Boot fitting newbie with no calves

"You have a woman's calves Blackadder!"…

Just got back from a great if frustrating week in Mottaret. Second years skiing so thats about 12 days experience.

The problem, couldn't get boots fitting well. First pair too loose and second better but still big problems in getting a tight fit around calves.
Also way too tight on the big toes, one toe nail is black and blue from the experience and looked as if it was going too come off.

The guy in shop said its only comfortable if your weight is forward which makes sense as my instructors/mates/complete strangers all cite weight forward as the holy grail. Problem is I kept rocking back as my calves were loose.

Anyhoo I don't want to kvetch too much about what I should have done last week, I'm off again in March and I'd like to buy a pair of boots.
I don't really know where to start, are there any makers people might recommend as catering to people with small feet and no calves?

In my experience in other areas shoe makers always claim to cater to all comers but in fact have a distinct 'fit'.

Shall have a further look on here to see if there any good boot fitters in South east england but if any one has a fave then feel free to pimp them.

Thanks in advance.

Marko

I have small narrow feet (am 34 year old bloke, 6ft tall, size 7 feet - like small twigs!)and found myself at Ellis Brigham buying a pair of Salomon X-Waves. Got custom insoles in them which helped wonders. Must admit they did cost me a few bob at about £300 and spent about 3 hours in the shop.

I imagine it is all down to how each pair fits you individually, when you buy from a shop you should easily spend a few hours there, hence get the right boot for you. When you hire you will be lucky to spend 15 minutes - it speaks for itself!

I never knew ski boots could be so comfortable when I bought my own pair. They did help my skiing position more, however you still need to bend zee knees and keep zee weight forwards! I hate the feeling of going down a black and thinking "I can feel the back of my boots......I think I will be eating snow soon" and yes, it always happens.

Anyway, back to topic. I imagine it is personal choice, spend hours getting it right in the shop and dont leave until you are 110% happy.

Good luck :D

I wouldn't dare offer any advice on equipment as I am of the "one plank of wood ilk" and would no doubt get it wrong.

However you could try working out on your legs a bit to bulk them up, this would no doubt help with your skiing anyway. I don't mean Arnie in his shorts throwing truck wheels around or anything, just some gym (or outdoor) activities, I guess rowing and cycling would be the best.

As a friend of mine used to say, "if you don't have to cut your toe nails once a week, your ski boots are too big". A good boot fitter can alter the toe box to accomadate your toe if there's a problem.

There are ways to pack the cuff to help with fit and there are off the shelf products like the "Eliminator Tounge".

It's hard enough to get a pair of boots that will ski well. So when you start making changes to boots, it's important to know how this will impact performance. A good boot fitter will be able to maintain the proper alignment and angles needed to ski well.


Trencher

I was about to jump in and say "buy some boots" when I read on and saw that you were planning to buy some boots.

My skiing changed dramatically when I bought my own boots, and the following week, my own skis.

But boots most definitely should be bought IMO if you are ever going to ski again. Hired boots will never ever fit your properly, and especially when you are new to skiing, as from memory I didnt know what they were really supposed to feel like.

I have reasonably thin legs, and found boots to often by loose, and then discovered that no matter what size boots you have, yo can adjust the clips to virtually any size so that you can make them fit you. Not that that might improve the comfort, of course!

Personally, my perfect fit were Atomic boots, which was handy, as I prefered the look of them. I bought in Austria, and the guy in the shop was keen to sell me Nordicas for some reason, but they didnt feel right. When I stuck the Atomis B Tech 90s on, it was like someone had put a sock on my feet, and my skiing came on dramatically.

My mate has suggested I need to get stiffer boots next season, but I have become quite attached to the Atomics.

Anyway, for value for money, something like the Atomic B Tech series are excellent, and I found them to be by far the best fit, but you may need to try several on until you find something. But you will know when you have found the right boot. You just will.

Fear not, somewhere out there is a boot that will fit you like er...a glove )
Seriously, for the South East I suggest this fella..
http://solutions4feet.com/

I have been a customer for a couple of years, my SO uses his service and so do friends as well. All are happy, and I get nothing for suggesting his service :D