CALLING ALL SKI BOOT EXPERTS: need help/advice

[smells_like_tuna]

Before we get into this: YES, I have read the "how to buy ski boots" thread.

Anywho... just picked up a pair of Tecnica Agent 110 boots to replace my old

Salomon X-Wave 10s, but I'm having some issues with the new boots. I

just skied the Tecnicas for the first time this weekend and they are

WAY too soft. Both my old Salomons and these new Tecnicas claim to have

flex indexes of 110, and although I know that these measurements vary

from manufacturer to manufacturer, there is a very large difference

here. The new boots feel really mushy compared to my old boots, and

it's hard to get a good, solid feeling for the skis under my feet. (And

yes, I even forked out the cash to have custom insoles made.) For those

who are wondering, I DID try the new Tecnicas on before purchasing

them, and the flex difference was not apparent when walking around the

ski shop.

But here's where it gets fun: I have a pretty wide forefoot and a very

high instep, so I literally do not fit into any of the stiffer,

low-volume boots (such as the Tecnica Agent 130). The

Agent 110 actually fits my foot very well (minus some minor heel lift,

but that can be fixed). My old Salomons were a low-volume boot, but

they were a size too big for me, which became very apparent once the

liners packed out and it felt like I was swimming in the boots. BUT the

flex was nice and stiff.

What are my options here? I'm thinking I need to get the ultra-stiff

"world cup" Booster Strap and pray that it solves this problem. I

removed the goofy shock absorber that velcros to the tongue of my new

boots, and that helped a little bit as far as achieving a more snug fit

around my calf, but the boots still feel very unresponsive.

Any ideas?

 

[huge-go]

http://www.tecnicausa.com/skiing/dragon_120.html
I'm pretty sure those are the same boots but with a flex rating 10 higher than the the agents. I'm not sure whether that's enough of a difference in flex to be that much better. I'm no boot fitter though, so I can't help you in terms of recommending other boots.

 

[smells_like_tuna]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I actually just went down to my local ski shop and tried those boots on and they feel EXACTLY the same as the Agent 110, just with a slightly different liner. Looks like I'm going to have to try to sell my Agent 110s and pick up a pair of Agent 130s and have the shells blown out to fit my wide-ass foot.

 

[LC.]

Have you skied them on snow yet? They'll feel considerably stiffer below freezing compared to indoors. Have your shop rivet them if you need them stiffened up. Ski them first though to see how you like the flex.

 

[smells_like_tuna]

Yeah, read the first post. I skied them yesterday at Mammoth, and they weren't good. Not gonna try to put a band-aid on 'em; I just gotta replace 'em with something better for my size/skiing style. And there's no way that cold weather is going to make enough of a difference in the flex, even if it WAS super warm at Mammoth this weekend.

 

[TimmyK]

um... it won't make a huge difference but it will make some difference, plastic is softer when warm and even the coloring used in the plastic will affect the flex.

 

[tSki]

you will find a big difference when its cold compared to warm days. And as far as not wanting to "band-aid" them. A good shop will be able to stiffen them up for you wihtout messing up the boot

 

[EClay46]

dude, yesterday it was hot as shit. i was walking around in a t shirt and i wasnt even cold. i felt hot wearing my hoodie on the hill. it was at least 60+ on the mountain i think at the top it was something like 54. wait until it cools down and your boots will freeze it makes a huge difference with the stiffness. if you leave your boots in a car over night they will freeze and it can stop you from being able to put them on because the shell has gotten so stiff

 

[yeahitsdave]

try them in the cold, and if they still arent stiff enough, take them back to the shop and get them riveted.

 

[WONTON]

its possible to drill a little hole in your shell and put a little t nut in there to stiffen it up. However, I'd ski it in the cold first and see how that goes first.

 

[Luc.]

two things
1. it really doesnt matter about the cold, becasue u were skiing it and you were unhappy. u need something alot stiffer.
2. the plastic in the boot is fresh from the mold, making them softer than the plastic in the dried out xwaves.
since u now have a proper fitting boot, it will be easier to flex this 110 then the one that was a size to big. so keep that in mind.
go see the guy who fitted you/ the master fitter at the shop and see what they reccomend.

 

[smells_like_tuna]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I ended up getting in touch with the local Tecnica rep and he was super cool and let me trade the Agent 110s for Agent 130s. The 130s are a pretty gnarly boot and it's probably gonna take a lot of work to make them comfortable, but they're definitely a better boot for me.