Has anyone tried to make their own custom footbeds, how bad an idea is it?

[Cyanicenine]

There are couple different websites out there that will let you buy the molding pillows for custom insoles. Seems like there is no reason you couldn't buy your own sidas or bootdoc blanks, heat them up in your oven and mold them yourself. I'm tired of going to underpaid, overworked bootfitters with lengthy turn around who don't particularly care about the work they are doing. Only 2 of the last 6 footbeds I've had made in my life have been good right off the bat, and I'm currently in the process of belt sanding and reworking the posting on my most recent set which is a long process considering I paid $200 to get them and the work is imho not great. Yes I went to someone well recommended, no I'm not going to name names. So has anyone done their own custom footbeds before? Any downsides?

 

[Pipe_Munky]

Then you've gone to the wrong places. There's a good chance you have difficult to fit feet. There's also a good chance that something went wrong in the fitting process. Footbeds are extremely easy to fuck up, believe me, I've fucked up more than my fair share over my time as a bootfitter but at the end of the day, the customer always got their footbeds feeling good in the end. Remember, bootfitters are not doctors, they don't go through the same training that podiatrists go through. If you want 100% perfection off the bat, go to a doctor and pay over $500 for a set.

You can definitely go buy DIY footbeds, they might seem easy enough to make but in the end, they will hurt...

 

[TheWeaz]

You will also need to buy your own posting foam, as well as the tools to work with it, although it sounds like you have a belt sander already.

Also almost everyone I know has had to work on their footbeds at least once after the initial build of them. Its pretty hard to get it perfect right off the bat, especially not being able to see inside the boots and liners to see how your foot is interacting with the footbed while inside the ski boot, which generally is different than when you are out of the boot standing on it on the shop floor

 

[Non_State_Actor]

I say go for it. If you can diy it on a budget, enjoy a good project, and have some free time, why not? Worst thing that happens it doesn't work and it will solely be a learning exercise.

I heat molded my own shells which was pretty fun, I didn't have a lot in them as I picked them up on CL for $80. It worked out great.

 

[Cyanicenine]

Then you've gone to the wrong places. There's a good chance you have difficult to fit feet. There's also a good chance that something went wrong in the fitting process. Footbeds are extremely easy to fuck up, believe me, I've fucked up more than my fair share over my time as a bootfitter but at the end of the day, the customer always got their footbeds feeling good in the end. Remember, bootfitters are not doctors, they don't go through the same training that podiatrists go through. If you want 100% perfection off the bat, go to a doctor and pay over $500 for a set.

You can definitely go buy DIY footbeds, they might seem easy enough to make but in the end, they will hurt...

Well my current footbeds hurt, so I can't end up any worse. I really don't blame the bootfitter, like I said they are underpaid and overworked for what they do, and they are no podiatrist like you say. I understand all the limitations of going to the bootfitter, including the many followup visits that are typically necessary, this is why I'd like to avoid all that.

As for having an actual foot doctor make your insoles it's not as great as you'd think. They don't know anything about the mechanics of skiing and how a foot interacts with a ski boot. Their specialty is making people comfortable in their day to day life, walking around. My husband had some podiatrist made insoles since his feet all jacked up from over tightening his snowboard bindings for years, they have a good imprint of his foot but they have a heelcup that is too deep/wide (the liner is unable to grip his heel) the insole itself is made of a thick spongy material for walking, not stiff and supportive like you would need to keep your foot locked down in a boot.

Honestly one of the best sets of insoles I ever had made were from a young guy that had only been working at the ski shop for a year or two. What he lacked in knowledge he made up for with genuine enthusiasm and a love of problem solving. He was really good at listening and going the extra mile to make certain everything came out perfect. He quit not long after to go to lawschool so this kid was going places. Seems to me that enthusiasm and interest in your work can be more important than actual experience and knowledge. The moral of the story is how much anyone else gives a shit about your specific problems matters. And no one is going to give a shit more than yourself. This isn't talking bad on other people, it's just a simple fact of life.

 

[OregonDead]

Didn't you get a fit guarantee with your expensive footbeds? When I got fitted My guy said he'd make them work no matter what and buy them back if it doesn't. Also I only paid around $100 for that part.

 

[Cyanicenine]

Didn't you get a fit guarantee with your expensive footbeds? When I got fitted My guy said he'd make them work no matter what and buy them back if it doesn't. Also I only paid around $100 for that part.

I wasn't made aware of any fit guarantee, he seemed really rushed when I went in and just seemed to want to get me in and out ASAP. The real problem is that I went to a guy that is highly recommended at a shop that is very busy. So it's going to be an hour drive followed by a two week turn around, and it's likely going to take multiple visits to get things fixed. So it could be several months before I end up with some footbeds that I'm happy with. Or I can just do the work myself. If I can't make them work with my own modding I may resort to taking them back and asking for a remake or refund, but I'm not quite there yet.

 

[OregonDead]

I wasn't made aware of any fit guarantee, he seemed really rushed when I went in and just seemed to want to get me in and out ASAP. The real problem is that I went to a guy that is highly recommended at a shop that is very busy. So it's going to be an hour drive followed by a two week turn around, and it's likely going to take multiple visits to get things fixed. So it could be several months before I end up with some footbeds that I'm happy with. Or I can just do the work myself. If I can't make them work with my own modding I may resort to taking them back and asking for a remake or refund, but I'm not quite there yet.

What do you mean by a 2 week turn around? They didn't make you pay and then come back and pick up your boots/footbeds on another day did they? That sounds like what I've experienced in some of the big shops that do a lot of advertising in the NW That practice doesn't make sense as far as doing a good job though.

It makes the most sense to have the customer wait while the work is done. (ask them to go next door for a coffee or something so they don't distract too much while actually grinding etc.) Then at each stage of work the customer's foot is available so the fit can be checked and dialed in. Customer then leaves the shop with their boots and goes skiing the same day of their appointment to test it. On the way out the boot fitter should request that you hit them right back with any issues. Why not give customers a cell number and just ask them to text with any issues?

 

[Cyanicenine]

What do you mean by a 2 week turn around? They didn't make you pay and then come back and pick up your boots/footbeds on another day did they? That sounds like what I've experienced in some of the big shops that do a lot of advertising in the NW That practice doesn't make sense as far as doing a good job though.

It makes the most sense to have the customer wait while the work is done. (ask them to go next door for a coffee or something so they don't distract too much while actually grinding etc.) Then at each stage of work the customer's foot is available so the fit can be checked and dialed in. Customer then leaves the shop with their boots and goes skiing the same day of their appointment to test it. On the way out the boot fitter should request that you hit them right back with any issues. Why not give customers a cell number and just ask them to text with any issues?

Oh man I wish it worked that way, I've never had anyone do same day work, at best it's leave your boots and come back tomorrow. More typically it's "we'll call you when it's ready" and then they get annoyed when I call a week later because it's not ready yet. And then I have to repeat the process each time I need more tweaking. I'm pretty sure my fitter doesn't want to see me again, as he already seems a bit exasperated with how picky/specific I've been about what I need (I did bring him beer though, as I always do).

 

[OregonDead]

Oh man I wish it worked that way, I've never had anyone do same day work, at best it's leave your boots and come back tomorrow. More typically it's "we'll call you when it's ready" and then they get annoyed when I call a week later because it's not ready yet. And then I have to repeat the process each time I need more tweaking. I'm pretty sure my fitter doesn't want to see me again, as he already seems a bit exasperated with how picky/specific I've been about what I need (I did bring him beer though, as I always do).

What kind of business is that? Leaving the customer with the impression that they don't want to see you again is no bueno. That's happened to me and I didn't come back for more shop work.

Especially if the customer tips and/or brings beer. They should be like come in any time let's make an appointment that works with your ski schedule etc.

Pretty common knowledge that a happy return customer will keep spending money. If someone will text and set an appointment to spend money at your shop at a certain time. Really it's a slam dunk IMO.

Bob Olsen did great work on my current boots and it was just like I described. I made an appointment and he checked out my feet etc. and then shooed me out of the shop to get a sandwich and coffee next door and I came back and got my gear. He mounted skis for me too while I waited.