Latest posts for the topic "New Boots, what would you do?"

New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:13:47 GMT

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!!!!!!!

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:29:41 GMT

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 )

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:59:15 GMT

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.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:11:01 GMT

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.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:14:40 GMT

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

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:10:26 GMT

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.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:18:40 GMT

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

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:21:10 GMT

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 GBP500-GBP750 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.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:46:24 GMT

Snapzzz wrote: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.

Snapzzz, Colin has the necessary jigs in his workshop to make room for your ankle joints, and take a thin, close fitting pair of ski socks with you. Do remember to enquire about some beer and pies whilst there :D

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:25:22 GMT

Thanks Bandit, i will look forward to the beer. However i have had my fair share of pies recently!

I am hoping he can work his magic on my ankles as i am spending a small fortune on compeed plasters right now.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:20:46 GMT

GBP500 -GBP750, (faint), (recover) Gosh, Let me think, 43 years skiing.
Pair 1, unbranded, lace-ups, GBP3.00, sold for GBP10.00
Pair 2, Kofflachs, new, GBP49.00, lasted 4 seasons, ended up with Jetsticks bolted to the back, sold for GBP49.00
Pair 3, Lange, new, bought at Fleets in Sydney, GBP70, lasted 12 years or so, cracked across the base, ended up as a bird nest in the garden.
Raichle rear entry, GBP120-ish, new, have I mentioned them before? Fabulous boots, 23 years, (so far), wondering if I could get them refurbished? Never had any fitting, and they don't seem to hold me back!

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:19:43 GMT

Salomon Equipe Jnr GBP100-"fitted"-wellies at 5 weeks-dustbin

Dynafit ETS GBP150"fitted"-wellies at 5 weeks-dustbin

Nordica Syntech GBP150-"fitted"-wellies at 10 weeks dustbin

Technica TNS Lady GBP125-not fitted, such a bargain!-er..too narrow-15 weeks use, then 2 rounds of surgery to remove crushed nerves in forefoot sold on ebay GBP20

Head S8 GBP150 sold by EB at MK, fitted by Profeet, refitted by CEM, gave up at 14 weeks with feet twisting in shells, shells much too wide, not even CEM can fix this.

I let CEM choose a boot that fits my foot shape and size, as it will be way cheaper and less painful! Now in Salomon Instinct CS with Zipfit Liner. CEM makes the necessary modifications to one footbed to accommodate the missing volume from 1 foot after surgery ^

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:16:15 GMT

I got a brilliant service at EB in Castlefield 6 years ago. I have wide feet and even wider calves and needed to find a boot that didn't crush them as rental boots had done. I would definitely go back if I could guarantee the same guy would still be there. As I can't, I am thinking of heading to a specialist if I replace them in the next year or so. How necessary is it to change your boots as your skiing level progresses?

I don't think you're guaranteed a bad service with the bigger names. It's just that you're in no way guaranteed a good one either. If you have any worries about fitting it seems worth it to go to a trusted specialist. Peace of mind on the slopes is worth it for me. As has been said further up you don't wanna shell out on an expensive holiday to have it ruined by unsuitable boots.

Now, can someone recommend a good boot specialist in the North West? Pies & beer not essential but definitely a bonus :)

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:23:36 GMT

Mekka why not try Rivington Alpine. They have had good reviews on here previously and are based in Bolton http://www.rivingtonalpine.co.uk/

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:12:36 GMT

Thanks Brimster :-)

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:10:47 GMT

Bandit

Who is CEM, i am based in manchester so can you recommend i good boot fitter.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:22:55 GMT

broom wrote:Bandit

Who is CEM, i am based in manchester so can you recommend i good boot fitter.

CEM can be found here...

http://www.solutions4feet.com/

Sorry I don't know of any good fitters local to you, as I live further south.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:24:39 GMT

CEM is a podiatrist, who has a business bootfitting. Bandit swears by them, and on that basis, I recommended them to a friend. She did think that the sales experience was odd, but the important thing is that she has well fitting boots.
CEM is based in Bicester.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:18:38 GMT

Mekka wrote: How necessary is it to change your boots as your skiing level progresses?

I think generally, as you progress to stiffer skis, you will find you need a stiffer boot to get the most out of the ski. But it also depends on your weight and strength. As you ski more, you should develop the strength, and the technique to flex a stiffer boot. Modern ski designs are changing that equation, needing less brute power, and more subtle technique. There are other factors, like how progressive the flex of the boot is.

Unless you ski a lot on different skis, and try different boots, you are really in the hands of the boot fitter. So it isn't just that the boot fitter is able to get you comfortable, and set up for your particular anatomy, they also need to have a wide knowledge of current skis, and the input needed from the boot to best use a particular ski.

In these days of digital cameras having video, I wonder if it would help to take a video of you skiing to the boot fitter.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 07:17:09 GMT

Trencher wrote:

Unless you ski a lot on different skis, and try different boots, you are really in the hands of the boot fitter. So it isn't just that the boot fitter is able to get you comfortable, and set up for your particular anatomy, they also need to have a wide knowledge of current skis, and the input needed from the boot to best use a particular ski.

Definitely, I know mine attends the SIGB Test Week each year, as do many in the UK industry. The kit they test will be on the market in the following year.

In these days of digital cameras having video, I wonder if it would help to take a video of you skiing to the boot fitter.

A very good idea. Cuts out all of the nuances that go with language and er... pride IYKWIM )

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:21:01 GMT

As a matter of fact, when I had my boots fitted a few months ago, I offered to show the boot fitter the video of me very carefully ski-ing through the giant slalom in Courchevel. And he said he wasn't interested, he could tell what my ski-ing was like just from listening to me (and reading what I'd written on their sheet) and looking at my legs and feet.

But actually I agree with both of you, I think a video would help sort out those who over/under play their ski-ing abilities.

The write-up on the boots he picked for me say the flex on them is suitable for intermediate to advanced, so I suppose there is a fairly wide range - maybe 3 main flex types? Beginners, intermediates, intermediates/advanced, and then of course the more special types like racing boots (which sound as though they are so tight/unflexible that they must be extremely uncomfortable).

I would have thought this means that if you buy boots as a beginner you would have to buy at least one more pair, if not two more, as you progress (the same as for skis).

I don't know if it's correct or not (maybe someone will help me out here), but it was explained to me that beginners wobble about a lot and one wouldn't want all those extra movements transmitted to the skis, so the boots are more flexible, and then when one improves more one should be making more of the correct leg, foot, and body movements (less wobbling about) which one wants transmitted straight to the skis, so the boot is stiffer.

Ally

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:15:05 GMT

Dave,

i should say i am a pedorthist as opposed to a podiatrist (the podiatrists don't like us being called the same :wink: so i don't want to upset them!!!

the other thing is i am concerend about the "strange sales experience" normally we measure the foot, look at range of motion of joints , take a skiing history and start by selecting the corect shell, then we build the orthotic footbed and fit the whole lot together, not too much strange i can see there... OTOH people expect to try on 4 boots in colours they like in their perceived size and go from there...so i guess it is strange from that point of view

finding a bootfitter is not just about someoen who can do the job , it is about finding someone who can do the job who you can work with and who can do the things you are looking for in terms of your feet, and skiing, if you don't need the soles of your boot grinding and plate putting on then there are a few good guys around, need sole planing or plates or internal grinding work done to the boot then we are about the only place that has all the tools to do the job

broomin manchester i would try rivington alpine near bolton speak to Graham, he will look after you

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:42:46 GMT

i don't care about colour or brand.....i want some that fit!

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:58:16 GMT

thanks cem i will try him

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:20:30 GMT

Thanks Trencher. I'll see how I go on in January and then may be off to Rivington Alpine. Not sure if my technique warrants new boots but I'm hoping to put some work in on my next trip. Stop playing at it.

Re:New Boots, what would you do?

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:27:21 GMT

There are to sound ways of buying boots.

1) Go and get them fitted by a proper, experienced boot fitter. (I got mine from White Mountain in Wolverhampton).

2) Good second hand from ebay. It's usually better and chaeper than a smelly hire boot. If they don't fit you sell them on all it costs is postage (unless you collect). They may fit, they may not but you are no worse than with a poorly fitted new boot and more money in your pocket.

Ebay is great for kids boots - recycling & no hire charges!

Adults may get lucky & get a pair that fit well but once you know you are hooked on skiing you should go for option 1 but only buy new from a reputable fitter.