 Poster: A snowHead
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I know boot fitting has been done to death but please indulge me for one more thread.
After close to 20 years my Nordica boots need to be replaced. It's been on the cards for a couple of years now while they've been irritating me but this year they hurt and a fitter said they were too old , packed out and too old to work on anyway.
I got them from Ellis Brigham in Aviemore and I've always been reasonably happy with them, good but always felt it might be possible to get better. Custom foot beds for a start would be better as I've just had superfeet until now. That's not EB's fault as I was happy with that at the time and they did offer custom ones. I've had the shells tweaked to relive slight pressure years ago but all in all it was great having my own decent fitting boots and not having the hire lottery which was always tricky for me with my long narrow feet and skinny ankles.
Anyway I'm older now and prepared to pay for really good well fitted boots and beds. So where do I go? Ideally it would be in Scotland somewhere, both for fitting and ease of tweaks but I'd also be open to travelling if it was really necessary. London being easier than Bicester for me.
My priorities are a good fitter and a good selection of boots to start with. I'm thinking from what I've read Nordica, Head, Atomic and maybe some Lange would be the low volume boots I need. I don't think my feet are so unusual it will need anything special - just the best shell to start with and maybe a tweak here or there.
I'm planning ahead and thinking about early season next year when stocks are full even though it'll mean full price just so I can get the best boot not the best available at the time.
Would anyone want to weigh in and tell me where's best in Scotland? Or have any other advice?
And I havent even mentioned flex......
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hello
I’ve had good service from Blues in Tiso’s on Rose Street in Edinburgh. Spent lots of time with me and tweaked them again after 2 weeks skiing.
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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 asked this recently for my area (Aberdeen) and was recommended Craigdon in Aberdeen and Craigdon in Perth. I went with the Aberdeen branch and had a great experience, the atomic boot fitting matched exactly the process I’d read about online.
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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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@Onmebum, every brand makes a low volume boot, but not all low volume boots are equal, subtle differences between the brands make the starting point either good or not so good, be that instep height, heel width or toe box shape, all these things can be changed, but you are looking for 80% right and working on 20% rather than the other way round
for Scotland, go see Karla at craigdon in Perth, or the other route is have a chat with Shona Anderson in Glasgow, she doesn't sell boots but will guide towards a pair and then do the fitting
edit to correct my fat fingers
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 18-02-25 8:56; edited 1 time in total
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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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| CEM wrote: |
@Onmebum, the other route is have a shat with Shona Anderson in Glasgow,
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Difficult to know where to start with that one..................
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well, it is Glasgow ... 
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Got my boots from CEM a number of years ago and had some minor adjustments made by Shona a couple of years back, she's great!
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| CEM wrote: |
for Scotland, go see Karla at craigdon in Perth |
I followed this advice from CEM 12.5 years ago and was hugely happy with the boots I ended up with after a fitting with Karla at Craigdon in Perth.
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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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I got new boots recently from Craigdon in Aberdeen, great experience with knowledgeable staff including time spent doing custom footbeds.
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Thank you everyone for the feedback, especially @CEM who's opinion obviously counts for a lot.
I hadn't really thought about Craigdon as they don't have a presence round my way but as I pass Perth often I'll probably pop in over the summer and see what they say about an autumn appointment.
Although I've just found out I'll be very close to Bicester for a wedding this year, although it's in June.... 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Small update to this post, took my son past Craigdon Aberdeen earlier as his feet have grown a ridiculous amount this year since buying his boots last year (listen to the people that say it's not worth buying kids boots ) and wanted to check they were still ok as he was complaining a bit. Found they're still the best size for his feet shell wise but needed a different length of foot bed and got the liner moulded again for a bit more toe space. Must have been there for over an hour and it was as thorough as the initial fitting appointment, the only charge was the foot beds which we still got Aberdeen snowsports discount on. So I'd recommend them not only for initial fitting, but the boot fit guarantee they offer on new boots really is honoured.
My wallet is happy but he's not as he wants full boa!!
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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 got my boots from CEM (day trip to Bicester) adjusted by Shona Anderson many years later as my calves had shrunk significantly and can wholeheartedly recommend both!
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We had good service from Blues in Tiso’s on Rose Street in Edinburgh
Though I have no idea if the same staff are still there.
In hindsight both Mrs G and myself should have changed boots much sooner.  chalk and cheese come to mind.
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