Boots - the lowdown

S

sneveTs

Member
I need the lowdown on boots. I see so many contradicting statements and along with the extremely generalized details ("good for those who like to hit the mountain hard, but not too much" types of statements") it's become a pretty aggravating search. I'm an all-mountain skier and actually just bought some x-wing 10's (last year's model) but I'm looking for some comfortable, easy riding boots. I don't want anything too recreational as I definitely like to fly at times, but I don't anything that will kill my shins/feel extremely uncomfortable for cruising.

Basically, I want boots that are solid at pretty decent speeds but are pretty nice for casual cruising as well and I don't really know what exactly to be looking for. I've been looking at Salomon Performas and the like but I'm not sure if thats' really what I want.

Thanks guys and gals,

Mike
 
Sorry for posting in the wrong forum. As I'm sure you can tell, I'm new around here (thank God I finally found an active ski community). If it's possible for someone to move it, that would be sweet.
 
This a freestyle skiing forum, so a huge majority of the people here wear some type of freestyle-specific boot. There are probably a few people here that can help you, but i'm not one of them.
 
totally agree with the bootfitter comment. They will select a boot not just for your fit but for your style of skiing and what you do etc. They are trained professionals who asks you all the right questions to get you the best possible boot for you. It's a hell of a lot more sure than from the forums where you can be getting advice from some snowblader using his big brother's NS account.

If there is a specific boot you have in mind, the bootfitter will gladly have you try them on. However, if it doesn't work for your foot, then you are throwing a bunch of money away.
 
really, just go to a shop and try on boots until you find one in your price range that feels right. I've heard teh Full Tilt boots are great, and I ahve a pair of Salomon Foils form alst eyar, they are really comfy, light, and they are pretty soft (flex index=85). you can pick those up pretty cheap this year.
 
Since I've never boughten boots before, I'm a bit new to this subject. I current live in Indiana (go to college) but my home is in Kansas, so neither places are necessarily at the foothills of any decent mountains or anything.

When you say go to a bootfitter, does just about any snow shop have boot fitters that can do the trick? I'm actually going to Boyne, Mich. in a few days and will be checking stuff out there, so any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks again
 
/you should really try to find a place that speciallizes in bootfitting. I made the mistake with my first boots of getting boots fitted by some guy who works at a geeral ski shop who didn't quite know what he was doing. A bootfitter later said that the boots were a size and a half too big.

These bootfitters measure all aspects of your foot such as arch heght, how muscles move when you flex and lift your toes etc. Most of them will guarantee the fit and extra bootfitting work is generally included for free when getting a new boot. They will punch out material in places that are giving pressure points etc. Just be prepared to be in a great deal of pain for half an hour as they test for pressure points and when they mold the liner to your foot.

But trust me in the end it's all worth it. I would advise 99.99% all the time ALWAyS go to a bootfitter.
 
I agree with the bootfitter comment, yet i also hate hearing it over and over at the same time. For some of the people here, bootfitting is not an option, as they live in the midwest, where 90% of the ski shops have highschool- college kids that are fitting people for boots.

end rant

As to the thread creator i own some Performas myself. They are very comfortable, but are heavy and a little softer than Id like. They're decent boots for the price but id go with some higher end boots.
 
btw the performa series is an internediate boot, i guess you could look at the performa 8 but you would be better in a high end boot..

IRRESPECTIVE, and as everyone else has said - get a bootfitter to rock your world
 
Yea, I've been reading the linked thread and it's been helping me a lot.

Thanks for all of the input.

Where "specialized bootfitters"? Is it just kind of like an underground type of thing and you just know of good shops? or are there shops all around hte country that are really renown for fitting boots? Do you guys know of any around the Indiana or Kansas area?
 
just get full tilt boots. you can swap out the tongues for stiffness, and they are amazingly warm and comfortable. They work great for everything, and you won't get shin bang. you can have like 3 different types of boots, just by switching out the tongues. look into it, they are the best boots ever.
 
i agree they are great boots. I have them as well. However if you have a really wide foot, they might not work for you no matter how great the boot is
 
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