How to go about buying a boot....

Nacho+

Nacho+

Active member
I'm in a dilema... The prices of boots on the internet are fantastic, but buying boots online is stupid without having them fitted first. Ideally I could go to a boot fitter, have the boots I want fitted so I know which ones are best, say thank you, and then go buy them online. Then again, that seems like a dick thing to do. I really don't want to drop $300 extra on a pair of boots just so I can have them fitted, rather than buying them on sale.

For those who don't have Full Tilts, and spend some money on their boots, how do you go about buying them?
 
i plan on doing this. my shop has such high prices and i want full tilts too lol. so ill go get fitted and then go buy online lololol
 
I'm in the same situation. No way will I be able to drop $500 on a new pair of boots and get the rest of the stuff that I need to ski before winter. It is kind of a dick move, but if stores didn't have such high prices people wouldn't do it.
 
Go to surefoot. I went to there yesterday just to get fitted. Turns out they had a pair of Lange Xt 120 shells with 40 days on them(still fantastic condition) for 150 that included a new liner. They tend to have a lot of lightly used shells laying around because of their trade in program.
 
there is a thread sticky'ed to this forum titled Guide: how to buy ski boots. use that thread instead of making your own, its there for a reason man. I'm sure whatever questions you have/had, its in there with an answer.
 
When you buy the boots from the shop you don't just pay for the boot you also pay for the fitting service and if actually want your boots to fit you properly you need custom footbeds which you can't buy online.
 
Op when you go to get a boot fitted just measuring and selecting a shell is only the first step. That is all you could get if you do what you prepose. The actuall fitting begins once you have selecte the boot. Firstly footbeds are made to realign your foot somthing which is crucial to any good fit. You can buy footbeds for any boot but they are usually cheaper if you buy with a boot. So you save maybe $50 there. Next is the hell work. It's very rare to get. A shell to fit straight out of the most. Most people need some work doing. If your lucky enough to fit in a custom shell boot then you certainly want it fitting. Stretching a shell is often $30 a punch so say you need one spot on each shell adjustin that is $60. Next you may need liner work doing you may need further alignment done, possibly you need te flex adjusting to suit, maybe the cuff angle needs adjusting and so on. These things all get very pricy if you just being a boot in. and lastly once you go skiin if you have any problems take them back and they will refit free of charge. This is a huge factor having that garentee that they will fix any problems. So hopefully this showas it's usually not cheaper to buy online as you are not buying any of the fitting you will need. Shop prices include all this work and you will always be best going that route no question.
 
13114657:tomPietrowski said:
Op when you go to get a boot fitted just measuring and selecting a shell is only the first step. That is all you could get if you do what you prepose. The actuall fitting begins once you have selecte the boot. Firstly footbeds are made to realign your foot somthing which is crucial to any good fit. You can buy footbeds for any boot but they are usually cheaper if you buy with a boot. So you save maybe $50 there. Next is the hell work. It's very rare to get. A shell to fit straight out of the most. Most people need some work doing. If your lucky enough to fit in a custom shell boot then you certainly want it fitting. Stretching a shell is often $30 a punch so say you need one spot on each shell adjustin that is $60. Next you may need liner work doing you may need further alignment done, possibly you need te flex adjusting to suit, maybe the cuff angle needs adjusting and so on. These things all get very pricy if you just being a boot in. and lastly once you go skiin if you have any problems take them back and they will refit free of charge. This is a huge factor having that garentee that they will fix any problems. So hopefully this showas it's usually not cheaper to buy online as you are not buying any of the fitting you will need. Shop prices include all this work and you will always be best going that route no question.
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the people at my shop need to read this. they know nothing on boot fitting lol
 
13114657:tomPietrowski said:
Op when you go to get a boot fitted just measuring and selecting a shell is only the first step. That is all you could get if you do what you prepose. The actuall fitting begins once you have selecte the boot. Firstly footbeds are made to realign your foot somthing which is crucial to any good fit. You can buy footbeds for any boot but they are usually cheaper if you buy with a boot. So you save maybe $50 there. Next is the hell work. It's very rare to get. A shell to fit straight out of the most. Most people need some work doing. If your lucky enough to fit in a custom shell boot then you certainly want it fitting. Stretching a shell is often $30 a punch so say you need one spot on each shell adjustin that is $60. Next you may need liner work doing you may need further alignment done, possibly you need te flex adjusting to suit, maybe the cuff angle needs adjusting and so on. These things all get very pricy if you just being a boot in. and lastly once you go skiin if you have any problems take them back and they will refit free of charge. This is a huge factor having that garentee that they will fix any problems. So hopefully this showas it's usually not cheaper to buy online as you are not buying any of the fitting you will need. Shop prices include all this work and you will always be best going that route no question.
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Or you could just buy full tilts
 
I understand wanting/needing to save money, but going to the shop and then going online is cheating your local ski shop and wasting their valuable time. It's hard enough for small shops as it is, give them your business so you can continue to get that service
 
Go to the shop, get the sizing figured out, give them $30 for their time, and buy the boots online. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes
 
13115479:milk_man said:
Go to the shop, get the sizing figured out, give them $30 for their time, and buy the boots online. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes
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You missed 1 very crucial and beneficial part: ask the shop if they will price match the boot.

While buying online may seem like an advantage, without a boot-fit guarantee you are really asking for trouble and it won't be worth it in the end. When you buy from a shop, you will usually get a boot-fit guarantee that will cover any liner heating, shell work, geometry adjustment, etc on the boot. This is especially helpful once you ski the boot for a few days and realize there is a problem with the fit that you did not realize while simply having the boot on in the store.

So, always try to support your local shop because they actually are there to help you out and they want you to have an awesome time. Therefore, mention that you found this great deal on-line and ask if they will match the price for you so that they keep your business. Chances are highly in your favor that they will do this for you and also offer the benefits of buying the boot from them.
 
13115479:milk_man said:
Go to the shop, get the sizing figured out, give them $30 for their time, and buy the boots online. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes
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But your still not having a boot fitted that way. You could go to any shoe shop and find out your size. Boot fitters fit boots not just size you up and it is the fitting which I the most important part and somthing you can not get online.
 
13115554:onenerdykid said:
You missed 1 very crucial and beneficial part: ask the shop if they will price match the boot.

While buying online may seem like an advantage, without a boot-fit guarantee you are really asking for trouble and it won't be worth it in the end. When you buy from a shop, you will usually get a boot-fit guarantee that will cover any liner heating, shell work, geometry adjustment, etc on the boot. This is especially helpful once you ski the boot for a few days and realize there is a problem with the fit that you did not realize while simply having the boot on in the store.

So, always try to support your local shop because they actually are there to help you out and they want you to have an awesome time. Therefore, mention that you found this great deal on-line and ask if they will match the price for you so that they keep your business. Chances are highly in your favor that they will do this for you and also offer the benefits of buying the boot from them.
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That's typically what I'll do when buying skis from my local shop. I really love to help them out, but it seems silly to spend $400 more just to do that. The past 3 skis I've bought, they always matched the price and it worked great.
 
13115851:Nacho_Macho_man said:
That's typically what I'll do when buying skis from my local shop. I really love to help them out, but it seems silly to spend $400 more just to do that. The past 3 skis I've bought, they always matched the price and it worked great.
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Then it's probably a safe bet to assume they will do the same with the boots. Everyone, including shop managers, would think it's silly to actually spend $400 more for the same boot in the shop. They are consumers too and they buy other things at retail, so they know what it's like. Plus, shops really don't want our to lose your business and I'm fairly confident they would make the deal, especially if you stress that you'd rather keep your business with them.
 
13115688:tomPietrowski said:
But your still not having a boot fitted that way. You could go to any shoe shop and find out your size. Boot fitters fit boots not just size you up and it is the fitting which I the most important part and somthing you can not get online.
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True, they would have to have the kind of boot that you would order.
 
13116194:tomPietrowski said:
Yeah an unfitted ski boot
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I don't think we're on the same page here. Are you talking about form fitting a boot to your foot? This is a luxury that I am not familiar with.
 
13116373:milk_man said:
I don't think we're on the same page here. Are you talking about form fitting a boot to your foot? This is a luxury that I am not familiar with.
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Really? That is why you buy boots in shops. They have to be fitted for you. If you but a boot online you have had no fitting done and even if the boot does not hurt you it still won't be skiing optimal potential.
 
13116417:tomPietrowski said:
Really? That is why you buy boots in shops. They have to be fitted for you. If you but a boot online you have had no fitting done and even if the boot does not hurt you it still won't be skiing optimal potential.
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Dang. Well if that's true then me and my friends definitely ski some sketchy boots!
 
Have fun paying $100 bucks to get your intuition liners molded to your feet. No to mention footbeds, and any punching or stretching as mentioned above. Most shops will hook you up on the mounting too when you are buying from them. Support your shop, gain their trust and they will hook you up! Ski techs and sales guys love beer and bud....a lot.
 
13115479:milk_man said:
Go to the shop, get the sizing figured out, give them $30 for their time, and buy the boots online. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes
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13116688:japanada said:
Ski techs and sales guys love beer and bud....a lot.
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Both of these. I fit boots at a small mom and pop shop and you have no idea how many guys come thru and take an hour or two just to get fitted and then leave claiming they will be back to buy them at a later date. yeah. But on the other hand I have had honest customers that say up front that they have been shopping around online and would like to be fitted in exchange for a tip/beer/bud and everyone at my shop is down with it. My boss even encourages it. Just let them know your situation
 
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