Buying skiboots in sales - ??

Do shops like Ellis Brigham & Snow/Rock have season-end sales in which bargains are to be had? I am thinking of my first pair of boots, but finances are not that plentiful, so bargains are of course attractive. I am intending to try to get enough practice during the quiet summer period at Xscape so that by next season my confidence will be better and I might even achieve the elusive parallel turn technique rahter than rely on the snowplough! I thought it would be worth doing this in my own boots?

However when i spoke to a sales guy S&R he said it's best to wait until their new stock comes in Oct in order to get a good choice as their stock even now is depleting and he did not mention any forthcoming sale. Surely the new stock will be more expensive?

Hi, i bought my boots at Ellis Brigham in Milton Keynes last April and they were in the sale then but they only had approx £40 off, which isn't much. My wife found this shop in Leeds that we visited late September last year and she bought hers there for £80!! Brand new Head RRP £180, okay Leeds was a couple of hours in the car but worth the day out for the saving. Check out the website if you're interested - www.seversports.co.uk

Me and the wife got some proper bargains last year at the end of January they were half price. We got them from Outdoor Action which is in Ashton Under Lyne. I would reccommend going to independant shops rather than the big national as you can do better bartering for a bargain........

Thanks guys. The reasons that make me inclined to use the 'biggies' is that

I have an ankle problem following a serious (non-skiing!) injury and ...

...these will be my 1st boots

...EB have a store at Cas Xscape which is where I will be getting my much needed between-trips practice and I can keep on going back with any problems

So I was just really wanting to know if it was worth waiting for their sales or not!

Hi....For my two pennies worth...It doesnt` really matter!!! Okay, financially it mayhit the pocket harder, but at the end of the day, trust me, you will know when a boot is right by the feel, and it may be a sale boot...or it may not...Sadly, it can`t be dicated by price as the boot that fits and moulds your foot best, may be the cheapest or the most expensive! Only advice I can give is try loads and don`t look at price...Easy said when you have money in the pocket, but if you can`t afford to do this then just wait till you can. The difference it makes to your skiing when you have the " Right" boot for you is phenomenal.Know this isn`t really helpful on the cost front but everybody has a boot out there for them...so just be careful if you go on just price!! Hope you get sorted, Jo

Thanks - I do take the point and wouldn't part with any money if the boots weren't right. I am just a bit of a cynic and don't want to be spending out on a pair of boots only to find the same ones £50 cheaper the next week!

NewSkier wrote: I am just a bit of a cynic and don't want to be spending out on a pair of boots only to find the same ones £50 cheaper the next week!

That's life for you :lol:

You can some good ideas on the real value of equipment by doing some research. That is which season's model is it, how many seasons has that model been around and what's it's ebay price.

These links may help (check out the archives)

http://www.bootfitters.com/07_reviews.htm

http://www.sportsgearguide.com/scripts2006/product.asp?product=SkiBoot&what=search

Trencher

I've done it - bought boots! Having spoken to various places on the phone to gauge their helpfulness, I went to EB at Castleford where the sale's just started. It was a very good experience. I spent the afternoon there, and eventually bought Nordica Wmns GTS8 with custom footbeds and for the first time since breaking my ankle very badly 4 years ago can stand straight! I had not realised just how far out of line it was until the guy pointed out that when I bent my knees just a little my left knee was nowhere near aligned over my foot, but was about 6" to the inside, so bad is the pronation. He took plenty of time to gently and carefully align it for me while making the footbeds, never making me feel like I was a problem case.

I took the boots onto the slope there today and I noticed an immediate difference in that I now need so much less effort to turn to the left (I am still at the snowplough turn stage) - in fact on my 1st left turn I nearly fell cos it happened so fast compared to before.