 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm planning an early ski trip to Austria at the end of October and beginning of November later this year (as much discussed in another thread). The problem is I really need to get new ski boots before then, my current ones just don't fit properly at all and are far too soft (and very old). I could maybe try to get some there, but it's time out of the holiday, and I don't know what will be open and if they'll have stock.
I'm based in Newcastle, have been to LD Mountain Centre, who didn't have much left being the end of season and they just didn't really have anything appropriate for me, Snow and Rock have sent all their ski boots back, both stores say they won't have any new stock in untill probably November. So I'm in this quandary of how to get new ski boots? I've looked around for bootfitters, and the nearest ones seem about 2 hours drive away, and don't have much, if any, stock left for this season.
So short of scouring the country's bootfitters in some kind of epic road trip, I'm really not sure what to do? I was condsidering ordering some online, I got some pretty useful information from trying on boots with the bootfitter at LD, so I think I can probably approximate ones that will be close to fitting, and then getting a bootfitter here or in Austria to work with them.
The last resort would be to just rent in Austria, which I'd really rather not do to be honest. My current boots are so bad though that renting would be better.
Would appreciate any advice on this!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@menatarms, The recommended bootfitters nearest to you may get their new stock earlier than Snow and Rock.
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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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The Independent shops would be a good bet as they are more likely to hold stk 'in house' rather than centrally. You'll have to travel as they are few and far between nowadays.
Glide & slide in Otley are pretty good/
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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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Any you could recommend? I've looked at Craigdon in Edinburgh, Glideslide in West Yorkshire and Anything Technical in Kendal. I'm a bit hesitant though because it's a long way to go (really adds to cost) in case they don't have something suitable.
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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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@menatarms, try calling in advance?
Maybe your best option would be to rent for the first few days while having new ones fitted. Where are you going? someone might have a recommendation.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| under a new name wrote: |
@menatarms, try calling in advance?
Maybe your best option would be to rent for the first few days while having new ones fitted. Where are you going? someone might have a recommendation. |
Most likely Soelden, possibly Hintertux and/or Pitztal as well. Very condition dependent given how early it is. Yes that's a good idea, as I don't speak German I'm struggling to even search for bootfitters around that area in advance.
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Renting sounds a good idea to me - you need to get the feel of moderately up to date, well fitted, boots. That experience will stand you in good stead when you do go to buy your own boots. Most hire shops will have a few different ones for you to try.
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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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Surefoot in London is where I got my boots from. Nicely fitted and that’s all they really do … boots and boot fittings so very specialised. They also have sister branches / affiliates in in various resorts where you can get tweaks done if needed under their guarantee although I don’t think they have sister branches in Austria (they do in France and Switzerland and North America)
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Thanks this is great! I'll send some emails out to see if they'll be open with stock then.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Sean3311 wrote: |
| Surefoot in London is where I got my boots from. Nicely fitted and that’s all they really do … boots and boot fittings so very specialised. They also have sister branches / affiliates in in various resorts where you can get tweaks done if needed under their guarantee although I don’t think they have sister branches in Austria (they do in France and Switzerland and North America) |
Sadly a long way for me 
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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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Backcountry UK in Otley is another option. They are more focussed on touring kit, but I'm pretty sure also have a reasonable range of downhill boots. I went there to get alpine touring boots after the end of last season, and there had a decent range in stock
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You know it makes sense.
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@menatarms,
Seem to think that @CEM (Solutions for feet) stated in a post (some years ago) that he got new season boots in August/September ??
I may be mis-remembering.
Have you tried contacting one of the recommended ones in this thread ?
===edit====
@CEM posted this in April 2019 in response to this question - "@CEM, going off on a tangent , what is the best time of year to visit you for maximum choice / sizes etc? done skiing this year."
"maximum choice late august/early Sept although we have had next years Atomic, head, 50% of dalbello, and 50% of salomon, and 50% nordica already delivered, more arriving weekly"
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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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Think CEM posted that new season race boots arriving all the time
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks for the advice guys, one of the bootfitters in Soelden has gotten back to me, says they receive the new season stock beginning of October. I think the best option is to get them there so I can ski on them and have adjustments made if necessary. Snowheads comes through yet again! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@menatarms, I think that's pretty sound thinking.
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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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@menatarms, I'd do a bit of research on the boot fitter prior. I know the greenroom in Mayrhofen has a good reputation if you choose the hintertux gletscher
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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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| Mother hucker wrote: |
| @menatarms, I'd do a bit of research on the boot fitter prior. I know the greenroom in Mayrhofen has a good reputation if you choose the hintertux gletscher |
Will do, it's almost certainly going to be Soelden tbh unless the conditions are really terrible or the world cup race is moved back by more than 1 week. The ones posted in this thread all look excellent, I know the Austrians take skiing very seriously!
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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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@menatarms, Austrians take skiing very seriously, but they don’t necessarily take their equipment that seriously. Many are skiing on kit 20 or 30 years old, or bought second hand online. When you live in the mountains, you can theoretically try a different pair each weekend, or go back to the shop dozens of times on your lunch break, so you may not worry about “perfect” kit. You probably inherited half of it anyway.
Good boot fitting is much more important to someone who only skis a week or two each year, and who doesn’t want to “waste” their trip either sorting out equipment or suffering because of it.
However, I’m sorry I have no idea of the quality or reputation of boot fitters in Sölden.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Scarlet, Some Austrians take their equipment seriously. A bootfitter that has been recommended is H&N.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sat 29-04-23 11:27; edited 1 time in total
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@menatarms, Try Ski Racing Supplies in Sheffield. They (and Bartletts) come to most of the dry slope races during the summer and appear to have a lot of stock.
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Asking for a West London-based friend, which would you choose out of Profeet and Ski Bartlett for new boots? And is there anyone in particular one should ask for at either place? Thanks.
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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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It's just occurred to me... I'm not sure if friend has their own skis. If so, they would perhaps be better going to Bartletts, as a one-stop shop for new bindings to conform with gripwalk soles.
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Personally I'd send them to ProFeet, mainly because I've used them and been very happy with everything from the experience, through service, fit, and post-purchase support.
Not sure the "own skis" thing has any bearing on it. I mean there's no guarantee your friends new boots will actually have gripwalk soles for a start. If they DID have their own skis you could make the case Bartletts could adjust the bindings to suit the new boots - but Google will tell you how to adjust them yourself, or most resort ski shops will do it for either the price of a beer or even free (especially if you ask while in with a group of friends paying to hire skis). Also swapping bindings on the same pair of skis isn't always possible, and even where it is a more specialist job than just fitting bindings to new skis.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Austrians take skiing very seriously, but they don’t necessarily take their equipment that seriously. Many are skiing on kit 20 or 30 years old, or bought second hand online.
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Same true of many French people, from my observations. Old skis, old boots, old jackets. Stuff handed down the generations.
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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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I noticed some very battered looking, very long, very narrow, skis sitting next to me on a chairlift. We both started down the same mogully black run. He shot past and lapped me. 
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@Mjit,
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no guarantee your friends new boots will actually have gripwalk soles
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I thought most boots had gripwalk soles these days. In fact I think CEM posted to that effect on another thread.
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You know it makes sense.
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Is there a chance you could get measured up etc and they'd give you recommendations to try that you could order from their website?
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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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If I were you i would very seriously look at a trip to Bicester and Solutions4Feet - and also bite the bullet and get zipfit liners if you do go there and they are suitable for you.
I wouldn't go anywhere near Surefoot but Rivington andProfeet seem well regarded also.
I'm in Thailand and wondering about bringing my boots next visit home to UK and seeing CEM at Bicester just to give my zipfits a once over and the new boots I had to get (as in my previous pair cracked after one day so i really, really did have to get a new pair)... so they have that much of a reputation 
And yes... I once had a pair of Surefoot boots - as did my good friends wife (for a while, at least, ha)...even after i warned her not to.
For me... two different pairs of boots with foamed liners, a pair with the regular OEM heat mouldable in there too... oh, and a brief go with Intuitions... sigh. All those wasted years when Zipfit liner ski boot nirvana was there waiting (with a properly sized boot shell) - this will be the 2nd boots with the same zipfits so bear that in mind when you wince at the extra cost (they outlast the boot and can be transferred to your new ones).
Maybe your foot will be a good match for those new Fisher boots that come with or have an option of a zipfit liner with them.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnE wrote: |
| @menatarms, Try Ski Racing Supplies in Sheffield. They (and Bartletts) come to most of the dry slope races during the summer and appear to have a lot of stock. |
Has anyone on here used Ski Racing Supplies in Sheffield ? They are a LOT closer to me than solutions4feet ...
Fitter is a guy called Olly Farr - has some masterfit accreditations . Good reviews on google...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Haven’t dealt with Olly for boot fitting but he’s the first person/company I use when I need advice or products for my sons ski racing. I’ve found them to be a very good and trust worthy company.
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