 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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emmalivelife, you need to try them on and preferably see a boot fitter. If you don't have problem feet (i.e. do you usually manage fine with rental boots), you probably won't need any extra fitting work, if you do have any issues that's where the costs can mount up. Decathlon have plenty of boots in your price range with the ability to try them on but not sure if all stores have a bootfitter on site. Stores like Snow + Rock and Ellis Brigham have large ranges but most will be over budget other than any sale ranges.
For what it's worth I bought my ski boots in resort where there is plenty of specialist knowledge and lots of stock and mine would have cost €265 including the fitting process (I got a discount through a friend, so even better!).
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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?
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Unlike skis you will have to be extremely lucky to buy boots online based on reviews and get the pair that would fit and suit your skiing - particularly as you don't really know what to look for. You might end up blowing your budget, but a pair of well-fitting boots is a long-term investment, so I would suggest that you get an appointment with a bootfitter. Otherwise you a risking getting a pair that will be too big/too stiff/too soft/had too much/too little forward flex, which won't help your progress but will get in its way, and you will be buying another pair of boots anyway.
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emmalivelife, where are you skiing next? I'd suggest buying in resort - that way you can have the things tweaked if required as you ski them in. Depending on where you're going, someone will be (probably) able to suggest a decent fitter. I can't see Ken High Street being cheaper...
In W London, Profeet in Fulham might be worth chatting to.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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emmalivelife, Give your nearest Decathlon store a ring and see if they have a boot fitter (I think they all have at at least one from what my local store said), find out who it is and when they are working and then go and see them. Make sure you see the fitter as not everyone in the ski dept will have that training.
Your boots are probably the kit which has the single biggest influence on your skiing and really if you can't afford the right boots for you you are far better to wait and save up a bit more than spend all your budget on a pair that isn't spot on for you and then be stuck with them for several years.
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emmalivelife, I would strongly reccomend, with that kind of budget, going to Ski Bartlett and being very clear with them that you have a fairly tight budget. That is not a lot of money for boots, however they have a fairly large selection of secondhand and ex-demo boots on the rack for £100 and less. They have a decent team on site that can measure up and help you to find something appropriate, and with the change you can get the footbeds and any other bits you need sorted. They have a workshop on site and can modify boots if required. They are near Uxbridge, easy enough to get to from West London - the primary reason I think they do this is because they have a lot of kids racing who grow out of boots at a rate of knots, and parents can't afford to spend hundreds of pounds every year, instead part exchanging their boots as they go.
You may find when you are there that they have brand new boots for that price, but the cost of the footbeds and other mods might be what blows the budget, so worth being very clear with them about the total cost of any purchase so they can tailor their advice accordingly. Some friends of mine did exactly this and got themselves kitted out for £80 each, and if they stick with skiing long term (one didn't, and hasn't lost out significantly as a result) they can spend more money further down the road when they have saved up and worked out exactly what they are looking for.
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Thanks so much for all your replies. I am off to Wengen in Switzerland next and not sure that resort is cheap. For a start, the basic boots rental price I have been given so far is £45 for 7 days. This is in fact what trigger me to think about buying own boots. I would love to have custom fit boots but the price is just too high!.
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Have you tried getting a quote through alpinresorts (if I have the name right that should turn into a clicky)?
Also I have found WHEN you are going can help. My boots i bought in April in the last UK tour operator week, so we found some good discounts.
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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.
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emmalivelife, £200 is a difficult price point at this time of year. There are some boots in the sale category on Ellis Brigham online under £220, so their shop on Ken High may provide if they have the right size.
Edge and Wax also have a variety, e.g. Salomon 90CS just above youir price limit, again depending on size and fit, etc. but they are out of town. If you do want to stick rigidly to the price point try calling a couple of shops and ask if they have any old stock (Ski bartlett, Hillingdon?). However, you will end up spending a lot on travel, etc. perhaps to no avail, so I would definitely get into Ken High and try my luck. But go midweek, allow plenty of time and ask lots of questions.
FWIW, I have bought boots online for myself - though I would not generally advise it.
Welcome to 
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old stock is the only way you will get something within your price range which is not the same sort of level as the base level what you would rent, (no point buying that, you will progress past them in week or two so a real sort term investment)
rules are simple, get measured properly on an accurate measure...DO NOT even try any boot bigger than the measured size IT WILL BE TOO BIG after a couple of weeks, do a shell check... liners out feet in shells toes touching front how much space is there behind your heel, anything more than 25mm and they are too big... 10-15mm is a really good fit but most people who ski a week or 2 a year cannot tolerate this, especially if it is the first boot they have bought and certainly not if you are not going to have a footbeds and some work doing on the boot, but what ever you do do not go above the 25mm
boot swill feel tight but don't judge them until they are clipped up properly and you have been in them for a few minutes to let the liners warm up and settle a little
your heels should not lift when you are flexing forward... if you wrench your calf upwards and press down on your toes they will move but that is not how a boot fits or holds your feet
worth spending extra on footbeds, even a basic off the shelf product at £30-£45 is much better than the stock insole provided with the boots, in fact you are often better dropping one level in boot and spending the cash on the footbed for a better fit, but at the price you are talking you really are close to not being able to do it properly
it may, depending on the problems you have had ij the past with rental boots be worth renting this time and saving a bit more money (then waiting till the sales at the end of the season)
depending on size we have a couple of bits in stock but not much to be honest
good luck getting sorted, just do the one thing that someone mentioned, be honest about budget with whoever you are seeing
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks so much guys, I am going to Snow&Rock and Ellis Bringham to try on some boots. Snow &Rock managed to order couple pairs of last seaons boots to store so I can try. Ellis Bringham says they have some around £220 so I can try to see.
For the same model, do you think size varies if it is 2012 or 2013 version? Will I be able to try this year’s model and buy last seaon’s stock if I can find online?
I also found a pair of 2012 Atomic Hawx 90 W on sale online. Any suggestions on this? I can measure my feet. How would I find out if it fits well with the boots as there doesn’t seem to be much measurement details online?
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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.
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Sounds like good service.
Some models do change from one year to the next, but mostly the lasts remain the same (the shop should be able to tell you). If EB or S&R are advertising the right size of last year's boots online they should be able to order them for you.
As to the Hawx, that is precisely the problem - MP size alone does not tell you if they will fit well. However, any online purchase can be sent back (though again a cost involved).
Best of luck.
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emmalivelife, Listen carefully to what CEM says, he is one of the best boot fitters in country and giving you some excellent free advice, with EB and SnR make sure you see an assistant who is a trained boot fitter, pretty sure they have some but like Decathlon it won't be all their sales staff. And be very very cautious about buying something just because you can afford it, you could end up wasting your £200 very easily!
I have the mens 100 Hawx, they are perfect for me but that is because they fit my feet perfectly (after a little modification), the only way to know they are right for you is for to have a trained fitter suggest they are!
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You know it makes sense.
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Yes, definitely, CEM’s advice is very helpful. CEM, I normally go for rental boots size 3 and occasionally 3.5 . Will you have anything suitable for me ?
EB has ordered couple of sales models for me as well. I will ring to ensure that I can see a trained fitter. They said they should be able to judge by measuring my feet to see which in store models will suit me best.
If I cannot find anything, will just wait like CEM said till end of season.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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emmalivelife, nothing that small left from last season i am afraid, you should be looking at 22.0/22.5 (same boot different label) but check the sole length carefully, you will find it stamped on the edge of the boot near the heel in most cases...... if it is between 260-269mm then it is a true 22/22.5 shell, there are lots of boots out there with a 22.5 label on them which, when you dig a bit you will find that they are a 23.5 (270-279mm) shell as the manufacturer was saving a large sum of €€ by not making a 22 mold
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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emmalivelife, the price for those rented ski boots in Wengen does seem high. If you rent skis, the boots are normally not that much extra, IME. Unless you can find something absolutely right for you (and well done for not buying any of the ones that weren't) it might be best to rent again. You're right; Wengen certainly isn't a cheap resort, so possibly not a good bet for buying in resort, given the power of the Swiss franc! If you have to compromise too much because of your low budget you might well not find any better fit than you would get in a decent rental shop with a choice of boots available.
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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?
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emmalivelife, sounds like you are going the right direction... has the budget changed? the RX80 LV and the Cochise 90 are £270 and £250ish respectively we have both in stock
i am surprised that the hawx get loose compared to the X pro (my best guess is the X pro would feel very loose after a week or two of skiing
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| emmalivelife wrote: |
I then went to EB in westfield. Surprisingly, the guy is very knowledgeable and very helpful. He did all the checks and questionnaires. He asked me to stand in different postures to see how my feet reacts etc. . After measurement, he told me I should go for a size 23.
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If you wear a 3 in shoes I would be willing to bet that a 23 will feel big after a few weeks of skiing, did they have any 22's for you to try? What about junior race boots?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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No, my budget hasn't changed but both shops sound like there r maybe only one model in the world that would suit me. They said I don't have much choice..
I was thinking finding a pair that sounds and wait for sale to come on. I know this could be a long shot. So I may have to increase budget. CEM, I thought u only do custom fit jobs?
I'm surprised as well but s&b even told me I need a 23.5.EB did the proper measurements and told I'm bang on 23??. They did the bare foot check as well. In 23 boots, gap between heel and back of boots is 20mm which fits in with what CEM said.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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lynseyf, if it is a size 3 uk shoe then i would be looking at the 22 as well, never can tell until you see the foot in the shell (maybe the size 3 shoe is really too small (i know what some of you girls are like with your shoes)
emmalivelife, we sell boots to all levels, every fit is a custom fit because rarely does the boot leave the store without at least something being done to it, it may be simply an insole custom or off the shelf, to it may be that it needs a massive stretch on the shell for a bunion or similar
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emmalivelife, I'm a size 7 so don't have this problem but I have read of loads of other women with small feet being stuck in something because that's all the shop carry. Some brands don't make a true 22 and a lot of shops just don't seem to carry them from what I've heard, again never tried but a lot of women with smaller feet seemed to end up in junior race boots to get the fit, not just recreational kids boots. I think my feet measure 26 but I'm in a 25 and they aren't tight at all, they feel quite big sometimes actually. I've always read it is easier to make a boot bigger but if they are too big to start with it's pretty tough to make them snugger. My experience would back this up and my next boots will be as tight as I can fit my feet in, I have skied a couple of days with a 24 and I reckon with work it would be a good fit for me as the 25s I have have always felt a bit big on one foot.
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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.
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emmalivelife, the electra pro 110 is the same shell as the RX low volume just a stiffer plastic (rossignol and lange are sister companies and share the lasts on some models)
that boot does run long so it may be that the 22/22.5 shell would work just fine
on the kids boots front, avoid "KID's" boots, junior race boots are fine, in fact rossignol and lange both make the same boot you are talking about (the RX lv) as a "race model" for juniors simply a different colour and slightly firmer liner
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How do I know if Electra pro and Medusa are too stiff for me? I just found the information given by various shops is very confusing. S&B did even let me try them on as they deem 22H in both to be too small and too stiff for me ... (( They said I am not heavy enough..
Both shops also told me that bcoz of my height (5ft4). I am bit too tall for the junior race boots to work well. I think they said top of the boots will be too low for me or something similar. Since they kinda know more than I do, I thought I would trust their opinion. It is just the fact that after combining both shops' opinion, I will have one pairs of non custom fit boots in the UK that would suit me...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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emmalivelife, the "junior race boot" (the SC model) from Lange has the same cuff height as the ladies boot from lange, sounds like they need to read the manual
under 5'6" i would say that would be fine, body weight is a big factor as if you can't bend the boot in the store, then little change you will bend it when it gets cold and stiffens up
cannot comment on the sizing without seeing your foot in the shell
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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.
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CEM, Please could I ask another question? I very quickly tried Tecnica Viva Dragon 100. The boots seem to hold quite well. However, the flex is 100. I weight 50kg and my height is 5'4. Is this going to be too stiff for me when I am on the slope?
Thx
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weight is not the only consideration ere, you need the foot/leg to be centered in the boot, the tecnica has a fair bit of forward lean, so IF it pushes on your calf muscle it will put you forward of center and as such use up some of your range of motion at the ankle joint.... a more upright boot will not push you as far forward which will allow you more flex (regardless of the number on the back)
as a rule with a body weight of 50kg for a good skier 100 flex not too much of a problem if in the right position, for a weaker skier then it may force issues
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You know it makes sense.
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Just popping over from the other boot thread- if you've a narrow heel- Lange all the way!! 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks, I really appreciate all your advices. S&R staff told me it would be too stiff purely based on my weight.
Is there any simple test or measurement I can do myself when trying on boots to see if flex will cause an issue? When EB staff did the measurement, he said I have quite good flex . The only problem is that my knees tend to go together a bit when bending so I dont bend 100% straight. He said this means my feet are rotated slightly when bending knees.
On the other hand, the description says this model has flex adjustment. Do this mean flex can be changed?
"The flex on the Dragon can be adjusted by removing either 1 or 2 of the rivets found on the rear spine"
One other question is that, this pair of boots hug my feet quite well and quite tight. Is there any easy way to find out whether it will be too tight when skiing?
I have tried Lance XT 90W and I will try more:)
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi emmalivelife, I've been pestering CEM for years now with my boot fitting, none finer IMO. Seriously I would hesitate to go elsewhere, if you can stretch your budget to go see him I would as there's a reason a lot of people on here recommend going to see a specialist when it comes to ski boots!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi, it is a tough choice. At the moment I was hoping to find a ok boots then spend a bit more on foot bed. This would have been a lot easier if EB and S&R so called boot fitters are bit more knowledgeable. For me , I just dont know how it should feel like. These boots are so different from rental boots.
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FAQ
