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Large Calf - Wide Foot.. Best Ski Boots are?

post #1 of 33
7/5/06 at 4:06pm
Thread Starter 
Ive had problems with ski boots over the years especially with having big calfs. I always get pinched and feel discomfort at the top of the boot because of this. I also have a pretty wide foot too. Are their any boots to help this? Ive heard Nordica Beast 10's are Ok.. Any help would be appreciated.
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post #2 of 33
7/5/06 at 4:37pm
I am not an expert in all ski boots but I have large calves and big damn wide feet and did alot of shopping and searches last winter.

I found the salomon x series. I was looking at the x-10 free as a high quality boot has a wide fit.
I bought the salomon pro guns and had them punched a few times and they fit great for my wide feet
Salomon course is also a high end boot that fits a wider foot .
The Salomons I stated have nice tight heel fits and I think this is very important

Technica Diablo is also a wide boot and you should try it on. There are a couple Technica boots of the Diablo series that are wider.

You need to find a wide boot but get a nice close fit and proper shell fit and you can get them worked to fit your feet

.Most boots will not fit properly until you work on them or they would end up being too big for you
.
If you expect a perfect fit right out of the box you might find later they are actually too big in size and that is worse than any discomfort
.
If you buy at a good ski shop they will work on the boots for you or you should go to a bootfitter and take his recomendations


Do your research and find reviews online and you can narrow down some choices. There are many posts in threads in this forum about boot fitting.

I would recommend the ones I stated because I did the same research and tried on many and most are just too tight in the forefoot. So many people have narrow or I should say normal sized feet and have many more choices than we do.

Good luck
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post #3 of 33
7/5/06 at 5:17pm
I will vouch for the solly x series, wide fit decent boots, but the problem with that boot is they footbed make you foot subnate(if that the techie term for outwards) I am going to go with custom fitted Krypton Cross(wider slighty softer), with stiff tongues next year.
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post #4 of 33
7/5/06 at 5:20pm
[quote=BushwackerinPA]I will vouch for the solly x series, wide fit decent boots, but the problem with that boot is they footbed make you foot subnate(if that the techie term for outwards) I am going to go with custom fitted Krypton Cross(wider slighty softer), with stiff tongues next year.[/quote/]

A good quality footbed would be a smart investment for any boot
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post #5 of 33
7/5/06 at 5:50pm
[quote=GarryZ]
Quote:
Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA
I will vouch for the solly x series, wide fit decent boots, but the problem with that boot is they footbed make you foot subnate(if that the techie term for outwards) I am going to go with custom fitted Krypton Cross(wider slighty softer), with stiff tongues next year.[/quote/]

A good quality footbed would be a smart investment for any boot
I know i am going all out on the next pair off boots, the kryptons fit my foot better though and my solly shells are too big. I bought them for comfort like 3 years ago, had no clue what i was doing.

FYI Chris Korich(Biostance) told me to go for the krypton, and just start out with custom liners. the boot puts my foot pretty close to where it should be, custom footbed should eliminate some foot pain i had after skiing long hard bump runs.
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post #6 of 33
7/5/06 at 9:24pm
Atomic B series. Perfect for duck feet and muscular calves.
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post #7 of 33
7/9/06 at 3:37am

.....

Nordica's Beast 12, if the fflex is ok for you.
Nordica's Speedmachine 10.
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post #8 of 33
7/9/06 at 3:48am
Not to be smart, but Kemper5, are you a man or a woman?

Past that, the Krypton Cross might be able to accomidate a wider foot, but it won't be able to do the large calf.
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post #9 of 33
7/9/06 at 8:56am
I have a medium to slightly narrow forefoot and narrow heel with tall skinny calfs and the Krypton Cross was the best out of the box fit I tried. It's what I currently ski on and the best boot I've ever used for my feet. I do have some slop in the forefoot, but the way the middle buckle pulls the ankle back and holds it down I don't think it affects my skiing much if any. I'm using last years stock liners with custom footbeds BTW.
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post #10 of 33
7/9/06 at 11:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgiddyup
I have a medium to slightly narrow forefoot and narrow heel with tall skinny calfs and the Krypton Cross was the best out of the box fit I tried. It's what I currently ski on and the best boot I've ever used for my feet. I do have some slop in the forefoot, but the way the middle buckle pulls the ankle back and holds it down I don't think it affects my skiing much if any. I'm using last years stock liners with custom footbeds BTW.
He has wide feet and big calves so how does this help him?.:
Great you are happy with your boots but lets help the guy with some ideas that fit his needs
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post #11 of 33
7/9/06 at 4:47pm
Nordica Speedmachine or Beast.
The Tecnica Diablo mag/fire/flame have a very wide forefoot (IMO), wider than the forefoot of the Icons which was medium and held the forefoot properly. Some say that the Diablos have a slightly narrower heel but i could not feel any difference in the shop. I believe the Vento? are even wider.

It would be a good idea to search Jeff Bergeron's thread (which is sticky). I am confident that you will find at least a few good boot suggestions from him for people with wider feet.

It would also be a good idea to tell us how wide your heel is. If it is not too wide and you have a "V" shaped foot then the DIablos would be a boot to try on.
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post #12 of 33
7/12/06 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sywsyw
Nordica Speedmachine or Beast.
The Tecnica Diablo mag/fire/flame have a very wide forefoot (IMO), wider than the forefoot of the Icons which was medium and held the forefoot properly. Some say that the Diablos have a slightly narrower heel but i could not feel any difference in the shop. I believe the Vento? are even wider.
I believe the Diablo is the replacement for, and has the same fit as, the Icon and the Technica Vento is the replacement for their wider line. Some Salomons and most Dalbellos are also known for thier wider fit. I'm not familiar with Nordica.
These days, like Technica, most manufacturers have a wider boot and a narrower boot. You're best bet is to find a good bootfitter and try what he offers. Most good ski shops carry several lines to accomodate various shaped feet, and a good bootfitter can take one look at your feet and recommend the best fit.
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post #13 of 33
7/12/06 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2-turn
I believe the Diablo is the replacement for, and has the same fit as, the Icon and the Technica Vento is the replacement for their wider line. Some Salomons and most Dalbellos are also known for thier wider fit. I'm not familiar with Nordica.
These days, like Technica, most manufacturers have a wider boot and a narrower boot. You're best bet is to find a good bootfitter and try what he offers. Most good ski shops carry several lines to accomodate various shaped feet, and a good bootfitter can take one look at your feet and recommend the best fit.
The Diablo series doesn't fit like the Icon series...They have more volume in the front and instep areas and fit better for people who's heels don't protrude much (in my case my heels are almost completely in-line w/the back of my leg). They also seem to fit almost a full size smaller than the Icon line, which maybe due to the larger volume.

I've got big dogs and the Diablo Mag was the boot recommended to not only fit the best out of the box, but also the best able to be worked the way I need them to fit.
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post #14 of 33
7/12/06 at 12:31pm
Thanks for your answer, momesteve. I wanted to reply to 2-turn's post but you were faster than me .

I agree with everything you said. I downsized when i tried the Diablo Fire. The forefoot of the Diablo is definitely wider than the Icon and. The rest of the boot was not very different and seemed like a slipper with the very cushy liner. Some say that the Diablo is narrower in the heel than the Icon. I did not notice it with the stock liner. I think that with a thinner liner i would notice a difference (if there is one).

IMO the Icon had two problems: the stock cuff which was a poor design and the ankle/heel area which could have been narrower. IF tecnica built a boot using the Icon's last with a narrower ankle/heel and a much better cuff they would have a very good boot. A thinner liner would have been a good idea,too. This is why i replaced the Icon's stock cuff with the XT's race cuff. It holds my lower leg extremely well and the fit in the ankle/heel is improved, too. The new cuff improved the flex dramatically. It flexes smoothly just like the XT. It is now a zero preload boot (where the lower strap rests on the instep) and is more responsive. The forefoot is medium-wide but holds the foot properly and allows the big toe to articulate.

I thought this would be much better than to buy a diablo and use the shell. The XT cuff can be fixed to the Icon's shell. It's a very simple and effective mod.

Jamie
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post #15 of 33
7/12/06 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by memosteve
The Diablo series doesn't fit like the Icon series...They have more volume in the front and instep areas and fit better for people who's heels don't protrude much (in my case my heels are almost completely in-line w/the back of my leg)
The Icon has a similar fit in the heel. The pocket is not deep. Same goes for the XT.
The Diablo full plug has a deep heel pocket and the ankle is more flexed. It has thick plastic in the Achilles and this also pushes the lower leg forward. For some this stance works. For others it is bad.
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post #16 of 33
7/16/06 at 10:40am
Two sites you may want to check out: http://www.bootfitters.com/boot_reviews.htm

Click on the categories denoted in tiny red letters under the masthead.

http://www.fischer-ski.com/en/

Click Products, Alpine, Boots. The MX series has a neat cuff trim device to accommodate wide calves. The MX series is also fairly wide in the forefoot area. The some models have a somewhat different adjustable spoiler that accomplishes the same thing.

Good luck.
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post #17 of 33
7/16/06 at 11:12am
I have very similar problems so I have been through this many times. I wear a shoe size 11 EEEE (yes, 4E) and very large athletic calves with low reaching muscles. No boot made fits me well without sig modification, but I have worn, Salomon X-waves 9, Technica Rival RX and Atomic B11. All were reasonable fit with modification. My foot is also very flat. I find that the Technicas were highest volume over-all, but I did not need high vertical volume as I have very flat feet with very low instep. The Atomic B Series is wider in the forfoot than any other, but is lower volume overall (lower instep) so better for flat feet. Cuff is also fairly low so this helps with the calf issue. A good boot fitter can also flair the cuff to be wider at the top. I found this very helpful. I would bet that the Atomic B series would most resemble your wide foot if you have a low instep. If you have a wide, high-volume foot with a high instep then the Solomons or Technicas are a better bet for you. I hope this helps.
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post #18 of 33
7/16/06 at 12:58pm
By LB above: "The some models have a somewhat different adjustable spoiler that accomplishes the same thing."

I should have typed: " Some other [Fischer] models..."

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post #19 of 33
7/16/06 at 4:19pm
Kemper, I would give another vote for the Atomic B series. I have been skiing mine for 3 seasons and after some footbed work they have been great for my wide feet. My B7s don't have a particularly high cuff, which should address your calf issues. Again the usual mantra, YMMV, so try before you buy.
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post #20 of 33
9/7/06 at 5:31am
I have very high insteps, and very large calfs, although my foot is average width. I have had a great deal of difficulty in finding an appropriate fit. The biggest difficulty is that the back of most boots is palced so that my shin ends up way too far forward. I apparently also had limited dorsiflexion (ankle bend forward). The solution was to fit me in Nordica Beast boots from the 2003-2004 season (work done during the 2004-2005 season). The bootfitters removed some device on the back of the liner, and also fitted me with heel lifts inside the boot and toe lifts outside the boot. That opend up my ankle and gave me a more uproght stance. I think the Dalbello boots would have responded favorably to such treatment, but mine had been worked over too many times to try that. I have had several pairs of Dalbellos, and while they fit, theyall put me too far forward. I think the heel/lift, toe lift combinati9on would work well on them. Heel lifts move the calf higher up, giving more room, and the toe lifts give a more upright stance.
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post #21 of 33
9/8/06 at 7:01am

Edited by RUIDI WIRSCH - 1/20/11 at 4:00pm
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post #22 of 33
9/24/06 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 
anyone else?
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post #23 of 33
9/25/06 at 1:16am
I have big calfs. I fit in Krypton Cross.

If the boot went a 1/2" higher if would not work.

if might be worth trying them.
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post #24 of 33
9/25/06 at 2:48am
i have the beast 12 and have big calves and wide flat feet...
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post #25 of 33
9/25/06 at 7:40am
The Dalbellos from a couple of years back, the Avanti Series, V- Pros are pretty large volume boots that should be able to accomodate a wide foot and large calves. The B series Atomics is an excellent suggestion.
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post #26 of 33
10/1/06 at 9:33pm
Thread Starter 

Large Calf - Wide Foot.. Best Ski Boots are?

I ended up going with the Tecnica Vento's (Vento 6).. I tried on the following boots over the weekend (all last years models and brand new). Nordica Beast 10 and 12's, Atomic B series, Tecnica Diablo Flame (was to $$ for me as they has just the 06/07... $600) Tecnica Vento 6 & 8. For me the Tecnica's were by far the most comfortable, easiest to get into boot.. My calfs are very happy as Ive worn my ski boots around the house for the better half of the day (my little boys are laughing at me) but hey, I want a decent fit and Im more comfortable in these than Ive been with boots since my Raichle Flex's of the 80's..
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post #27 of 33
1/5/08 at 11:15am

wide feet, large calves, total newbie!

Hello... anybody still paying attention to this very old thread?

Don't laugh, I have now been skiing twice and I have not even made it off of the beginner hill yet. I am even a clutz but I am encouraged by the progress that I have made already. And I have a friend who use to teach skiing and she does not seem to tire of the process of teaching a chicken how to ski: If my 4 year old can do this I can too!!!

So what is a girl who cannot really spend even $100 to do for boots? I am trying Craigslist, got some skis that way, but I really don't know what I am doing. I went to try on a pair of Solomon and could only get 3 of the 4 buckles (and only on my smaller foot) to close and the boot was super tight. My shoe size is a ladies 11 wide. I have large calves and two partially numb toes on both feet as a result of spinal anesthsia (C-section). I have to have the right amount of blood flow or they go painfully numb. I got boots with my used skis but after renting the 1st day and actually using mine on the second day, I now know that the left boot is too loose. They are about 9 years old so they only have the one buckle on the rear of the boot. Is there something I can do to get these fitting better and still have them be safe? At least till I get better and know that this is a sport i am committed to and should invest in. I do have a 3 year old and a 4 year old so I don't need to be breaking things on the slopes!

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post #28 of 33
1/5/08 at 1:27pm
save your money, and go see a boot fitter. They might have some older stock cheap, but with that list of "issues" it will be hard to fit you in a stock boot. You will need some changes made to almost any boot. and most stores includes that in the price
.
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post #29 of 33
1/5/08 at 9:46pm
mntlion is right, try not to chase a dream by making little investments that fail to fulfil expectations. You can buy a lot of progress by investing in the right ski equipment but most beginners/intermediate skiers are incapable of making wise buying decisioons. Find a pro you can trust. He needs to see you standing right in front of him to determine your needs.

You can't expect to improve your golf score by simply investing in new clubs. If your swing sucks new clubs aren't the answer. Skiing is different. Properly fitted boots can bring rapid improvement. You might be surprised, the boot that helps you the most is the one that felt the least comfortable. Let a pro help you decide.

This is an old thread and I haven't read it all the way through but has anyone suggested the Head Edge series for skiers with large calf/wide feet?
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post #30 of 33
1/7/08 at 7:18am
Thanks Mike,
reading this whole thread really gave me a good idea of how complex the issues are. Still not sure what I can actually afford, but I will stop by a shop and see what can be done. There is a family who owns 3 shops in the area and at one of them they actually have a "second hand" shop in the back. There is some used gear but a lot of it looks like old stock like you said (never worn). And their is a very wise older man who runs the room and from what I over heard while he was fitting a few kids, he sounds like he really knows what he is doing. I think I will plan to stop by for a visit with him.
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