Buying Own Boots

bandit wrote:This is a list of UK Ski Shops who have Bootfitters accredited by the BSBA. This is one way of making sure you get fitted properly. Currently members seem to be the leading independent shops, the chain stores don't seem to be participating.

http://www.skibootpro.co.uk/6.html

Thanks for the link Bandit :-)

I needed to knock the 6.html off the end though.

Seriously thinking of buying new boots this year and the thought on this forum have made me realise it needs doing properly.

Plus I need anything & everything that will improve my skiing!

Cheers Mekka, I've amended my original post linky :D

Which fitter do you plan to go to?

Hopefully (depending on finances) I'll go to Glide and Slide in W Yorks. They're by far the closest to me. They have a 'Gold' standard so should be pretty good.

So my dilema is get properly fitted in the UK and buy new boots over here, probably for less money or get them in resort. The problem is if I buy them here I can't then ski in them until I go on hols so how will I know if they fit properly. At least in resort you can ski in them and they if they're not right go back and have them adjusted.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks

Steve

Visit a fitter who has been recommended and speaks your language, or it will be difficult to explain fitting issues.
Expect to need to ski about 10 days in a boot before fine tuning of the fit to be done.
Is it totally impossible for you to ski on Indoor snow before heading to a resort?

freshfreshpowder wrote:Renting seems to cost around £50 per week for boots. Buying own seems to cost around £160-£230. I am 23, so feet have stopped growing pretty much. And I don't anticipate ski boot technology advancing too significantly in the next decade or so.

Is it smart/sensible to buy own boots in this position, even if skiing more than 1 week per year is unlikely?

Buy your own boots, but get good advice in the shop you buy and have them fitted to your feet. You will ski so much better.

If you can afford it get you own and as everyone has said get them fitted. When i was at uni i tried to be cheap and its not worth it.
If you can't afford it get a pair in the sales in the sunnier but still get hem properly fitted!

Hi freshpowder, I'm having a fit for my first pair of own boots later this week, so I'll let you know how it goes in case you find it helpful.