Expert Boot Advice given by Jeff, Boot Fixation - Page 6  

Come back Jeff!!!

Background: PSIA 8-9 farily agressive. Dynamic turns in almost all conditions -- tend toward shorter radius turns. Like hard snow carving as well as all kinds of off-piste conditions. Skis: 160 SLs, 180/90mm twintips. Bunion surgery on outside forefoot (just behind little toe joint) of both feet 2 years ago. Somewhat wide forefoot w/ angular shape (which seems to pressure area just behind toes, hence the bone spurs), even big and second toe, smaller heel (but with big spur, hasn't given me problems). High instep, major pronation.

1. What is best strategy to prevent recurrence of bone growth? Snug or somewhat looser feeling? (Certainly not tight, as I feel this is what really set off the initial problem.)

2. I've had reccomendations for Sal X-Wave 10, and independently trying out a lot of boots that felt best, (surprising as it doesn't seem to have the widest forefoot). Still worried that heel is a bit wide and forefoot too close (see above) -- quite snug but not tight. Atomic (current boot) felt quite good in forefoot and instep, but I seem to be between shell sizes for length in current last -- I do not want to go too small as I have made that mistake before but am swimming in next shell size up. Technica also too short. Head was close but too tight in midfoot. Best to go with X-wave?

3. Currently skiing only half superfoot. Sounds like going to full is obvious good idea. Will EVA be better for me than cork? Are most of the EVA offerrings similar?

Many thanks!

Street shoes: mens 8.5 EEEE; high instep; wide forefoot
Circumference at ball of foot: 254mm
Beginning skier -- I ski to enjoy the gliding and have no desire to ski fast
Platform: 94cm skiblades with conventional release bindings (but no tricks/stunts)
I am probably going to buy a pair of Head Big Easy 94cm ski blades, and am looking for a boot that meets the following requirements (listed in order of importance to me) :
1. fits my high instep and wide forefoot
2. offers a more upright position not the forward-lean of most alpine boots
3. lightweight and flexible
4. a walking-mode would be nice
Salomon VERSE were recommended to me, as well as the Nordica SMARTech, but by salesmen, not boot fit specialists. I would be grateful for advice.

Question for Jeff

Background Information:
- Eastern expert, sometimes I like to play in the park but mostly I love trees and fast carving. Looking for something rather stiff.
- I've got two different sized feet. My left is a 9/9.5 shoe size, my right is a 8.5. Both are EE widths. Also I'm 5'11. 185, athletic.
- I also have extremely flat feet (Cavemen feet) and I wear custom orthotics in my shoes for this. Unfortunately they dont fit in ski boots and are rather expensive so I can't get another set.
- On my own I tried a pair of the Technica Icon ALU at a 27.0, way too narrow to get even close to putting them on, let alone fitting them. Tried a few others, including a Dalbello (wasn't impressed) at shop and left.
- Went to a better shop and fitting guy helped me out. He seemed to recommend the Dolomite Rage Pro or the Nordica Beast, in 26.5's to keep the tight fit for performance. Those were the only two he had me try on. I should also note that these were the two most expensive boots in the store, so I'm a little skeptical.

Questions:

1. The Rage Pro seemed to fit well, as did the Beast, but neither were great. In both boots a heel lift was inserted on my larger left foot, which helped a little (or so it seemed) with alleviating some pinching of my toes. This seemed to cause heel slippage, especially in the Rage Pro. In general both of these boots actually seemed to have rather roomy heel pockets for me. Was the tech doing the right thing with the heel lift or simply trying to convince me the most expensive boots in the store were the best idea with a small gimmick that helped fit while causing heel and performance problems?

2. Are my heels themselves possibly just too narrow for these boots? Is the heel able to be "tightened up" around my ankle/heel area or is it a find new boots kind of deal?

3. Is there anything else in this flex range that I should go try on?

4. Does 26.5 seem like the size I should really be trying on?


Thanks in advance, and hope the questions are answerable with the information I've given...

-Pete

Background: I'm an advanced intermediate skier who skis 7-8 times a year. Im 6'1" 182lbs. I have a street shoe size 10.5-11, with a narrow foot. I went to a ski shop and liked the 2005 Salomon Performa 7.0. In the store they recommended a 28.5. I went online to buy the boots and found a great deal on the 2004 Performa 7's but they only had the size in a 29.

1) Is there much different between the 2005 and 2004 model's of the Performa 7's?
2) Will having a 1/2 size too big make much of a difference with this boot?

Thanks for your time

Duvodude,

As one who has spent lot's of time & dollars on boots over the years, I'd like to share a couple of thoughts with you -

1.
Skiboot sizes ('mondo point') match up against regular US shoe sizes by adding together the individual mondo point numbers.
Example: 28.5 = 2+8 = 10.5

2.
Most good fits in ski boots for a recreational skier require dropping down a size in the ski boot. I wear a 9.5-10 shoe, and wear a size 8 ski boot.

3.***
Remember that the liners 'pack out' with use - especially with recreational boots and especially after the first few times worn. If you have very thin feet (like I do), it is especially important to get sized properly so that the boot will still fit well after it has packed out. If you can fit into a 27 or 27.5, most decent shops can grind away a little material at the toe if this is a little snug. A size 29 will definitely be too big.

Boots are soooo expensive - it can be more than a little depressing to find that after skiing several times the boot isn't snug or responsive anymore... And it is exhilarating when you get a fit that is clearly beyond anything you have experienced before - and will last you for years.

Good luck!

Duvodude, I just bought a pair of boots yesterday, and prior to that was in almost exactly the same situation. It sounds like you have nearly the same foot size as I do. YES, 1/2 size will make a big difference, and no you will not like the size 29. I wear a size 11.5 to 12 street shoe, was considering buying a size 29.5 ski boot, but found out I actually fir best in a 28.5.

I ended up going the Dalbello Supersport ZX.

Jeff,

I'm 6'2", 235 lbs. I ski blue and black: no problem with blues, struggle on some blacks. Skied a few double blacks, but they were over my head. I try to ski on any terrain or snow conditions presented to me.

I'm a fairly new skier, and don't have very good technique. Graceful, I'm not: I have strong legs, and use my strength to overcome my lack of technique.

I currently ski in Nordica W8s, size 29.5 (12-13 foot), on mid-fats or fat skis.

The problem: There is a hot spot on the inside of my left ankle, right at the point of the ankle bone. I have large calves, am fairly thin in the leg immedietly above the ankel bone, and have a fairly prominent ankle bone. The only way I have managed to alleviate the problem is by building shims for the inside of that boot: I have glued about 3/8" to 1/2" of hard foam to the inside of the boot liner, to fill the hollow between my ankle bone and my calf. My next step is to get a piece of heat moldable foam, and build an insert that I can tape to my leg before putting the boot on (at which point, I'll remove the foam that is glued to the liner).

My question: Am I worsening the problem with my attempts at amateur boot fitting? Am I transferring the problem to somewhere else? What are the risks and downfalls of the modifications I have mentioned? Also, can you recommend a boot that might better fit my sore ankle bone/large calf configuration?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

former racer considering softer boots

Jeff,

I'm a 28 yo 6'0" 185 lb guy size 28.5 former racer and looking for new boots. When I raced I was used Nordica Grand Prix (both the maroon and lime green versions) and loved the fit, but now I'm looking for something a little more comfortable without sacrificing too much performance. I also think that a somewhat softer boot may be offer better performance off-piste and in the trees and powder. I've been looking at the Nordica Beast and the Speedmachine and have been also considering the Tecnica Diablo. I'm thinking I want to stay away from full race boots, but I am wary of going too soft. Any thoughts on how soft is too soft? Any other boot recs? Thanks.

Jeff

I'm 6'3" 205 and ski mostly black and some blue in mostly eastern conditions. I wear a size 13.5 shoe and currently use a size 31 boot which has gotten too big. I just purchased elan s10 and was thinking of buying lange comp 100 boots size 30.5.
1) the boots felt very small length wise, will they pack out considerably
2) Is the comp 100 the right boot for me, if not what is?
thanks

Guys,it looks like no one is home here...

Spoke to Jeff this morning. He's been swamped with work but will be back on soon. Hang in there!

Thanks for taking the time to help everyone out!

Background: long time skier who has taken a few years off due to re-location. Getting back into it, mostly East Coast and a yearly week long trip out West. I was just fit for new boots and really liked the Tecnica Diablo Flames - extremely comfortable. Shell fit was a 27.5, with liner in there was really not much of a toe rub, completely gone with flexing.

Questions:
1. How much can I expect the Tecnica to pack out? Enough to warrant a drop to a 26.5?
2. I am assuming a 27 and 27.5 are identical shell wise, perhaps I am wrong?
3. I've heard a lot of people talking about how this boot fits differently than others...does this generally mean it runs big?

Thanks again!

ofc319, did you see his new thread?

I did now, thanks! Time to cut and paste.

Canting and upper cuff alignment

Jeff,

My son was told last weekend by a PSIA level 3 instructor after a 2 day clinic that he was knock kneed (1 degree) on 1 leg. He is a strong, expert skier and has Nordica Beast boots. He is 5'8", 215lbs and skis Atomic SX11Ms in the midwest. His misalignment is probably due to a broken tibia many years ago.

1. Should he invest in custom footbeds before aligning the upper cuff?
2. What footbeds do you recommend?
3. How important do you feel aligning the upper cuff is?
4. Is there anything else he should do?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Bill

Bill he should have had custom footbeds already!!

Corrective action begins with custom footbeds to support and align foot in boot for balance, strength, endurance, circulation and weight-bearing capacity. If the cuff needs to be adjusted, do it after he invests in a great footbed.

This might help you find something in Ill.

http://www.bootfitters.com/FIND_SHOP.htm

Thanks. I have already given that advice. Since this forum has so many great and experienced people on it I feel it is a good place to ask a question. I always learn something new from the responses even though I have been involved in skiing professionally and recreationally for 5 decades.

My son was trying not to spend the money (dealing with a divorce) on a footbed and find an easy solution but I told him that stabilizing the foot was the first thing, then a cuff adjustment. Will put him on a Tek Scan next week to measure how much out of alignment he really is.

Great and best of luck!! And as a member of PSIA and a level 3 myself those guys can be real jerks sometimes!!!

Hi Jeff,

Thank you in advance for this.

Background: expert skier, 6'2, 210 lbs, 30 years old
Style: aggressive, fast, like stiffer flex (hockey player)
Location: mostly Austrian alps

Preferred terrain/snow: hard pack, groomed, crud/powder, trees, bumps

Skis: Head XRC 1100 SW (177), Rossignol Bandit B2 (190)

Current boot: Tecnica Icon (6 years old, never stopped hurting, even though a fitter tried to make it more wider.)

Every boot I have ever worn has given me pain specifically on the outside of my foorfoot. It seems like we don't have any good bootfitter here in Austria at all. Somehow I found this page and hopefully you can help me out. (please)

I am considering buying new shoes. Since we have differnt shoe sizes in Europe, I measured my foot. It's 274 mm long, and my foorfoot is about 114mm wide (EE on skating shoes). I have a high instep, guess average heel width, no calf problems at all and no toe box problems either - since the technica icon never hurted there.

I already read a lot of posts and the guy at St. Anton, Arlberg in Austria, let me try the Atomic Widebody (which felt good, but kind of a low shaft compared to the icon), Nodica Beast 12, the Technica Diablo Fire (i liked the hard flex) and the Head S10. But actually I cant say, if they fit, since they always start hurting later.

Questions:

1. Which boot would you suggest?

2. What do I have to look at, when I am trying them on? I have no idea about fitting.

3. How much do you tighten them when trying on?

4. Should I get a custom liner? (One guy told me this is the best, the other said it used to be good, but now the liners that come with the new shoes are even better)

would be very, very glad for any help.
ciao... marc

Jeff,

I'm woman,36 years old, 5 ft 93 lbs, intermediate skier. I've been ski for 3 years. My left foot is 21.5, right foot is 22. I wear regular woman us shoe size 5.0. My forefeet are little wide and arches are normal. I try Nordica GT junior 21.5. It is perfectly fit on length, but little pain on arches, after walk around 5 minutes, not on ski yet. It's not very comfortable boot.

I tried Solomon performa 8 for woman, 22. I like the support lining. But when I lean forward, it gives a little roommy. Can you recommend what brands I should have? It's pain for woman at this size. I have been spending more than 2 weeks try to find a boot. I like comfort and dont want to sacrifice performance. I'm sometime speedy.

My goal : to be somewhere advance skier, not helicopter skier.

Thanks in advance.
Babe

Hi Jeff,

I have tried to keep to the format you requested as much as possible.
Background:
Male skier, 183,5 cm. / 80 kgs (6.1 ft / 176 lbs). Aggressive style - tend towards longer turns. Like any type of terrain and any klind of condition. Skis: Atomic 10.2.24 (188 cm, fast skiing), Scott Racing (195 cm for soft powder and bad conditions) and Atomic SX B5 (174 cm for playing and off-days). Normal forefoot, small heel with low instep. Slight subpronation, does not pose any inconvenience.
Currently skiing on Salomon X-wave 10.0 boots size 27.5. Bought these boots this year. The fit is excellent with the lower and top buckles in third catch, except for the ankle area: here I cannot adjust the buckles to get a tight fit, while the rest of the boot fits like a glove.

Question:
1. Any advice on how to improve the fit around the ankle area?

Tecnica Explosion VS Shin Bang

Jeff
Background
36 years 6'02" 200 lbs I have been skiing for 32 years
Foot --- high arch, D size forefoot, and black toenails : . (not on purpose)
I am a PSIA skier out west and former college ski racer from the midwest. Back in the day I wanted stiff everything to deal with the ice (ie Snowmaking snow) of the midwest and east coast. Atomic gs race stock skis, Tecnica TNT boots, Foam liners, Booster straps to make he boots fit tighter. the whole nine yards. I would even stand boot deep in snow to make my feet numb and the boot stiffer. Now I am a powder skier in utah (Solitude and Alta). I ski with fat skis, Big stix 106 Igneous FFF (118mm waist), and Atomic Big Daddies. Boots are still Tecnica Explosions 7 1/2 (a whole size smaller than my street shoes), Foam Liner, blue footbeads. The boots are set at the softest position and they are still to stiff for my liking. I have zero hair on the front of my shins, Calcium bumps on my shins, and I cannot rip more than 2-3 days before my feet-shins-knees hurt like HEdouble hockey sticks. I access most of my terrain by hiking inbounds and out of bounds. Hiking in these stiff boots also caused me discomfort. My shins will bleed if I hike-ski too often in these boots. That said the way I ski is fast fast fast. I will arc big GS turns down open bowls, go way to fast in the trees, and straightline when possible. Kreitler : is my hero!!! I only huck 18 feet or less on 3 foot powder days. (limit set by myself and my knee surgeon.) So the performance I get out of said boot that is too stiff is very desireable. I love the instant response of the stiff boot.

Finally to the question. I might be getting older, but I am wishing for that cadillac ride. Plus getting the Performance I am used to. What type of boots would you recommend?

Tecnica
Solly
Rossi
Dolomite
Daleboot
Lange
Nordica

are the pro form boots I can buy

are the rossi soft boots to low performance for a skier like me?
I disliked lange since the leaky pink panther days,
Nordica are way too narrow, (grand prix)
I have been told that I am a Tecnica foot
I also will ski with my tecnica's unbuckeled on the groomers for comfort.

thanks

Kevin in Salt Lake

Upgrade ski boots for an upper-intermediate skier

Hi Jeff, and thank you so much for offering your expertise.

I am an intermediate skier. Last year I upgraded from very low end beginner skis (Head Cyber 20x) to Volkl V3's, and my skiing improved immensely. I am still a little awkward on the slopes, my equilibrium is not the best, but I have little to no fear and ski relatively aggessively for someone who's only been skiing for 4 seasons.

Now, I'm finding that my boots are limiting my abilities and my skis' capabilities. They are Tecnica Innotec T1 6.1 (a model that probably doesn't exist anymore). These served me well, as they took me from a complete beginner to a moderately good intermediate level... but now I need to upgrade.

I have a narrow heel, but a wider forefoot (87 mm). I tend to get very cold feet (poor circulation? or perhaps the Tecnicas are not very warm?). I'm rather small-framed (140 lbs, at 5'9").

I'm in the Ottawa region, in Canada, so this isn't Wistler... mostly hard packed granular and lots of ice.

I need a boot that will take me from my current level to more advanced, yet be a little forgiving of my current limitations. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

For now, I have been looking at the Nordica Speed Machine 14 and the Salomon X Wave 10.0 Fast... but only in magazines (haven't even been to a ski shop yet).

Thakk you so much!

Wrong thread. Post your questions here:http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=29323

Make sure you read the first post and follow his format. Otherwise, he would probably not answer them.

this link doesn't work anymore, do you know where to find this info? I need to adjsut my rivals

Hope this thread is still alive!

Hi

I have a pair of red xwave 10 boots without the honeycomb sidewalls (bought cheap which is imp't in Australia cause we pay more than you!).

Read this thread and want to soften up the boots a little as they overpower my short skiis, making them a bit twitchy.

Had already drilled out the rivet on one and found removing the cosmetic carbon plate made no change in flex.

Other threads told to drill out rivets behind the hinge points

Mine dont have rivets - have black "holes" which presumably bulge into the inner. The bulge then has a limited range of movement in a vertical rectangular slot.

QUESTIONS
1. Can I take apart the hinge? both hinge points have allen key heads and can be used for canting adjustment. Key point - if they come apart do they go back together again?

2. If I trim back/off the hole shaped bulges in their slots will the flex be softened - perhaps too much? or is the flex more a function of the shape of the cuff and the materials.

Any advice before I get carried away with the tools would be great

Thanks