 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Whilst I have seen quite a few postings on ski boot fitting and the virtues of buying in resort against at home etc. My problem is somewhat different but I'm sure not uncommon er...very flat feet (secrets out now) for which I wear orthotics in normal shoes (3 degree cant at heel and mid foot) I wondered if anyone had specific experience with ski boots. I bought a pair of Salomon 7 heat moulded boots 7 years ago with which I had to ski with the footbeds removed for two seasons until I dared to put the beds back in (pain for a while then ok) These boots, which have been about 90% perfect, are now very worn and I would like to replace them. Any experiences I can draw on from fellow flat footers who literally share my pain and are willing to reveal themselves would be appreciated. I can appreciate the virtues of buying in resort but I am keen to buy boots in the UK, test drive them on a dry slope for a while then get the most out of my planned trips in 05
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Pro-feet in London seem to be the place to go with problem feet. They couldnt/wouldnt do anything till November for me so I went to Lockwood Sports in Lemington Spa after listening to comments on here.
Very impressed with the assessment and fitting and now after a few trips to MK the new boots feel good. There is a thread about Lockwoods somewhere in the equipment section.
I am sure come Monday you may get advice on here for boot fitting closer to you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Most definately Profeet (Hamish) on the Kings Road in London. They were recommended to me by the Warren Smith Academy. Warren reckons they are undoubtedly the best in the country as not only are they 'foot' specialists, they are also experts in the bio-mechanics of skiing, as wel as many other sports.
See their website (www.profeet.co.uk) for how they assess your requirements.
They won't have their new stock in for a few weeks (early Oct) & are planning a seperate ski boot store in the near future. Foot analysis & fitting has to be by appointment.
Deb will be off to see them in Oct as she has the common girlie physiology 'A frame' stance & needs boots to suit.
For a tricky condition like yours it would be well worth the trip up from Bournemouth. If you have any video/dvd footage of you skiing take it with you as that also helps them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Not sure about these really good guys but when I had boots fitted in Snow & Mountain (Brighton) many years ago, the Kiwi fitter took a long hard look at the wear on my street shoe soles and reckoned that gave him a lot of info about the canting required. Don't wear new shoes in case your fitter uses the same trick.
The whole process took about 90 minutes. Been so happy with the old Salomon 95SX rear entrys I bought I'm not really tempted to change them. The long thin Kastle skis bought at the same time have however been abandoned 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Frosty, I too suffer from flat feet but even worse I have high instep and a wide foot, the ultimate bad combination, in the end it will come down to who makes a suitable boot and weather or not you can find a really good boot fitter, if you can find a good boot fitter they will be able to sort out any and all problems for you, if not I'm afraid more pain will shortly follow, it makes no real difference getting boots in the uk or the resort as any resort shop wil happily modify your existing boots for a small charge
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
p.s. After a few failed attempts with ski boots, I bought a pair of Strolz boots. The foam injection process is quite painful, but the boots are bliss to ski in. I have very narrow feet and narrow calfs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks everyone for the advice. I am cerainly going to try profeet first as they are in the UK, Lockwoods also sound like an option and I'm still looking forward to more input monday
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Frosty, Some good advice so far. I also have flat feet. A good boot person should know which boot is shaped best for your foot. I went with a boot that wasn't what I would have chosen but because the fit was right I bought it. With some fine tuning by stretching the toebox and grinding some off the tongue in the liner and taking out altogether the built in adjustable arch support they felt great. Then we tossed out the Technica footbeds the boots came with, I was able to get away with the standard Superfeet footbeds rather than spend the big bucks for custom footbeds. It sounds like you should spend the money and get the best custom footbeds you can, your feet will be happy you did.
Did I use the word footbeds enough in this post? I hope I didn't miss my quota!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flat, wide feet are also a problem for me. Not having too much info on matters skiing at the time, I went to S & R and was fitted out with Technica boots as soon as the guy saw my feet. They've been great and the guy was excellent. My wife has problems with her feet and knees however, and she went to see the podiatrist at S & R in Chertsey.
The lady she saw was excellent and made some fairly extensive changes to my wife's boots and footbeds. Net result? No discomfort for my wife and a huge increase in confidence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Hi all,
Just bumping this as I am keen to know, if you don't mind me asking, exactly how much dough a pair of these Strolz boots would cost me?!
Thanks guys,
Ben
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
I'd like to know too (thanks to everyone who has contributed to this topic, I have an appointment with Profeet in Dec)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frosty, Well you won't be disappointed. Husband and I made the long trip to Profeet on 18/11 from North Devon and came away well satisfied.
We bought our boots in France two years ago after skiing for about 4 weeks. We had custom footbeds made at the time because I have flat feet and Alan had suffered with numerous hire boots.
We've recently booked a Warren Smith instruction week and in order to ensure maximum improvement we thought we would get our boots and us 'MOTd'.
Profeet examined us and our boots etc. I leapt onto their amazing pressure pad machine thing and was shocked at the difference in pressure between feet. However, we were both told that our boots and footbeds were fine and that only a few tweaks were needed to sort us out! It was suggested that my left turns would be crap - quite correct and that my inward leaning right knee was probably caused by a old injury - again correct. I was told that my quads were quite tight from cycling/running and that more stretches were needed as they probably caused me to tip forward and then compensate by sticking my bum out - spot on.
My boots were adjusted in numerous directions and then a small heel lift was inserted under my left heel and hey presto the pressure was virtually 50:50 between both feet.
Then it was Al's turn. Again numerous adustment of the boots and the finale was to heat the shell and stretch the back of the boots backwards. The result was almost equal pressure between both feet. Al also needs to do more stretching of his quads . I've also got to stretch my adductors particularly the right side.
The total fee for both of us was £50. Incredibly cheap considering the time spent on us (around 40mins each). We would have been willing to invest in more boots and footbeds so were impressed with the fact that they he did not try to sell us anything we didn't need.
The only problem is that we no longer have any reason to be such rubbish skiers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
well I'm certainly not going to tell ayone I've been to see profrom ! I need all the excuses I can get. Thanks for the info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Hmmmm
Another flat footer here looking at getting fitted for a set of boots?
Will an off the shelf foot bed work?
I had planned to go to 2 seasons in Northampton.
Funnily enough at 37 years old I've never really had too much feet, knee or hip problems......but then I have no idea when my flat feel started! An ex girl freind said about it 13 years ago!
I did get a big ass blister on my right foot on the bone just below the ankle last time I hired.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Wow, a 6 year bump. Impressive!
Sorry, I have nothing else constructive to add...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
dave_m, go and see CEM at solutions for feet in Bicester.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
I wanted to go with my wife to MK last night an thought I'd visit Ellis Brigham to see if they had some boots that might fit.
As soon as he saw them he knew I should be in the Heads which he had none in stock. He did try with the Nordicas and they were 'OK' but I wanted to compare them to the Heads.
He will order some in.....but after after having rental boots on for 3 hours last night, I think I'll go to CEM after reading some of the stuff on here. All I want to do is ski and not be concered about where my flipping feet hurt!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
dave_m, if you have problem feet you need a true pro - this is a job for CEM!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
dave_m, Another vote for CEM he has a good selection of HEAD boots, should he decide they are the right boots for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
dave_m, CEM rules!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just got back from a week in La Tania, skiing in my new boots fitted by CEM. Last year, in my previous new boots I had a totally miserable tie and was barely able to ski blue runs. This year, normal service was resumed and I was able to ski red runs (I am a bit of a wuss). Mind you, I've never worn my boots so tight before, but I need to have them tight around the ankle area to stop my feet moving out of the footbeds. Def another vote for CEM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
