Guide On: How to Buy Ski Boots

Ski socks aren't just thin they are made of non-cotton material (either wool or synthetic wicking material) designed to move moisture away from your skin so you stay dry so you stay warm. A normal sock absorbs water and keeps it next to your skin which in turn keeps things damp and therefore cold. Your ski socks are a much better choice.
 
they're getting pretty damn worn out in some places, three years worth of use is probably getting to them. Also, I kind of think the ski socks are a contributor to the rawness that I get on my upper toe joints.

At any rate, I still think I need new ski boots, these are getting pretty beat. I was actually really looking forward to your opinion, as you really helped me out when I was in the process of buying these boots in the first place. That, and It seems like you really know what you're talking about. The toe joints are the real problem area in these boots, any foot bed related pain I get subsides relatively quickly after I take a break from the tow rope.
 
If your socks are worn through then they are for sure kicked. A new pair will feel so much better. I always have at least 2 pairs of ski socks on rotation just to make sure they don't get too worn out too quickly.
 
Wow. Used my other ski socks, the pain was eliminated by 90%. Still need new boots, but now I can tolerate it for the rest of the season.

Also my friend (who knows how to fit boots) said the 2nd shop does not know how to fit boots properly. He said the shop owner just found a boot size and left him to figure it out on his own. the biased store knows how to fit boots, but.... they're biased.

Gaahhh. I hate it around here. It's either crappy service or opinionated service. I think I'll take the OP's advice and go to both, see who fits me better.
 
Hey folks,

I've got a question about FT's that I don't think warrants its own thread. Basically what I'm wondering is how significant the "narrowness" of Full Tilts is? By that I mean to say that people always talk a lot about how they're designed for narrow feet etc. etc. but is this actually such a big deal/so prevalent?

I've come to the end of the road with my SPK's and am not happy with the 2-buckle design and want to try something else. I'm obviously attracted to FT's, but if this narrowness is gonna be an issue then I won't bother.

Yes, I know that I should try them on in person, but until I get a chance to do that I'd be happy to hear some of your testimonials.

Thanks.
 
just another tip, not sure if it was mentioned didnt really read the whole thread, please guys, dont buy the hot doggers cuz they look cool because if they dont work for you 400 bucks are gonna be down the drain and your foots gonna hurt like hell if their not properly fitted.
 
Honestly full tilts have done their boots really well because of the moudable insoles and if needed, custom footbeds can be installed for minimal cost. I wouldnt ride on anything else unless i am sponsored by them
 
full tilt makes a good boot but all they have really done well is taking them to market and pushing hard.

the brand was built on almost zero r&d by taking a 30 year old boot mould, adding an aftermarket intutiton liner and slapping some sweet graphics on them.

if they work for you, that's great. but they don't work well for everyone. what you've pointed out is the benefits of an intuition liner that you can buy for $150-$200 at a ski shop.
 
anyone have knowledge to shed on when to get new boots?

i have been riding a pair of spk pros pretty diligently for the past 5 seasons. i got them just before my foot stopped growing, so for the latter 2-3 seasons they have been feeling pretty tight; think i have just packed the liners more from riding.

now they are the most comfortable boots (and awesome looking) that i have ever owned, but my mom keeps telling me i need to get new ones because the liners are packed, they are getting too old, and the cinch cable on the liners broke a while back too. she is offering to buy me new boots which i'm guessing will be better since my foot won't grow again, but i'm just wondering if i would be any better off getting new boots or just keeping the old ones i've been using
 
Even if old boots feel really comfortable, sometimes boots simply get clapped out. You have to be careful with aging plastic, wear on toe/heel lugs, rivets holding up.... New boots have come a long long way even in the last 5 years and there are lots of great options out there, especially if your moms is going to buy you new ones.
 
How to buy ski boots on your special person form - and how to raise your kids up right

So you know a rep or someone and they gave you access to a pro form? Pretty sweet eh. Do you also want to try on boots before you order them? I would too. Just be honest with the shop when you go in; especially if they are busy. The store spends money keeping the lights on, boots instock and the place well staffed. They do this to sell ski goods to customers, not to do fit clinics for folks who will go buy it cheaper on a form.

Start out out by telling the sales staff that you will likely be buying the boots on a form. 99% of them will be happy to help you out and get you in the right size/flex/model. They are all relatively poor and understand the need to save money. It would also behoove you to tip them for their time. $20 or some good booze for a job well done makes a difference, and they will remember you in the future - aka more good work down the road.

Are you the parent of some young ripping teenager who got himself access to a proform or two? Teach him or her to be honest and have some fucking integrity. That means you don't tell him to hush up midway through the fit process when he wonders aloud if he can get full tilts on his k2 proform. Teach him to be upfront and honest. It will be worth it down the road. - Yes I witnessed this happen a few days ago in a local shop, it was busy and I'm sure the young lady helping them heard it too.

- Someone who fit boots for a living before he decided that designing airplanes would be more fun and pay better.
 
Can someone give me some insight on the quality and the up holding of the salomoon spk's because I had a pair of x wave 10's that fell apart after a season and a half which drove me away from the company and I got full tilts. My foot changed shape due to some injuries and instead of snugly fitting a 99 last I can not barely stand for 5 minute periods in them. I'm looking at the spk and the wider full tilts I have tried them on and they felt great with wise but I just wanted to learn more about the salomons before I spent $400 and learn all of my options.
 
the only bad thing I've heard about them is that since they're only 2 buckles, they buckles break a lot. I don't know if its fixed on the newer models though. I want to get them as a backuo boot wince they're so wide myself.
 
Here's a basic Boot Anaotomy I pulled together for my Job

https://vimeo.com/71433208

Not really a fit guide, but aspects that should help you understand getting fit. You should always have a boot fitter give you a hand, but in my experience DO NOT let them force you into a boot size that feels way to small just because they are the "expert". Some times I swear thats just them trying to get rid of inventory in sizes that dont sell.
 
Unlikely that they're trying to get rid of inventory that doesn't sell. If a shop has a decent buying department, they probably will have limited amounts of the very small and very large boots. In my experience, shops are generally short on these unusual sizes.

Additionally, most shops have some sort of boot fit guarantee, so shoving someone in a boot that is far too short only creates a future headache when they come back routinely complaining about their bruised toenails.

In my opinion, the single hardest part about being a bootfitter is sizing up the skier. If I could ski with every single one of my customers before I fit them I would surely have a better idea of what sort of ski boot and fit to put them in. So honestly answering questions a bootfitter asks you is essential. If you tell us you're an expert skier who skis 50+ days a year, we're going to treat you like one.

Believe me, it takes much more time and effort to talk a skier into a boot that fits a little shorter, but if a skier is skiing frequently and agressively enough there are a lot of benefits to a snug boot. If I was lazy I would put everyone in a comfort fit, but again - some experienced skiers would come back with complaints of their feet moving around in the boot.

When doing boot work, we have a lot easier time increasing the amount of space in a ski boot by modifying either the shell or the liner. If a boot skis too big, we can shove all sorts of stuff in it (shims, footbeds, risers, foam, etc.), but chances are it'll still ski big.

For that reason, yes, many bootfitters will favor smaller shells. But, it is generally NOT because we are trying to get rid of inventory. Usually its because we are trying to accomodate the type of skiing you claim to be doing.

However - that does not mean that you'll gain exponential performance from cramming your foot into a boot 2 sizes too small. Your boot may be a tad more responsive - but you'll endure a lot more misery to get it. Generally, we strive to find a happy medium for our customers (and its not always easy).

I don't know where you had this negative boot fitting experience, but I wouldn't go so far as to encourage others to distrust a boot fitter. If you know the person who is fitting you is qualified and you have been honest with them about your ability and experience, I would listen to them, regardless of whether you feel your toe on the front of the boot or not.

 
Ive just had numerous experiences at different shops where I ignored my gut and took the advice of a boot fitter only to resort to my old boots to avoid problems. Although, I feel the term boot fitter at some shops is just added to someone on the sales floor who isn't exactly fit for the job.

I know there are some really talented people out there providing a lot of expertise and guidance, but dont doubt yourself. Thats all I was trying to say.

I will say, Ski Rack in Burlington, VT probably has some of the best bootfitters out. However, Fire On The Mtn in Dover, NH, despite being a rad little shop, catered two of the worst pairs of boots I've been in.
 
I totally agree. Especially after a "bootfitter" tried to cram my size 12 foot into a Salomon 27. I've worn Salomon in 28.5 the last few years and it's a very snug fit, I literally couldn't get my left foot into the boot and he was scoffing my plea for a larger size. I just left, dude's like that are going to get someone hurt.
 
I'm impressed you were able to fit your size 30 foot into a size 28 boot shell. I'm a size 25.5 mondo and I have a hard time getting my feet into my size 24.5 boots.
 
size twelve street shoe does not equal 30.5 mondo. A conversion chart will show this, but its not going to be accurate in most cases because people do not size street shoes like they do performance footwear, like ski boots.
 
SO, i was looking at the 2013 Dalbello KR2 Core ID. I had the Dabello Krypton for the past 5-6 seasons in size 26.5. Did the job, uncomfortable at some points, and had to buckle it all the way down when i skied. I wear a 9-9.5 size shoe and the boot fitter is telling me that a 25.5 boot is the correct size for me. I tried on both the 25.5 and 26.5. The 25.5 feels snug, toes touching the end, and when i flex forward, a very slight toe touch. The 26.5 feels a tad bit roomy, and also have to buckle it all the way down to feel snug. Any suggestions or insight from anyone?
 
From what you describe and without seeing your foot, the 26.5 sounds like it is a shell size too big and that the 25.5 is a much better starting point. Remember- this is the tightest the boot is ever going to feel, and it will easily become a "half" size bigger as the liner packs out. A boot-fitter can always create more room if needed and it is nearly impossible to shrink a ski boot that is too big. Go 25.5
 
havent been in this thread in ages, i see not much has changed, but just reading through this last page sounds like my everyday experience at work. I always know the customer will tell me the boot is too small when i put it on their foot, therefore to prevent this, i always give my little speech, goes a little something like this - "Right when you step into this boot you are going to tell me you need the bigger size, wait until we buckle the boot up, flex forward a few times, let your foot get used to the boot. It is normal for your toes to touch the front of the boot when standing straight up, then once flexed forward in an athletic position as when skiing (because you never ski standing straight up) your toes should pull back slightly off the front of the boot, and remember this is a brand new boot and this is the tightest the boot will ever be" then after i say all of that the process goes much much smoother...although i still get the customer that says "Its too small" right when they step in and the boot is not even buckled i just say, "lets just buckle it up and have a go" Its just a way to let the customer know the proper way the boot should feel. Over the past 7 years of fitting, i find this little boot speech is fucking key.
 
Excellent guidelines and some of the additional comments. Thank you. Unlike many I don't have to say " I wish.." I got your comments just in time. Any way, my husband and I are searching for 2013/2014 model boots. Would any recommend the maker of the following foot shapes: man's- extra wide with wide cuff , women's extra narrow foot with extra large cuff?
 
I would primarily focus on finding the right shell fit first because a competent boot-fitter can modify the cuff shape to accommodate large calf muscles with really good results. I would rather you search for a good boot-fitter in your area, rather than search a model of boot. You will you have more success finding the right fit this way. Where are you located? Perhaps someone here can recommend where to go.
 
if you want to, layer 5 or so small squares of duct tape and put the on the brake under your heel. With approx one mill change in height you get one degree of canting. Don't touch the toe, AFD release not worth liability, keep your racers safe.
 
how the hell does jacking up the heel only make any sense? If offsetting the toe is a worry to you, so should be offsetting the heel.
 
Im wondering what kind of boots out there got a last on 102mm or more? (Boots for jibbing)

Cus i have a very wide foot and a "huge" leg.
 
The good news is that every manufacturer makes boots in the 102mm and 102mm+ departments. However, this category of boots is often where a lot of manufacturers put their low-end bargain boots. So the best advice anyone on here can give you is to go to your local boot-fitter and see which one has the best shape that matches your foot (since we cannot do this) and the best flex for your subjective needs (since we cannot do that either).

One boot that should be on your list to try is the new Atomic Overload, available in 120, 100, and 70 flexes. Here is a link to a thread with lots of info on them:

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/733288/

 
Boots are primarily about one thing- a proper fit. The fit of the boot is the most important part, so if you happen to fit better in the Redster rather than the Overload, then so be it.

But, there are some legitimate features of a boot like the Overload that will be of benefit to the park skier provided that the boot is a good fit- having an ultra low stand height puts you closer to the ski for better feel and sensitivity, having a shock absorbing boot board to soften harsh impacts, having adjustable flex to tailor the boot to your requirements, having adjustable geometry to tailor the boot to your requirements, and it has a unique Carbon Fiber High Back integrated into the cuff to allow for support on big landings but also be flexible for technical rail/urban.
 
Mmm sorta kinda... True that the Redster guy wants power and flexibility, but in a different way and amount than the Overload guy. So we've really tuned the Overload for a completely different need set. And while the flex and geometry can be adjusted on the Redster, it is a permanent surgical change. On the Overload it simply involves swapping out or flipping the orientation of the Flip Chip, so it is far easier and reversible. Also, the Redster guy wants to get higher off the ski, whereas the Overload guy wants to get lower, which you can really feel even standing in the boot.
 
I have been away from the redster for a bit, so missed the height difference.

That said, I generally know the right flex/alignment/stance for a client without them skiing the boot, so a perminant mod is not an issue.

From a guy who wouldn't mind skiing in a redster.
 
Soz if this has already been posted, but this is a pretty long thread and I haven't got time to look through it.

So I bought some boots about a month ago because my old boots were way too stiff and a couple sizes too big, and now I'm quite worried that these are a little too small. Should you be able feel your toes in the front alot if you arent really flexing forward? Is toe bang normal for landing backseat, or is that just from having new boots that haven't been broken in yet?

Thanks, and +K for answers obviously.
 
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