Zipfit liner fitters in The North

A snowHead

@Mother hucker, thanks. A good idea, particularly if just want ZFs. Wouldn't do it for shells as well.
Only problem is that divorce proceedings would likely ensue if I go near a boot shop, given all too much bad prior experience and lost slope time and enjoyment abroad (Austria mainly, Italy on cards this coming year maybe). I am near banned from skiing on holidays anyway - overly-big snowboard boots seem much more amenable to 2 pairs of socks + blister tape and mucho foam padding rolling eyes

Seriously, it's been such an ongoing annoyance, and so much fun and learning time and money wasted, despite investing lots of money and some reasonable travel and time with several 'reputable' fitters in UK and in resort (hmmm...) that I did take up boarding, though I would still like to ski as well.
Realistically, I just have to try to get things sorted where I can in the UK and tested in domes over the summer, preferably. Sadly, now even dome trips are less easy; but at least I can get to one within 2 hours of (oft-unpleasant) driving if I put my Zaphod Beeblebrox sunglasses on.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@rjs, Sorry, kind of missed that second quote, with which I agree. I have been recommended the Hawx Ultra by several shops because it seems to give a good rear hold (and it seems nicely roomy at front). I think my current boots are more lv at the front than rear.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@Grizzler, remind me, what is your current boot?

atomic have started to publish real life lasts on the boots so you see the difference between each size .... ie the 92mm in 23.5, 94mm in 24.5 (remember 24.0 does not exist) again difficult as i have not seen your feet, and it depends on the shell check, but, if there was visually enough space i would go small and push out if needed

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@CEM, thanks again. I am minded that I should not be asking for specific advice from you without visiting, so appreciate your comments.
My current boots are K2 Spyre lv w 110 in 23.5. Best boot I have yet had, and nearly, on occasions, pretty good, but still just not meeting 100% of what I want out of them, even with reasonable improvements being achievable with some foam, tape, general bodging and improved technique. Booster straps, I'm told, would help if I could get them fitting around the front liner rather than front shell: but the boot/liner design is such that there isn't room at the front and sides for this without starting cutting into the front (semi-shell wrap around thing) and the stiffer side shell tops, which is really going way too far in terms of boot mods for me.
But the liner hold issue aside, I've still got the big toes banging on the end as well. Probably not helped by the liner being padded by stick-on foam at its rear as well as sides (done by original fitter) to get better heel and ankle hold, which is probably pushing the liner forward from the shell. Did try this last weekend to remove the rearmost padding, but it didn't make much toe room difference and the heel hold went sloppy again. It's not visually a shell size issue (a good 2 of my slender fingers down the back), just the toe box seeming to be terribly low and oddly shaped. My foot doesn't seem to pull back much under flex, even with custom insoles, so if my toes are brushing the end then they brush the end always. They were pretty 'snug' at the toes when I bought them, but I was advised that they were the right size and, to be fair, it's not really a problem in straight downhill piste skiing, just when getting bumped around in choppier or rough stuff and when walking in them (which is a necessity, one way or the other). Maybe a bit of lack of hold in the front of the ankle doesn't help, but little that I can do about that and not a new problem to me in any form of boots. If I remember to tape padding on top of the toe nail every time I ski then it's cope-able with (and then there's no room for the toe to move in any case!); just if I forget then it gets rather sore... The boots are also terribly cold in the toe area, even just indoors: and I don't usually get cold feet at all.
I have considered pushing them out or having bits ground off inside, but was advised that this could make the toe box even lower, and I don't want to compromise the integrity and strength of the shells (and also don't know who I'd trust to do this more drastic work on them). So current thinking, given my realistic options at present, is maybe just to keep them as spares, sell my current spares and work on using past knowledge to improve the next pair: at least I then have 2 shells in and with which to play with Zipfits, and worst case scenario end up no worse off with a pair of not bad, but not perfect boots.
If I buy new boots and have them pushed out by the shop as part of the fitting - and also perhaps with the mouldable shells now being offered - then I feel a bit more comfortable about that. If I can get a new pair with more, or adjustable, forward lean without a huge spoiler then I think that's also a bonus. It's just going to be a bit more tiral and error, informed by hindsight.

You'll need to Register first of course.

@Grizzler, the heat mold on a shell won't push out the toe box, that needs to be done with tools, done properly and they shouldn't be any loss of height, as for grinding the toe box again with the correct tools you can gain a few mm but you need two things for this to happen...! a grinder, 2 material thickness! so the hawx ultra for example cannot be ground as the shell is too thin in that area... my best guess is it is volume in the throat of the boot, you are sliding forward inot the void space and that is why the toes are jamming (or calf mucle is tight and not letting you into the back of the boot

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@CEM, thanks, helpful.

Help!!

Zipfit liner fitters in The North

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Equipment Reviews/Questions