New Boots, what would you do?

I am so torn at the moment and i would really value your opinion on this.

OK, i am buying my first boots this year. I planned to buy them now in the sales but i was put off by the fact that i wanted to get them fitted properly by Colin (who frequents these boards) down in Bicester. He comes highly recommended and as i have suffered with every boot i have hired i thought it would be better to go down this route and get it right first time.
Colin has advised me to wait until September for the full range of boots to become available which seems sound. I don't really need them now but......

But now i am watching the prices tumble on last years stock. Places like EB are offering some good prices and i have just noticed somebody post a 20% off voucher which makes them even more tempting.

So the question is do i wait and know i will get a decent fitted pair at probably double the cost i could pay now and have fitted by EB?
My head says wait, pay the extra but my wallet is saying buy buy buy.....


ARGH!!!!!!!

Do you really want boots that fit? Or do you want cheap boots that don't really fit you, over and over...et al..

If comfort and control are your aims with this purchase, then wait, as the stock in the stores is the left overs. You could try a boot on 2 sizes too big and it will feel comfy, the store get a sale and everyone is happy :D

You will find out just how big and floppy after about 5 weeks use, when you need to start the process over again )

It's mid June already and Colin will get his stock in September, and as you point out, you don't need them right now :D

Colin gets busy with fittings for a very good reason )

Yeah your right, i know that....i knew it when i posted this, i don't know why i did.
It was my evil, frugal conscience getting the better of me
I need boots that fit, my feet are crap and need more attention.

Thanks for setting me straight.....i'll get my coat.

It is possible to buy boots that will work for you, without using a boot fitter. The problem is that you likely will not get it right first time, or even second time. If you have easy access to skiing (for testing), like to tinker around with gear, and don't have to commit to spending a week in an untried pair of boots, then DIY is great. You can end up eventually knowing exactly what you want in a pair of boots for fit and performance, but you might have quite a collection by then :wink:

If I had to commit to spending an expensive week in a new pair of boots, the good boot fitter route would be my choice.

i cant see why you shouldnt try EB or S&R if they can fit you one and it seems comfy so go ahead, i whould try one of the above and than ski on the indoor slopes to be sure that its fits well and if not you can go back to them to make it good

Thanks guys for the comments but i'm firmly back on track. I was tempted by the cheap prices but a good fit is what i need.
My ankles are wide and one was smashed up and reassembled in my youth. So right now, whilst my shoes are a size 10 i am having to hire boots at a size 12 just to get the ankle feeling good.
Obviously this is not right.

My mind is rock solid now.

i had the same problem ia size 10.5 and very wide feet, couldnt ski with the hired boots so i went to Snow & Rock in the chill factor, got a head boot they made sure it shall fit, than skied their went back showed them were it hurts and they adjusted it

broom wrote:i cant see why you shouldnt try EB or S&R if they can fit you one and it seems comfy so go ahead, i whould try one of the above and than ski on the indoor slopes to be sure that its fits well and if not you can go back to them to make it good

Both EB and SnR employ fitting staff on a seasonal basis.

It's very easy to buy a boot that is too big, it will be a bargain right up to the moment the liner settles :lol:
It's nigh on impossible to make an oversize boot smaller.

I guess I'm about average with between £500-£750 wasted on boots that were wrong for my feet. All were supplied by well known ski shops, all were "fitted" :lol:

Like most, I learned the hard way to do it once and do it right.