How to tell when your boots are shot...

The stock insoles are shit in most boots, do your feet a favor and invest some $$ in at least some trim to fit footbeds, or even some full customs ones.

yep, the best money i have ever put into my boots,

where can i get them?

many people, including myself, initially buy boots that are too small for your feet.  well, not too small, but super tight.  as you pack out the liner, you can adjust the buckles through time to keep you foot locked in well.  i don't care if you have a freestyle boot or a race stock boot, ALL liners pack out.  I actually use superfeet in my boots, which i just replaced the stock liner of my foils with.  it's got arch support which is pretty important, and molds to your foot a little better over time.
another option would be if your boots are getting too big, you can add a sole liner, like superfeet, on TOP of the existing stock liner.  this takes up a ton of space, but depending on the boot, could make it not fit so well. 
moral of the story, your boots are shot when the plastic of the toe and heel doesn't lock into your binding so well because of simple wear from the outside.  if you buy your boots smaller to begin with, you shouldn't have the packing out problem as far as "wearing your boots out."

but, you know that all that special "tech" in the spk makes your foot slop around more?  believe it or not, having a really good-fitting/molding sole is more beneficial than simply having a big, soft, flat one, like the spk.
some opinion, most fact.^^
word!

^ Good post.

yup. totally right.

however, what i have done in my boots, with awesome success is to replace the top layer of my bootboard with silicone. i have il moros, so im not exactly sure what the bootboard in SPKs looks like, but i took the rubber foam down about a 3/8s of an inch in the heel, and leveling out through the arch. still plenty stable laterally, but totally eliminates the sting of landings

aside from toe and heel lug wear, boots generally last for about 150 to 200 days of hard skiing before the shells are shot and should be replaced. but it varies from person to person

i highly reccomend getting good footbeds i had race stock boots last year and i got footbeds they are sick and def get them heat formed if you get them, its worth it cause then they fit right away

awesome thanks for the help guys espeically powforbreakfest. Im thinking ill just add an insole from target im not looking for shock apsorbtion i already have that. im just looking to make my boot comfy. One more question has anyone used those  Zappz? the microwaveable ones. my shop has some for like 30 bucks and im wondering if theyre nice.

i would def get some from a shop, at least then you know theyre meant for skiing, i wouldnt try the traget ones, they could give you blisters or something

ok cool