Measure your own feet

[Julius_Steezer]

So here's my thinking...

Every time somebody posts in gear talk about buying boots online, the first response is go see a boot fitter.

Now I entirely get this, you want the boots to fit your feet exactly and so you want to be able to check that your measurements match the boots.

So here's my question...what measurements do you need to figure. Don't get me wrong, good boot fitters are great. They can identify why your boots are hurting and they can make the fit exact etc. But given you can find online discounts which are huge, what measurements would I need to take in order to have a good idea what boots online would fit (or at least be a close enough fit that a liner would make them perfect)?

 

[onenerdykid]

A boot-fitter will take the following measurements as a place to start: length, forefoot width, instep height, heel width, calf circumference, and ankle flexibility. However, even if you know those measurements about your foot you will not find them listed as specs on a website (especially for each shell size since they differ per shell size!). A boot-fitter takes these measurements because he knows how all of the boots fit in relation to these measurements.

Moreover, simply knowing these measurements does not yield the answer of what boot will work. The ultimate/final measurement is seeing your foot inside the shell and making sure the shell contours match your foot, which cannot be done online. This is why the response is to go to a boot-fitter simply because they are able to perform this task.

So, long story short, you can measure your feet in any dimension you want, it still doesn't tell you what boot will work. It only gives you a basic starting point. From there you need to do a shell check.

 

[Julius_Steezer]

A boot-fitter will take the following measurements as a place to start: length, forefoot width, instep height, heel width, calf circumference, and ankle flexibility. However, even if you know those measurements about your foot you will not find them listed as specs on a website (especially for each shell size since they differ per shell size!). A boot-fitter takes these measurements because he knows how all of the boots fit in relation to these measurements.

Moreover, simply knowing these measurements does not yield the answer of what boot will work. The ultimate/final measurement is seeing your foot inside the shell and making sure the shell contours match your foot, which cannot be done online. This is why the response is to go to a boot-fitter simply because they are able to perform this task.

So, long story short, you can measure your feet in any dimension you want, it still doesn't tell you what boot will work. It only gives you a basic starting point. From there you need to do a shell check.

Ok, I was kinda hoping you specifically would answer my question so thanks very much for that.

So unsurprisingly, I was asking as there's a bargain boot online. Its on eBay and fortunately, the guy doesn't live too far from me so I was gonna go round and see him about them. I am not a bootfitter and don't pretend to be but these a brand new ghosts for £20 (I don't know if its too good to be true which is why I wanna go round and see them). Could I check the shell contours myself (are there any obvious things to check for?) or is it only something you can get from years of experience?

 

[onenerdykid]

Ok, I was kinda hoping you specifically would answer my question so thanks very much for that.

So unsurprisingly, I was asking as there's a bargain boot online. Its on eBay and fortunately, the guy doesn't live too far from me so I was gonna go round and see him about them. I am not a bootfitter and don't pretend to be but these a brand new ghosts for £20 (I don't know if its too good to be true which is why I wanna go round and see them). Could I check the shell contours myself (are there any obvious things to check for?) or is it only something you can get from years of experience?

For 20 quid, why not?

First start with a length wise shell check: remove the liner, step into the shell while wearing a thin ski sock, slide your feet to the front so your toes barely touch, and measure the space behind your heel. A race fit is 1cm, normal is 2cm, too big is 3cm.

Next, check the width. With your foot centered in the shell, about 5mm-10mm away from the back of the heel, examine the space on the outside of your foot. If your foot contacts the shell, it is way too narrow and you will need to stretch it in the area which contacts your foot. Normally, you want to get a finger tip between you and the shell (this mimics the liner thickness). You can also do this test for the inner ankle and navicular bone.

With these über basics, you can see if it might be a good starting point for you. Other tests will be more complicated but if the boots are in good shape, you can take them to a fitter who will charge you a small fee to take care of the rest.