2012 Fischer Vacuum Ski Boot: A Game Changer - Page 3

Sounds like a very interesting development.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolo 

The machine makes the process idiot proof, according to the rep.

Hammers aren't idiot proof... but it does sound like a good attempt.

As for the time involved, I don't get the comment that it's too much. If you've ever had many hours spent fitting your boots, this is almost instantaneous.

I guess the biggest question is what are the other angles involved? To what degree will they place the foot toe out? , and what is the ramp angle?

How much instep room can they compensate for? - If you've got a low one, will it fill the space, and if you've got a high one, will it compensate?

What's done to give toe room? Is there enough big toe space? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotsSkier 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by primoz 

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It is ;) Most of WC guys are on this boots since Zagreb races. These are boots of Julien Cousineau from Zagreb SL race (6th of Jan. 2011). I know all this might not mean much, and they can be just repainted old style boots, but on the other side, Palander still had old boots in Zagreb, while in Schladming, he was with these ones already. So maybe it's not just paint job ;)

 

 

Primoz, i know it is your profession but still got to hand it to you for the quality of this photo.  To get close up detail quality like that during a slalom run is superb!

 

Awesome photo Primoz!

 Note the instep buckle is on the second position, Booster strap appears to be in use.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraJim 

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoal007 

I am stolked. Time to get ride of my atomic semi-race plugs. This sounds like the answer! I am sure some bootfitters are shivering, there goes all possibility of return income for boot fitting. I'm all up for this. 

Probably not. All the attendees were top level bootfitters and they are all for it. The reason I think is twofold. One......the income from the higher priced boots will offset lost income from follow up fitting charges (which are mostly free anyway). Two........many established bootfitters are so busy doing fixit work that we run the risk of not being able to service the customer that comes in (without appointment) wanting to buy something. The time saved is worth more than the income lost.

 

I'm sure there will be growing pains.

 

SJ

Thanks SJ, Starthaus, Nolo and anyone else who has added more good intel.

Can't imagine that a Pro bootfitter would be anything but jealous, if their shop doesn't have the system available. The objective of better 'fit' for many hard-to-fit skiers is what they're all looking for; and anything which moves towards that end has to be a tool you won't want to be without.

Can it all be accomplished the 'old-fashioned' way? possibly, but with a lot more work and effort. Though, getting a tighter shell fit might be the differentiation.

Starting with a boot which might now be 95% good, rather than 75%, is a HUGE advantage.

I expect that after some experience with the system, fitters will find ways to 'fine tune' along the way, to further improve the end result fit; and eliminate further tiresome fit sessions.

My Fischer boots have barely 30 days on them; and I just can;t imagine myself paying full boat for ski equipment.

I'm never an 'early-adopter' in almost anything...

BUT

I will line up for the first pair of 110 flex Fischers I can get next season.

I don't have a lot of good years left in this tired sack of Protoplasm, so I'm not gonna wait around for the nth degree of improvement.

BTW, have no Fischer stock, don;t work for them, never have...

along with many other brands, I've never been disappointed by Fischer stuff - always did what they claim it would.

just extremely fortuitous that I already have significant hill time on their stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaceDude 

Are these named after a tennis racquet?  I just googled "Fischer Vacuum" and pretty much everything was about tennis.

http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/100806/will-ski-design-follow-the-same-trend-as-tennis-racquets-did#post_1301287

Post #3: "What's funnier to me is how tennis tech funnels down to skiing a few years later and everyone gets hot and bothered as if it were innovation all along for skis. You want to know what materials will be hot in two or three years? Go check out Tennis Magazine ads..."

I don't know much about all this, but it seems to me that it's easier (cheaper) to try the new stuff out in racquets than it is in skis and boots. Head used Liquidmetal in its racquets 2 years before its skis. http://www.liquidmetal.com/news/dsp.press.020905.asp

sorry for hijack ...

Didn't Fischer used the name Vacuum on it's race skis in the 1980s?

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

Didn't Fischer used the name Vacuum on it's race skis in the 1980s?

Probably ... they were using on tennis racquets back then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by segbrown 

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

Didn't Fischer used the name Vacuum on it's race skis in the 1980s?

Probably ... they were using on tennis racquet's back then.

 If you've know this and other things for so long, why didn't you bring this one over to skiing?

  .... Oh!  You would have made to much money.    ...Ok!

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimalibu 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by segbrown 

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

Didn't Fischer used the name Vacuum on it's race skis in the 1980s?

Probably ... they were using on tennis racquet's back then.

 If you've know this and other things for so long, why didn't you bring this one over to skiing?

  .... Oh!  You would have made to much money.    ...Ok!

This is very disturbing, I did not put an apostrophe in racquets in my post, but it was quoted that way?? (I did leave out a word, but damn.)

So, Head's latest tennis stuff is Microgel and Youtek. Youtek is that d3o stuff that has already been used in impact clothing, I guess it will come into skis next? Dunno. But you heard it here first. Or maybe you didn't.
 

Isn't the vacuum line only combined with Soma?

Fischer have a promo video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=114_y7rTcsE

Quote:

Originally Posted by comprex 

My question:


How many moulding cycles can one shell take?

The OP said "This process can be done up to five times to refit the boot."

This is wonderful, if it truly works. I fall into the extremely-difficult-to-fit camp. I have a slightly inward curving foot due to being born with a few short ligaments (even after surgery at 6 months old). I also have pretty big ankle bones. Boot-fitting has always historically taken several hours and several trips with multiple punchings in many different areas - probably 5+ hours total. I have been using my current boots for 7 years now, avoiding the dreaded fitting process. The soles are beat to hell, the liners packed out, but they still fit pretty well.

I was planning on buying new boots next year. These are coming just in time. I would have been so disappointed if these came out a year later. For someone like me with a curved foot, a shell that molds to your foot sounds 1000x better than trying to get things punched out just right in many different places - and especially so, since it sounds like it can 'suck' in the shell where my foot curves away. I'm now actually excited to buy boots next year, as opposed to being deathly afraid of it - lets hope it works! I'll definitely report back on the success from the 'hard-to-fit' camp.

Hey guys, 

New to Epic.Very interested in the boot. I found this on youtube. It is appears to the be the vacuum fit process video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=114_y7rTcsE

chris

Sounds awesome especially if it can reduce volume in the right places, or conversely start

with low volume and expand.  Any thoughts on weight-

equal, less than, greater than status quo?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdc 

Fischer have a promo video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=114_y7rTcsE

80* for 10 minutes....then I was right, these things will lose their form if kept too warm.   Leave boots in car on a sunny day, come back to a puddle of palstic.

Still think there is a better way to fit a boot flawlessly, something along the lines of using a similar technology to what is now used for making bone settings resin casts....at least then it wont lose its shape no matter the temperature and will be super pliable until activated.

Well if that is the case then thats different.   Temps in  a car can reach 200* so they say

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikebeer 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richie-Rich 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdc 

Fischer have a promo video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=114_y7rTcsE

80* for 10 minutes....then I was right, these things will lose their form if kept too warm.   Leave boots in car on a sunny day, come back to a puddle of palstic.

 

I think that's 80C...176F.  Not sure why you'd have your ski boots in any situation that would involve 176F temps in your car!

 

Looks very interesting, especially as I'm trying to break in a pair of Lange RS 130s now, complete with tears.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraJim 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richie-Rich 

Still think there is a better way to fit a boot flawlessly, something along the lines of using a similar technology to what is now used for making bone settings resin casts....at least then it wont lose its shape no matter the temperature and will be super pliable until activated.

Let us know when you come up with said better way. BTW.....I'd suggest that you have you patents in order before you spillz da beanz. I'll be waiting with interest.

 

SJ

RR,  I really can't see a better way right now but, I'd like to hear what you have to say about it.  I have questions on the foam liners life expectancy and I think you RR brought up a question on shrinkage of the foam over time.

 Other than those two questions.......

I'd say I'm In . Starthaus please put me down for a pair. I hope all goes well with the install of the machine............ That is getting to be quite the shop.

I've got to say that the fitting technology doesn't seem inaccessible to me.  The oven looks very similar to the one in which my Intuitions and Zipfits were cooked.  The two wraps used in the molding process don't look terribly complex either.

Of course, I've never used them, so that's based only on the video.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraJim 

 

... Balancing some pre-padding plus some high molding pressures can make the ankle area mold just fine.

 

... We expect to have full delivery in mid September however some discussions w/Fischers race dept director has led us to believe that we may be involved in testing and protocol development (to some extent or another) sooner than that....

 

SJ

haven't been to Tahoe in years...

but I wouldn;t mind makin the trip and visitin with some old friends.

keep us updated on when boots finally come out of the marketing 'oven'  - 110 flex or thereabouts...

...been a crashtestdummy plenty times in the past...

What is the difference between the Pro version and the regular version as both come in a 130 flex?

The last width.  I believe that the Pro is a 96 or 98mm last, and the regular is 100mm.

Jims, I don't think that you answered my question of whether these could work with Zipfits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starthaus 
from the first run everything was perfect. i tested skis all day until they shut down the lift. i have never been able to have this kind of instant result with any other boot in all the years i have done as a boot tester. most importantly as i sit here typing, my feet feel great.

What happens when the liner starts it's initial packing out before it settles into it's longer-term shape? Seems that you would lose some of the nice fit once that happens, no?