 Poster: A snowHead
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I have got very narrow feet and find rental boots uncomfortable. So I bought a pair of beginner/early intermediate ski boots on my second trip. Have these boots for 8 years now. Is it time to invest in a pair of better boots? Would it make a big difference in my skiing (hoping better boots means better skiing? 😉). And finally any recommendation of central London boot fitter please? Thank you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Would it make a big difference in my skiing (hoping better boots means better skiing? |
Marginal long term gains. Get new ones if the old ones are worn out and not giving you the comfort and support they used to.
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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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Hi @Snowy123, are there any things that you feel your current boots are stopping you doing? For example, when I replaced my boots I did so because 1) I could easily overpower the flex, 2) I couldn't side-slip in one direction due to canting/cuff adjustment (or rather, lack of) 3) They didn't support my ankle well enough lateraly to do certain 1-leg drills (boot wobbling side to side) 4) My foot could move excessively inside the liner 5) My heels were lifting. If you haven't noticed any of these types of things then probably either the boots are fine or you might be better off investing in lessons to improve your technique to the point where new boots would benefit you.
If you have unusually narrow feet you might find it's a bit of a lottery whether the shops will have stock of suitable models as you get further into the season, so if you do decide to act better sooner or later. If you really don't need them this season consider waiting until Autumn to get the best choice.
As for boot fitters in Central London - if you want a good bootfitter the nearest you're going to get is probably Profeet in Putney(by reputation, I've not used them myself). There is also Bartlett in Hillingdon, who are a decent ski shop but without the specialist services of people like Profeet or Solutions4feet. Personally I feel that the trip to Bicester for solutions4feet is worth it.
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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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For central London it's self the usual recommendation is ProFeet. If you have a car and are north/west London then there's also Solutions4Feet up the M40 in Bister are also easy to get to and also highly recommended.
Both companies are in the business of boot fitting rather than just boot selling like some of the high street names so my advice would be to book a session with them telling them your situation and taking your current boots along with you. If you don't need new boots, just new or tweeked liners/footbeds that's what they will recommend and do for you. It's only if you would benefit from different boots that they will sell you a pair.
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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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Just replaced my boots (3rd pair), this time after 10 years. They were decent Salmons with a fitted footbed. This was done at snow and rock. The lining has now given up the ghost. New pair of Rossignols, again with a fitted footbed, again from Snow and Rock (chill factore). Good service from S&R, in the Northwest we have relatively few independent stores, ( none in Liverpool or Manchester).
In my opinion a fitted footbed is the key additional expenditure Snowy123. Hope you get sorted 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ive just got some new salomons .. narrow fit and very snug, somehow a size smaller than my old ones.. boots of today are far better than a few years ago..
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@Snowy123, they are almost certainly too big...
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Next half size down was too small...toes touching at the end even when stood up..
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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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@Idcxty, They don't make half sizes, it's just marketing fluff 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Tubaski wrote: |
| @Idcxty, They don't make half sizes, it's just marketing fluff |
Well, kinda true kinda not. If you go from an X.5 to an X.0 you are right it's the same boot.
But if you go from X.0 to X.5 then you're probably dropping a whole size so absolutely possible that you won't fit into it!!
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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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| Idcxty wrote: |
| Next half size down was too small...toes touching at the end even when stood up.. |
When standing up or in skiing position?
When simply standing your toes should just make contact with the end of the boot without feeling pressured enough to be uncomfortable. Once you adopt a skiing position this pulls the foot back towards the heel pocket and your toes should then not feel this. I made the mistake of getting my first touring boots a touch larger and paid the price in heel blisters and feeling a slight lack of control on the downhill.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thank you for all your advise and tips and recommendations.
@Tubaski and @PowderAdict, the main issues are:
1) these are the only ski boots (apart from the rental boots on my first ski trip) I have ever worn, so I don't really know what other boots may feel like. One of the reasons I am thinking of getting of new boots is because I rented more expensive skis on the last 2 ski trips and I found I was controlling my skis better and skiing better and So I wonder whether boots may make a difference too?
2) I find my boots fit well on the first 2 days but as the week progressed, they became looser and looser and I had to keep tightening them more. My left foot was moving a bit on the last 2 days and that I felt I wasn't controlling my left ski/turns as well by the end of week vs earlier on in the week. And my toe kept pushing forward and one of my toe was hurting after a day of skiing.
Thank you again!
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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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"I find my boots fit well on the first 2 days but as the week progressed, they became looser and looser and I had to keep tightening them more. My left foot was moving a bit on the last 2 days and that I felt I wasn't controlling my left ski/turns as well by the end of week vs earlier on in the week. And my toe kept pushing forward and one of my toe was hurting after a day of skiing. "
I find that as well whether with my own boots or hire boots. I start the week with thin socks but as the week progresses , I find I have to wear thicker socks and tighten the adjusters. I put it down to everything getting compressed . What is the answer, please?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| muddewater wrote: |
"I find my boots fit well on the first 2 days but as the week progressed, they became looser and looser and I had to keep tightening them more. My left foot was moving a bit on the last 2 days and that I felt I wasn't controlling my left ski/turns as well by the end of week vs earlier on in the week. And my toe kept pushing forward and one of my toe was hurting after a day of skiing. "
I find that as well whether with my own boots or hire boots. I start the week with thin socks but as the week progresses , I find I have to wear thicker socks and tighten the adjusters. I put it down to everything getting compressed . What is the answer, please? |
Had the same with my previous boots. It took a trip to a bootfiter and 1 size smaller boots. Two days of tighter feel and then it was just perfect for the last 3 years
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