 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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Solutions for feet. Bicester, Oxon.
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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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I think Rivington Alpine is the usual northern suggestion. Colin at Solutions 4 Feet in Bicester did mine (and many other snowheads) and is highly recommended by many but will generally fit a tight boot. I forget the name of the lot in London that get mentioned too, possibly Profeet.
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@agold,
personally I'd do it in resort - you are quite likely to have to make trips back to the shop for mods. If your friendly bootfitter is a sensible drive from home that is one thing. If it involves getting on a plane that is another.
Where will you be at Christmas?
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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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@jedster, we are heading to Saint Martin de Belleville. Have you purchased in resort before? For some reason I am apprehensive about this and would mean having to give up a few hours skiing to get sorted, would maybe prefer to have them before we fly out? Although advice is welcome. Lastly, are boots slightly more expensive in resort or much the same?
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@SnoodlesMcFlude, Thanks! I will look into these. A tight book I can live with but too small has been a struggle
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@agold, out of interest, how do you know they are too small (vs the wrong shape)? It's far more common to get boots that are too big (and thus uncomfortable), than too small.
If you decide to travel to the UK for boots, think carefully about how you'll get them tweaked if needed. If you can make it part of a trip that involves boot fitting, a session or two in a fridge and a trip back to the fitter for adjustments, you reduce the risk of having fantastic new boots that aren't quite perfect. No fitter can absolutely guarantee perfection first time around, even if they achieve it for many people. The economics of flying internationally for a small stretch or grind don't stack up. On the other hand, confidence that your bootfitter really knows what they're doing might compensate - it did for me.
Buying in resort makes sense if you can locate a good boot fitter and are willing to sacrifice a few hours of the holiday in order to make the next few years better. No one but you can decide this. Any price difference is peanuts in comparison to the cost of a couple of flights plus a day or more of your time.
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@mgrolf, i brought them to a fitter in Ireland when we returned last season and he measured me up and concluded they were a size too small (the reason I was considering going elsewhere other than purchasing in this shop was they have a very limited selection of boots 3/4 womens styles max and I wanted to make sure I had the best choice of boots). Subsequently the shop I bought them from 9 years ago has closed down 
My sister lives in Manchester so I was hoping if i got somewhere near there if boots need tweaked after Christmas I will more than likely be over at the start of the new year I could nip in and get them seen to there. Otherwise I agree could be a bit of hassle trying to get them sorted.
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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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If you're going to Saint Martin, I can recommend The Boot Lab in Meribel. Having spent far too much time and money with boot fitters in the past, I was very skeptical when I went in there last year. In the end I bought boots from them and my experience was excellent. They are proper boot fitters, knowledgable and careful.
I wanted to go to Colin at Solutions4Feet, but I wasn't able to get to Bicester in time for my trip. Colin very helpfully answered my questions, though, and it was his suggestion that persuaded me to try The Boot Lab. He's clearly a good guy and a careful professional and I wouldn't hesitate to go to him if you can make the trip.
If you go to Colin, you could try out your new boots at the snow dome in Hemel Hempstead (about an hour from Bicester by car). There's also a snow dome in Manchester. If you go to The Boot Lab, it's in Meribel Center so it's easy to get there from Saint Martin. You can also buy your boots from Colin and have The Boot Lab tweak them if needed, that will cost you a little bit more money but not a fortune.
It's worth skiing in new boots if possible, although with places like The Boot Lab and Solutions4Feet you're likely to get an extremely good fit by the time you leave the shop. The minor tweaks I had done after the initial purchase were definitely optional, I think I went back to the shop just because I could rather than because I had to.
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@agold, out of interest, where did you buy your boots? There used to be 2 good shops in Belfast, Macski and Climate, and if you bought from one of these the chances are they are the right size. (Though I've been wrong before!)
Did you go back to where you bought them after they started hurting for adjustments?
Regarding buying in resort - that's what I will do the next time I buy new ones. It's important to ski boots in them and then go back to the fitter for any adjustments needed. Possibly several times. You can't do this if your fitter is in England. Most fitters in resort work evenings so you won't lose ski time. Ask on here for recommendations for a fitter in S M Dr B.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you're in Manchester for a couple of days, it's probably feasible to get an appointment at Rivington Alpine and then a session at Manchester Chill Factore with time to go back to Rivington if you have to. I've always needed one set of minor tweaks to get rid of pressure points that don't show themselves in the shop, so it's worth factoring in.
Getting them done in resort might work out better for you logistically, but it's still dependent on having a good shop that you can get to.
If you're going somewhere in the UK, phone up before you plan the trip to make sure they have a good stock in. I've just had one shop tell me to come back in mid October and another not till the end of November.
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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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@Tom Doc, I got them in climate ski. I bought them in the August, skied in the Jan, went back in Feb and got them tweaked a little but every year since I've just suffered numb and sore feet and sort of thought this must just be the norm when skiing. But after a group trip this year I was saying about the pain and was told its not normal so I went to get them looked at this March (to a different shop) to see if I could get them adjusted but was advised they are a size too small?
Just really want to make sure I get it right this time and can have a comfortable few years skiing ahead
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Solutions4feet in Bicester have massive expertise and a reputation that is second to none. Proprietor and snowhead CEM is frequent poster on this site. In 35 years skiing (c.150 weeks) I've had half a dozen pairs of custom fitted boots from UK and resort based shops and the experience with Solutions4feet is way ahead of the rest. In your position I would consider the trip to the mainland a commitment worth making.
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You know it makes sense.
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@agold, it's definitely not normal, but also not uncommon.
The best way to get new boots is to go to a recommended fitter and take their advice. As @Skeet says above, CEM is highly recommended on this forum, but I'd still prefer to be able to ski in them and go back for adjustments, so I'd be inclined to buy in resort. It'd be different if you lived near CEM, but as you've learnt there aren't any bootfitters left in N.I.
I've v high arches, and have had to go back to get the boots stretched upwards, saying 'a bit more please', then return the next day asking for even more, so one return visit might do, but might not.
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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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@agold, Have you done a shell check on your current boots to see whether they are really too small ? There is a description on what to do here.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm also from NI and knew John and Des....when they were both in Mac Ski and then Des started Climate. Sad to see them both close.
I'm with Tom Doc and would get your boots in resort, from a fitter that is recommended on here. I got mine from JoJo in Tignes, who I think may finally have retired.
If you lived near CEM, that would be different, but given you live here, I'd buy in resort, so you can get them tweaked if necessary during the week.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Scarlet wrote: |
If you're in Manchester for a couple of days, it's probably feasible to get an appointment at Rivington Alpine and then a session at Manchester Chill Factore with time to go back to Rivington if you have to. I've always needed one set of minor tweaks to get rid of pressure points that don't show themselves in the shop, so it's worth factoring in.
Getting them done in resort might work out better for you logistically, but it's still dependent on having a good shop that you can get to.
If you're going somewhere in the UK, phone up before you plan the trip to make sure they have a good stock in. I've just had one shop tell me to come back in mid October and another not till the end of November. |
I’d definitely go with this suggestion and have great faith in Rivington Alpine after having my boots fitted and also my son’s. Excellent and professional service and they will find a boots that fits you well and they always keep a good stock. They will also measure your feet accurately and establish if you need any adjustments for your particular physical set up. It’s not too far from Manchester and as you have family there to visit it would work well. You will certainly need to allow a few hours for the appointment and neither me nor my son have needed to go back for tweaks but I suspect my feet aren’t too unusual, so being able to visit the Chill Factor to try them out would work well. I will probably need new boots soon and I’d never go anywhere else, so they’ll get my custom again.
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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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@agold, as has been said, undersized boots are uncommon. @rjs, shell check an excellent idea. As otherwise, they may just need some adjustments.
You can always make them bigger, you can't make 'em smaller.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@agold, I can recommend a good boot specialist up the road from St Martin in Les Menuires. https://www.armandopodo.fr/contact/
He's very good. His shop is tucked away just above Bruyeres on the right as you ski down from Reberty. Good if you have funny feet. You need to make appointment, but you can ski there and, if need be, get a bus back to St M if you don't have a car. I think his opening hours may stretch into the early evening too. If you go early in the week, he will recommend coming back after a couple of days to tweak any issues. He can be persuaded to do it with boots bought elsewhere, but sometimes that means a recommendation that your were sold the wrong boots in the first place. To be fair I think would be more expensive than most UK based shops.
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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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| rjs wrote: |
| @agold, Have you done a shell check on your current boots to see whether they are really too small ? There is a description on what to do here. |
^ this. Highly unlikely that your boots are too small.
agold, read CEM's comments here re ankle flexion: https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=148571
Do you have aftermarket or custom footbeds in your boots?
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@agold, as others have alluded to it is highly unlikely that your boots are physically too small, it is hard enough to get people to leave the store with ones that are the right size as they feel very tight to begin with
there are many things which can make a boot appear too small in terms of how your foot functions biomechanically, without a full assessment of the foot and ankle it is impossible to say what the problem/solution is, however i would be very cautious about a shop saying they are too small (especially knowing where they came from) what a boot seller considers too small compared to a boot fitter are two very very different things
with your family in manchester the first place i would speak to if you are going to sort them out in the uk would be Graham at rivington alpine, he can assess what is happening and get you in the right size boot, if you are looking to buy in resort i would hop over to meribel and go see the guys at boot lab either way it should be possible to get you into a boot the right size, the key is the understanding of the biomechnics and making sure it is possible for these to work with the boot
hope that helps
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Buy in resort. Best selection early in season.
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@rjs, no i haven't but will be going straight home to do so! Thanks! Might be hope yet!
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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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@spacetrucker, unfortunately that isn't always true, often a smaller shop will only have 2 brands and maybe 10-15 models (variations of the same thing) the bigger stores tend to be like a chain here, more focused on sales than fitting.... if you get lucky and find a decent fitter then great but without personal recommendation i wouldn't gamble
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Thanks so much for all the advice!
I was perhaps slightly naive and took the word that I needed new boots as gospel but this has really given me hope mine might be worth getting a look at.
Would it be worthwhile, if I am in Manchester in the next month or so, to bring my boots to Graham and get them looked at or should I wait and look for new boots in resort?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| agold wrote: |
Thanks so much for all the advice!
I was perhaps slightly naive and took the word that I needed new boots as gospel but this has really given me hope mine might be worth getting a look at.
Would it be worthwhile, if I am in Manchester in the next month or so, to bring my boots to Graham and get them looked at or should I wait and look for new boots in resort? |
If your boots were 3 or 4 years old - then definitely.
With your boots being maybe 9 years old, the answer isn't so easy. They might have another 3 or 4 years left - and may need work done to them (or not be right at all). If money is tight, I'd consider bringing them over. If not, I would be inclined to get a new pair - especially as boots have improved over the last 8 or 9 years.
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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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Personally, I'd bring them over anyway. I agree that it's probably time for some new boots (particularly if the old boots need some work done) but I think you'll want to understand what the problem with the current ones is even if it's just to stop you having doubts when the fitter suggests a new pair the same size.
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@Old Fartbag, 9 years at 1 standard week a year is 54 days... so should have more than half their life left.
9 years of full seasons skiing hard 6 days a year and they should have been replaced 8 years ago...
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You know it makes sense.
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@under a new name, Yea they have only had 1 or 2 weeks a season so max 80 days they have been used
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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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@agold, my own heuristic for liners (not shells) is 120 days or so. Mostly as mine start to honk.
Defo for oem liners for me 180 days, then they start breaking down. My current shells are on year 9 I think and liners #2...
One concern however if whether the shell plastic still retains its elasticity and integrity ... but you could ask about that.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| under a new name wrote: |
@Old Fartbag, 9 years at 1 standard week a year is 54 days... so should have more than half their life left.
9 years of full seasons skiing hard 6 days a year and they should have been replaced 8 years ago... |
Surely plastic ages, whether the boots are being used, or not.
Edit. I see you have touched on this. It was my fear, rather than anything else, having had a boot disintegrate on me, when I kept them too long.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| under a new name wrote: |
| 9 years of full seasons skiing hard 6 days a year |
You've been reading too many @Whitegold posts
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FAQ
Heading off over Christmas this year and I'm desperate to get myself a right fitting pair of boots that I can ski in comfort in. I am based in Northern Ireland but willing to travel to Mainland UK etc to get a decent fit and size of boots as we don't have much choice over here. Have family in Manchester that I can use as a base if needed but as I said will travel far and wide to get the best boots for my feet.
