Ellis Brigham ski boot fitting

Has anyone used Ellis Brigham (in particular Castleford) for ski boot fitting?

Our youngest daughter is ready for her first pair of boots now that her feet have definitely stopped growing. I'm fully aware that ski boot fitting is a fairly specialist business but other than Castleford, I don't think we are very near any other specialist outfits. At a push, we could travel over to Otley to Glide + Slide but it's quite a trek for us.

I'm hopeful that it will be relatively easy process as she's never had problems with rental boots in terms of comfort. Her feet are small and perfectly formed unlike her dad's bony examples :-D

Hi Barney

I used the Manchester store a few years ago when I was replacing my boots, and the chap who served me was that bad I asked to be left alone so I could sort it myself! I might have been unlucky, and since then I have had no problems in there.

I guess it's like anything, if you're unhappy with the service, or there is something that just doesn't seem right then just walk away.

Good luck in getting your youngling sorted.

Stevie

last year there was a good guy in Snow and Rock on the way into Manchester. He was good. American and i for the season.

Chill Factore Snow and Rock have a good team too.

I had new boots last season, and out of all the shops I have used Bennetts Winter Sports.
58-62 Sheffield Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. S70 1HS. Tel: (01226) 248896 Were the best.

They are only small but the service was fantastic. (local to me )

I used Ellis Brigham in Milton Keynes, bought boots and had them modified. I have a very prominent bunion. The tech guy there was nothing short of amazing, he was able to melt the shell until soft and make a 'bubble' shape to fit my bunion into! Not so many folk are happy to risk a new boot with this kind of modification.

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps we'll tentatively try Ellis Brigham and see how things pan out. Still got 4 weeks before we are off on holiday.

Had you considered buying in the resort? My sister-in-law bought at a mainstream store and spent the next three years getting them right. Not the fault of the store - but she skied in agony the first winter; brought them back and got them adjusted; skied in discomfort the next year; brought them back and got them adjusted; had a couple of days of discomfort the third year; brought them back and got them adjusted - and fine thereafter. This would have been three visits to a shop in the resort in the first week. I appreciate that resort shops can be manic in school holidays and you may not get the attention that you need. And that you are unlikely to get a bargain up a mountain. But this worked for us.

If your daughter's feet are of average length, width and volume and her calves have an average circumference then you might be all right going to EB. Boot fitting at these chain shops is very much a hit and miss affair https://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/10824.page Their staff only receive basic training and most of them have very little experience.



The shell check should be done in bare feet. You won't know if a pair of ski boot fit properly and are comfortable until you ski in them, all you will know after wearing them in a shop for 15 mins is whether they hurt or not. If they are comfortable in the shop they will very often be too big. That boot seems to be very much on the large side to me, if you watch him ski towards the end of the video they don't seem to be doing him any favours. It sounds like you are only covered by their comfort guarantee if you buy a pair of custom footbeds, not everybody needs them. EB's designated expert at their Castleford branch is called Dave Casey https://www.ellis-brigham.com/advice-inspiration/about-us/meet-the-experts/ski-experts Even though they say they don't do appointments I would try and get one anyway, all serious boot fitters work by appointment. If you do get her some boots before you go on holiday make sure she skis in them for at least a couple of hours before you go to make sure there are no issues.

If you decide to get her a pair whilst you're in Val D'Isere, Nevada Sports in Tignes has a good reputation.