I've got a bit of a boot buying issue. Advice?

DrZoidberg

DrZoidberg

Active member
Before I say anything else: I've been fitted and I know what fits. What I'm looking for is a salomon xmax 100 in a 24.5, which seems to be one of the few options for a boot that's narrow and tight fitting but not 130 flex. It fits snugly and flexes nicely. I'm pretty set on getting this. I genuinely do have a 98mm last as well, so I'm not trying to cram into tight boots. I tried the girls ones on which are the same shell, but apparently with a shorter and wider cuff. If not for that I'd just get the girls ones because I really don't care, plus I like the teal and white anyway.

The issue is that I'm looking for a mens 24.5. It exists, but nobody has it. The other issue is that I'm wondering if I should wait it out and see if I can avoid paying $500 for the boots right now and buy them in the off season. There's not all that many ski shops around here. The one shop that's actually decent is going to call and see if they can even get them for me from their warehouse or whatever.

I figure that since nobody stocks mens boots in 24.5 and salomon probably doesn't make tons of these, there's not gonna be any hanging around online or in the sale section of a store come summer. So it seems like waiting won't really get me anywhere in terms of a better price. Even on evo, the lowest size they have listed is the 25.5. So what does NS think? If I wait will I just be skiing in worse fitting boots for more time than I need to, or will I actually be able to find these at a discount in the summer?
 
Fellow 24.5 male skier here so I know the struggle of finding small boots.

Your best chance of getting 24.5 boots is at the beginning of the season when the shops get in their new stock. The ski shops I know usually only get 1 - 3 pairs of 24.5 size and they tend to go fairly quickly. Expecting to find a 24.5 boot in the off season for cheap especially in a popular boot like the Xmax is not really realistic unfortunately. Sometimes you can get lucky though and find a pair, looking for last years or even the years before Xmax could be an option.

If I was in your position I would just buy the boots now if the shop can get you a 24.5 size. Skiing in boots that don't fit sucks and you also risk not being able to even get a pair of boots for a long time. Also buying instore is better than buying online when it comes to boots because good ski shops should do modifications on the boots for free versus if you bring boots bought online they're going to charge you to do work.
 
The X max 100 is not one of the only low volume boots that's not a 130 flex. Pretty much every legitimate boot brand makes a boot like this.

It will definitely be harder to find the boot in the off season. If you can get them now, get them now.
 
13630576:Negromancer said:
boots because good ski shops should do modifications on the boots for free versus if you bring boots bought online they're going to charge you to do work.
Click to expand...

This is why I plan to buy it in the shop, save for some very unlikely massive discount. They said they'll be happy to punch out the toe on the right boot after I ski it a few times if needed. My right foot is the bigger one, but I think after the liner packs out it'll be fine enough.

I know there's the technica mach 1, nordica makes one and there's always 98mm last fulltilts. As far as stuff I can physically try on, the x max is it and it seems to fit quite nicely.
 
If it increases your boot choices don't rule out 130 flex boots even if that's stiffer than you want. It's really easy to make a stiff boot softer by removing one of the rear bolts in the spine, or by my making a V-cut in the cuff. Most high end stiffer boots have multiple rivets in the back, as well as a pre marked line for V-cuts just so you can adjust the stiffness. Although you never know, you might like a stiffer boot if you try it.
 
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