 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello All and especially The Bootfitters,
Just a question that may seem silly to some but to others, if they are being honest to themselves,should make perfect sense.
How does one know,if they don't have access to a reputable boot fitter,whether the boot they have been sold and fitted with is "a good fit" given factors like - shop temperature v alpine temperature,flex rating,last size/width etc.
I'm sure there must be loads of us going around with nagging doubts as to whether "the boot fits", or, as it's obviously not falling off my foot, is it a "good fit".
Are there any "self tests" that the average punter going in for a pair in a high street chain (as I'm sure most punters do) can do to narrow down the chances of an expensive,painful and possibly dangerous mistake.
Not looking for anyone to part with any trade secrets but I'm sure any tips would be appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Quick test is to remove the liners, place your foot inside the boot so your toes just brush the front and then see how big the gap is between your heel and the back of the boot (good to have someone to help do this, by shining a torch down the back). AIUI a 15mm gap is a good performance fit, 10mm is a very tight race fit and anything over 25mm is too big. But don't take my word on the exact size of gap; CEM or SZK will give authoritative advice.
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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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IMO Snowdome stores tend to have the best fitters on average due to selling boots all year round but ask for the most experienced person, or at least, for the most experienced person to double check everything.
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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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briand6868, Profeet has the main man IMO
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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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^ Some of the fitters at the EB snowdome branches certainly seem to get positive feedback but not all, there's a very good one at the EB in Aviemore too who a number of locals rate. Probably good for a similar reason to those at the domes (although there the skiing isn't all year round for obvious reasons).
However Ireland is a bit far form either the domes or Aviemore (Stirling and Bicester too I guess).
briand6868, why don't you just buy your boots in resort when you're away? You can get recommendations of where to go in specific resorts on here if you ask.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rob@rar, Thanks just the info thats needed.
jammiefreerider, Cynic, Not looking for fitter recommendations CEM is the man !!!! Just trying to point the people who may be first timers/no access to the likes of CEM etc/ and have very little choice but go to the nearest S n R etc in the right direction. When a chain shop "fitter" says "hows that for you" the punter has a vague idea of what questions to ask.
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briand6868, SORRY I WON'T BOTHER TO READ ANY OF YOUR POSTS AGAIN
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| Fattes13, briand6868; Will feel the back of my hand when Is ee him for shouting at you all |
Make sure yer hand is encased in something solid please 
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 24-11-11 14:51; edited 3 times in total
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Sorry folks but rob@rar, is the only one getting the question and coming up with a few hints for the boot buying public.
I HAVE BOOTS - REALLY GOOD,WELL FITTING ONES - NOT LOOKING FOR A BOOTFITTER - PLEASE READ THE POST - THANKS.
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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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Fattes13, Yes Fattes13 the penny has dropped- just the kind of info Joe or Josephine Punter needs to be armed with when they trot into a store the week before their second ski week. THANKS....
P.S. See you later Big Boy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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briand6868, You know that feeling, the one in your stomach, that tells you when you are hungry? Then YOU decide it's time to eat.
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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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briand6868, would have been cool if you'd made it clear in the original post why you were asking! 
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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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Whilst buying your first pair of boots, buy your second pair at the same time but 1-2 sizes smaller.... After 3 days.... throw the first pair away!
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Poster: A snowHead
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, CEM, gatecrasher, Nice one lads - keeping it simple - the punter classes will hopefully read this and feel a little bit better about crossing the minefield that can be boot-fitting.
roga,
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Are there any "self tests" that the average punter going in for a pair in a high street chain (as I'm sure most punters do) can do to narrow down the chances of an expensive,painful and possibly dangerous mistake.
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Boredsurfing, Boring.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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^ Ah sorry had my telepathic circuits switched off so didn't realise that meant you weren't an "average punter"...
| briand6868 wrote: |
Sorry folks but rob@rar, is the only one getting the question and coming up with a few hints for the boot buying public.
I HAVE BOOTS - REALLY GOOD,WELL FITTING ONES - NOT LOOKING FOR A BOOTFITTER - PLEASE READ THE POST - THANKS. |
Don't shout, chill! 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Afternoon chap - apologies for butting in on the conversation - as a bootfitter (recently BSBA certificated & trained by Hamish from Profeet & having about 8 years experience anyway ...) I would also like to point out that there are a HUGE number of well established alternatives to 'High Street Chains' , without necessarily going down the very very niche & exclusive route ... many established independant retailers are operate with dedication and integrity and are willing to take the time to carry out an expert bootfitting,(and should insist on doing so!) included in the retail price of the boot - many with an aftersales service. See the BSBA (British Ski Bootfitters Association) website ....why would you resort to picking up a boot from a high st chain & trying a 'best guess' approach when you can get it fitted properly at no additional cost ??
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Profeet.
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tiggerific, who are, go on introduce yourself, always good to have another boot fitter on the site
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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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Morning all - sorry forgot to introduce myself - Don't do forums very often as I usually c*ck up the etiquette and normally too busy - also , some of these threads can sometimes get pretty venenous & i'm a bit of a girl! (well, 100% actually)
I am one of the junior bootfitters at The Alpine Room in Essex (yep, with at least 8 years hands-on experience, not to mention that i have been effectively 'work shadowing' Yoda since I was about 15) . I think between our 5 full & part-time bootfitters we can tally about 100 years of experience. We have recently undertaken the BSBA training in order to achieve recognition and accrediation, and to hone our understanding of bio-mechanics...
Having re-read the thread I can now understand what brian6868 really wanted to know & why, but it still worries me that peeps might be somehow thinking they are better off walking into decathalon & going 'that'll do' rather than trusting on the advice of a professional? (TBH we have seen male customers who have unwittingly been sold womens boots as men's boots in 'sports warehouse' stores). After all, the industry spends shed loads on R & D to develop boots & skis to be more responsive, have features to adjust to the particular foibles of your own body, and skiing ability/ style/ terrain etc etc - personally I think Mr or Mrs Average Punter is doing themselves a diservice if they don't get it looked at properly.
Maybe it's this: If I go into Curry's or PC World on a Saturday I know exactly what sort of service I'm gonna get - 20 year old monkey on commission who cannot shut up about extended warranties & peripherals - I tell him to shut up and take what I want to the counter ... perhaps the same applies in some of the chain snowsports outlets sometimes (not mudslinging, just putting it out there)... but do you really think that's the service you're gonna get in an established independant family business???
Just some nuggets to think about ... I am heartened that customers are now phoning up and asking the right questions about boot-fitting - long may it reign! (and hopefully snow too!) 
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tiggerific, Dont worry briand6868, spends enough time asking questions! Welcome to  Always nice to have more experts around to Join CEM, and the Zookeeper in bootfitting advice.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think the lure of the big shop chains and boots is in the advertised reductions. Boots are not cheap, and when you see alluring deals in store and on-line offering sometimes, what appears to be, huge discounts I think it's easy to be seduced. I must admit to looking longingly at these deals, but it is what I read on here that makes me hold back from buying online and also from buying from the big chain stores and/or at ski shows (though the number of folks fitting boots at ski shows always amazes me).
In time I will doubtless bite the bullet and get new boots and I have no idea where I will get them from. I might well go back to Skee Tex (where I am known - apparently they are quite experienced) or maybe try The Alpine Room tiggerific's, place. Bicester is too far away and I can't see myself going into London for boots so I guess I will give my custom to a local independant store.
However, I also 'get' the OP's question. I assume that you can't purely look at the fitting of a set of ski boots from the outside like a set of clarks shoes width and length measured and fitted to a child by feeling the foot through the shoe so what do you need to know to say to help the bootfitter help you. Someone once said to me 'like a firm handshake all around the foot', but I guess you also have to accept that until the lining packs down they should be a little too snug when brand new - it does seem a shifting goal. Though I guess the bootfitters do know what to ask. I once asked CEM how he asks kids about their boots and he told me that he watches their fists - apparently the tighter they bunch them the tighter is the boot!
I guess what someone wants to come up with is (A) a frame work that can be adjusted to fit your foot, and then used to product a ridgid form (perhaps a series of interlocked adjustable sticks) and then introduced into the closest boot shell which might then be fitted around it. Or (B) a transparent boot with a internal thin lining fitted with a coloured gel which would be squished away when the boot was too tight in places that could be seen by the client and the bootfitter. Or (C) maybe a boot X-ray machine!!. Until then it does seem a very subjective process - perhaps this is why those in the know choose experienced bootfitters rather than chain stores.
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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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the punter classes
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FAQ
