 Poster: A snowHead
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Found some threads but most were old now. Locally I've got Craigdon but I know they have other locations in Inverurie and Edinburgh, apparently there's one in Perth too but it's not shown on the website? Will happily travel outwith Aberdeen if there's someone really recommended in Scotland. Thanks all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I had mine fitted at Craigdon Aberdeen and my daughter at the Inverurie branch. Very happy with the service - they heat moulded my son's snowboard boots for me even though I didn't buy them there. I wouldn't go anywhere else locally now.
I don't rate Snow and Rock in Union Square (which is the only other local Aberdeen city and Shire option?).
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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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Thank you for the reply, unless anyone comes in with an amazing option I'll give them a try. I think you're right about snow and rock being the only other option, although maybe Tiso take gear in again closer to winter? If they did I'm sure they'd be in a similar boat to snow and rock... Snow and rock in general I've found to be a bit of a dissapointed.
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Craigdon in Edinburgh are very good. I would assume the Aberdeen store is similar (employee owned).
From Aberdeen the other places I would try are Ellis Brigham (who do good job of training staff) in Aviemore or maybe Braemar mountain sports (if you want touring boots).
Unfortunately the internet means many UK ski shops now carry less stock than 20 years ago. So finding a shop that stocks the right boot for you not always trivial.
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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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Guys in Tiso Rose st Edin were good with us a couple of years ago.
No idea if the same folk will still be there though.
We tried the Craigdon shop in Edinburgh but were not over impressed with the options they had but they were still waiting for a lot of their stock to be delivered.
Banks of Perth is a traditional small sports shop but they are really helpful but I have not got ski boots from them.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@damanpunk, speak to karla at Craigdon in Perth
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We used Banks of Perth quite a few times for the kids, both skis and boots. Spent a lot of money in there over the years, always happy to pay more than online prices for the convenience, service and to help maintain a local option. But I am sorry to say the last time I used them I was very unhappy with both the service and the outcome. It's a real shame as we had some good experiences previously and I really want there to be a viable ski shop locally. But I wont be back. No point going to an independent like this if the outcome is me managing to find a solution that they could not. And they did not even offer head molding for some expensive boots for my daughter until I prompted them. The response to my concerns was curt to say the least, despite us knowing them quite well and me being super polite.
Still lamenting Baxter closing his boot fitting service! He did an amazing job with my wife's boots.
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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 suspect Alain Baxter much happier coaching than dealing with smelly feet every day 
Boot shopping is nightmare. The impossible part in the feedback loop is the consumer being able to articulate to shop how the boot fits (while themselves perhaps not knowing how it should feel). Plus most UK ski shops dont have ski slopes adjacent. So incrementally tuning a fit almost impossible.
Ultimately consumers need to take a little responsibility for the process themselves. It amuses when people get obsessed about finding the "best boot fitter". What you actually need is a competent shop to put you in correct boot requiring the minimum of modifications. Generally that requires the shop to stock range of boots in different sizes. Something not many UK retailers can sadly now afford to do....
Sure : you might need modifications (I have wide feet and generally need a punch / footbeds) but none of it is rocket science.
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Unfortunately it may not be rocket science but my local independent shop in Aberdeen got it wrong with way to big shell size. Ended up binning them in resort for smaller boots which were still to big! So when I come around again to spending £500-700 pounds on boots I will be obsessed with going to the best bootfitter at the beginning of the season when he/she is well stocked up.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| powderfetish wrote: |
| Unfortunately it may not be rocket science but my local independent shop in Aberdeen got it wrong with way to big shell size. Ended up binning them in resort for smaller boots which were still to big! So when I come around again to spending £500-700 pounds on boots I will be obsessed with going to the best bootfitter at the beginning of the season when he/she is well stocked up. |
Good for you, seems sensible to me, at least seeing and hearing the problems we see and solve.
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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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Im sure some of the problem is customers fixataed with a particular brand before they have even started.
They have read a review and decided thats what they want before they have ever had them on their feet.
Without going for a look I can't tell you what brand my ones are.
They fit well and compaired to the old ones which were well past their sell buy date are fab.
The boots I was thinking of buying I didnt bother even trying on.
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Thank you for all the replies.
I went in past Craigdon Aberdeen earlier today as I was in the city for another reason and they were honestly really good, not pushy in the slightest and despite me saying I’d likely wait for new models to come in they put a lot of effort into finding which model would suit me. The best model turned out to be an Atomic one and they recommended holding off for the new season stock as the model I wanted was coming in a new width (I tried on a similar model in the larger width and it felt good). Pretty refreshing not to come across pushy sales and with all the questions they asked and measurements that were taken, you’d have to be pretty brave, very knowledgable or stupid to order online and hope it works out!!
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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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After the poor service with my boots I tend to not use them. It's a shame because they stock some really nice kit. Maybe I should suck it up and support local again?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| damanpunk wrote: |
| The best model turned out to be an Atomic one |
My current touring boots are Atomic bought from Craigdon in Edinburgh.
The heat moldable plastic shells are a major plus (much simpler than stretching or punching shells).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
| damanpunk wrote: |
| The best model turned out to be an Atomic one |
My current touring boots are Atomic bought from Craigdon in Edinburgh.
The heat moldable plastic shells are a major plus (much simpler than stretching or punching shells). |
Depends on what you're trying to achieve, i'd say punching a shell, generally speaking is a much simpler, accurate and quicker. Also would depend on who's doing 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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As a follow up I had my fitting with Russ at Craigdon Aberdeen today, it was really good. I came away with a pair of Atomic Hawx Magna (tried on last years previously, bought this years model) which was what I expected after going there in August, plus some superfeet insoles.
I'd seen posts elsewhere about how Atomic boots/mimic liners should be fitted and it was exactly what I experienced today which was assuring. I couldn't believe the difference comparing mine after heat moulding with one off the shelf. Obviously the most important thing is how I get on while using them but so far, so good!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| damanpunk wrote: |
As a follow up I had my fitting with Russ at Craigdon Aberdeen today, it was really good. I came away with a pair of Atomic Hawx Magna (tried on last years previously, bought this years model) which was what I expected after going there in August, plus some superfeet insoles.
I'd seen posts elsewhere about how Atomic boots/mimic liners should be fitted and it was exactly what I experienced today which was assuring. I couldn't believe the difference comparing mine after heat moulding with one off the shelf. Obviously the most important thing is how I get on while using them but so far, so good! |
Glad the fitting experience was good - hopefully the boots live up to expectations.
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