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Decided this season to finally set aside the cash and buy some new boots. Any advice on what I should try to be looking for? I might just buy fulltilts/fl3x's since I've tried them on in my size (and full tilts solve all problems) and they felt great, but should I take the time to find something different that might feel better on my shins while skiing? Would love some input here.
If you're going to save for boots might as well put the money towards a proper boot fitting, just because a boot feels great standing in the store doesn't mean it will always feel that way on snow. If you have access to a good boot fitter use them.
Ih8pumpkinIf you're going to save for boots might as well put the money towards a proper boot fitting, just because a boot feels great standing in the store doesn't mean it will always feel that way on snow. If you have access to a good boot fitter use them.
I live in Northern Mass, so it's pretty hard to find any nearby professionals. A good friend of mine bought his boots online with basically no research and loves them, but I'm worried I'll spend the money and then hate the feeling.
You should go to a good boot fitter at least once to find out a general idea of what your foot shape is and what kind of boots will be right for you. Patriot Bootorials on youtube will help a lot but going to someone in person is better
steez_apprenticeI live in Northern Mass, so it's pretty hard to find any nearby professionals. A good friend of mine bought his boots online with basically no research and loves them, but I'm worried I'll spend the money and then hate the feeling.
Unfortunately that's just the gamble you take if you buy online without having it fit. Worst case you could buy it and try find someone near by that can alter it if you have any major issues after the fact.
steez_apprenticeI live in Northern Mass, so it's pretty hard to find any nearby professionals. A good friend of mine bought his boots online with basically no research and loves them, but I'm worried I'll spend the money and then hate the feeling.
Aren't all those places near Northern Massachusetts? One of them must be good. It should be worth it to drive somewhere and get your feet measured properly, footbeds, etc. It can be a frustrating process though depending on your feet.
Aren't all those places near Northern Massachusetts? One of them must be good. It should be worth it to drive somewhere and get your feet measured properly, footbeds, etc. It can be a frustrating process though depending on your feet.
When getting a new pair of running trainers I had my coach (who owns a shoe store) do a scan of my feet with this machine he's got, and he told me I have pretty symmetrical feet/arches, since I wanted to be sure I didn't need things like an insole
Most legit shops will include fitting if you're buying a boot from them. I studied the fitting process and was a fitter for a couple years and I was amazed at how intricate and detailed the process can be (but it's not always). The whole "go to a fitter" thing is obviously thrown around here a lot but it can make a world of difference if you go to a legit fitter. If you can set your personal preferences and brand preferences aside, you could walk away with something that could instantly improve your skiing experience! If you're gonna set the money aside, its worth getting a proper fit. If you have any questions about it feel free to hit my DMs too, I love talking about it. It's a super sick process and it genuinely can change your skiing!
Unless you notice obvious discomfort walking around with boots on in the store, I recommend skiing your boots once before getting fitted. I got new boots in April, intending to have them fitted but went skiing in them first so as to identify any issues, since skiing is not the same as just walking around in the boot.
My feet were super uncomfortable for the first few hours of skiing, but now they fit like gloves. I'm glad I didn't get any punches, because they would have ended up too loose.
Definitely upgrade your insoles though to correspond to your foot shape.
Slugger66You live in Northern Mass and can't find a good ski shop? Tell me what area you're in and I'll recommend you three shops within 30 miles.
the main one I go to is Putnam's, I've got a buddy who used to work there but I also don't know whether or not they do custom boot fitting at a reasonable price. Where do you suggest? I'm right around the Hampton/Seabrook area.
skiP.E.I.Unless you notice obvious discomfort walking around with boots on in the store, I recommend skiing your boots once before getting fitted. I got new boots in April, intending to have them fitted but went skiing in them first so as to identify any issues, since skiing is not the same as just walking around in the boot.
My feet were super uncomfortable for the first few hours of skiing, but now they fit like gloves. I'm glad I didn't get any punches, because they would have ended up too loose.
Definitely upgrade your insoles though to correspond to your foot shape.
This so much. Skiing them at least once prior to work can be so beneficial.
Ski fanatics. Exit 28 in campton NH. They provide all the boots and fitting for watervilles bbts team and have a great boot fitting program (as well as tuning etc). If you find yourself up that way (literally on the way from your house to Waterville cannon and loon) definitely go check them out. They also have a freestyle wax/tune package where they detune your underfoot edges after sharpening the effective edges.
johnblazeIf your shins hurt your boots are either too big or your backseat.
Not true. I had some liners that created weird pressure on the tendon that runs across the lower shin, but couldn’t be felt just standing around. Unreal pain after 2 days skiing. Completely gone after swapping liners.
The way a boot fits is very dependent on the individuals feet, everyone has differently shaped feet and going to see a good boot fitter can be well worth the money. Some people don’t need it as much as others might but it is a good idea to at least have a professional measure your foot dimensions and let you try on a few different recommendations. Just remember it’s always easier to create space in a boot than to take it away.
This depends on your feet. Some people are fine with a variety of boots, and others aren't. If the boots felt great in the shop, you might get away with just buying them cheap online.
That said, boots don't solve shin bang.
You might have to look at your technique - try skiing some runs with your boots unbuckled to correct your stance etc.
Got my fl3x's baked and had a custom footbed made, best thing ever. Feels like an extension of my foot. Definitively would at least do those two, maybe punches if you need it.
if the boots felt great the first time you tried them on, they are likely too large. I usually aim for a 10-15mm shell fit, this is definitely uncomfortable out of the box - but you gotta remember that your liners will pack out after a heat mold/a few days on hill.
regarding footbeds, the mechanics of skiing are completely different from running. I would 100% recommend a custom footbed for anyone who is buying boots. custom footbeds from a competent fitter are the single product that has mattered the most for my skiing, I could not ski without them
steez_apprenticeDecided this season to finally set aside the cash and buy some new boots. Any advice on what I should try to be looking for? I might just buy fulltilts/fl3x's since I've tried them on in my size (and full tilts solve all problems) and they felt great, but should I take the time to find something different that might feel better on my shins while skiing? Would love some input here.
If you want the best fit possible go see the best bootfitter in your area. Ask around people at your hill, espically race coaches or people on the race team you might know. Might have to drive a few hours but If you got the money guarantee it’s worth it even if you don’t buy the boot from the bootfitter still will have a very good idea of a good couple shells that fit your feet
I think it largely depends on how knowledgeable you are, how knowledgeable the bootfitter is, and how difficult it is to fit your feet. My feet are kinda fucked and I'm not that knowledgeable so I'm kinda obligated to see a bootfitter. For anyone who's asking if they should see one, they probably should, if they can.
If you slip into a new boot and it is magically feeling perfect then I would say you should be fine. If you are doing FT/K2 FL3Xs I would at least consider molding the liner.
I'm a bigger guy, as I go stiffer and stiffer in flex I find myself trying to balance comfort and control (tightness), which I feel like is where a boot fitter can help. I have had some boots I drop into with no changes like the Technica Mach 1 MV. Other boots like the FT first chair took a ton of work to make fit correctly.
skiP.E.I.Unless you notice obvious discomfort walking around with boots on in the store, I recommend skiing your boots once before getting fitted. I got new boots in April, intending to have them fitted but went skiing in them first so as to identify any issues, since skiing is not the same as just walking around in the boot.
My feet were super uncomfortable for the first few hours of skiing, but now they fit like gloves. I'm glad I didn't get any punches, because they would have ended up too loose.
Definitely upgrade your insoles though to correspond to your foot shape.
This is pretty accurate. Boot fitting isn't a one and done process. I'm in and out getting things dialed. I actually keep notes in my phone documenting where there's pain/pressure, where I lose feeling etc. pain/numbness in one area can mean an issue in another area and noting that stuff can be really helpful to a good bootfitter later.
darthlobster603Ski fanatics. Exit 28 in campton NH. They provide all the boots and fitting for watervilles bbts team and have a great boot fitting program (as well as tuning etc). If you find yourself up that way (literally on the way from your house to Waterville cannon and loon) definitely go check them out. They also have a freestyle wax/tune package where they detune your underfoot edges after sharpening the effective edges.
I didn’t know about bootfitting, kept jamming my foot into the boot for 2 years until I figured it out. Really wish I’d just gone to a good bootfitter to buy boots but I didn’t know shit about skiing yet.
Shagnutz710I didn’t know about bootfitting, kept jamming my foot into the boot for 2 years until I figured it out. Really wish I’d just gone to a good bootfitter to buy boots but I didn’t know shit about skiing yet.
Very interesting post. How will this effect the Amer K2 snow sports ski boot market share?
steez_apprenticeQuick question, if I bought used boots that were previously heat molded, can I mold them again to my own?
Depends on how much they've been used. If the liners are really packed out and uncomfortable you could try to find new liners or get zipfits or something.
skiP.E.I.Depends on how much they've been used. If the liners are really packed out and uncomfortable you could try to find new liners or get zipfits or something.
The seller used them about 20 days, so I suppose it’s not too bad.
I started taking boot stuff more seriously after I started developing arch pain after each ski session. I would take my feet out of my boots and would have to sit there for like 15 minutes before I was able to walk on them. I got custom footbeds and haven't had issues since
Bootfitting is absolutely necessary, even if you’ve already bought a pair of boots heat molding helps a lot. I have a pair of full tilts just a bit off in sizing were kinda uncomfortable and bruised my foot pretty bad, but got them heat molded and they fit great
I fit boots for along time. Ill echo what people here have said.
boot should be too tight feeling out of the box. If they feel good, they will suck to ski in after a little bit.
pull liner, put foot it, no more than 2 finger (15mm) space between your heel and shell. this is a performance recreation fit.
REALLY fit boots with custom shell work end up less aroundd 8-10mm shell fit. I typically measure a 28.5 but run 27.5 shells and punch them out where needed. It takes alot of work, but I can hang out in my boots all day comfortably and the shell is so much more supportive, especially through heel an instep because it is that much closer in to your foot. If I tried to ski in a 28.5 boot these days I would feel like i was swimming. Conversely there are alot of 27.5 boots I literally can't make work for me; shells cant be stretched, shorter than average BSL, and so on.
While a bootfitter is incredibly helpful, if you dont have access to one you can stand on a branick board and get an idea of your foot width. To be honest, most of my fits were through visual analysis. Once you know what different boots feel like, you can see a foot, see a shell, and boots that are good fit options will have a shape to them that.
When you put new boot on, toes are gonna be crunched. That is easy to fix. A good custom footbed (The kind that gets built up and ground down by a fitter and costs well over $100) is one of the best investments in your skiing you can make, ESPECIALLY if you have arches that flatten out when you put weight into your foot. They help stablize your foot and pull it in slightly on all sides and up slightly in the heel. This also makes your foot a little smaller, so more room in boot. skiing improves greatly because the boottom of your boot you push into to turn is now 100% mated to the sole of your foot for instant power transfer. Toe boxes stretch out real easy too with the right tools, you can literally stretch the plastic of most boots to make more room. or they can grind away material. The biggest areas to pay attention to are the area around your instep (where your leg and foot met at the front of your ankle) Pinching or pain points in this area are the hardest to fix. Pain around the outer edge of the foot is typically a sign of a collapsing foot pushing out to the shell-custom footbed. Heels need to not lift at all when flexing boot.
Heat molding liners can help shorten the break in period, but it is NOT THE SAME as shell customization. A good boot fitter will make nesscesary adjustments (at least a few) as part of the purchase and you can return to them if problems arise. You can always toss new liners and toe and heel lugs on boots so spend the time and money now preseason to get dialed and youll be set for years.
Final pro tip for buying new boots: pre buy the thinnest ski (or just general athletic compression socks) you can find, and cut your toenails short. These boots will be the tightest they will ever be, and the volume of a sock or gnarly toe nails getting crushed into the front of the boot WILL throw off the fit.
Does anyone know if there is a boot fitter open in VT yet? I’m going camping up on lake Champlain the weekend of the 6th and hoping I can get some good fitting work done. I got my new boots at the green room in mammoth early this year and I’m closing in on like 10 days or more without fitting and I get pretty crazy pain on the outside of the arch of my feet. Tried superfeet high arch insoles but it isn’t really solving the problem. I still get heel lift and when I crank down my ankle clip it makes things worse when it pulls my feet into the back of my boot. My feet are quite wide and even though I’m in last years k2 method (full tilt) with the 102mm last and it still isn’t enough.
hoping to get fitting before the season kicks off because I go to Big Snow every week since getting a pass recently
