Custom fitted boots....but on a budget!

I'm looking to get a pair of boots ready for this season's trip, having rented for the past few years. I always end up having my hire boots as tight as they will possibly go to get the best feel from the skis, and put up with the inevitable foot numbness and shin pain! I also noticed this year that when skiing straight ahead on a gentle slope, and with my feet/legs in a comfortable position, the skis weren't flat on the ground! From what I've read so far, custom fitted and adjusted boots will help alleviate these problems.

Having said all that, I have to operate within a budget and am concious that I can only get away for a week a year for the foreseeable future so wouldn't benefit from anything top of the range.

I'm wondering whether to get my feet measured in ski socks at somewhere like Ellis Brigham to get my mondo size, then buy some new boots off eBay (eg Head Edge 10.8 at £80 new), then get custom insoles made up for them at Profeet. Would this work OK, or do I just stump up the full £350 minimum to get boots supplied and fitted at Profeet?

If you know exactly which brand of boot to buy, and get your feet properly measured for volume and length, you might be okay. If you buy some cheap boots from Ebay, and get a booking with Profeet, you will be looking at £100+ for the fitting, so there is £180 invested already, and you won't know if you have the right shape boot for your foot until you arrive at the fitters.
Different boot brands vary in the last. A quick look at the online catalogues for retailers like Snow and rock and Ellis Brigham will reveal that some are for wide toes and narrow heels, high/low instep, skinny ankles/plump calves. Some are "roomy all over"
A consultation with a decent fitter will reveal which make and model to hunt down. They will measure your feet and feel the lumps and bumps then listen to you telling them what sort of skiing you do/want to do.

Profeet use a computerised method of measuring where you put your weight in a ski boot. For me, what I thought was flat, definitely was not!

I expect CEM is busy with the Birmingham Ski Show this weekend, but you might try an email to him through his website, for advice.

http://www.solutions4feet.com/

My brother in law swears by snow and rock for their pre & post customer service, me I buy abroad i have found the customer service first class and the product a lot cheaper.

Thanks for the replies. I'd be comfortable spending £300 or so but that limits me to Profeets cheapest boot, and if that's not suitable then the budget would be blown! I'm more than happy with last seasons designs, which is what I assume the on-line places are selling off cheap.

I guess I'm after champagne boots on beer money :lol: :lol:

I live in North Lincolnshire so a trip to Profeet would be a one off!!

I have recently seen quite a few reputable dealers selling last years model's pretty cheap. It should be possible to get a bargain and get fitted for under your budget. I have been tempted, but so far resisted )
I know of the Head 10.8, I was skiing in some at MK last month, not mine BTW, so they felt like wellies, even though they were half a mondopoint smaller, down to the wide toebox. It's a Superheat Liner boot, and a good fitter will mold both the shell and the liner to your foot/leg. It's a really good quality boot IMHO.

3 weeks ago I speant just over 3 hours at Ellis Brigham in castleford getting some boots fitted and it was the best ski related money I have spent yet. I have already used then for 2 race competitions on dryslope and the immediate difference in performance is massive.

The last time I bought boots, I had my feet measured at snow and rock and then bought some atomic boots off the internet. They turned out to be too big for my feet and I had a lot of heel lift.

In Ellis Brigham I tried on about 6 different pairs and spent time walking around in all of them so I could get all aspects of the boots just right. There is a lot of differnce in feel between them especially in areas like the heel. I thought the Nordica Speedmachines were really good until I slipped on a pair of Salomon Impacts and the heel lift was much better.

The boots and custom footbed were just under £300 and the service was exceptional. I would advise going early in the morning so you get the undivided attention of the staff.

With boots, more money doesnt always equal better boots as the last pair I bought were a lot of money but didnt work for my feet. Its all about the fitting.

Superduke_Chris wrote:Thanks for the replies. I'd be comfortable spending £300 or so but that limits me to Profeets cheapest boot, and if that's not suitable then the budget would be blown! I'm more than happy with last seasons designs, which is what I assume the on-line places are selling off cheap.

I guess I'm after champagne boots on beer money :lol: :lol:

I live in North Lincolnshire so a trip to Profeet would be a one off!!

I would suggest that as you pass close to both CEM in Bicester and Lockwoods in Leamington Spa, it would be sooo much cheaper not to head for London.

I have had a fitting at Profeet. I now use CEM's biz in Bicester. Personally, I was unhappy with the time allocated to the fitting of my boots at Profeet, as it was insufficient to get my boots usably comfy. I have read other folks singing their praises, perhaps I was unlucky.

Edit: It's quite likely that you will need a tweak or 2 once you have skied the boots, so consider where you want to get fitted, as you will likely have to go back.

I'm with smirnoff skier on this one. I'm an avid ellis brigham fan because of the time and service I received when I had my boots fitted. My husband has also had about 3 man hours spent on him - one of which was totally free because he was unhappy with a certain aspect of the boot post-holiday and it was corrected for him.

Having been through the experience I'd never buy boots online.