Ski boots - Profeet vs Strolz

A snowHead

Hi

after an another painful week of ski I have finally decided to buy my first pair of boots. I usually ski one week a year and I would consider my level as advanced (as defined by 'Snow and Rock' i.e. carving on most slopes when not too steep, no off-piste).

I am sure the questions I am about to ask have already been answered somewhere on this chat or on some other chats but let me ask them again Smile

- Given my level, I have read that foam injected liner was a bad idea. I also read the exact contrary (I am more after comfort than performance). Price considerations aside, what is the final answer? Does that only depend on the shape of my feet and so I will figure that out when doing the fitting?

- I went to Profeet in London (where I live) and I read good reviews so I'm considering going for their full package: boots around £350 + custom fit at £160 + foam inject liner at £220 (depending on above answer) i.e. a total around £730. For the same kind of price I could also go for Strolz at Glide & Slide.
I struggle to compare these two options. Strolz seems to be the Rolls Royce of the ski boots but I would appreciate if someone could help to make a choice/ explain the pros and cons.

Thanks a lot for your help and answers!

A snowHead

Speak to someone who will give you a proper assessment of your feet and be honest about Your skiing level. "I can ski a black" doesn't mean you are a particular level there is a lot more too it than that.

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

Profeet are excellent. Seems slightly excessive for one week a year though, it doesn't automatically make a better boot by throwing money at it, mine were way cheaper and I ski on them all season.

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CharlesD, depends if you need an injected liner. I don't know anyone who has them, largely because a lot of boot fitters can get an off the shelf boot to fit you very well indeed without it. Boots are not always £350, indeed you may well find that your feet fit a boot which is dramatically cheaper than that - perhaps worth a chat with Profeet about the potential to measure up and give you some advice on what boots fit, and then do a bit of shopping around before spending £160 on their fitting process.

Other option if you are spending that kind of money is Daleboots. A good boot fitter will be able to give you a few minutes of advice on whether you will get more out of a Strolz or Daleboot than an off the shelf product fitted by them.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Get yourself over to solutions 4 feet in Bicester and you will be satisfied. No connection, just a happy customer. Go with the ones that fit take no notice of the make,model or colour. I have zip fit liners inside standard issue shells and custom footbed for less than you quote above . Magic

Very Happy

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I've been entirely happy with the work Profeet did for me (custom footbed, bit of shell stretching, baking the boot liners).

Excuse my ignorance, but is a foam injected liner really what you need? Is it not possible to get boots with themomouldable liners that will do the job for you, at a lower total cost?

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

Christ, this is why I don't back profeet. I have 'tricky' feet and have managed to be perfectly happy for 4 years or so now in an off the shelf set of heat moulded Head Edges with a conformable in them. Total cost: £180 iirc.....

After all it is free

CharlesD,
Seems a massive amount to dosh to me at £730 unless your feet are the type which would be the subject of medical research.
Do you normally have problem feet, or is it just that you find ski boots crippling?
£350 isn't unreasonable in its self for a decent boot, however the secret is in the fitting to your feet/stance etc.
There isn't always the need for foam liners, although foot beds can be advantageous. It is probably worth getting a second opinion on just how bad your feet really are.. may e try .
47 Degrees are on Fulham Road, There are several Ellis Brigham stores around town, or consider going a little further out to solutions4 feet in Bicester(you'll need an appointment), or to Bartlett Ski in Hillingdon.
your doctor may also have an opinion.

CharlesD, welcome to Snowheads.

You shouldn't need to spend anything like that amount unless you have seriously dodgy feet. Most people can go with "off the shelf" boots and a personalized insole. A shop with a good range of boots should be able to identify which "off the shelf" model will best suit your feet. Tell the fitter that comfort, not performance, is your aim.

Can certainly vouch for solutions4feet. You need to make an appointment.

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thanks for your answers.

I don't think my feet are 'special' in any sense. It's just that they got numb in less than 20 mins with the boots I hired. That's why I'd like boots that are really comfortable so I can focus on something else than my feet!

I don't know if I need foam injected (how do I know btw? Is it something decided before any fitting or is it decided during the process?). It's just that they seem to increase the comfort and so why not putting this kind of money if I can keep the boots 5 or 10 years (would still be less expensive than hiring boots every year). Given your answers, custom insoles are probably good enough with the appropriate shell anyway.

My question was more: in the hypothesis that I go for foam injected, what is the best between off-the-shelf+foam injected and strolz (as they cost roughly the same price)?

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Moving from rental boots to ones that have been properly fitted makes an astonishing difference to how your feet feel, even if you don't go for the super bells'n'whistles options.

Remember you can buy foam injected liners in the future; you're not obliged to spend all that money immediately.

snow reports

The boot fitter will heat mould the inners of most boots to your feet, this is enough for most people. Foam is probably only needed if you can't be fitted with the normal sort of boot, if you have very thin/fat/ misshapen feet perhaps. A good boot fitter will start with an off the shelf boot and when he (she) is happy that it can be customised sufficiently to be comfortable will then start to add bits and carry out the customisation process. You have to stand for quite a long time in hot boots whilst they set! Only after exhausting all possibilities do you venture into foam.
I know this does not answer the question, but the best boot is the one that fits your feet best -fitted by an expert -whether it be cheap or expensive.

You know it makes sense.

eBay, stanley knife, gaffa tape. Anything more is just showing off.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

2CharlesD, mrs skimastaaah has a new pair of strolz. Phenomenal pair of boots she says. Fyi... she has been skiing 30 plus years, skis most things with good technique and style, and says her strolz boots place her in a best skiing position.

Glide and slide could be well worth a call. Mrs skimastaaahs boots were custom made, custom fitted, by a perfectionist. Btw....... there is a strolz guarantee!

A snowHead

Let's forget about money for a sec. I do appreciate your concerns and I am not saying this isn't part of the equation. It will in due time. For now I am just trying to understand the products available on the market.

So far, I have understood that most of you are happy without injected foam. Good to know. Also, apparently, unless I have very unusual feet it doesn't seem to be required. But what about comfort? Does that bring as much comfort as a custom insole or ten times less? Is the difference with/without only noticable by an excellent skier that skis on a regular basis? Thanks!

A snowHead

Whether you have unusual feet or otherwise go to a shop or specialised bootfitter who is recommended, there is no doubt that the main dealers (snow and rock, Ellis Brigham and others do have guys and girls who know their stuff) the important thing is that you get a pair of boots that actually fit and suit your size, weight and ski level and style.

They should choose the boots that fit your feet and not the boots you like (though the two may be the same). Foot beds are always a good option but custom liners it would say, as others, are over the top if you get a pair of boots that actually fit, but word of warning of they fit they may well feel a little snug for a while.

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

if skiing 1 week a year i would never suggest a foam or zip fit liner unless you had some pretty interesting foot shapes, possibly an intuition/palau type if you had some issues and wanted comfort but again probably overkill

important stuff

shell check, make sure the boot is not too big, easy to buy a big pair, not many people would leave any store with a boot too small (they may feel a bit tight for 3-5 days) Que someone saying i sold them a tight pair of boots rolling eyes

footbeds, either off the shelf or custom made depending on your foot, not everyone needs a custom one, so be wary if there is not an off the shelf option

shape, don't think about brand or model, tell the fitter what ou want to achieve and work with them to find the boot that works for you

painful weeks skiing... where were the pains, there is normally a reason for most pains, certain things are very common, and some are easy to fix, depending on some of the problems will depend on what you need to get.... numb feet can be a number of things
1 boot too big and you having to clamp it down to hold the foot
2 limited flexion at the ankle joint due to either tight calf muscles or bony block, needs an upright boot, heel lifts , footbeds and a whole heap of stretching on your part
3 lack of support, footbeds will help, but only in the correct boot

hope that helps a little

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Thus spake the guru. Very Happy

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

He most certainly is.

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CharlesD , I'm a huge fan of Profeet after having such trouble with hired ski boots. Went to them last year, explained the problems I'd had and had their usual boot fitting. This was already a huge improvement, but I still found my feet hurting and/or going numb after trying them for a week in Jan, so I went back to have them adjusted. Their podiatrist did an amazing job of adapting my boots a little and moulding me some new footbeds in a slightly different way to accommodate the issues. End result being that last March I had my first ever pain-free week of skiing. Did wonders for my control as well, having a much closer but still comfortable fit.

I've no experience with foam-injected liners, but I'd trust the people at Profeet to recommend them if they thought they might do some good but not try to oversell them where they're unnecessary.

It's not cheap, but it shouldn't get towards £730. Mine was about £450 all in. Which is still a fair whack more than you could pay at a normal ski boot shop, so if hire boots work fine for you it may be fine to go to somewhere much cheaper, but if you have any problems with hire boots (as it seems like you do, albeit not huge ones) I think it's easily worth it. I value a lack of pain and numbness at a lot more than the extra couple of hundred quid it cost.

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

After all it is free

Bought a pair of Strolz boots around 10 years ago (only just threw them out last week). Stopped using them mainly because I went ski touring rather than Alpine skiing (Strolz didn't do a touring boot). To begin with they were excellent, fitted like a glove. The foam did however pack out a bit over time.

If you really have problem feet (e.g. deformed, injured etc) I can see the point of using Strolz to make you a special tailored fit shell. If you are being offered one of Strolz's standard fit shells, chances are there is another off-the-shelf shell that would fit just as well if not better. It's not about how much you pay but what fits.

I suspect your feet may be well out of the ordinary if Pro feet are offering you foam fit liners. Have tried various liners but prefer Intuition. The thermofit type liners such as these can be remoulded which is another bonus. Ask Profeet why they are offering foam fit as opposed to thermofit liners. You could always pop up to CEM and get a second opinion.

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CharlesD, That's half the cost of your holiday Shocked

If you are willing to spend that much then take £100 out of the budget and use that a s transport costs to go and see someone like CEM, above. He hasn't ever fitted me, but he comes hugely recommended by others on the forum who have repeatedly reported that he sells you what you need, not what you are willing to buy. I'm sure if he thinks you need Strolz or boots with injection liners he would also tell you so and ultimately I still bet the combined bill inc. transport won't come to £730. FWIW my local bootfitter charged me £220 for a fitted pair of reasonably advanced boots - Even if you are a lottery winner £730 seems an astronomically huge budget to me!! Shocked

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Can't comment on profeet or indeed other ski boots but got my Strolz boots 7 years ago. Still in great nick and fit like a glove. Spoke to loads of locals before buying on chairlifts that had them and all swore by them, getting 15 seasons out of them etc...

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No comment on Profeet or Strolz but I ski with foam-injected liners and they make a big difference to me - reducing cramps, especially early in the day. My feet don't look misshapen, they just take a long time to get warmed up, no matter how much warm-up I do beforehand - I even get cramps at the beginning of tennis matches.

I envy those people who can get a pair of boots off the shelf, thermoform the liners if they even remember about it, and then go off to ski.

My penny worth, I found foam liners bloody freezing, I'm on my second set of Zip-Fit liners now, much warmer, more comfortable and a better fit throughout the day. Wouldn't have anything else now. Bonus also is that you can move them from one shell to another, unlike foam.

You know it makes sense.

FWIW, I went to Profeet - they won't push the full package at you at all and will most likely get you a good fit with a custom insole and maybe some tweaks to the liner/boot if needed.
If you make an effort, then head up to Bicester - probably better recommendations and service.

I seem to remember Profeet saying that after liners pack out, some people would come back for custom foam liners as the shell outlasts the liner - it was a while back though so can't remember exactly.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

I have no experience of Strolz, but have had excellent service from Profeet. I have difficult feet and need orthotic footbeds for stance correction too. All done in a 3 hour fitting, plus 1.5 hr tweak after trying the boots out at Hemel. 3 years on they have tweaked them again for me without charge. They recommended cheaper boots than the ones I had suggested too.

Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time for the fitting.

A snowHead

I have had Strolz ski boots for three years and it's the best decision I made. I have saved hours of holiday time and money messing about in ski resort shops trying to make my boots skiable in. Every one I went to said the last one was rubbish and wanted to make me yet another footbed. I reckon it was probably about the cost of two pairs of Strolz. The foam injected liners are amazing , because they fit precisely to my feet and ankles, there is no rubbing or my feet moving about. I just buckle up in the morning, and forget about them until I get back to the boot room. ( I don't undo them at lunchtime or at the bar after skiing) My skiing has improved 100% not only because I know they are not going to hurt, but with such a precise fit, turning is much more instant. No longer is there that foot-then-boot-then-ski feeling.
We'll I am a real fan of Strolz and a real fan of Glide & Slide where I got them done
I have also heard that if you go to a ski rental shop in Austria wearing Strolz you get your skis upgraded........I've yet to try that one out

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

snow2go, you sound like my wife!!!!!

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......don't tell me ....she has Strolz too !

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

snow2go, She's just had her first week on her Black (with custom white buckles) Strolz! Plus her new Sally W Kart skis. Both from G&S.

Her words........... "...... probably the best weeks skiing ever......"

BTW............. the team at Glide and Slide custom fit my Nordica Ski boots, ........ best ski-boot fit I've had EVER!!!!!!!!!

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Strolz boots can be fantastic for people who ski maybe 15 - 20 days a year. They are relatively high volume, which means they pack out fairly quickly. How do I know? From talking to one of their most senior boot fitters, ex Zurs, now inLech. I was in that shop so often to get the boots adjusted and the broken buckles replaced that we got to know each other pretty well. Well enough for him to confide that Strolz are not a great choice for me... 50 - 55 days per year, and physically strong.

I am taking his advice this year... New boots. Short list has Lange RX130 LV and Fischer RC4 Vacuums on it.

One other point... You need to make sure you get a senior boot fitter to do the foaming. It is nothing like as fool proof as some suggest.

...btw skimastaaah: Strolz boots in Lech are as common as Porsches in Zurich. Nobody notices. Razz

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

Going from oversized boots (selected by a sports shop worker) to Strolz was a revelation but with my skinny ankles they still packed out.
As ulmerhutte says it's important who fits them. The Sports shop in Vienna gave me the wrong shell, the Strolz shop in Lech replaced the shell and did the job properly when I popped in to sort out a broken buckle.

For some people Strolz will work very well (esp if one of the standard Strolz shells really matches your foot) but IMHO they are not the be all and end of of ski boots for every pair of feet. Better to find the shell that best fits your feet than just fill any shell with foam. It's all down to shell fit but you can have the Strolz liner fitted into a different shell.

A Rolls Royce is heavy and expensive but for driving fun on a country lane or in a race, there are better cars to be driving.

After all it is free

...and there it is. Strolz can be a great boot if your foot is right for them and they are fitted by a pro. They are not however the magic bullet for everybody. Best advice... Find a great boot fitter, book him/her, and be prepared to spend a few hours.

CharlesD, just a quick point on cost. I think my last boots cost much less than you suggest, were expertly fitted including custom "race" insoles, are "race" boots, 8 have weirdish feet and ski 60 days a year...

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The tricky question I have is that as far as I can determine, Strolz have more or less one shell (clog). So if your foot isn't going to fit that well, you are no better off than buying any other randon boot.

To me the joy of a well experienced fitter was starting with the best shaped shell for my foot, thus minimising work and pain.

In my experience of two foamed liners (out of 9? Adult boot shell liners) is that they can be lovely but can be right painful gits. And do not make putting boots on any easier. I would not recommend except if replacing bust liners. A good fitte can generally get more comfort with less pain and less bucks.

I also have to say that my experience, admittedly 10 years ago, with Profeet was mixed.

Help!!

Ski boots - Profeet vs Strolz

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