 Poster: A snowHead
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I read this that SZK had written:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=63343#1498676
It made me think 'are there any bad boots on the market, or are all boot problems just caused by badly fitted boots'.
If you are in the market for boots, will you benefit by buying the most expensive boots that the bootfitter says fit (assuming it meets you skiing requirements), or will the needs of most recreational skiers be just as well served by buying the cheapest boots that the bootfitter says fit (assuming they meet their sking needs, i.e. stiffness, flex).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
will you benefit by buying the most expensive boots that the bootfitter says fit
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my sister in law did this (  despite my advice) and ended up in boots too advanced for her. I would always buy the cheapest ones the bootfitter suggests, and add some nice thermic warmers with any left over dosh. Generally, as I understand it, it is the high end boots which are more expensive. Most of us just need ones that fit. My son, a fantastic skier, uses some horrendously old ones which have been worn to death by various male members of the family - they were quite expensive to start with, I think, about 18 years ago, but now be really worn out. You should just see the way he skis in them! He also uses whatever "free" skis he can get his hands on - he likes some more than others but he skis great on them all, on and off the piste, backwards if it's too easy. We are maybe too inclined to think that some magic bit of kit will transform our performance.
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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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Megamum, Price dictates Quality, nothing else. Types of plastics and fittings on higher end models, means they are more expensive, the cheaper stuff, marketed at lower end users is just poorer quality.
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but what is the implication of "quality" for function? Are better "quality" materials/fittings longer lasting, stronger, more adjustable, or what? Do the inners take longer to pack down? Is there no correlation at all between price and performance? If not, why would anyone with any sense buy more expensive boots? Marketing hype?
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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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pam w, bet you he'd notice the difference in his skiing with properly fitting boots & some skis purchased with the type of skiing he enjoys in mind.
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arv, yes, he probably would, but he's just not a gear junkie - and would rather a pair of OK boots and skis which are "free" rather than a set up he had to pay £600 for. He has never shown the slightest inclination to own a car either - or even a specially flash bike, come to that. Or anything other than dead scruffy clothes. Just not acquisitive, I guess.
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pam w, This is what I had in mind as a question - Excellent! I wonder what responses it will get 
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pam w, my two sons also ski in 'hand-me-down' boots, previously belonging to their father, although we do usually hire skis. One pair are still quite good, the other pair aren't.
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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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Helen Beaumont, I think kids who have skied since they were little can just do it, without faffing about gear - as the Canadian race coach chap said on another thread. And who can afford constant new "high quality" boots for a bunch of teenagers? They're lucky if they get a new pair of socks!
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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| Megamum, Price dictates Quality, nothing else. Types of plastics and fittings on higher end models, means they are more expensive, the cheaper stuff, marketed at lower end users is just poorer quality. |
Only within the same brand. Is a Strolz or Dalbello Boot worth more than an Atomic or HEAD? I don't think so.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Spyderman, hubby had two pairs of Dalbello boots before he got his current Atomic's. These are the one's currently being used by our kids. One pair is pretty stiff, and eldest is quite happy with the fit. We were always going to buy them some, but never got round to it, and by the time their feet stopped growing, they didn't always want to come with us any more.
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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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Helen Beaumont, It's whatever boot fits your feet, ability, etc. Manufacturers like Atomic/Salomon/HEAD have massive production numbers, so can use economies of scale to drive down their costs. Other lower volume manufacturers that sell their boots more expensively are not necessarily better, but they will have higher costs per unit.
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Spyderman, they weren't expensive when he bought them, I think the Atomics cost more TBH.
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You know it makes sense.
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Only within the same brand. Is a Strolz or Dalbello Boot worth more than an Atomic or HEAD? I don't think so.
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Don't quite understand your point.... 
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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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Well sell only "Expert level" boots if the marketing is to be believed, average price I guess around 600€ with footbeds, custom liners etc. Our margins are way less than if we were to buy lower level boots. Boots like a Jah Love from Nordica are pretty much loss leaders, however with more people starting to learn to fit boots properly the sales are picking up as the moulds are able to traverse a wider range of "Marketable" needs to repay the huge investment. Nordica will have a new boot, the Enforcer next year that they have just pulled from their sister company Dolomite, the mould will now be used by Nordica, as the brand is stronger, lower quality plastics and fittings but almost no development or investment costs. This is true of most manufacturers, You are better buying a low end user model from high in the range, than a high end user model from low in the range, in terms of durability, flex pattern over a broad range of temperatures.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| Well sell only "Expert level" boots if the marketing is to be believed, average price I guess around 600€ with footbeds, custom liners etc. Our margins are way less than if we were to buy lower level boots. Boots like a Jah Love from Nordica are pretty much loss leaders, however with more people starting to learn to fit boots properly the sales are picking up as the moulds are able to traverse a wider range of "Marketable" needs to repay the huge investment. Nordica will have a new boot, the Enforcer next year that they have just pulled from their sister company Dolomite, the mould will now be used by Nordica, as the brand is stronger, lower quality plastics and fittings but almost no development or investment costs. This is true of most manufacturers, You are better buying a low end user model from high in the range, than a high end user model from low in the range, in terms of durability, flex pattern over a broad range of temperatures. |
Don't quite understand your point....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You are better buying a low end user model from high in the range, than a high end user model from low in the range
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but if you only sell "expert" boots, then presumably you don't have any "low end-user models"?
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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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I have my coat, tired and hungry, back to this another time.
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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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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| I have my coat, tired and hungry, back to this another time. |
quite understand your low end user coat
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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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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| Quote: |
Only within the same brand. Is a Strolz or Dalbello Boot worth more than an Atomic or HEAD? I don't think so.
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Don't quite understand your point.... |
You said " Price dictates quality, nothing else." Well it doesn't. There are many factors which dictate price, quality being only one of them.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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You're right I guess, alot of cheap product out there that doesn't warrant it's price tag.
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but what is the implication of "quality" for function? Are better "quality" materials/fittings longer lasting, stronger, more adjustable, or what? Do the inners take longer to pack down? Is there no correlation at all between price and performance? If not, why would anyone with any sense buy more expensive boots? Marketing hype?
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Well?
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FAQ
