 Poster: A snowHead
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I have some Nordica Speedmachine 130s which previously I haven't had issues skiing in, but I have noticed that I have to do the boots up to their tightest buckle setting in the morning so my only adjustment in the afternoon is through the velcro strap. I decided to do a shell check and there is roughly 25mm of space which seems to be a large comfort fit. I know new ski boots has been done to death but am I really going to notice a big difference by getting a more performance fit? I'm still able to ski to a high level with these boots (towards instructor level 2 standard for reference).
Perhaps people have experiences of going from a boot they thought was fine to a well fitted boot? I'd be interested to hear! 
Next question is done to death but it would be good to hear about any experiences of Lockwoods from this season? I'm struggling to commit to paying the extra £200 I'm bound to spend going to Solutions4feet vs lock woods. Are we talking a large difference in skiing performance/comfort or is it just squeezing that extra 5% out of the process? £500-£600 is almost a ski trip!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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For years I skied in size 29.5, believing it to be the correct size for me. A few years back I needed new boots so went to Ellis Brigham in Chester. After a couple of hours squeezing my feet into various boots I came out of the shop with a pair of Salomons in size 28.0. The difference was huge. They were no less comfortable than the old ones (having been heat moulded etc), but skiing was so much easier.
Don't ski in boots that are too big.
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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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@areynolds10, Like you I became convinced that I would benefit from a size smaller and changed from a 27 to a 26.5 (Salomon so a smaller shell size, not just a thicker liner) but hated it.
I had an acute sense of the shorter sole length and the loss of control and power that seemed to create between the boot sole and the binding.
Might have been all in the mind but I'm back in the 27's now and the smaller ones got sold on ebay...
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IIRC S4F's consultation charge is £50-£100 but after that their boot prices/footbeds etc are competitive with everyone else. However S4F are the only outfit that I know of in the UK that offer unweighted/semi-weight/weighted footbed options which gives them a better range of solutions for your feet and they have a more extensive workshop than anyone else - but that may or may not be of benefit to you, it depends upon your feet. Plus you'll get a 'time is no object' personal appointment whereas Lockwoods only offer a walk-in service.
If you're L2 level then you'll definitely get the benefit of a better fit (ie a size down for 15mm shell gap, which still isn't a mega fit) and I'd recommend paying the extra.
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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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Thanks for the replies! Its a hard decision to make as its not like I don't have an enjoyable time when I go ski in my current boots! No doubt if I go to S4F I would come out with a near perfect fit, his reputation clearly shows Colin is very good at his job but I'd be shelling out for it.
Presumably another option is to get custom liners? Could the lack of adjustment in my buckles be helped with new liners? The boots don't feel sloppy when they are done up to their tightest settings and I have good heel hold. Unfortunately Colin is too busy at the moment to consider looking at my existing boots which is completely understandable. Has anyone had custom liners fitted at lock woods?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sorry...describing kookys skiing should say she is an excellent skier and whizz fast. I gave no idea how she managed...skillz
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@holidayloverxx, 
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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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| areynolds10 wrote: |
Thanks for the replies! Its a hard decision to make as its not like I don't have an enjoyable time when I go ski in my current boots! No doubt if I go to S4F I would come out with a near perfect fit, his reputation clearly shows Colin is very good at his job but I'd be shelling out for it.
Presumably another option is to get custom liners? Could the lack of adjustment in my buckles be helped with new liners? The boots don't feel sloppy when they are done up to their tightest settings and I have good heel hold. Unfortunately Colin is too busy at the moment to consider looking at my existing boots which is completely understandable. Has anyone had custom liners fitted at lock woods? |
It's folly to fit custom liners to an oversize shell, you're really just wasting money that could go towards the new boots.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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| coops1967 wrote: |
| Go to Bicester, and invest in Zipfit liners (if they suit your feet etc). The Zipfits will outlast your boot shell and be a revelation, as will properly sized and fitted shells and footbed..... |
But he hasn't got a properly sized shell so better to put the £200+ in to new boots instead of new liners. New liners can then be installed in the new shells down the line when the factory liners die.
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| areynolds10 wrote: |
| Perhaps people have experiences of going from a boot they thought was fine to a well fitted boot? I'd be interested to hear! |
I don't have that experience (Colin at S4F has fitted me for my last four or five pairs of boots, so I'm used to a performance but not race fit) but I sort of have the opposite experience. I was teaching for the day at The Snow Centre and when I arrived I discovered I'd brought my shells but left my liners at home, so I had to grab a pair of the rental boots and use them. I asked for my shoe size and were given a pair which felt roomy enough to be clown shoes, so I went down a size. They were probably the shortest boot I could have got away with as there was certainly no spare room in front of my toes, but the amount of movement all around my foot was horrible. I was glad I was only skiing indoors, as skiing in those things at speed would have been frightening. The disconnect between me and my skis was so bad it felt like I was using someone else's legs.
I appreciate this is an extreme example but a well fitted boot is the most important bit of kit you're going to own, something you rely on for every single turn. Paying whatever it takes to make sure you get it right should be the highest priority.
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You know it makes sense.
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Appears to be a case of missing the point here. Sure you can ski to a "high level" in oversized boots - isn't there an old instructors trick getting pupils to ski with their boots undone? - just as you can ski to high level with a pair of punter skis. But your kit is your passage to better skiing and therefore more fun skiing.
Now, like anything, there is a limit. You don't need the performance fit of a downhill racer. But you do want something made for the job.
My advice keep using the boots you have until you can get a slot at S4F.
If you work out the cost per day of properly fitted boots it's worth it.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Mon 6-01-20 16:09; edited 1 time in total
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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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@areynolds10, If the boots are still in good condition and its just an issue of your liners being old and packed out, I suggest you contact Pro-feet in London to see if they will sell you a Nodica or Technica (same company) liner which they
have removed from boots where they have provided a custom liner. I bought some from them at the start of 2019 for c. £75 for a pair for my Speedmachines.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks for all the replies! I've decided to have a trip to Lockwoods on saturday to assess the situation with the hope that it is just a case of my liners being packed out. If that is the case then i'm going to invest in a zipfit liner. Zipfits seem to have fantastic feedback and i like the idea of keeping them when i change boots in the future. If my boots are in fact slightly too large then i'm gonna wait until after my upcoming holiday and go see CEM later in the year!
Don't worry i'll make sure i give Lockwoods some business even if i don't come away with a new liner. I can't go home empty handed 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@areynolds10, you've already done a shell check and ascertained that you've got a 25mm gap which is too much for a performance fit. You asked for advice but seem keen on ignoring it 
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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@areynolds10, have you measured your mondo size and compared them to the size written on the liner and boot shell? This should help figure out quickly if the shell is the right size.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Ozboy, Damn good point. I am usually a 28 (size 44) in most trainers, boots etc. My mondo is 26.5 and sure enough that is my (very professionally fitted) ski boot size.
When Kooky got her new boots her skiing ability suddenly shot up a couple of levels, as she stated above she wishes she had done it years ago.
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@Scarpa, AFAIK shops always use the mondo measurement when fitting out boots for rental or purchase. People tend to naturally quote a larger comfortable size when using shoe size.
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But many boots are now made/sized 'big' for their mondo size. CEM has comments here before about the sizes 'growing' over the years, hence the need to down size for a performance fit.
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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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@spyderjon, good to know as I thought mondo was the only version of the truth.
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@spyderjon, that is very interesting as I have gone from regular 26.5 to 25.5 to 24 
(My feet haven’t shrunk).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Thought i'd give an update on the boot situation. I was right to have doubt in my shell checking abilities as lockwoods deemed there to be 12-15mm clearance so i got a zipfit liner fitted! The foot hold with the new liner is brilliant! My feet do not move at all in the shell except for a nice amount of room around the toe box. After going through the moulding process, i decided to try out my old liners for comparison and wow did they feel roomy in comparison.
Needless to say i can't wait to try them out on the slopes
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You know it makes sense.
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@areynolds10, excellent. Glad things have worked out.
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