walkerkelly
New member
Like I get that they're not cheap to make but they can't be that expensive
Why are ski boots so expensive?
- Thread starter walkerkelly
- Start date
freeskibum82
Active member
the R&D that goes into a ski boot is insane. if you think the boot is expensive.. just wait till you get it in the hands of a boot fitter...
for me, ski boots are the most important piece of equipment. If your feet hurt and are uncomfortable, it doesnt matter what ski you have, you will not have a good day. Spend the money and get boots that fit. Then spend the money to get them fitted, whether it be a custom footbed or a full blown custom fit from a boot fitter.
for me, ski boots are the most important piece of equipment. If your feet hurt and are uncomfortable, it doesnt matter what ski you have, you will not have a good day. Spend the money and get boots that fit. Then spend the money to get them fitted, whether it be a custom footbed or a full blown custom fit from a boot fitter.
glacier_freeze
Member
It's good that you're questioning
...but as an engineer, it's disappointing that people don't appreciate the work of engineers. It isn't easy or cheap to design and manufacture an iPhone ... and it isn't easy or cheap to design and manufacture a ski boot.
Considering that ski boots require high tolerances for measurements to ensure performance, it means that the molds have to be accurate. And making ski boot molds ain't cheap. In fact, the molds are the most expensive part about the process.
...but as an engineer, it's disappointing that people don't appreciate the work of engineers. It isn't easy or cheap to design and manufacture an iPhone ... and it isn't easy or cheap to design and manufacture a ski boot.
Considering that ski boots require high tolerances for measurements to ensure performance, it means that the molds have to be accurate. And making ski boot molds ain't cheap. In fact, the molds are the most expensive part about the process.
Dr.Dickless
Active member
I would imagine just to injection mold a tongue the mold would be more than $100k
dramallama.
New member
..
tomPietrowski
Active member
If you think about it there not tht expensive really. Look at a pair of nike trainers. You could easily pay 150 for them. The prices required to make them is very minimal compared to a boot. Look at a goretex jacket. It could easily be 600. A ski boot needs expensive molds to create the shell. The buckles are metal so not easy to make. The liners are the equivalent of a skate shoe in them selves. So I you think about what goes into them tht 400-600 really is not that bad. You happily pay 500 for a piece of wood you slide on but a boot which transfers all your power to that ski and still has to be some what comfortable is expensive?
TheGreenBastard
Member
if its so easy and cheap, why hasnt even one homegrown company touched it besides, Icelantic and that stormtrooper boot is a shell from a carve board boot/ bucket of garbage.
Boots are incredibly expensive to manufacture on a large scale and trying to do it on any type of small numbers basis is suicide, the molds for the shells cost many thousands of dollars for one full size run of one model of boot. And if a company wants to make boots that last and have some inkling of quality (not FT) they have to put a lot of other machined pieces on the boot, not shitty rubber encased fishing wire. but boots don't matter everyone knows its all about your skis edges anyway...
Boots are incredibly expensive to manufacture on a large scale and trying to do it on any type of small numbers basis is suicide, the molds for the shells cost many thousands of dollars for one full size run of one model of boot. And if a company wants to make boots that last and have some inkling of quality (not FT) they have to put a lot of other machined pieces on the boot, not shitty rubber encased fishing wire. but boots don't matter everyone knows its all about your skis edges anyway...
cannaguts666
Member
Because you will pay the money for them.
Turd.Ferguson
Active member
cuz you need fuckin ski boots to ski shitstain
NinetyFour
Active member
Like others have said, the cost of injection moulding is insane. After you watch the video on how boots are made, watch how injection moulds are made, then you'll understand.
skibum_mark
Member
wow, just wrong.
earl.squirrelson
Member
the design of ski boots has remained relitevely the same for a long long long time... i mean unless it's a touring boot you're not getting much difference between your shoe today as one 20 years ago... yeah liners are better etc etc.. but the r&d doesn't translate in to any real significant developement in the final product. but it's skiing, so it's gonna cost you a shit load
Pipe_Munky
Active member
you're partially right... yes the design of ski boots has remained relatively the same. you have a lower shell and and upper cuff and if you're dealing with a three piece boot you have a removeable tongue...
here's the bitch of it:
- boot moulds themselves are not cheap. a full size run of moulds are going to cost anywhere from 500,000 to 1,000,000 euros depending on the boot. this is even before the company starts buying materials.
- coming up with new materials that won't be affected by temperature variances isn't cheap either. then you need to figure out how to bond them together (ie bi-injection shells) so they don't split open when you land flat from 20 ft in the air.
- when creating a new concept/idea, you are paying engineers to try and create the lightest yet strongest product available. this costs money.
- you're dealing with things that need to be anatomically correct. this means you need podiatrists on staff that know exactly what will be going on with the consumer's foot when locked inside of a hard plastic shell.
it's not as simple as saying "lets take this boot and do ________ to it to make it better". there are a ton of things that need to be addressed when making changes. not every company simply comes up with a cool marketing campaign for a 20 year old design that attracts the fanboys like insects to a light bulb.
if it's as easy as you think it is, why haven't there been any new successful brands in the last 10 years...fyi Full Tilt should not be considered new.
here's the bitch of it:
- boot moulds themselves are not cheap. a full size run of moulds are going to cost anywhere from 500,000 to 1,000,000 euros depending on the boot. this is even before the company starts buying materials.
- coming up with new materials that won't be affected by temperature variances isn't cheap either. then you need to figure out how to bond them together (ie bi-injection shells) so they don't split open when you land flat from 20 ft in the air.
- when creating a new concept/idea, you are paying engineers to try and create the lightest yet strongest product available. this costs money.
- you're dealing with things that need to be anatomically correct. this means you need podiatrists on staff that know exactly what will be going on with the consumer's foot when locked inside of a hard plastic shell.
it's not as simple as saying "lets take this boot and do ________ to it to make it better". there are a ton of things that need to be addressed when making changes. not every company simply comes up with a cool marketing campaign for a 20 year old design that attracts the fanboys like insects to a light bulb.
if it's as easy as you think it is, why haven't there been any new successful brands in the last 10 years...fyi Full Tilt should not be considered new.
Huck_Norris
Active member
That whole Lange video I was waiting for them to be like "And here is where we make sure they'll leak immediately so the user needs duct tape to keep their feet dry" haha
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