 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey all, nice forum.
Right I've been skiing for two seasons now, and i am fairly confident with blacks, and explored off piste a bit (but im hopeless).
Being a student at 17 money is a bit tight, and edge2edge are selling off their hire boots, and I would like a pair of my own boots...now heres my problem:
In trainers i take a size 14uk, whihc i believe is a euro 50 (what i was given at the rental place in austria). According to some conversion charts i need a mondopoint 31.5 and others 33. How ever after visiting Salomons web site, they ask you to measure your feet, which i did, and came out with a heel to toe length of 28.7cm, so they said im a mondopoint of 29. which is quite confusing.
My nearest ski shop is over an hours driveaway, and I have yet to pass my test, so a simple visit there is a bit out of the question  . So what do you guys think? I know it's a bit of a 'blind question' but if my feet measure approx. 29cm should i choose a bot of mondopoint 29-30 odd?
Thank you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi Ben133, welcome to snowHeads!
OK, to answer your question: No.
You really need to try boots on, they are probably the most important piece of ski equipment, and, unlike shoes, every model, and every brand, have a slightly different fit. Best thing is save your money for now until you can get to a shop, and get fitted properly. It might cost you a few quid extra, but will make a big difference.
Hope this helps!
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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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Ben133, Welcome to snowheads ( not my line but it seems to be de rigeur here). Given that you are a student with the challenges that go with it, I am sure you need the best advice available. Not sure I can give it. However- I am neither young nor fit but started skiing this year. I've had more lessons than most (probably 60+ hours) and have made reasonable progress IMHO.
I am at a level where I understand why people say that your boots are the most important bit of equipment. It really does make a huge difference and is the most important investment.
A brief resume, I started by buying my own boots ( Rossignol RTS ?) , and, as I progressed, my instructor suggested that they were too soft for me. ( and I'm probably less proficient than you). Consequently last week I bought new boots 'in resort'. I was fitted (prices being 40% lower than norm) and told to return for 'chauffage' - ( heating) when the boots hurt -- this was repeated once again later when I felt a little pain and can be repeated any time in the future. I find the boots brilliant and they really make a huge difference in the control (or otherwise) that I can exercise over the skis.
Key Points:
1) Buy the most advanced boot you can afford ( I bought Salomon Crossmax and was sceptical about my ability to 'work' them - absolute rubbish , if anything they made me ski harder i.e. better - and I am not "That Good")
2) Where? - trust a good ski shop but do buy on station. They do not feel the same in shop and you can not adjustments made in the Alps if the supplier is in the UK
3) When ? - Now but in resort ! Discounts are good.
4) Size- Rather like shoes , different makes apparently are slightly different in size. But NOT 4 mondo points. I have weird feet and apparently my chosen boots were very accomodating in terms of (gradual) adjustment.
Over All - Never buy boots blind or from a non-resort shop ( unless you are so experienced you can get the local folks in resort to make the necessary adjustments)
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| Newbie50 wrote: |
1) Buy the most advanced boot you can afford ( I bought Salomon Crossmax and was sceptical about my ability to 'work' them - absolute rubbish , if anything they made me ski harder i.e. better - and I am not "That Good")
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Newbie, I'm not sure this is good advice. If you buy a boot which is way above your ability, then it will be too stiff to flex properly, and it will hinder your progress.
I have a pair of Technica Icon Alu Comps, which are advanced/expert boots. When I bought them, they were the most advanced I could find. This is my third season in them, and while at the EpicSki Academy, I was skiing with Bud Heismann, the bootfitter at the academy. After skiing with me, he took an angle grinder to my cuffs to make them easier to flex for me.
Just be careful what you go for.
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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 agree with WTFH having the most advanced boots you can afford is not always a good idea, the best option is to find a really good bootfitter with a big range of boots in stock from multiple makers, the most important thing is to get a good fit, you can get away with a more flexible boot if your technique is good enough and you have strong enough legs.
You can buy from a non resort shop but..... you must make sure that the staff really know what they are doing, if you can get there try somewhere like ski bartlett, they fitted some boots to my feet at last years Southampton ski show (taking about 2.5 hours during the show to do so) and they were superb requiring no extra work in resort, the first time in 15 years that's occured, best of all the boots were reduced by about 35% Ski shows are a good place to buy gear at a discount due to them getting rid of last years stock, but it is rare to find someone willing to spend as much time as Ski Bartlett did on fitting boots at a ski show 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Wear The Fox Hat, Yes , I would agree with what you say in that any piece of equipment that is too strong for you is no good. I am nowhere near your level of ability/experience but I think there is loads of stuff out there which is just not 'fit for purpose'.
I found that the 'need' to flex/lean into the boots did me nothing but favours. I am old, not strong , definitely not advanced/expert !
I would have no hesitation in buying 'lesser'/'softer' boots if I thought I should but have been amazed at how these stiff boots seem to have helped me .- Particularly in moving my COB/COG forward. I do however confess that it took me 1 1/2 days to realise that I could 'use' the boot. I thought I was being 'oversold' as well but so far , so good. I would add that any subtleties of use are beyond me - but will never forget that I was advised (in the UK) that my first 'Beginner' boots would last me 10 yrs --- what nonsense.
Incidentally I have no idea on the relative flex of different boots - The Salomon Crossmax is described as Hard etc ... but I have found it suited me - I would not claim to have any concept of comparability but I do think there is a load of marketing hype around about different levels.
I will write up my experiences last week with Equipe10SC v Crossmax v M9 v B5 v Omni 10.5 v C160 when I get the time. Many of those reccomended for expert skiers only ---
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D G Orf, Ok , OK .. I am wrong 
I had intended to go to Profeet originally and luckily folks here advised me against it on the basis I was not good enough... fair enough , money saved.
However I really am not good enough to be able to specify and 'feel' boots without actually using the slopes themselves and frankly I have no idea how that can be done without continuous small adjustment, surely the specialist guys who work with Epic for example are fine tuning based upon the real world ?????
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Wear The Fox Hat, you found the stiffest boots you could afford, you mean... 
The better boots these days flex forward more smoothly than in the old days. That's nice. A good fitter can adjust the flex of the boot, too. You need to be able to flex your ankles in the boot (note: not just flex the boot, since many folks flex the boot by levering from the ball of the foot--not the same as flexing the ankle!). You also need to be shell-fit in the boot (fit into it with the liner removed). While shell fit, check length (with toes just touching the front, you want 1-2 finger widths between your heel and the shell, the lower end for more performance, higher end for more comfort) and general shape (you want the shell to approximate the shape of your foot). If there are widely varying gap widths around the shell, then it doesn't approximate your foot and you don't want that boot.
The advice here is very good, Ben133, and I'd recommend that you consider doing as these folks recommend.
...and welcome to snowHeads! 
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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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| ssh wrote: |
| Wear The Fox Hat, you found the stiffest boots you could afford, you mean... |
Afford?
I didn't pay for them!
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Newbie50 - When you going to show us piccys of your bruised toes? 
Seriously though, I bought a pair of boots before Christmas that were too stiff for my "physique" and I found them great for skiing in till I started hitting some more challenging rough terrain. Oh boy, did my big toes get a hammering due my legs pivoting on the back cuffs of the boots ramming my toes up/forward.
I took the boots back and now am wearing some Junior boots with a nice soft flex more suited to my physique and ability.
Ben133 - Be wary of anyone trying to sell you stiff boots. You may end up regretting it like I did if your a lightweight build like me.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rockyrobin, I think that's more a result of the boots being too big--especially in the heel pocket and the forefoot--than too stiff.
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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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rockyrobin, Sorry -- no bruised toes ! Indeed I can honestly say that these boots 'envelop' my foot so well that there just isn't enough room for any banging . I find this an incredible relief compared to :-
a) My Rossignol RTS (??)
b) Hire Booots ( only for a couple of days).
Increased confidence etc. Howver the big change when I realised that I could really push on the cuff (i.e feeling the rear shell = BAD!!) and I could carve by what I assume is flexing my ankles - this all only works of course at reasonable speed.
All-in-All I am delighted so far , BUT if I find out I am wrong then I'll scrap them. I would also add that they are the most Comfortable boot that I have worn yet. ( In response to ssh, I would add that when fitted with just the outer shell the fitter gave me 2 finger-widths (if you see what I mean!!)).
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You know it makes sense.
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Mrs H and I both bought boots at S&R in the UK, mine worked out okay - definitely better than hire boots. Mrs H had more trouble with hers and eventually bought boots in resort. In the future I will probably do the same, initially I was worried about doing this on the basis of language barriers and the difficulty of getting things sorted out once I'd returned home.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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rockyrobin, I can see that, but when I read this:
| Quote: |
| Oh boy, did my big toes get a hammering due my legs pivoting on the back cuffs of the boots ramming my toes up/forward. |
I thought that it was a "too big" issue. Your feet shouldn't be able to slide forward and back in a boot that is too short. Or one that fits, for that matter, especially if you have a custom footbed in it.
I'm not arguing with your findings, only communicating why I thought what I did. Hope that helps you and others...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| rockyrobin wrote: |
| My last boots were so snug fitting that it was almost a struggle to put them on. They were a size 26.5. Now i'm happier in a size 27. |
Of course, mine are always a struggle to get on--and off! I wear a US 8.5 street shoe. My boots are 25.5 mondo (7.5 US), somewhere around a size smaller. I might have been able to go a bit smaller, but I'm not racing, so I didn't... Many folks I know go down a full two sizes for higher performance (but, these are guys who lose their toenails every year).
Just more grist for the mill...
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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rockyrobin, it's on the list! Hopefully, we'll get some time to work on that "Equipment FAQ" during the (northern hemisphere) summer!
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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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Cheers ssh. Don't go busting a gut on that FAQ during the Summer. We'll forgive you if you find more interesting things to do
Maybe a sticky thread to collect info from posting contributers discussing the issues envolved in gear fitment may make life easier?
Perhaps some info posties from people in the trade could be forthcoming.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thank you everybody for the advice, I tihnk I'll just save up and hope!
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Boot that are too stiff can be softened radically. Boots that are too soft can be only stiffened moderatly. This depends model to model.
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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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slikedges, that post was in April. 
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Ben133 - there's some good advice above, particularly about boot stiffness. My advice would be go to a reputable bootfitter with an open mind. Don't have a particular boot in mind, what's important is comfort. There's no point having a fancy boot for really advanced skiers if that's not where your at. Better to be able to walk than hobble back to your room in the evenings. Also for what it's worth I wear Salomon boots which I love and are mondo size 31.0, my trainer size tends to be a UK 11.5 - 12.
Just a thought - at 17 years old with size 14 feet have you considered taking up competitive swimming? You could be Britain's answer to Ian Thorpe at the next olympics!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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marc gledhill, Doh!
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