Thanks pavelski

As the subject line said, I'm a complete and utter beginner (or will be when/if I get there). As such, I find this approach by the ski industry a bit feet-ist (a new form of discrimination?) - presumably people with big feet just don't ski because it's too expensive to learn? I can only talk from a hiking/trekking point of view and have had no problems in the past getting new boots in my size, and they're not cheap either.

Still, I'll keep checking this out cos I fancy falling flat on my face in the cold stuff!!

Cheers!

You should first establish your true mondo size- foot length in cm. All ski boots are sized in mondo point.

You can do this your self by standing in a box with your heels against the side and drawing around your toes. Measure the length in cm and use which ever one is longer. This gives you a better idea of your true size.

Ski boots are normally worn smaller than your street shoe size. so if your feet actually measure 29.5 cm you may well be comfortable in a 29 or for a tight fit, a 28.5.

My feet measure 27.4 and I normally wear 26 or 26.5 ski boots.

You could go to a ski store and try on some boots. This will give you a very good idea of what size to ask the rental places for, befor you go.

If you become hooked on skiing and want to buy boots then book your next ski vacation in the US. Large feet are vey common and the exchange rate may make the package sensible.

An alternative for buying would be the US ebay. US street shoe sizes are one size up to UK sizes ie 11.5uk would be 12.5us. There about eighty boots on there in that size...
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=ski+boots+30

Where as there were only 14 on UK ebay

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=ski+boots+30


Trencher

To illustrate the point, read the first part of the description on this ebay item.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HEAD-RS100-SuperHeat-III-World-Cup-Ski-Boots-SIZE-30-5_W0QQitemZ190065891386QQihZ009QQcategoryZ16061QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Most people end up buying smaller boots after thier first pair pack in and thier feet start rattling around.

Trencher

another point worth mentioning

You can wear thin socks to ski. The old idea of ski socks being super thick all wool monster socks is no longer true. Modern boot liners are very warm.

Trencher