 Poster: A snowHead
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A general question re boots.....
Mrs. has offered to buy me some boots for Xmas. Whilst I haven't skied for a couple of years, we'll probably be going one a year for the foreseeable future.
Is it worth buying a pair, with all the hassle of carriage etc., or shall I just go for the hire pair in resort?
Dobby (intermediate)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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BUY! but only buy properly fitted boots, if you are just going to get the cheap ones in the sale then rent
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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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dobby, if you only ever buy one piece of ski kit, it should be a properly fitted pair of boots. Get a holdall with large pockets in either end, the boots will fit in there, and you won't need to pay carriage.
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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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dobby, accept your wife's offer! 
I started owning my own from my third holiday and thats when my skiing technique started to improve. As has been said though, get them fitted well!
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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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dobby, also means you shouldn't buy cheap ones...there's a direct relationship (usually) between price and quality.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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For
- Better fit
- They pay for themselves
Against
- Carriage
- With rental boots you can go back to the shop if you have a problem
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Buy.
Good boots = good skiing.
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Buy. They're not that much hassle to haul (certainly compared to skis).
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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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If you are confident you are going every year from now on I would say buy. Although looking at boots friends have hired the quality of rental boots has improved dramatically from when I used to rent.
However, I would also say the the cost of the boot should be related to the level of your skiing. A very expensive and usually very stiff advanced boot will not help your technique if your skiing ability isn't quite up to it. I've met several lower intermediate skiers really struggling with top of the range boots, thats how I got my X Wave 9's dirt cheap.
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The best investment you will ever make, but as others have said make sure you get them fitted properly.
Try and avoid saturday afternoons at this time of year if you can.
Try and avoid looking at boots in magazines or the web web before hand.
Remember you are buying them for function not the colour or graphics. It's much cooler to ski well than have the latest "hot" boots, ski poorly and be uncomfortable.
Be honest about your abilities and what kind of skiing you do.
And again like people have said ignore the price and make the decision on fit and function. If you are lucky enough that your foot fits a few boots well, then make a value judgement.
Good luck and remember they improve with use... So a perfect excuse to try and fit another trip.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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BUY
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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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Thanks, all. I have funny feet (I wear orthotics) so I'll be careful with the fit.
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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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Cheers, Schuss.
Anyone know of anywhere decent for boot fitting near Cardiff? There are a couple of shops in the area, but no idea if they are any good.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Allow lots of time in the shop to walk about in the possible boots. If you do this at a resort remember this may be when most people have just arrived and want boots and skis for the holiday, or it will be when you could be skiing.
I last bought boots in England at a shop by an indoor ski slope. I bought, then took them direct onto the snow for an hour. Then I took them back to the shop and asked for two pressure points to be relieved.
I came back to pick them up and tried them on the slope again. I took them back to the shop and asked for one of the points to be done a bit more. Perfect.
I've skied them 4 seasons with no problems.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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dobby, yes buy, and with your new helmet maybe buy some skis as well, hell to the cost and the ski carriage charge on the plane
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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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Dobby, definitely buy and also get a good pair of orthodontic custom insoles to ensure you get 100% weight transfer onto the boot sole, you're skiing will defeinitely improve - as will your hygeine, the idea of wearing someone elses sweaty boots is alien to me!
Snow and rock generally good boot fitters in UK - however I'd be inclined to wait until in resort and then get a pair there, you can keep calling back into the shop and get minor adjustments done, and ensure that small incremental adjustments are made. Your boots are the most important purchase you'll ever make, after all its your connection to the snow, and they need to be spot-on. 
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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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Markymark29, +1
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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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dobby, don't know if it's still there but there used to be a ski shop in Barry, which did not do a good job for my daughter.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Ski Lodge is in the Bay near Asda, which used to be in Barry. They've been around for years so I would hope they're good!
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I know the Ski Lodge has been around a long time, but my daughter really did have a bad experience with them. Of course, it may just have one bad fitter.
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| dobby wrote: |
Cheers, Schuss.
Anyone know of anywhere decent for boot fitting near Cardiff? There are a couple of shops in the area, but no idea if they are any good. |
There's a place over in the Vale that always used to be good.... Can't for the life of me remember its name though!
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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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Found it! http://www.coyoti.com/ Although their website doesn't seem to be at its usual goodness though... The guys in Up and Under (www.upandunder.co.uk) are really good as well and can point you in the right direction.
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I'm not convinced thatthere's any strightforward relationship between price and suitability for a recreational skier. A good bootfitter will know from the shape of your feet, and the general kind of skiing you do, what sort of boots will be best for you. CEM did mine and they're not particularly expensive (or at least, they weren't before I went for the zipfits 2 seasons in  ).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bought my boots and took them out to the Alps in jan for the first time, wow what a difference. Warm, fit like a glove (properly fitted with moulded insoles) comfy and only had my feet in. I skied so much better in them. I would certainly buy them, and you dont have to spend loads and loads of money. Mine cost me £280 for the boot and to have them adjusted and to have my own insoles fitted. Get them bought.
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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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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| Dobby, definitely buy and also get a good pair of orthodontic custom insoles |
I think you mean orthotic, unless you're a dentist. 
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Spyderman - LOL yes, maybe its my false teeth in my boots that were holding me back!
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You know it makes sense.
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FAQ
But it's not you that needs to be careful with the fit - you need to get the fitted by a 