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Boot Upgrade or Punch Plastic?

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Spol
Posts: 84 - Karma: 452
At the end of last season my boots started giving me pain on my arches so I had some custom footbeds made hoping to eliminate the sore feeling I got in my boots every time I went skiing. The footbed made things worse so I went up to a well known ski shop about two hours away from my home mountain to see if they had any ideas of what I could do. The guys fitted me and found that I had been riding a boot that was too long and too narrow (27cm, 98mm last) (the boot fitter that fitted me when I got these boots did not know what he was doing). They recommended a Lange SX100 and a Rossignol All Track Pro 100 both at 25cm with larger widths and both are around $400. They said I could also punch out the plastic on my old boots to make them wider for $30 dollars a boot. I'm wondering is it worth dropping the $400 on the new boots or is it better to just punch out the plastic on the old ones?
Dec 3 2013 7:39PM
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M.M
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 4,494
ive never had this problem but what i would do is maybe try and punch them out and that way they could get fixed for only 60 dollars and if they dont its 60 bucks and you can get the other ones but thats just me, if your gonna need new boots i the next year or two might as well get the new ones now
Dec 3 2013 8:09PM
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hippy.
Posts: 3106 - Karma: 14,364
If the boots have at least a season or two left on them go for the punching...It will save you a lot of money and will help comfort wise...
Dec 3 2013 8:10PM
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Ray.
Posts: 426 - Karma: 443
Since your boots are already too long, wont punching just add more room for your foot to move around in? But if you're seeing a bootfitter who knows his stuff, hes probably already aware of this and already has a solution. If it were me,I'd punch em and try to save a couple bucks.
Dec 3 2013 8:16PM
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SlugInfinite
Posts: 666 - Karma: 192
If you have serious foot problems, just get properly fitted boots. Punching can help, but it is never a serious fix, especially in the last. They're heating, molding and cutting away plastic, the boot won't ever feel great, especially considering you're already too long in the toe.
Dec 3 2013 8:53PM
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Spol
Posts: 84 - Karma: 452
Thats what I'm afraid of that they will be too much room and my foot will move around. The boot fitter did not highly recommend I punch them because of the length issue. I measure at 27 cm but I am flat footed so add the custom footbed and my foot becomes shorter because my arches will hopefully get support causing it to be propped up.
Dec 3 2013 8:58PM
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HuckNorris44
Posts: 1025 - Karma: 2,392
This shouldnt be an issue at all. You can punch out the sides without effecting the length of the boot. I fit boots for a living and have done this on numerous boots. Also, depending on how your foot is shaped, you could just punch out or grind small spots that will relieve some pressure on the sides without effecting the overall last of the boot.
Dec 3 2013 9:11PM
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HuckNorris44
Posts: 1025 - Karma: 2,392
As well, if the length does become an issue, try using a liner that is a size smaller than the shell. This will help the boot feel smaller without having to spend a ton on new boots.
Dec 3 2013 9:13PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,859
This is unfortunately very wrong. Punching and grinding do exactly that- affect the volume and last shape of the boot. If the OP is in a shell that is 2 shell sizes too big, then widening the boot will increase the problematic volume issue that he is already experiencing. His foot will slide around even more and his muscles will try to stop this from happening which will then cause his foot to cramp out like crazy.

And his footbed is most likely wrong too if it was done by the same boot-fitter that put him into a shell 2 sizes too big.

OP - do not waste any money on trying to make a boot that is 2 shell sizes too big work. At the very least, try to find a used boot in your size/width
Dec 4 2013 2:49AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
Yep I agree with onenerdy. If the boots are too big there really is no point spending any more money on them. Nothing you can do will make them fit well. Start again with a boot which fits correctly. It will improve your overal ski experience so much.
Dec 4 2013 3:20AM
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Erikgorn
Posts: 369 - Karma: 1,844
I bumped mine and got new insoles and havent had a problem since. I think getting them bumped would be better than dropping 400 on new boots
Dec 4 2013 3:38PM
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Caucasian_Asian
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 1,665
Except that "bumping" a boot that's two sizes too big is a waste of money.  Even if it is only $60.

Dec 4 2013 4:33PM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
Listen to onenerdykid, he works at Atomic so he knows his stuff. I've also been through this whole boot fitting thing before too, and no amount of punching will make that shell fit any better. it would be better to just start from scratch.
Dec 4 2013 7:01PM
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HuckNorris44
Posts: 1025 - Karma: 2,392
I was just referencing his comment on the boot being to narrow. Theres nothing you can do to shorten the length of the shell. And normally, if a punch is done correctly and on the spot where the pressure is it shouldnt cause any issues with his foot sliding back and forth. When you punch a boot you dont have to extend the entire side of the boot. You can punch a spot no bigger than the size of a dime if you have the right tools.
Dec 5 2013 5:25AM
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
TomP and Onenerdy are the boot gods here man.
Dec 5 2013 2:59PM
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powkat
Posts: 33 - Karma: 22
I got my boots punched after riding them for two years, made a world of difference. Just my experience
Dec 5 2013 4:38PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,859
When I give boot help here over the internet, it tends to be very general because we can't see people's feet. As a general rule, stretching a boot that is 2 shell sizes too big is a waste of time, however I am sure that there is an instance or scenario where an improvement can be made. Sure, a spot stretch/grind might help things but I would much rather have the OP put his money into a good used boot, rather than the sinking ship that is known as his current set up.
Dec 6 2013 9:37AM
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