Hello from a beginner - and boot question

Thanks all,

I have searched on ebay, nothing there my size at the moment - I am also very wary of ebay.

I have also been trying on boots in S and R today, all around the £200 mark. I also tried a pair in Monchavin Inter Sport for 300 euro, the assistant never gave me the option to test ride them - maybe this is something you need to insist on?

Ideally I want sales, and get the same for less than £150
Do you get much choice of boot in Uk stores in the sales, or is it just extreme sizes (like in January sales with only size 8 or 18 left in the store!!). And do you get decent discounts?

Ideally I would like my own boot for my next trip, I just don't want to see the boots I paid £200 for in a sale at resort or UK store for £50 a month after I've bought them....

cheers
Jasmin

couple more ideas - don't forget that they have sales in ski resorts too - often there are quite a few bargains to be had in the mountains at Easter. Also try and get to your rental shop as soon as you can after arrival - that way you'll get a much better choice of boot - a lot of hire shops sell boots too - I'm sure most of them would knock the price of a week's boot rental off the price of any boots you might buy there.

Having been a skier (and now also a inexperienced snowboarder) since a kid l have bought loads of boots and skis in the past, in my experience Your boots are the most important item.
If your not confortable and they are too tight or just as important too loose ( if too loose then some of the energy that you put into changing your edges will be lost and with it control)
If you go out and buy too advanced a boot for your level all you will do is hinder your improvement ie if you're a beginner and you go out and buy top race boots then these boots wont be as forgiving or as confortable as a say a intermediate or beginner boot.

What l would suggest is go to a ski shop (ie one of the many ski warehouse type shops that tend to specialise in last years models yet brand new or not top brand names, Search on the web for them under ski wearhouse they are a few up here in bonnie scotland and even more down south, you will pick up boots for under £150 that will do you for 2 or 3 seasons) and try on as many of their boots as possible and when you have found one that feels like it fits your feet then fasten them up and walk about, bend your knees etc for at LEAST 30 mins

You should be able to flex the boot so your knees are in line with the toe of the boot otherwise the boot is to stiff.

Front entry boots offer so much better support and control.

You can buy custom foot beds for about £20-40 that get molded to the shape of your foot, oe of the best investments l have ever made.

Hope this helps

Good luck and most of all enjoy

Dave


:lol:

I agree with the others I would hire boots until you are a more experienced skier the boots that you buy now will not be suitable for you in a couple of seasons.

If you have an average fooot shape and find boot fitting easy then great buy from ebay but do your research first If like me you have an akward foot shape like mine I would buy from a resort and get them to fit them for you.

Snow and rock is great if you know exactly what you want but don't count on them for good advice, plus they are likely to be more expensive than at a resort.

Hope this helps

cheers

Max

3. Snowgirl, it is interesting what you say about hire boots.
Do most hire shops have currently available boots for hire? And can I change them just like that or will it cost me more each change? I just presumed that hire boots were all old and tatty with no lining and impossible to open or close clips (like mine were!!).