 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all, I'm trying to get some new boots, the Technica Rival X-8's that I bought in the sales 6 months ago are still not comfortable after being stretched twice.
I'm fit, 6' 1" and about 11st 12lbs (76 Kg), tall and skinny. Salomon X-waves 8 are a perfect snug fit all over but the guy in the shop reckons I'm not flexing them enough, he says I should go for the Nordica GTS10 which aren't such a good fit but I'm flexing better. It has to be one of these two 'cos the shop are giving me 70% credit on the Technicas and I've tried everything else in there for my level.
In terms of ability I've done about 3 weeks and I'm a (Snow and Rock) level 5 but improving all the time, (I have a teenage son to keep up with).
What is like to ski in a boot that's too stiff ? Are there any simple tests I could make whem I'm in the boots ?
Any advice welcome, I'd like a few different opinions.
Thanks,
Mike
(I also notice that everyone on here except me has got an oddball name... and my ski cap is just a plain black one, hmmm....)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ooh tough one. I think that SmallzooKeeper would be well placed to offer advice, ( someone else with an oddball name  ) My non professional view, is that if a boot is too stiff for you, progress will be impaired and you may develop bad habits as a result of not being able to work the boot properly.
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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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Personally I'd go for fit - as you improve you'll probably get the hang of flexing them and I've never noticed mine holding me back. I have Xwave8s but have skied other intermediate nordica and salomon boots recently too - I much prefer the stiffer xwaves to softer boots. That said I'm heavier than you (14-15st) and shorter and I can get a reasonable amount of flex out of them if I try (I just don't often try)...how much flex do you have? A little to little? Or a lot too little?
At the end of the day though they guy in the shop can give much better advice as he can see exactly how much/little flex you are getting out of them..what does he suggest overall?
aj xx
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hmm, very tough question, and as stated SZK should be able to give you the best answer. My leaning would be towards the better, snug fit, as slop in boots can be both a comfort problem and a performance hinderance. Just start stacking on the pounds so you can flex em better 
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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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A 6'1"/76kg guy should have no problem flexing a X-Wave 8. If you do it's a technique issue which is understandable after just 3 weeks. Get the 8's & then work on technique. If you get the Nordica's they'll end up too soft.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Okay, I am not qualified to give advice, except for years of painful experiences, but I am the same weight as you, and I don't find the Xwaves to be too stiff (admittedly I seem to be in S&R's level 8 ).
My experience is, as aj says, that fit is the most important issue - after all you will probably have these boots a while, and put them under increasing pressure as your skiing improves. As you do you will really appreciate the stiffness, too.
On the fit question, I find that the linings on these boots suddenly loosen up after a season of use, so you want a good tight fit from the beginning, at least around the ankle and heel.
As to trusting the guy in the shop - I have regretted doing that in the past. It must be case by case, but I can imagine a scenario where he is thinking: Buy these and then when you improve come back and buy stiffer boots. So one question is: how often do you want to buy boots. If you are improving fast, you may want to buy something ahead of your learning curve.
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Nogs, spyderjon, ponder, ajhainey, snowbunny, smallzookeeper,
SZK, I hope you don't mind me copying you in but your opinion seems well respected so I'd be very interested in your thoughts.
Only a little flex in the Xwaves, and I can only put on weight around my middle so I cut out the puddings when any swelling appears there.
The first guy in the shop was from Slovenia, seemed quite honest, he said he uses xwave8s, he's been skiing for 25 years and he finds x-wave10s too stiff, he's about 33 ish. He said the Nordicas.
The other guy, who spent only a short period with me, was a boot fitting trainer, he said go for the x-wave8s as I would improve into them, I felt that he was telling me what I wanted to hear though he did say ideally, he would put me in X-wave7s but they can't supply them.
I wonder if either of them are members.....
Mike
(still considering a change of username)
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mike.healy, You should definitely go for fit. At the end of the day you just can't ski properly in a boot that is uncomfortable. If it hurts you can't ski at all. Remember, however, that the boot will be stiffer on the mountain than it is in the shop (colder). Having said that, there are some fairly radical things you can do to soften a boot (involves cutting away of plastic), and this is probably not recommended by specialists, but I've done it in the past with good success.
At your height and weight you should improve into the Wave 8s if you've only done 3 weeks, and many experienced women skiers use these. I expect to get at least 3 years out of a pair of boots - that's 90 week's ski-ing, so you don't want to have to replace them too quickly do you?
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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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Is the flex in a boot similar to the suspension in a car, firmer in a sports car allows you to go faster around the bends but you feel the bumps and are less comfortable around town at slower speeds ?
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