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Surefoot

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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
Wondering if anyone on NS is rocking surefoots? I know two guys sponsored by them and they both say they're unbeatable, and I can get a deal on them. But they're still expensive as hell, would like your opinion

+k for help
Mar 20 2011 7:40PM
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Ducky.
Posts: 5811 - Karma: 1,420
Best company in the world.

/thread
Mar 21 2011 12:25AM
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
Don't have them right now, but I used to. They were great
Mar 21 2011 12:34AM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
Liners/boots or footbeds?
Mar 21 2011 1:22AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
All surefoot do is stick a foam liner in every boot they sell and give you a non custom footbed. Its pretty lazy really, sticking a foam liner in a boot means you can make any boot fit. The footbeds they make are pretty bad. All they do is scan your foot and a computer picks the closeest match from there data base, so although they cost more then custom footbeds from sidas or superfeet they are in fact not much more then a off the shelf trim to fit. Do your self a favour, go to a real boot fitting shop get a boot that fits and a decent custom footbed, preferably sidas, and if you really want foam liners any good boot shop will be able to do them but they wont push them on you like surefoot will.
Mar 21 2011 2:38AM
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Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
This is absolute rubbish. Ignore and save up for a Surefoot boot - they are well worth it.
Mar 21 2011 4:59AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6724 - Karma: 11,551
Surefoot is not the ultimate in footbeds (they are not far off from trim-to fits) nor boot-fitting (their branded boots are normal Langes, nothing special). The level of quality they offer changes from city to city, shop to shop. So like every answer, find out what works for you and what shop does the best job for you. It may be Surefoot, it may not be.
Mar 21 2011 5:50AM
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Trojan~Man
Posts: 1996 - Karma: 1,357
i have surefoot footbeds. i got them a while back and there still in good shape and they were excellent! got them done in Whislter and because im/was still growing they said when i needed new ones i could go back get a new set for free. ...They Helped a LOT with my knee alignment-no quality issues whatsoever

im not gonna argue with comment above but the ones i got were of much higher quality than a step above "cut and fits"
Mar 21 2011 10:32AM
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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
Thanks for the help. I'm probably goin to the shop in whistler because I know a fitter that works there.
Mar 21 2011 11:07AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
If your in whistler I highly recomend checking out Fanactico for your footbeds at least. They are one of the few shops in town that can make a good sidas footbed. Once you have your footbeds by all means go to  surefoot for the boots, but I spend alot of time correcting issues caused by surefoot footbeds. Hope you get a good boot sorted, good luck with it.
Mar 21 2011 1:52PM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
I have and have made countless pairs of the SIDAS footbeds. I find that you get a much nicer finished product with those than you do with the surefoots. Ive seen guys come in with a 1 year old pair of surefoot footbeds and they are falling apart. Then they tell me they paid $150+ for em. It make me rofl.
Mar 21 2011 2:17PM
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freeballer
Posts: 736 - Karma: 1,071
Dude, you have absolutely no flipping idea about what you are talking about.  Surefoot footbeds are the very definition of custom.  The computer scans your foot, then they take a blank foot bed, and then it is milled to your EXACT foot.  Get a clue.  The machine they use is called Am Fit, and it is a medical machine.
http://www.amfit.com/index.php

I've seen their guys make a footbed for their hand.  Now, if they simply grab whatever is on the shelf, please tell me how they make a footbed that is the exact copy of someone's hand?




Mar 21 2011 4:45PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6724 - Karma: 11,551
I'm sorry man, but it's more smoke and mirrors than anything, an elaborate show. I've had to correct so many Surefoot "custom" footbeds over the years. Do they work for some people? Definitely. But they are not the definition of custom, nor do they make the best interface between your foot and the boot.
Mar 21 2011 4:57PM
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Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
I spent quite alot of time in Surefoot this season as they were helping me with my fulltilts. Their special Surefoot boot isn't just a Lange boot with a custum footbed. You're foot is put into the liner and the boot, and then two substances are externally mixed which react. They are fed into the inside of the liner, and as the mixture is fed, it expands owing to the reaction occuring. The mixture, once fed all around your foot inside the liner, sets as a foam that is thus 100% custum to your foot inside the liner, liner inside the boot.
Mar 21 2011 5:27PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6724 - Karma: 11,551
The Lange shell is a normal Lange shell and the liner is a normal injection liner, which does nonetheless require a custom process. This type of liner (which is not specific to Surefoot, they are actually made in our liner factory for them) is very popular in Europe and on the race circuit, but losing steam in the US because when those two chemicals mix to create the foam, the gases which are released aren't exactly healthy haha. The other downside to an injection liner is the lack of consistency, which will change from shop to shop, from fitter to fitter. The fit can be seriously awesome, but it is almost always rather cold.
Mar 21 2011 5:47PM
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Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
For sure. I knew someone who spent a lot of money getting a pair of these boots made, only to find that his little toe was so close to the boot that the foam couldn't get past. So the liner gave him no support or protection in that area. That was bad.
Mar 21 2011 5:54PM
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freeballer
Posts: 736 - Karma: 1,071
Maybe you have had some bad experiences with some of the Surefoot shops that didn't have very good employees.  Maybe they screwed up the footbed.  I disagree that it is smoke and mirrors though.  I think when done properly it is the closest match to the bottom of your foot.  I can't see how anything else would beat it.  My only negative would be the pretty high cost, but my surefoot boots with the foam liner and custom footbed are so solid, and there is zero slop.  They are as snug as anything I have ever put on my foot.  And they sell a lot more than just Lange, including Full Tilt. 
Mar 21 2011 5:58PM
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Simmo
Posts: 512 - Karma: 28
Just throwing it out there, I was pretty shocked to find in the Whistler Surefoot that some of the 'boot fitters' had never fitted a boot prior to THIS winter season.
Maybe I had crazy expectations but if they're asking $1500 a pair I was expecting some serious bootfitting experience.

Big up Fanatyko in whistler, they have a good range of shells in stock too which I prefer to the Surefoot - buy our liner and we'll make one of 3 different shells fit you approach.


Mar 21 2011 7:11PM
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Ducky.
Posts: 5811 - Karma: 1,420
Everybody has to start somewhere.

I can't vouch for other shops, but working at Surefoot in Whistler I know that even though a few of the bootfitters are first year fitters, they were taught by the best in the business and are being watched by guys with 10+ years experience.
Mar 21 2011 8:56PM
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Ducky.
Posts: 5811 - Karma: 1,420
Oh. And you have no clue what you are talking about.
Mar 21 2011 8:56PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21097 - Karma: 8,526
I have surefoot boots and I really like them. They're by no means a get-your-boot-molded-and-they're-perfect boot. You have to ski them for a bit, go back in for micro-adjustments and whatnot until you have them dialed. You have to be patient, just like with any bootfitter but in the end they come out really well. I have really hard feet to fit ski boots to and honestly, at first I even got a bone spur from the custom fitted ones cuz I skied too long on them in an attempt to break them in. I brought them in and they blew them out and after working with the guys on and off, I finally have perfectly fitting boots. Granted, next time I'd rather go with a boot that's made for wide feet and get that custom fitted, but the blowing out of the langes worked better than I thought they would.

The biggest thing I think, is finding the surefoot shop with people who know what they're doing. I won't go back into the Snowmass surefoot anymore cuz none of the people that work there anymore have any idea what they're doing. If you get knowledgable people then it's definitely worth it. If not, it's not worth it.


Hope that helps.
Mar 22 2011 12:20AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
Ok mate if that is your opion fair enough, but if you go work for some other shops you will relise that surefit is definatly not the best in boot fitting.

Overall if you want a foam liner and a non fully custom footbed do it, I will never tell someone not to see what surefoot is like, but overall they are not amazng and you can get better boots else where for less money.


Mar 22 2011 4:29AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6724 - Karma: 11,551
All I can say, is that it really depends on the shop (Surefoot or not). I have fixed/modified way too many footbeds over the years, including professional athletes which have had Surefoot beds and always had problems with them (Jossi for example). Their process works for a much smaller percent of the population than you think. But, I will grant that it does in some cases work very well for certain people, much like your experience. Bottom line- always find what works for you and stick with it.
Mar 22 2011 4:57AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
This is somewhat unrelated, but as this thread got me thinking about it, and there seem to be lots of bootfitters in here. How long do footbeds typically last for? I have had my pair (from a shop called profeet in London), for about 5 seasons (120+ days a season), I have gone through 2 pairs of boots in that time. Should I think about new ones? Or if they aren't bothering me (a few slight niggles when it gets warm, prob boot related), don't worry about it?
Mar 22 2011 5:09AM
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-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
I dislike surefoot, i went for a fitting, they tried to sell me their own branded lange boots (which my foot is to wide for) they were like oh we can just blow them out blar blar blar....

I know for a fact head fit my feet best but thought id go see what other brands my feet fit in... The guys in surefoot Verbier and Crans Montana talk out their ass hole and need a good slap.

I found a specialist boot shop in Martigny (cant remember the name just know where it is) and the guy there is pro at custom stuff. From footbeds and liners to shaving the bottom of the shell to put on rubber soles. the Guy is top.
Mar 22 2011 6:01AM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
depends on the type of footbeds. Ive seen superfeet cork footbeds from the 80s that are discolored and smelly, but structurally, they are still fine. My SIDASs are five seasons old and still look and ski like the day I got them. Even trim to fits tend to last for a while. Seems like those foamy surefoots are the ones that I have seen fall apart.
Mar 22 2011 8:27AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
THIS!


I've seen my share of "custom" footbeds from Surefoot and personally, I would much rather have my conformable footbeds in my boots. Having completely rigid material under your foot isn't exactly the best thing in a ski boot.
A lady came to me last season with a boot she bought at Surefoot and it was incorrectly sized, too stiff for her and to make the boot accomodate her larger calf, the liner was cut to make it softer. Sorry, just not what you would expect from a boot that costs several hundred more than a regular off the shelf boot.

But hey, the smoke and mirrors trick works and other shops can make a goldmine fixing their mistakes.

If you're in Whistler, definitely go check out Fanatyk Co. Those guys know their shit on everything from boots, footbeds and even socks!
Mar 22 2011 9:02AM
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Trojan~Man
Posts: 1996 - Karma: 1,357
dalbello rampage. never had to do anything to em.

just thought id change the momentum of the thread since things are just getting repeated over and over ;)
Mar 22 2011 10:57AM
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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
haha that's the boot I skied for 4 years until I packed the liner out so much there were holes in it.

Sounds like most people are suggesting going to multiple boot fitters to find out which one is the best for them, but I don't really feel like buying multiple thousand dollar boots just to see which one fits the best.
However, what are the other surefoot competitors? From what I'm hearing it would be worth checking them out.
Mar 22 2011 1:58PM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
SIDAS makes conformables, get those and call it a day! They fit in any boot. A good shop will be able to give you a few options as to what fits your foot, instep, calf, heel ect. They will also be able to do any punching, grinding or stretching to accommodate any probs/pressures you may have. Remember, if you put a boot on and it feels perfect, chances are its too big. They should be tight form the start b/c after you put a few days on them that liner is going to pack out. You can always make a liner/shell bigger, it is hard and ineffective to make it smaller.
Mar 22 2011 2:11PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6724 - Karma: 11,551
You don't need to buy the boots, just get the most "word of mouth" recommendations. More often than not, that is how you will find the best person in your area. A good boot-fitter will make just about anything work for you- there are so many options out there beside "fully custom". Every company now makes super good stuff, it's really hard to go wrong with "off the rack" normal boots nowadays.
Mar 22 2011 3:06PM
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Trojan~Man
Posts: 1996 - Karma: 1,357
haha sick! im on my fourth year with mine and im probably have to get a new pair and if not at least some new liners!
Mar 22 2011 4:27PM
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Moist_Oatmeal
Posts: 60 - Karma: 110
Bringing this thread back to life, does anyone have any experience with Surefoot?
Feb 10 2020 12:30PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4103 - Karma: 7,002
I definitely chuckled at Tom and one nerdy kid laying down the heat against sure foot
Feb 10 2020 12:51PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6724 - Karma: 11,551
shin-bangI definitely chuckled at Tom and one nerdy kid laying down the heat against sure foot


lol sick bump

I do feel like I was at least fair/diplomatic haha
Feb 11 2020 10:44AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14535 - Karma: 11,043
We would deal with so many Surefoot problems / unhappy Surefoot customers when I was a boot fitter at Christy's. Surefoot's whole idea is filling in space where it is needed. This goes against all other proper boot fitting norms. As someone else in this thread said, it's a lot easier to make room in a boot, and you get a much better performing product.

Surefoot does work for some people, and that's great. At christy's we had our own custom cork footbeds that were molded and then fine tuned by hand to fit the customers foot and boot. A good footbed will make the boot. I had may customers that were skeptical (as was I when I first started working there) about the footbed making such a large impact.

As far as the shell, every company has great boots today that are highly workable. There is almost no reason to go with a custom type of boot like Surefoot.
Feb 11 2020 6:24PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
Pretty funny looking back almost a decade.
onenerdykidlol sick bump

I do feel like I was at least fair/diplomatic haha


**This post was edited on Feb 11th 2020 at 9:03:14pm
Feb 11 2020 9:01PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7256 - Karma: 18,388
Just giving opinions and from a while ago. Nothing against sure foot :)
shin-bangI definitely chuckled at Tom and one nerdy kid laying down the heat against sure foot
Feb 11 2020 9:02PM
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Ninety89
Posts: 2 - Karma: -5
Can't say there footbed are not custom, they're mill from a blank to the exact scan. If a pin didn't lift, you'll have a hole in the footbed. So you were very far with "the computer select the closest one for your foot". But like sidas footbed, and good cast or a good scan make or break the footbed. I think casting is still more precise because of the tolerance of the measuring of the pins and the tolerance of the milling machine. But you can modify and tweak the amfit one directly on the scan and also make multiple pair the same. Other issue is the footbed being firm feeling but flexible and easy to pinch and crease.

They also changed their liner for the new memory foam stuff that is super soft and pack out much faster. Versus regular foam liner it doesn't have much hold and definition, you can switch it to another shell shell and barely feel the difference, very far from their old style of liner.

For the fitter, it's like everywhere, depends who you get.
Feb 12 2020 3:02AM
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