Incorrectly Moulded Liners on New Boots - Possible to reheat?

A snowHead

Hi all,

I could really use some advice - Earlier today I bought a pair of ski boots and as part of the package the guy at the shop heated the liners to get them fitted to my feet. They felt a bit uncomfortable afterwards but the guy at the shop said that this was normal. But when I got home I found out that he had swapped the liners when doing the heating/moulding. Basically the right liner was moulded to my left foot and visa versa.

Should I ask them to replace the liners or is it possble to reheat/remould them?

Thanks for your help.

Martin

A snowHead

Yes it's the shops responsibility to sort the problem out however I'd hesitate to say their efforts will be any more competent than what you've experienced so far!

What shop did you use?

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

MartinDK, that was rather daft of them. Depends on the make, but most can be moulded and remoulded. CEM should be along in a minute and will probably ask which model and make they are. I have heat mouldable inners in all my boots and they are never moulded. Two reasons: I have had heat moulded inners before and find that they just don't feel that different after they have been moulded. Second reason is that a lot of instructors and fitters who I know say that the heat of your foot moulds them over time anyway. This is suspect, in that the moulding foam is reputedly activited re shaping only at a temperature which is well in excess of foot heat. But since it seems to make about zero difference to me, I just run any standard liner as is and there we go. And all seems fine.

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MartinDK, welcome to snowHeads. I'm flabbergasted, slightly drunk admittedly but still totally in awe of the incompetence. Yes, they can be redone but I'd favour taking them back and rejecting the goods, get a full refund. Better taking your dosh somewhere where they know what they are doing. No telling what else they might have screwed up... the size and the model probably. Also, sounds like you weren't offered a footbed of any kind.

ermm... what shop was it? You'll be doing the public a favour if you divulge.

Also, where are you based? Suitable recommendations will come forth.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

It's a pair of Solomon Impact 120 CS.

I haven't been able to determine if the liners reheatable - so not sure if I should ask the shop to provide a pair of new liners or just reheat them.

Again, thanks for your advice. It's much appreciated.

Martin

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

^ what's the name of the shop?

After all it is free

MartinDK, before (and indeed if) you reveal the shop, try pointing them to this thread. They'll know that their next move is under scrutiny and they can avoid all the opprobrium (try spelling that on a gallon of Peroni) if they quietly make you happy. In my view that should be a full refund because whoever they are they are idiots. My little daughter sometimes puts shoes on the wrong feet and its funny, but presumably the fitter was an adult.

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MartinDK, so, sounds like the moulding process was done without the footbeds being in situ?

Bode Swiller, no the custom footbeds were in the liners when I wore them for moulding - which was probably why, in hindsight, the fit suddenly felt odd. Confused

You know it makes sense.

MartinDK, if a right footbed is in a left liner and the fitter didn't spot it there's something very wrong. If you are in West London I'd say pop into Pro Feet and get an opinion on what you've been sold. Or, if you ever get out towards Bicester do likewise with www.solutions4feet.co.uk

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

A snowHead

MartinDK, OK, got you now. That must've felt very odd. I'm going for a lie down. I guarantee this thread will still be here in the morning!

A snowHead

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

Some liners can be re-heated BUT many will tell you that the idea of heating liners is to help break them in (pack out) faster (as opposed to expand to fit your foot which I think they may do to some extent). When I had my boots fitted and footbeds made in Breckenridge by a well regarded boot specialist, he told me not to even bother with the heat molding as they would pack out on their own as I skied them (and the molding process just accelerates this).

So basically, you have already partially broken them in incorrectly. The shells and footbeds should still be fine, but you may want to have the shop replace the liners.

Unless you have flat feet, the footbed arch sure had to feel weird

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I know it must be annoying to hear people say go back and get your money back, after all it's a hassle and you've already invested plenty of time in the process, but I think you should or at least pop into somewhere else to get them checked out. I can vouch for CEM, grat guy and sorted my boots out a treat.

From what you have said there are a number of warning signs that you have been fitted by someone i will generously say seems to be lacking in experience. Apart from liner issues, which is easy to do, but good bootfitters check because they know its easy to do. I'm also not sure about Not really sure about "First he heated the custom footbeds and made me wear them in the boots that until they hardened." I may be wrong as it might be a particular brands technique, but i've had plenty of custom footbeds and that's a technique I've never heard of.

It might not of been appropriate to heat the shell, but If they are doing the full monty on the cs you may have had a heated shell as we'll, that's why it's called the CS - custom shell, but some incompetent boot fitters think this means it can fit any type of foot which is just not the case.

My brother was in EB getting some work done on his boots and the first assistant he asked to help him thought it was funny his socks had L and R on them. She must have thought he was a retard, but for a boot fitter to have never come across L&R on ski socks gives a good indication of their experience. My brother ended up getting sorted by someone who knew what he was doing, but I bet the other had fitted several pairs of boots that day!!!

Many of the chains have a lot of Saturday staff at this time of year so I would seriously think about getting your money back. It might be the boots are fine, but I'd do it for peace of mind.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Along the lines of what Mt, said, I don't think the footbeds were in the boots when they were molded to my feet. Its been a few years, but IIRC, the fitter molded them to my feet outside the boot...

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not sure what went on but the process should be something like this (after the boot model has been selected)

1 shell check, lets make sure it is the correct size to begin with
2 build footbed, this is done in a number of ways, but from the description of what you have said it as a product by SOLE so not a true custom footbed in the sense that it is moulded by you standing on it inside a boot, so without the positioning of your foot by a technician
3 check the cuff alignment , footbed in shell and check all is centred
4 (its a custom shell boot) HEAT THE SHELL!!!
5 stand on a solid surface flexing for 10-15 minutes without lifting the sole of the boot or walking around, if you move around on a soft floor surface in a hot shell IT WILL WARP.
6 according to Salomon heat the liner...however in discussions with them it is agreed that the 120 degree heat from heating the shell will mould the liner at the same time
7 make any final adjustments for lumps and bumps which have not been accommodated by the shell moulding
8 GO SKIING

probably lots of other things you can do in there too depending on the individual customer

liners do occasionally get mixed up as they are in and out the boot so many times during the process, but it is a simple thing to check and if a customer tells me that the boot doesn't feel right after a stage in the process when it should be ok then the very first thing you check is the liner, the footbed and to see if anything else has moved, creased or get into the wrong place, you don't just tell them it will be fine and send them off.

has the liner been damaged, no wouldn't think so, as it was for 15 mins not 15 days (which i have seen before) but it will need to be remoulded to reshape it, is the boot too big, not sure but the technician would have been fighting to get the left liner in the right shell if it was the correct size so would have probably noticed the mistake.

what to do next.... at very least get them to remould the liner if you are happy with that option, oh and maybe heat the shell, the idea of the custom shell is that it accommodates lumps and bumps on the foot to make the fitting process easier, if it is right for your foot it is a great boot if not it is just like every other boot which is not right for someone's foot.... a waste of time and money

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

The OP's explanation of the process doesn't sound too great, that said it's a simple mistake to make, one we all do, albeit very occasionally (left and right swaps), however this is no excuse. You should take the boots back and have the process repeated at listed by Charlie above. I fear however given the explanation of the process by the OP, I would recommend at least, that you go see the boys at Profeet, get the sizing and shape checked and verified, if no problems there, back to the store, and have them deal with the issues until you are satisfied.

After all it is free

Hi all,

Just a quick follow-up. I called the shop today and explained the situation. They agreed to repeat the process. Will go there next weekend to get it fixed (with the step by step list from CEM at hand wink

). Will let you know how it goes.

Again, thanks for all the advice. It was incredibly helpful and I really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Martin

MartinDK, That's what I'd do, only if needed.

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Wow bit of a cock up and a good thing that you noticed. Although not a serious as a shop getting a binding mounting wrong.

What is the shop?

Help!!

Incorrectly Moulded Liners on New Boots - Possible to reheat?

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