First of all, I would like to thank every one of the boot specialists here for taking the time to answer my dumb questions in earlier threads. The information I have received here, particularly from the sticky thread on "Which boot is right for me" have been very insightful.
As mentioned in an earlier thread I decided to start skiing last fall semi-seriously (had been out 3 times in my life prior). I had skis and some old rear entry boots in size 12s so I decided to get new boots to start what I hoped would be a long season. Not knowing anything about boots, I bought myself the equivalent of size 12 street shoes (which I wear). My wife also got new boots at the same time. She is an advanced skier, although she had only skiied a couple of times a year for the past decade.
As the season wore on and I got better it became apparent to me that my boots were too loose, although again, I really didn't have anything to go by other than my gut feelings and what I had read in this forum. I managed to finish out the season with with boots that seemed to be getting looser each time out.
In preparation for this year, last week I finally found a local bootfitter. He shell measured my boots and - I kid you not - there was 2-1/2 inches gap between the back of my foot and the shell with my toes lightly touching the front of the shell. From there they found a set of old stock demos that were a perfect shell fit and installed Superfeet heat molded cork insoles.
Taking what I learned on this site and in the fitting, tonight I took the linings out of my wife's new boots and did some measurements. Well, obviously by experience, she had a better idea in the store of how a ski boot should fit. At most, she has a 5/8 to 3/4 inch gap to the back of the shell, and even to get that I may have been forcing her foot forward, just to get a finger in the shell to feel around. Side to side she has maybe 1mm or even less.
The only complaint she has ever had about the boots is that she has a heck of a time getting them on. Once on she can leave them on all day and says they are the most comfortable boots she has ever worn (which is why I thought maybe they would turn out to be a hair too big).
These are the pretty inexpensive Nordica B7s BTW.
I was going to take her to the same store for a fitting, maybe some new boots and some custom fitted cork insoles of her own. However after talking to her tonight, measuring the boots, and rereading the "which boot is right for me" sticky, I think I am just going to pick up some Superfeet Greens and trim them to fit her boots.
So that's two thanks I owe to the Boot Guys here this week... first for guiding me into getting a set of properly fitted boots for myself, and secondly for saving me a ton of money on doing the same for my wife
As mentioned in an earlier thread I decided to start skiing last fall semi-seriously (had been out 3 times in my life prior). I had skis and some old rear entry boots in size 12s so I decided to get new boots to start what I hoped would be a long season. Not knowing anything about boots, I bought myself the equivalent of size 12 street shoes (which I wear). My wife also got new boots at the same time. She is an advanced skier, although she had only skiied a couple of times a year for the past decade.
As the season wore on and I got better it became apparent to me that my boots were too loose, although again, I really didn't have anything to go by other than my gut feelings and what I had read in this forum. I managed to finish out the season with with boots that seemed to be getting looser each time out.
In preparation for this year, last week I finally found a local bootfitter. He shell measured my boots and - I kid you not - there was 2-1/2 inches gap between the back of my foot and the shell with my toes lightly touching the front of the shell. From there they found a set of old stock demos that were a perfect shell fit and installed Superfeet heat molded cork insoles.
Taking what I learned on this site and in the fitting, tonight I took the linings out of my wife's new boots and did some measurements. Well, obviously by experience, she had a better idea in the store of how a ski boot should fit. At most, she has a 5/8 to 3/4 inch gap to the back of the shell, and even to get that I may have been forcing her foot forward, just to get a finger in the shell to feel around. Side to side she has maybe 1mm or even less.
The only complaint she has ever had about the boots is that she has a heck of a time getting them on. Once on she can leave them on all day and says they are the most comfortable boots she has ever worn (which is why I thought maybe they would turn out to be a hair too big).
These are the pretty inexpensive Nordica B7s BTW.
I was going to take her to the same store for a fitting, maybe some new boots and some custom fitted cork insoles of her own. However after talking to her tonight, measuring the boots, and rereading the "which boot is right for me" sticky, I think I am just going to pick up some Superfeet Greens and trim them to fit her boots.
So that's two thanks I owe to the Boot Guys here this week... first for guiding me into getting a set of properly fitted boots for myself, and secondly for saving me a ton of money on doing the same for my wife
