Has anyone used Profeet's ski bootfitting services?

A snowHead

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has used Profeet's bootfitting services? (based in London).

http://www.profeet.co.uk/skiboots.html

I need to buy a new pair of boots for a couple of weeks' skiing in early Jan - off to Obertauern Smile

Let's just say my old boots are tired. I live in Leicester at the moment - does anyone know any very good bootfitters to go to around here? Or up to Sheffield/Manchester neck of the woods (friends that way). At the end of the day I don't mind travelling a little if I can find a very knowledgeable person to help me, though paying £120 or so (on top of boot price) for Profeet's fitting services seems a lot to me at the moment - maybe it's excellent though and their boot prices are competitive too?

Advice warmly appreciated, cheers, Nick

A snowHead

There is a thread here
which speaks highly of CEM who is a snowhead, his details are in that thread. Toofy Grin

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

White Gold, I can't help with your question, but have a read of this thread here http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=17961

There are 3 professional bootfitters on snowHeads and 2 of them will be in Leamington spa later this month at the above event. It may be of benefit to you...

You need to Login to know who's really who.

White Gold, Lockwood's at Leamington Spa are highly regarded...

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I bought boots at Profeet last season (or was it the season before that? How time flies!). I was impressed with the service. In a couple of weeks my partner will be getting new boots fitted by one of the pro bootfitters who contributes here (CEM) who also gets very good reports. He might be a bit closer to you then London if you are prepared to travel to see a specialist rather than visit a local ski shop in Yorkshire?

You'll need to Register first of course.

Hey you 4 folks - thanks very much for chipping your advice my way. Cheers for now.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

White Gold - Profeet are good. But expensive - primarily due to the fact they've aiming squarely at serving the price insensitive end of the Chelsea / King's Road / Fulham market. Although their high up front cost does cover a footbed and as much aftercare as you need.

I've mainly used Profeet for trainers as they're very hot on bio-mechanics - they won't sell you a pair of trainers unless they've gone a gait analysis on the treadmill. They won't sell you another pair unless you do the treadmill analysis again - but they don't charge you for it.

Hamish there must be doing something right - as he does boots for (Princes) Charles, William and Harry.

I'm sure they'll do you a good job. But you lose the benefit of their aftercare if they're not convenient to you.

CEM or Lockwoods are likely to be more convenient and do just as good a job.

After all it is free

I've used profeet...totally happy.

But if I lived in Leicester (where I went to University!) I'd go see CEM...much nearer

PhillipStanton,

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Just to add to the others - yes, we've used Profeet and they sorted out Mr C's very problematic feet perfectly. Pain-free ski days now! But as others have said, Lockwoods or CEM are closer and the Snowheads Boot clinic on 23 Oct at Lockwoods should sort you out Very Happy

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I'd agree that a trip to the Snowheads boot clinic on the 23rd would be ideal... If you want a fitting it is best to PM them..as I'm not sure how full they are..

See Ray Zorro's link he posted above to the event

snow reports

Well I may as well pile in and recommened them too. Having had problems in all the time I've been skiing I went to Profeet three years ago. Never had a problem since, my boots fit as well as I imagine a ski boot can fit and I'll use them again. Not for a while though, I intend to use my current boots until they've had it.

From Leicester I would suggest that Lockwoods is your best bet or CEM at Bicester. I guess you could get from Leicester to Leamington in about an hour.

I've never tried profeet but I remember when they first set up I thought they were a bit pricey - although it sounds like a good service. I know at Lockwoods you pay only for the product - boots, footbeds, custom liner if you wnat one etc. but you don't actually pay anything for their time and expertise and their boots etc are no more expensive than anywhere else in the UK - bit like going to the garage and not paying for the mechanic.

They are extremely good when it comes to after sales service as well. They keep a record of every boot customer and then any additional work required on your boots within the first two years is free - can't say fairer than that can you.

Good luck

You know it makes sense.

Yes that sounds very fair I'd say!

Thanks very much for the posts guys n gals.

One thing I've been wondering is whether there is any additional biometric measurement /posture/style analysis done by Profeet compared to the specialised bootfitting services of say Lockwoods. Do Profeet use any fancy electronics or machinery to guide their boot fitting / adjustment practices that wouldn't be found at Lockwoods for eg? What largely justifies the price that Profeet charge - the Chelsea road set?

Leamington Spa is the best driving/public transport choice from Leicester I agree - looks to be a good option for me...will follow up...

Cheers again me snowy amigos

Very Happy

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

White Gold,

Not quite so sure what you mean, but I've had insoles done by CEM and both he and SZK will be at the 23rd meet. How much more specialist do you want....?

PM them, they would answer that better than me

A snowHead

White Gold, when I had boots done at Profeet they used a pressure sensor mat to look at weight distribution, and videoed me on a 'Skiers Edge' machine wearing my new boots to check for alignment. I wasn't certain whether this was an invaluable tool or a bit of a gimmick; the most important part of the process from my point of view was choosing the right boot shell (and working with it to avoid pressure points) and building a suitable footbed.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I would agree with the comments above.

There is no doubt that the electronic gizmos do offer an insight and do assist with the bootfitting process but there are other less gimicky ways of finding out the same information and proving the same points.

I guess the fancy electronic equipment does allow them to justify a chrage for the service though because people think they have received something a bit special.

Can't comment on the service you receive because I've never been there but I don't envisage it being any better than the Lockwoods/Footworks expertise.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

It's good to read the discussions on this topic and to consider to what extent certain forms of technology are impacting upon bootfitting practices. I think it is something of great importance to everyone, beginner to professional, because our feet, knees, and all those bits attached are so vital - I'm sure everyone would jump at any chance to preserve and prolong our snowsport days. Ultimately, additional costs in this area are trivial in the grand scheme of things.

The general consensus seems to be that a skilled bootfitter, with a passion for achieving a sublime boot fit, can offer the same quality of service and end product as Profeet despite the machinery at the latter's disposal. Maybe Profeet spending their capital on technological investments enables them to employ less experienced skiboot fitters at lower wage rates wink

Does anyone know of elsewhere in the country that such machines are available? It does seem pertinent that the one place I have come across such stuff is at a Chelsea located skiboot shop wink

A perfect location for gizmos and price premiums if you ask me.

Cheers snowHead

s

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

before you faint at the cost of a Profeet fitting do bear in mind that when we got our boots there they had an end of season sale with pretty good reductions. During the main season they told me that they have a price-match on the boots they sell. IE they will match any cheaper price that you find.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Profeet gave me a 20% discount on my boots because there was a couple of week's delay in getting them from Nordica's UK distributor (they were accidently sent to the wrong ski shop). I thought this was quite a generous offer given that my fitting took place in October at least a month before my first trip of the season.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

If you're a member of the SCGB the following discount applies at profeet:

After all it is free

cathy, I wonder if they offer those discounts to members of snowHeads?

The Tecnica's I bought from Profeet were cheaper than in EB's & S&R.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

had a fitting at profeet the other day - to replace the defective service I've had elsewhere. The pressure images from the technology was critical to the success of the new insole - plus the video analysis gave me info how to stretch different muscles better, plus where to strengthen.

I think it's a little unfair dig about paying the staff less - the young people in the store were obviously doing north and southern hemisphere seasons and new lots about feet, seemed quite clinical in some ways. Would recommend them to anyone who has had problems previously or just wanting a good boot.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I've booked an appointment with Profeet, do you think it's worth asking for Hamish to do the fitting himself? I notice he's not on the "team" on their website?

Cheers

BB

snow reports

I agree it would be an unfair dig at the staff - it's not directed at those poor mites surrounded by snow equipment but deprived of snow, but at managements - but only in jest...

By all accounts Profeet's equipment looks rather handy, but nothing a skilled boottech's hands and eyes couldn't compensate for - does one method save time over the other, have higher chances of success? - ultimately, I guess it depends on the care of the bootfitter, gadgets or otherwise...

Here comes the snow snowHead

White Gold, On the nose son! Toofy Grin

Help!!

Has anyone used Profeet's ski bootfitting services?

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Equipment Reviews/Questions