French v UK ski boot prices

A snowHead

Hi there,

I'm about to go on my 4th Ski holiday and am considering buying my own boots due to mixed experiences with the hire kit.

I've read all the other threads about getting boots fitted in the resort as oposed to the UK Snow and Rock type stores so am not looking for answers on that. I completely see the advantages of buying in resort.

However, I'm on a budget and it all adds up. So, for the same boot, considering the current Euro / Sterlig rate (1.13 at the moment), what's the price differential in French resorts compare dto the UK.

In fact, a link to a French ski shop with price lists would do. I can't sem to find one.

Thanks,

Frosty

A snowHead

frosty75, welcome to Snowheads.

Personally, I prefer to buy in the UK - am about to go and get the boots I bought last week tweaked a bit more. Following the 1.5hours of tweaking they had when I bought them. It's not a quick process especially if you have (as I do) grotty feet. But I wouldn't buy them in Snow and Rock. I went to solutions4feet in Bicester, which has a very high reputation here on Snowheads. The language required to discuss precise fitting is beyond me in french, and usually beyond the French boot chaps in English. I did buy a pair for my daughter at Christmas, in resort, because her boots were ruining her holiday, but because of the exchange rate they cost quite a bit more. There are some very good bootfitters in resorts too, of course - depends where you're going. I wouldn't walk into any old shop in a resort though - you need some local advice.

You're right to buy your own boots - will make a big difference. snowHead

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

frosty75, There are equal arguments on getting boots fitted either in the UK or in resort. It's not where you get them fitted but rather how good the boot fitter is and there are great boot fitters in the UK.

Maybe mention where you're going in France so you can get some recomedations so you can call to get some prices.

In the UK try http://www.solutions4feet.com/ or http://www.profeet.co.uk/

I'm sure there will loads of different views.

PS...welcome

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

I tried some on in Kitz last season, which were discounted, but still a bit out of my price range. Then in the summer lo and behold I found the exact same boots for sale on t'internet discounted from £220 to £99!! So I snapped them up, had them fitted at local ski shop for £35 (including footbeds). Bargain city...

However, I would not advocate buying over the internet without trying them on. Also professional fitting is essential. With the exchange rate as it currently is, it's probably cheaper to buy here...

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks for the replies. I'm skiing in Morzine next month.

So, more questions. Roughly speaking what should i expect to pay for fully fitted boots at one of the above two mentioned places in the UK? I had a quick look at their web sites but just see hourly charges etc. I know it's a bit of a case of 'how long's a piece of string' but I'm just after a ball park figure. I'm at the lower end of intermediate ability I would say, if that has any bearing on things.

Thanks,

Frosty

You'll need to Register first of course.

Like I said above, heat-fitting and custom-moulded footbeds cost me £35 at my local place but of course I had already bought the boots. Can't imagine it varies much from place to place...

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

frosty75,

Here's the link to the Decathlon website in France...may be cheaper than independent ski shops in resort, so may not be a perfect comparison for you, but will give some idea

http://www.decathlon.fr/FR/chaussures-ski-alpin-9369020/

I would think that UK prices are likely to be lower at the moment, because this season's stock will probably have been bought before the pound went down the pan versus the Euro at the end of last year

I've bought in the UK (on a weekday - so less crowded), & would reinforce the point about the time and trouble involved (best part of 2 hours initially including moulding soles, plus I took one boot back to get it stretched after the first week's skiing on it - which required me to leave it with the retailer for several days). If you are trying to buy in a busy shop in resort on a changeover day, you are unlikely to get so much time or attention

After all it is free

Decathlon is pretty budget in France so their prices are likely to be less than any resort shop....

I got mine fitted in resort by an English bootfitter which solved any language barrier problems. They were prob a tad more expensive than I would have paid in the UK but any quibbles I had with them could be sorted out by going back to the shop each day after skiing until they were just right.

Decathlon in the UK sell boots at reasonable prices but I've never actually seen anyone in there having them professionally fitted...

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

frosty75, Thanks to economic climate change, the UK is considerably cheeper this year for all gear. UK suppliers would have bought their stock early last year with a strong pound. The European prices are considerably more when you buy now with a weak pound. This time of year stock is being reduced too. This can tempt you to buy the reduced boot rather than the right one its false economy, the right boot is the one that fits properly. But you could well get it at the right price at the moment.
Last year I bought in resort no effort was made to fit the boots properly within 3 hours of easy skiing the boots were packed out, they were 2 sizes too big, an absolute basic model even though I'm an agressive intermediate. I was back in the UK at this stage so was too hard to bring them back. My fault for not reseaching the topic Embarassed

The other benefits of buying at home are its easier to get tweaks done later, many suppliers will do this free as often as it takes if you buy from them and you wont spend a skiing day in the shop.
The big benefit of buying in resort is you can ironout any faults in real time in real conditions.

Having a good bootfitter is priceless regrdless where you buy they can stop you making serious selection errors and talk you through what you should be feeling in a new boot in particular what a "snug fit" should really feel like (wish I'd known this on my last 2 attempts to buy boots) Its more snug than I realised Blush

This year I bought from one of the big retailers and was pleased with what I got regarding fit and boot selection but no effort was made on setting cuff allignment. I was told you look neutral no need to adjust but boots dont necessarily leave the factory neutral! and the bowleged cuffs pulled my skis way over on the inside ege so I had to set this my self to get it right it wasnt difficult but I wasted a bit of slope time with badly alligned boots and the manual supplied with the boot is too basic only telling you what to turn but giving no indication of what a correct fit should be like. Even before I adjusted the cuffs I skied much better than I ever did in rental boots just because the fit was better. However after a week these boots also packed out too much. Turned out to be a size too big too.THEY FELT "SNUG" IN THE SHOP Turned out I was between sizes and the "fitter" took a chance on the larger one not remembering a shell can be made bigger but not smaller. They honoured their fit Guarantee so I'm not totally screwed but have greatly increased my carbon foot print whilst reducing my ski boot print.

Solutions4feet are very well respected and can deal with all aspects of boot fit and alignment. If you want a one stop shop he's you man.
What will it cost? give them a call it may depend if you buy the boot there and obviously on what boots you buy. I bought elsewhere (twice in one year Embarassed

) and ended up going to them anyway. The service I recieved was superb. Very Happy

We live and learn Blush

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

frosty75, if you buy in the UK and have problems in Morzine I recommend the owner chap at Hubert Sports to sort them out (just off the main street). He fixed my wife's boots and she was very happy.

(But he does speak only French so you need some other staff to be around if you don't).

Heat-moulded custom footbeds are 89 Euros in France in two places I've got them, so much more expensive than UK.

snow reports

Thanks. Will bear them in mind when in Morzine.

Will definitely be looking to get boots in the UK I think. I'm in London and work literally next door to a Snow and Rock which does look so very tempting for convenience and fitting price.

Profeet seem to have had some mixed reviews from what I can see in old posts. Is it really worth the extra?

How much can you tell by wearing the boots round the house etc. ? My thinking is that I could go with S+R and return very easily after trying them on for some hours at home if they become uncomfortable, numerous times if necessary.

Or am I talking complete rubbish?

boot example Atomic race boot uk £350 france €500 as various have siad it is the fitter not the store, if you get a good guy in S&R then there should not be an issue...if you are travelling nrth a bit i charge a £30 consult fee which is for the full foot assessment ,the boot prices are as they appear on the site and footbeds range from £35 to £100 dependant on your needs...all the work i do is by appointment also

good luck with your quest

You know it makes sense.

For an indication of price difference - last month I bought a pair of Fischer Progressor 100s in Les Gets for 359 Euros (£325-ish), I've since seen the same ones advertised on the Internet in the UK for £250, so probably a £75 premium (30%). A pair of Superfeet insoles were 45 Euros (£40ish). In my case I'm already in France so had no choice, and I can call into the shop any time with questions or further adjustments if required. Good luck with the purchase, having new boots has proved a great decision for me and transformed my skiing.

P.s. This is my first post - what a great forum, far better than the one I thought I would be getting with my membership fee at SCGB... I'm sure I will have lots of questions to ask!

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

Basil Short_trousers, Sure you'll have loads of fun too.... welcome Cool

A snowHead

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French v UK ski boot prices

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