Is Heat Molding Worth It?

[NoMasCork]

Finally got enough money to get a nice pair of boots (K2 FL3X Revolvers) and have heard mixed opinions on whether or not I should get them molded or not (mainly due to shinbang relief). Should I spend the extra money or is it not worth it?

 

[eheath]

Your foot will eventually "heat mold" your liners, it's not necessary but it helps speed up the break in process and will make your boots more comfortable on day 1.

 

[midwestcoast]

Unless you have a foot feature you need addressed, like a bunion/bone spur, I would ski them a little bit first, the boot liner will pack out naturally with use. When you heat mold, you're essentially making your boot bigger in certain points and is not-reversible. I DO recommend a custom footbed, I use Masterfit. If you can't afford a custom, even a cheaper product like Superfeet is recommended. All the brands generally assume everyone goes the footbed route, and essentially sell boots outta the box with "disposable" footbeds. DO NOT use a "gel" or "cork" footbeds - they get stiff when it's cold and super mushy when it's hot. Before I could afford Masterfit, I used the Superfeet Marino (doesn't smell). One more point if you go the superfeet route - don't buy your specific foot size - take the footbeds out of the box and see what matches your foot's arch the best, then trace the factory footbed and trim to fit inside your liner. I needed like a size 11 to match my arch the best, and trimmed to fit in my 265 boot...

 

[NoMasCork]

Unless you have a foot feature you need addressed, like a bunion/bone spur, I would ski them a little bit first, the boot liner will pack out naturally with use. When you heat mold, you're essentially making your boot bigger in certain points and is not-reversible. I DO recommend a custom footbed, I use Masterfit. If you can't afford a custom, even a cheaper product like Superfeet is recommended. All the brands generally assume everyone goes the footbed route, and essentially sell boots outta the box with "disposable" footbeds. DO NOT use a "gel" or "cork" footbeds - they get stiff when it's cold and super mushy when it's hot. Before I could afford Masterfit, I used the Superfeet Marino (doesn't smell). One more point if you go the superfeet route - don't buy your specific foot size - take the footbeds out of the box and see what matches your foot's arch the best, then trace the factory footbed and trim to fit inside your liner. I needed like a size 11 to match my arch the best, and trimmed to fit in my 265 boot...

Do you think something from FP Insoles would be a good option? They have been my go-to for skating but idk how they would perform in a skiing setting.

 

[midwestcoast]

For sure - I'm pretty sure they make a snowboard one. I'd see if it fits in your liner from a width perspective. It'd absolutely be better than your stock insole.

 

[PartyBullshiit]

Finally got enough money to get a nice pair of boots (K2 FL3X Revolvers) and have heard mixed opinions on whether or not I should get them molded or not (mainly due to shinbang relief). Should I spend the extra money or is it not worth it?

You can use the rice method at home. Take a long tube sock and fill it with raw rice. Don’t stuff it to the brim but a decent fill. Leave it soft enough so you can easily move the shape of the sock. Also take the footbed out of the liner.

microwave it for 7 mins. Once it’s done drop it in your liner inside your boot. Knock the toe and heel to get as much of the rice to fill the whole foot area inside the sock.

if you have a second tube sock filled with rice as well you can add the second one on top to heat up the cuff area of the liner.

buckle all the buckles to the loosest setting so they’re just buckled but not tight. Let them sit for 10 mins. While your waiting get your feet ready put on the thinnest ski socks you have.

once you’ve hit 10mins pop open the buckles, take out the socks with the rice and drop your feet in. Buckle up your boots like you would for skiing but don’t go crazy tight as you’ll compress the liners a lot creating a good amount of space. So just buckle up to snug nothing more. Place ideally a 2x4 on the floor and prop your toes on it and stand in a natural skiing position for like 10 mins. You can wiggle your toes to create a little extra room but you don’t want to be moving much.

After those 10 mins pop them off and your essentially heat molded. They’ll continue to take more shape the more you ski but this will be a good start.

hope that helps

 

[NoMasCork]

I will have to give that a try

 

[KilaTsunami]

Your foot will eventually "heat mold" your liners, it's not necessary but it helps speed up the break in process and will make your boots more comfortable on day 1.

I say this atleast 10 times a day at work. I feel like Woody from Toy Story w the string on his back