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Boots: Narrow heel and wide low calf!

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I've only skied twice (1 day in MK and 1 week in LDA in summer) but already own my own boots (Rossignol Soft). They certainly seemed the best fit available (tried on near enough every boot of a sensible price in LDA) but anything would have been better than the hire boots. The hire boots in MK also hurt, but I managed to ignore it better as I had more breaks and was less tense, so I suspect I knew nothing when I bought them, and was desparate to find something I could ski in that wouldn't kill my entire legs, so I bought them (they were cheap anyway, possibly about 100E) and certainly saved my holiday.

But I don't think that they fit that well. Doing them up certainly isn't finger pressure (loosest hole), and my heels certainly try and escape. I also found that if I didn't put heel cups in to raise my heel, my calf muscle would contract over the top of the boot and I'd ski down with my weight on that bit of the muscle, which made skiing while I couldn't feel my entire foot rather interesting, but was still better than the hire boots. The instep strap also feels a little tight, again on the loosest setting.

I think that they are too long (shell test tried this evening) (size 26 and my feet range between 5.5 and 7 depending on shoe size) but I remember trying the size below and finding that my toes felt squashed against the end of the boot and I could hardly get them on anyway. That might have been because my arches were being squashed lengthening my feet though.

As for my legs I know from the fit of other shoes and street boots that I have a narrow heel and wide toe, high arches (have trouble with some normal shoes) and chunky calf muscles. I also have naturally quite short achilles tendons and wear high heels for work. From what I've read, this is a difficult combination to fit, so am I likely to be able to find boots (hire or buy) which fit well enough for me to enjoy a proper week's skiing rather than just the morning, or make these do the trick. Money is an object as skiing isn't my main sport, and I don't have unlimited funds, so would it be possible to make them fit well enough for a 1 week/year skier (who has no intention of going really fast!) or would I be better selling them on ebay and trying again?

I'm in Bristol, but Bicester would be accessible at a push

Thanks

R
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Randomsabreur, try Lockwoods in Leamington Spa.

I've been in your position and had a holiday spoilt due to very bad fitting boots.

Even my latest pair, carefully chosen after hours of consideration and trying on, needed tweaking. Both S&R and 2 visits to Brighams failed to resolve the cramped feeling that only became apparent when ski-ing. It was close but then,at the 2007 PSB it was back. I decided to go to Lockwoods in Leamington Spa. You may need the specialist fitting service that they can provide. IMHO, they're as good as you'll get in the UK. Unbiased advice and if your current boots can be salvaged they'll tell you. I travelled from Manchester, it was the best 'day off' that i've taken for a long time! Very Happy

I ended up with replacement customised insoles and few other tweaks that resolved my isssues. At the very least you should know what your options are from a specialist fitter.

If you have problems with boots, why take a risk? Hireing should be off the agenda straightaway and bargain boots are seldom the answer. You mentioned that cost is a consideration? Well, consider the cost of your holiday and being incomfortable for half of your day!

To me comfort isn't quantifiable but discomfort is. Hope you can get this resolved, good luck!
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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?
Thanks.

By cost being a consideration, I meant that I have a price limit, and won't be able to spend £500 on a pair of boots (baked beans for months!), not that I was unwilling to throw money at the problem (just unlimited money!)

Leamington spa isn't too far from Bristol, so might do just that, when I've got my car back from being fixed.
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Randomsabreur, my wife has had boot trouble for years, due to disproportionate calves. She was actually considering boarding if she couldn't find a decent pair.

She was advised to try Lowa boots. She rented a pair from a hire shop in Saas Fee - and went back at lunch time and bought them off them.

Give them a try....

Good luck,
CD.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Randomsabreur, Try CEM on here. He is very much a specialist bootfitter.

http://solutions4feet.com/
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Defo recommend Lockwoods in Leamington Spa. About 1hr 15m from you as i drive to bristol regularly and live in Leamington.

And narrow heel and wide forefoot sounds like my feet and i have Atomic B90's. But you won't be able to see for sure until you're measured though.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thanks everyone, have left a message with solutions for feet, not sure when I'm likely to get there, as car at OHs for a bit.

OK, done more reading. Feels like I can only get 1 or 2 fingers behind my heel. But I think everything's too wide to grip my heel properly at the back, and the top buckle is too tight (I do it up on the loosest fitting, and that takes a fair amount of effort).

Should I give up and become a snowboarder?

How much am I likely to have to spend to get things sorted?
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