 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi,
I am looking to buy my first pair of ski boots. I am an advanced skier who had always rented before but I just bought a pair of Head Supershape Magnums and want a great performing, yet comfortable, boot to compliment them.
I am planning on having a session with a boot fitter but was wondering if anyone could recommend some good models / appropriate flex ratings?
My stats are:
Height - 182 cm (5'11")
Weight - 76 kg (167 lbs)
Thanks 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Welcome to Snowheads. 
Seriously mate, get thee to a reputable fitter and be guided by him.
Flex varies with brand and is only relative.
No one can see your feet on here so what fits my wide plates and suits my intermediate technique might ruin your day, yet but still be a great boot.
If you tell us where you are I'm sure people will chime in with names of reputable fitters in your area.
If the boot fitter doesn't ask you lots of questions WALK AWAY!
Don't be surprised if a decent fitter only offers you 2-3 boots to try, if you have a narrow low volume foot he will only try and get you in a narrow low volume boot even if you want "red" ones (they go faster you know, lol).
Bear in mind that a good fitter can make a tight boot bigger but there is little to be done if the boot starts out too big.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
+1 for going to a fitter. Based on my ski experience (or lack of) and reading online I thought I'd be looking at boots with a flex rating of less than 100. I was fitted at Rivington Alpine and ended up getting a pair of Head Vector 110.
My experiences mirror lilywhite's advice, as I was provided with 3 boots to try based on my measurements. I also feel like they are too tight but was reassured that the boots will bed in after skiing and if they don't, issues are easily rectified.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Gambo, +1 for lilywhite's and justatheory's advice.
The first pair of boots I bought, I got off the shelf in a shop in Munich. No fitters, noone to measure my feet or provide advice ... It was a bit like going into M&S. Put them on, tightened them up and thought these are the ones for me. I was a novice at the time but as I got gradually better at skiing, I realised that my feet were moving around inside them. Anyway, took the advice above and went to Colin at Solutions 4 Feet in Bicester for some new boots ... Colin described the boot's i'd bought in Munich as 'Le Bateau'! I was soon sorted with some boots I have since had some great skiing days in.
I think that just about proves the theory  ... find yourself a fitter.
Cheers
Kersh
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Gambo, welcome to Snoweads.
+1 from me too - your boots need to complement your feet, not your skis. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Do NOT get hung up on the brand!
All you have read about in the advertising guff about flex and torsion is just techno twaddle!
I suggest you wear a blindfold and let the fitter do the work and find out which are the most comfortable when you take the blindfold off.
Your boots are the most important interface between your brain and the mountain and unless your comfy you can never ski and enjoy.
I bought a pair of boots this year at Snot&Pox they were OK .. the colour was crap and they fitted.
I used them in the fridge for a couple of hours and then took them to a glacier in Switzerland for a day.
They hurt like mad.
I've taken them back to the shop to have them fettled, so they heated up and bent the boot and with an angle grinder took a bit of my ankle which stuck out a bit.
They seem fine now. I did make a video of the fitting session to make sure the boot fitter knew what he was up against.
Another tip is do NOT let them put them in a box for you. Insist that you walk out of the shop wearing them. That way they cannot swap them for another pair of similar boots they keep behind the counter so you have to buy yet another pair next season.
Apart from that be careful of the colours !!! You must get the colour right as God punishes those who do not co-ordinate.
As a rule Red is best.
Yellow is reserved for people who ski like me.
Green is for off piste.
Brown is for Extreme Off Piste.
Grey is for Piste Off.
I hope this helps and enjoy your fitting session.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
| Another tip is do NOT let them put them in a box for you. Insist that you walk out of the shop wearing them. That way they cannot swap them for another pair of similar boots they keep behind the counter so you have to buy yet another pair next season. |
Whoa! Does this actually happen!!! That's outrageous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DrLawn, they took a piece OF your ankle with a grinder!! Thats extreme bootfitting, I always thought they custom fit the BOOT.......
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| justatheory wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Another tip is do NOT let them put them in a box for you. Insist that you walk out of the shop wearing them. That way they cannot swap them for another pair of similar boots they keep behind the counter so you have to buy yet another pair next season. |
Whoa! Does this actually happen!!! That's outrageous. |
no it doesn't ... not in any reputable shop anyway
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| lilywhite wrote: |
| DrLawn, they took a piece OF your ankle with a grinder!! Thats extreme bootfitting, I always thought they custom fit the BOOT....... |
I have had a bit ground off my foot so it would fit in my ski boot, I had it done at a proper hospital though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
rjs, I think it was a badly worded post. I was nosing on epic the other day and someone on there had had foot surgery to fit boots too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
surefeet in val disere are superb .expensive yes .fit superb
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Hi all,
Thanks for all your posts!
I am going to edge and wax on Saturday, I hear they provide good service.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| vipul wrote: |
| surefeet in val disere are superb .expensive yes .fit superb |
Sure foot have a shop in London tho. It IS a good fit, but it's a different method from the traditional bootfitter. I think there's pros and cons to both.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| feef wrote: |
it's a different method from the traditional bootfitter. I think there's pros and cons to both. |
not really anything too different
1 assess foot
2 select relevant shell
3 build insert
4 discuss liners
5 put it all together
the basic difference is that they have one type of insert for all feet and tend towards foam liners for all feet
the shells they use are all stock shells from brands (some of them re-branded with their own logo) the footbed they use is from a US company called AMfit they use a cut down version which stops untrained persons from doing corrections, and the liners they have used to be by conformable but they have recently moved to to another brand which make for them
a traditional boot fitter will carry a selection of shells from different brands, make 1 or 2 different brands of footbed to offer choice in terms of budget and fit for different feet and carry a selection of different after market liners
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Gambo wrote: |
Hi all,
Thanks for all your posts!
I am going to edge and wax on Saturday, I hear they provide good service. |
Hi, I hope Tom and Jez were able to get your sorted out with some new shoes! Thanks for choosing my little shop, and I hope what you heard rings true
Agree with comments above regarding putting faith in a good fitter, there are a few of us dotted around the UK. www.bsba.co.uk is a good source of boot fitters who have been doing the grafting to offer good service.
Cheers!
ScottyDog
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
thats the one
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
