Getting ski boots that fit

Hang on - except for a potential language issue surely resort based boot fitters are as likely to be competent as UK based fitters??? After all it is their job.

Bought in resort last year (L2A) - very good experience. Previous boots bought in resort in 1998 (Tignes), equally good experience, previous boots got in resort in 1987 ( Meribel).

Now I know my feet are easy to fit but I actually like the idea of skiing on new boots immediately and having someone on hand with a vested interest in keeping me smilling while I am in their resort - and available to tweak if needed.

Surely it's just down to personal preferences??

OldAndy wrote:Hang on - except for a potential language issue surely resort based boot fitters are as likely to be competent as UK based fitters??? After all it is their job.

You go to a resort for a week, the boots fit OK. Next winter they hurt...what are you going to do?

I actually like the idea of skiing on new boots immediately and having someone on hand with a vested interest in keeping me smilling while I am in their resort - and available to tweak if needed.

Me too, and my bootfitter wants me to ski my boots straight away if he's done some mods. Unfortunately you can't do this in resort as the ski lifts are only open in the winter. Once I've skied them, I get in touch and tell him how they feel :D

Another potential problem is you get them in the UK go skiing & find the boots hurt on the first day... What are you going to do?

So really is there an absolute answer?

Hi Snowplough. Try Snowlines/Footworks at Bruntsfield(just opposite the BP garage.)

I have no personal experience of boot fitting there but Graham, if he still works there, knows what he is doing!!(as I'm sure other staff do!!!)

Good Luck!!

As Bandit mentioned a good boot fitter will only offer you two pairs of boots to try on and it's not unusual that they will have to modify them in order to get them to fit properly. If I were you I would go and see Robin Ho at Craigdon Mountain Sports in Perth or Alan Baxter in Stirling http://www.alainbaxter.co.uk/page.asp?ID=9

It's not really a problem to get ski boots properly fitted in resort, but you have to know where to go and who to see and be willing to give up some skiing time. The good guys only work by appointment, if you can walk in off the street and can have a fitting there and then you're in the wrong shop. If you're going to Chamonix then either Damien Amblard or Jules Mills at Sanglard Sports will be able to sort you out http://www.thebootroom.fr/eng/Home.html If you're going to Davos, Heierling Sportorthopädie http://heierling.ch/index.php is the place to go, but at the current exchange rate they will cost a fortune.

Great to have a consensus of opinion.......simply reflect the fact that we are all different.
I did wonder about waiting until I am in resort but worry that with a difficult fit it may be tricky to get the best result over the course of a week without missing too much slope time.

Blues in Edinburgh sold my first pair that were really poor so i am reluctant to use them again....the other shops have had very limited choice so perhaps snow and rock in newcastle might be worth a few trips.

Thanks for all comments...

brooksy wrote:
Another potential problem is you get them in the UK go skiing & find the boots hurt on the first day... What are you going to do?

So really is there an absolute answer?

It's certainly my experience, and I think most other people's, that boots will be most painful when standing around and riding lifts. If you can walk and stand around the house for a couple of hours comfortably, then pain isn't likely to be a problem.

Whether you can ski well in the boots is another story. If the boots have not only been fitted, but your alignment checked and set up for your skis, then you stand a good chance.

Shame about Blues, did you go back and raise the issue with them?

As a multiple, S&R offer boot services to all customers. AFAIK they don't offer an appointment service, nor can you request a specific fitter with a specialism (biomechanics/pronation/alignment etc). You might be fortunate with your day/time/fitter and get the attention you need. AFAIK their fitters skills are not externally validated.

The Boots that fit you, should feel a bit too small when the shop 1st try them on you. It's really easy to sell Boots that are too big, just keep upsizing until the customer smiles, way harder to make the right shape boot fit the customers feet. Remember, if you choose the boot in a store, you are with a salesperson.

If you buy your Boots in the UK, these days there is ample opportunity to test them on snow before heading to a resort.