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Footbeds and Boots

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B.Ryan
Posts: 322 - Karma: 1,142
Now this past month i got a new pair of boots for this season, as my old pair was fitted wrong and packed out and ended up being too big/ lots of other problems. Now ive been wearing them around the house and such to try to break them in before the season begins and there are just a few points wheres theres some pressure. Not really pain, but a little discomfort. And my big toe is a little tight. But here is where my question begins. I still have yet to get a pair of footbeds for my boots.

The place i bought them at didnt have footbeds in yet and ive been calling every week to see if they have gotten them in yet, and still nothing. I plan on going up to killington here soon and im positive they have a bootfitter at the base of the mountain or close. Should i just wait now and get footbeds from there when i head up, or is that taking too big of a risk if they dont have them in stock or some other issue. I just dont want to begin skiing this year without having a footbed in my boots and having them fitted right. My feet are asking for mercy this year haha.

One more, If the shop i go to in VT does not have the make of boot in their store, will they still do work on it? Like i had a dabello or atomic boot and they didnt sell those boots there, would the shop still do work on them?

Thanks in advance everyone. Could really use some NS wisdom here.
Oct 14 2014 4:14PM
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Johnson00
Posts: 202 - Karma: 172
I work in a ski shop and early season we have a ton off footbeds because alot of people are getting boots or have boots worked on. But give them a call before you go up. Check out Superfeet.
Oct 14 2014 8:41PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,589
Yeah most good shops will hold footbeds year round. It's not a product that changes year to year so it's a carry over product an as such should be in stock all year. Give the shop a call belt eyou head up though. It may be worth asking what kind they make. Sidas an boot dr are my suggestions. I would avoid the surefoot and superfeet korks generally but they can work for a few feet. The new custom carbon superfeet look ok but are not as good as a fully custom sidas.
Oct 14 2014 9:09PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
tomPietrowskiYeah most good shops will hold footbeds year round. It's not a product that changes year to year so it's a carry over product an as such should be in stock all year. Give the shop a call belt eyou head up though. It may be worth asking what kind they make. Sidas an boot dr are my suggestions. I would avoid the surefoot and superfeet korks generally but they can work for a few feet. The new custom carbon superfeet look ok but are not as good as a fully custom sidas.


hey tom as you mentioned to me earlier, my new full tilts dont have footbeds. i currently dont have the money to buy custom footbeds. so will riding with out footbeds cause any problems? i see quite a few people take full tilts out of the box and ride them hard for multiple seasons.
Oct 14 2014 9:31PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,589
a_shaky_gifhey tom as you mentioned to me earlier, my new full tilts dont have footbeds. i currently dont have the money to buy custom footbeds. so will riding with out footbeds cause any problems? i see quite a few people take full tilts out of the box and ride them hard for multiple seasons.


It's hard to say if they will cause issues. They won't ski as well as they could though and they will pack out faster but at the end of the day it's your choice. Footbeds are alway going to inprove your boots but you always have a choice.
Oct 14 2014 11:01PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
tomPietrowskiIt's hard to say if they will cause issues. They won't ski as well as they could though and they will pack out faster but at the end of the day it's your choice. Footbeds are alway going to inprove your boots but you always have a choice.


what do you mean they wouldnt ski as well? like i wouldnt have as much control? and is their any way i could use/get cheap ones that would still work? ive tried the dr sholls insert type things, but they were wayyy to thick and made the boots way tight. my next idea was to take the liner of my old nike gym shoes and cut them to fit inside the boot liner. would this work? also what are some other cheap options that i could get for footbeds?
Oct 14 2014 11:41PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
tomPietrowskiIt's hard to say if they will cause issues. They won't ski as well as they could though and they will pack out faster but at the end of the day it's your choice. Footbeds are alway going to inprove your boots but you always have a choice.


what do you mean they wouldnt ski as well? like i wouldnt have as much control? and is their any way i could use/get cheap ones that would still work? ive tried the dr sholls insert type things, but they were wayyy to thick and made the boots way tight. my next idea was to take the liner of my old nike gym shoes and cut them to fit inside the boot liner. would this work? also what are some other cheap options that i could get for footbeds?
Oct 14 2014 11:41PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,589
I regards to why they would not ski as well it comes down to moment in the boot. Even if you have a tight snug fit unless you surport the bottom of the foot you will still be pronating in the boot. This will mean you will not be able to edge as hard and your lower body will not be in an optimal position to transfer power.

As far as cheap options go I would say your best bet is the superfeet custom carbons. The are about $90 so about half a full custom. They will work much better then a trim to fit which will cost around $45 an in my opinion really are not good enough to use in skis boots. Everyday shoes however trim to fits can work well.

Insoles from trainers ect won't offer any support. In terms of the tightness it can be tricky wit full tilts. The footbed can be moulded into the liner to give more space. The shop will do this when you get the footbeds.
Oct 15 2014 12:08AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
a_shaky_gifwhat do you mean they wouldnt ski as well? like i wouldnt have as much control?


To add to Tom's post, imagine your new ski boot is a new sports car. But your new sports car comes with the steering of a tractor. While you can drive your new sports car, the steering will be delayed, unresponsive, and sloppy. At the very least your new ski boot will be unresponsive, cause you to work more (especially while buttering, pressing, nollies/ollies etc), and worst case scenario will allow your ankle and foot to move around causing hot spots, cramping underfoot, and shinbang.

Footbeds create the interface between your flexible foot that was made for walking and the rigid ski boot that was made for sliding down a frozen slope. The two things do not naturally work together and this is the job of a footbed. The footbed allows your flexible foot to work properly with the ski boot. It solves fit issues and makes the boot more responsive and efficient.
Oct 15 2014 3:07AM
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