 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
first, sorry to ask the SAME question as many others......  but
I want to get some properly fitting ski boots, but I don't necessarily trust UK shops to know enough to do this right.
I'm planning to go to TIGNES for a week start feb - do I get fitted and buy boots there OR in the UK ? my french is awful, and I might risk spending the first few days breaking the boots-in rather than enjoying myself ?
I'm in Cardiff - any shops near-ish that are anygood ? my options are probably S'n'R and E.B. in bristol.
OR should I take a big detour the next time i'm travelling north and go to lockwoods in lemington ? I am aware that I need to find skilled fitters and advice, not bargain prices - the right boot first time will always be cheaper.
I'm very much 'intermediate', I can get down smooth black runs / mogully-reds but not with much style. I have high arches that tend to collapse/over-pronate so I expect to get replacement foot-beds too.
Gareth.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The staff at S&R in Bristol didn't seem too clued up at boot fitting a few years back but Lockwoods definitely are and would certainly be worth the extra travel. Or there's  snowhead CEM in Bicester who comes highly (and repeatedly) recommended.
I've used Lockwoods and after spending 3 hours getting something to fit my freak-feet I am happy that it can be done properly in the UK. Also, a decent fitter will no doubt offer aftersales support so when you're back home after a weeks' skiing and have found a small niggle you can get it sorted out for next time...
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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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fatgaz, I would advise against EB in Bristol if you are getting footbeds made; the one's I got custom made there last season nearly crippled me!
Everyone here speaks very highly about Lockwoods, but there is also the simple fact that you will get to ski in them and get any immediate adjustments required there and then if you buy in resort. I suppose, if you know you are definitely going to Tignes, it might be worth trying to find if anyone will recommend a bootfitter there or in Val D, otherwise any advantage you get from buying in resort could well be offset by the possible lesser standards that you would get compared to CEM or Lockwoods.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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fatgaz, welcome to snowheads. as has been mentioned, CEM in bicester has a good rep if you want to get fitted in the uk and don;t mind the travel.
In Tignes, Nevada sports in Tignes Le Lac has a good rep - do a search for them here and you'll see they;re frequently mentioned. All he does is boots - no skis or other stuff. I got mine done there and have been really pleased, and several other people both on here and in resort recommended him independently. He speaks enough english to get you fitted with boots, so limited french on your part is not a real problem.
I also have a problem with collapsing arches - I now have custom footbeds that I wear all the time, but I'm sure the nevada chappies (Franck I think - there's been mention of a bootfitter in Tignes callled Jo-Jo but I think he's up in Val Claret) can sort you something out - to get my boots fitting better he made me some footbeds using a heated thingummy (technical term) that will mold the soles to the shape of your feet.
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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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^ Lockwoods or CEM in the UK I'd say - there are good fitters in some resorts abroad too but personally I'd rather use someone in the UK, but then I ski on plastic a lot here too as well as in Scotland and at Tamworth.
I haven't used Lockwoods but they come very much recommended by other Snowheads, I have used CEM to sort out my current boots, which were very badly fitted by Snow and Rock in Bristol a year ago, and to make me new footbeds to replace the joke ones S&R sold me. However, they've never been right so I've now gone back to CEM to order a new pair of boots and get them properly fitted.
I do have awkward feet so I guess I may need an expert like CEM more than most people but IMHO whatever your feet are like it really does pay to get them properly fitted and that means avoiding shops like S&R and EB where people have no serious experience of boot fitting, let alone their being qualified Pedorthists.
As I say the S&R I used was the Bristol one (just up the road from me) which is a nice store with nice staff but I'd never touch them again for boots, no problem with anything else but boots are seriously important and a poor fitting will give you grief for a long time and will spoil your enjoyment of skiing. As a result of the problems S&R caused (including not cutting their already poorly made footbeds to the correct length) I had a short trip last December spoilt because the boots caused me so much pain I couldn't even stand in them let alone turn properly, I then had my Xmas trip spoilt as well despite S&R doing some extra work on the boots before the trip and after Xmas I went back a number of times but they were completely clueless, to the extent of asking me what do next at one point, about how to ultimately fix the problems. As I say the major issues were then sorted out by CEM but the fact they'd actually sold me the wrong size and make of boot for my foot shape in the first place has meant the boots were never fully fit for purpose and I am now having to write them off as an expensive mistake.
BTW, CEMs website is here 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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fatgaz, The Ski Lodge in Barry is very good- I've bought all my ski boots there over the years and get my skis serviced there. Usually best to try and go in the week as it can get very busy at the weekend.
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Thanks for the advice.
I won't waste my time in the bristol shops then ! i think its' the same situation in the chester / manchester area too.
I did go into 'the ski lodge' in barry just outside of cardiff, but i wasn't convinced that they knew very much about proper fitting. I do know that my current boots (which were hand-me-downs) are probably too big from just that visit.
I wonder if it may be best to get boots fitted (correct shell/last/size chosen) in the UK, and try to break them in (the liners) before i go out, then I know that there is a good boot fitter (nevada franck ?) in the tignes resort who can sort out any problems once I'm actually skiing all day ?
I think lockwoods is probably the easier option. I'm driving up to north wales in a fortnight so it's probably less of a detour. Are they any good at making custom footbeds ? OR the chap in tignes might be a better place to get this done ?
Am I right in thinking that 'CEM' does more 'problem solving' and higher-end / race fitting than the original sales side of things ?
cheers all,
Gareth.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Lockwoods or CEM will sort out all your footbed needs.
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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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| Quote: |
Am I right in thinking that 'CEM' does more 'problem solving' and higher-end / race fitting than the original sales side of things
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No In as much as people with problems go to CEM to sort them out.
Check out his website which will give you a clearer picture of what he does.
www.solutions4feet.co.uk
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If you have any issues then go to CEM he will advise on the best boots to go for, there is a ski shop close to buy them from, then he will fine tune the fit, job done.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Oi DANGERMOUSE, My initals are S and R, hands up, you've blown the whistle on my blag you slag! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, he he he - you know, of course, I am talking about a well known UK mountain sports chain. If it was you I was dissing, I'd have said initials = "F"...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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argh !
can't decide if I should pop in to lockwoods tomorrow afternoon or leave my boot purchase until I get to the resort !
resort - my bad french & shopkeepers bad english risk confusion & having to faff about a lot trying to find a good boot fitter etc. instead of getting straight onto the slopes ...
uk - just my bad english - hopefully more time to get boots fitted - BUT tricky/impracticable to just pop back for a few fitting tweaks as lemington is not near me !
gareth. 
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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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My dad has always had a problem with SnR in Bristol. They always sell him boots too small saying that 'they'll be ok to ski with'.
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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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It is really hard to get a good fit if you can only ski a few weeks a season and you haven't already owned a few different pairs and worked out what you would change but I had a good experience many years ago with S and R and then a hopeless one..both foam...same shell design different boot technician...the first one listened the second was a know all twxt...and he fxxxxd up the foam....I threw them in the bin after 2 weeks.....this wasn't the only fitter that
tried to cripple me however, there was a delightful chap in S F in V d I who must have been descended from the Spanish Inquisition - pays your money and you takes your choice...often the wrong one but live and learn. 
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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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I got a brilliant fit from Bristol, but not only do I know what works for my feet, but also I got transparent boots so you can actually SEE if they are the right shape. An unexpected idiot proofing advantage of fashion. Not sure my girlfriend got the same quality of fit. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I always wanted to know how many people get told by the boot fitter when you take off your socks..."Mmmmmmm...you DO have very odd feet !"
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krunchie63, Lockwoods said I had strong feet. Not sure what it means, but I'll be sure to wash them next time.
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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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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| krunchie63, Lockwoods said I had strong feet. Not sure what it means, but I'll be sure to wash them next time. |
....It has just dawned on me what kind of a job that is.
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| hopeless wrote: |
| had not considered buying abroad due to problems of aftercare. |
on the other other hand, lockwoods is nearer to cardiff than tignes is...
G.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Having just spent 3 hours at Castleford last night in my new boots, I thought I'd just add that the Snow+Rock in Gateshead did a perfectly good job with mine 
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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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hopeless wrote...."disintegrating top of the range Nordica boots spring 06."..a friend of mine also has disintegrating nordicas he bought in 1992 which he is still reluctant to change despite much ribbing... he leaves small brittle fragments of purple and green plastic that his boots have shed all over the hill like a treasure trail. Are yours 982's aswell ??? He is convinced he can squeeze another 4 seasons out of them with some fibreglass repair kit and aluminium plumbers tape but I don't reckon he will get more than another 2.
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Bought my boots from EB in Manchester two years ago. Since then developed a problem with one of my feet, unrelated to skiing, went back to EB and they stretched the boots as required by my podiatrist, free of charge. Podiatrist couldn't fault their custom footbeds either.
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You know it makes sense.
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Bought mine from Widney Sports which is in Bentley Heath near Solihull (M42 J5) - fantastic service with free cups of tea!!! The lads are really helpful & know their stuff. We get our skis serviced there too - haven't ever had a better job done anywhere else.
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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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JOB DONE, cash spent....
went to lockwoods in the end and was sold a pair of last season salomon X-Wave 10's more cash than i wanted to spend but you only live once.
bit worried i might have got too stiff boots for my ability, but supposedly i can remove a bolt and make them more flexy. it says flex 110 on the side of the boot - they feel stiffer than the beginners ones.
Anyone know about adjusting the flex of these boots ? the salomon web site does not have any info on past products.
I may have issues with my right foot - it tilts to the outside a bit so the pressure tends to be along my little toe, was told that this is tricky to solve without a proper orthotic to tilt my foot or lift my heal. but i haven't skied them yet so who knows ! Got standard replacement footbeds rather than custom mould ones, seem better than the stock ones anyway.
G.
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