BurritoThis is almost certainly because your liner packed out, and for the most part if your boots don't fit after your liner packs out, they don't really fit. I know it's tough when you might have to go to multiple shops to get access to the full range of brands out there, but if you don't know how to fit a boot yourself, and it sounds like you don't, you need a bootfitter. That's not a knock on you - most people don't know how to fit boots. Pay attention and ask questions while you're being fit, learn about your foot and leg shape, and don't get hung up on certain brands ahead of time. Once you have all that info, then you can start finessing around brands and flexes.
^ this. Last, ankle volume, instep height are generally the main things to look at when deciding which boot to buy. Then when you get that info, decide on flex based on your relative strength and style/aggressiveness. I’m 155 lbs with a 96 mm last and 26 length foot w medium instep height and small ankle volume and ride a 130 but definitely aggressive. If ur looking all mountain and anything more than a type 2+ skier with good fundamentals weighing more than 145 lbs I’d recommend a 120+ flex generally.
Asfor recommendations:
I’ve ridden an atomic hawx ultra 130 for the past few years and actually felt like it was too soft after like 30 days on it (but also taking a gnarly crash to the point of spraining my ankle in the boot haha). Otherwise 0 complaints and would highly recommend, and actually just copped a new pair of the new version they dropped to stiffen it up/not have it fold at super high pressures and their mimic liner is supposedly pretty solid, and if u have a wider foot u can get the prime version and I think there’s one that’s even wider. New version is like 100g heavier than the old but still lightweight and the cuff height is supportive without feeling too long. All boot brands are pretty solid and similar at this point tbh but it seems like the only brand who isn’t just using the same WC race boot shells while changing the last and instep to make them marketable to the public is atomic (the hawx lineup). Other than them no one actually makes all mountain freestyle specific/does research on boots that aren’t used in the WC AS FAR AS I KNOW U CAN FACT CHECK ME ON THIS
Finally, If you’ve only skied like 20 days and ur liner is just packed out but still like ur boots, cop some zip fits or something and u can use those liners in ur next boot unless ur young and grow a ton. I will say ur skiing fundamentals will probably improve a lot by getting a stiffer boot if ur older than 16 and still ripping the 90.
one more note on fitting:
REMEMBER, you can mold a boot/liner to make it larger, but molding will never make it smaller. U can add material but it moves around and is invonsistent unless u have foam injection liners. So if u have any loose spots in an unmolded new liner/shell, it’s generally best to look at a different brands/models. I always size down as well (26.5-27 foot depending on right v left, but ride a 25.5 and punch out toes if necessary) go to a shop and talk to a fitter. Tell em y wanna try boots on and get ur foot figured out and depending on final price you’ll cop if u don’t like the deal but find a boot u like go online and cop it and bring it back to the same boot fitter and give him a 12 rack or a burrito and he’ll get u set up. Custom insoles are clutch af too btw and help a lot with not creating packed out liners since you’ll get more consistent even pressure on ur boot. You’ll want to get that taken care of and inserted before molding a new liner if u decide to get some (imo is 100% worth the money)
