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Boot choices - smaller vs narrower vs different boot? Long backstory.

HuntersEmma57

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Really sounds like they're just packed out and you need new liners. Even intuition liners instead of zip fits if you don't want to spend the $$. If they fit for a while and now don't, that's what I'd point to.

That said if you're dying for new boots. Atomic Hawx Ultra Narrow have worked for my tiny feet and I just bought Solomon S Max supposed to be low volume. My ankles might be too small for them though
I'm a huge fan of Intuition liners.
 

contesstant

Angel Diva
Thanks all! I spent some time this past weekend playing with the padding around the ankles, since we were all home sick anyway. I'm hopefully skiing this coming weekend so I'll give it a go then.

@MontanaMom I do think the liners are slightly packed out, but I also only have about ~30-35 days on them at this point (I don't get to ski as much as I'd like). I would have expected it to last longer.

@contesstant wow, your feet are really narrow! I think mine measure about 91-92mm wide at the forefoot, which is narrow but not crazy narrow. Just out of curiosity, did your fitter say what anatomy makes a woman do better with the short cuff?
He did not say why he puts so many women in short cuff boots, but he does a lot. His favorite is the Lange RS, I'm in the 110 flex. There are actually lower-volume boots out there, but this one just works with my anatomy (and the custom liner.) He did not sell me the boot, either. He sent me out to find one as he did not have any more in stock.

ZipFits are a good option for sure. The heating process is not that intimidating to do at home.
 

Basil

Certified Ski Diva
Coming back to this after a lot of messing around with the boots.

i remeasured my feet and I got 23.1 and 23.5. 91-92mm wide. My instep is not super low, but also not super high. I think probably the simplest thing is to try to go down to a 22.5 and find a fitter who can work with the length a bit. I’ll probably start that project in the fall though since there will presumably be more inventory.

Ski boots are so weird. My daughter has tiny feet and currently skis in a 20.5 but is starting to notice her toes hitting the end, so I’m sure next year she will need a bigger size. So if I’m in a 22.5 there will only be one size in between us. It feels intuitively wrong, since she is like half my size generally. I think people underestimate how few sizes there actually are in ski boots as compared to street shoes. I know that was not immediately obvious to me when I started this!
 

MissySki

Angel Diva
Coming back to this after a lot of messing around with the boots.

i remeasured my feet and I got 23.1 and 23.5. 91-92mm wide. My instep is not super low, but also not super high. I think probably the simplest thing is to try to go down to a 22.5 and find a fitter who can work with the length a bit. I’ll probably start that project in the fall though since there will presumably be more inventory.

Ski boots are so weird. My daughter has tiny feet and currently skis in a 20.5 but is starting to notice her toes hitting the end, so I’m sure next year she will need a bigger size. So if I’m in a 22.5 there will only be one size in between us. It feels intuitively wrong, since she is like half my size generally. I think people underestimate how few sizes there actually are in ski boots as compared to street shoes. I know that was not immediately obvious to me when I started this!
You might not need to even do anything length wise to just size go down one size from your measured length. I have not had to do anything on length doing the same.
 

KWlovessnow

Certified Ski Diva
I also have a very low-volume foot and was put into way too big of a boot. I am now skiing a race boot and am loving it. My biggest problem is I have a very small heel/ankle with a normal size forefoot and calf muscle. I am in the Lange RS with a short cuff now. Even in this boot, my heel was not locked down, but I can’t go smaller because of the rest of my foot (we were already punching out some parts for my foot anatomy). I put in my Zipfits and now the boot skis like a dream. It’s comfortable and I am completely locked in.

I highly recommend ZipFits. They are very easy to “mold”. Basically you put them in your boot and ski them. The first few days are rough, but then they are so much better than any stock liner. They moved from my old boot to my new boot seamlessly and I personally do not think I would be able to get nearly as good as a fit without them.

I did originally get the Zipfits to address my first boot being too big. While it helped, it did not fix the problem. They can’t work miracles, but they can really help in a properly sized boot.
 

contesstant

Angel Diva
I also have a very low-volume foot and was put into way too big of a boot. I am now skiing a race boot and am loving it. My biggest problem is I have a very small heel/ankle with a normal size forefoot and calf muscle. I am in the Lange RS with a short cuff now. Even in this boot, my heel was not locked down, but I can’t go smaller because of the rest of my foot (we were already punching out some parts for my foot anatomy). I put in my Zipfits and now the boot skis like a dream. It’s comfortable and I am completely locked in.

I highly recommend ZipFits. They are very easy to “mold”. Basically you put them in your boot and ski them. The first few days are rough, but then they are so much better than any stock liner. They moved from my old boot to my new boot seamlessly and I personally do not think I would be able to get nearly as good as a fit without them.

I did originally get the Zipfits to address my first boot being too big. While it helped, it did not fix the problem. They can’t work miracles, but they can really help in a properly sized boot.
There we have it, another Lange RS short cuff wearer! I have so much for foot feel in the short cuff boot. I don't have big calves or low calves, either, but I did develop a habit of parking on the tongues of my boots with a taller boot.

As for ZipFits, they do offer absolutely incredible heel hold. I would need about two more tubes of Omfit to use them in my RSs, as I've already tried and have oodles of room, so I'm sticking with the Sidas foamed liners. That being said, the Zipfits can be heated at home and instructions for doing so can be found online. Just PULL THE FOOTBEDS and don't set them directly on the oven rack!
 

Basil

Certified Ski Diva
Thanks! I will definitely put the Lange RS on my list of boots to seek out to try in the fall. I’m also intrigued by the new K2 Cortex and the Atomic Tx.

I do think I may eventually want a Zipfit but I’m worried that if this shell is too big that I’ll be getting the wrong one. What I don‘t want to do is buy a Zipfit now, have the shell be still too big, then still move to a 22.5 shell and then the Zipfit won’t fit.
 

contesstant

Angel Diva
Thanks! I will definitely put the Lange RS on my list of boots to seek out to try in the fall. I’m also intrigued by the new K2 Cortex and the Atomic Tx.

I do think I may eventually want a Zipfit but I’m worried that if this shell is too big that I’ll be getting the wrong one. What I don‘t want to do is buy a Zipfit now, have the shell be still too big, then still move to a 22.5 shell and then the Zipfit won’t fit.
Makes sense. Plus, there are different Zipfits and one might work better for another for you.
 

WaterGirl

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I do think I may eventually want a Zipfit but I’m worried that if this shell is too big that I’ll be getting the wrong one. What I don‘t want to do is buy a Zipfit now, have the shell be still too big, then still move to a 22.5 shell and then the Zipfit won’t fit.
FWIW, IMHO I found that the zip fit liner was much thinner in the forefoot than a regular liner. Similar to a liner in a plug boot. The neoprene w/ wool stuffing does not take up as much volume as a traditional liner. When I tried it in my old boot yes, the heel/ ankle was locked but the forefoot had too much wiggle room. As such I believe your really need to have the "right size" lasted boot in order to get the zip fit to work.
Or plan on using the heated socks to suck up the room. ;)
 

MissySki

Angel Diva
FWIW, IMHO I found that the zip fit liner was much thinner in the forefoot than a regular liner. Similar to a liner in a plug boot. The neoprene w/ wool stuffing does not take up as much volume as a traditional liner. When I tried it in my old boot yes, the heel/ ankle was locked but the forefoot had too much wiggle room. As such I believe your really need to have the "right size" lasted boot in order to get the zip fit to work.
Or plan on using the heated socks to suck up the room. ;)
I am very intrigued by this aspect because I usually have to have a lot of work done on my forefoot in new boots due to that width versus my very skinny heels and low instep. So I am curious if the Zipfit will help me not need as much work there to begin with. Though that might also make my current boots that have been stretched in the forefoot an even bigger disaster in the one spot that isn’t a problem currently lol. We’ll see…
 

zookeepr

Diva in Training
So glad to read about Zipfits and Lange RS short cuffs. This will be on my list once my liners pack out.

I got the Langes last season and took a bit of work with my wide forefront, narrow heel + ankles, very low-volume feet, and big calves. I've got them dialed in now and starting to get comments on how much my skiing has improved.
 

Basil

Certified Ski Diva
FWIW, IMHO I found that the zip fit liner was much thinner in the forefoot than a regular liner. Similar to a liner in a plug boot. The neoprene w/ wool stuffing does not take up as much volume as a traditional liner. When I tried it in my old boot yes, the heel/ ankle was locked but the forefoot had too much wiggle room. As such I believe your really need to have the "right size" lasted boot in order to get the zip fit to work.
Or plan on using the heated socks to suck up the room. ;)

I’m gonna be the only one out there wearing multiple pairs of heated socks! ;)

The first metatarsal area was the only place that my Heads were adjusted…and you can only tell because the plastic is a little shinier in that area, so it wasn’t much. I wondered about that when I was watching the Skiessentials Zipfit review though. I guess if I get new boots I will be conservative with stretching in that area though.
 

WaterGirl

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Do yourself all a favor, don’t rely on the liner for the fit of your boot. Remove liner from shell. Take a small shim place on boot board. Put your custom foot bed on top of shim. Then put foot in boot. Now how is the last feeling?

the thinness of the neoprene toe box in my plug liner allowed me to ski the plug with no mods. If I put that race liner in my old boot I would be swimming. I’ll have to try it in my current boot ….. my current boot with the factory liner in a 98 fits tighter than my plug boot set up. Don’t be fooled by your liner ;)

and wear cheap knee high nylons for you next boot fitting ….
 

Basil

Certified Ski Diva
Do yourself all a favor, don’t rely on the liner for the fit of your boot. Remove liner from shell. Take a small shim place on boot board. Put your custom foot bed on top of shim. Then put foot in boot. Now how is the last feeling?

the thinness of the neoprene toe box in my plug liner allowed me to ski the plug with no mods. If I put that race liner in my old boot I would be swimming. I’ll have to try it in my current boot ….. my current boot with the factory liner in a 98 fits tighter than my plug boot set up. Don’t be fooled by your liner ;)

and wear cheap knee high nylons for you next boot fitting ….
Haha! I promise I’ll at least wear ultra thin ski socks!

I did a shell fit in my current boots..I‘ve got some room in the length, maybe about 1-1.5 cm. Not much room around the metatarsals or heel, maybe 0.5 cm. But a lot of room around the instep and ankle, I can get my whole hand in there. I can buckle up the boot and slide right out of it easily.

I‘m really interested in the new Atomic Tx boot that’s supposed to be a 96mm last but with more room in the toe area. I have a lot of tolerance for compression in my heel/ankle but not a lot of tolerance for squished toes. I’m hoping to try that boot in a 22.5, the Lange RS that so many seem to like, the K2 Cortex, and the Tecnica Mach LV in the fall. I think the trick will be finding all those in stock without driving all over New England.
 

MissySki

Angel Diva
Haha! I promise I’ll at least wear ultra thin ski socks!

I did a shell fit in my current boots..I‘ve got some room in the length, maybe about 1-1.5 cm. Not much room around the metatarsals or heel, maybe 0.5 cm. But a lot of room around the instep and ankle, I can get my whole hand in there. I can buckle up the boot and slide right out of it easily.

I‘m really interested in the new Atomic Tx boot that’s supposed to be a 96mm last but with more room in the toe area. I have a lot of tolerance for compression in my heel/ankle but not a lot of tolerance for squished toes. I’m hoping to try that boot in a 22.5, the Lange RS that so many seem to like, the K2 Cortex, and the Tecnica Mach LV in the fall. I think the trick will be finding all those in stock without driving all over New England.
I personally find the Lange RS way taller in the instep than the Mach 1 and don't forget that the Mach 1 is supposedly getting a lift in the instep for next season too unfortunately. I am thinking of going back to the Mach 1 and that would mean buying this year's version because I am afraid of them ruining the instep height next season...
 

Basil

Certified Ski Diva
I personally find the Lange RS way taller in the instep than the Mach 1 and don't forget that the Mach 1 is supposedly getting a lift in the instep for next season too unfortunately. I am thinking of going back to the Mach 1 and that would mean buying this year's version because I am afraid of them ruining the instep height next season...
Oh interesting! I guess I am banking on going down in size from a 23.5 to a 22.5 would take care of the extra room. Have you ever tried a boot with an adjustable tongue? I am a little annoyed that is a feature on the new Tx boot but only in the 130 flex men’s sizes. It seems like it could be really useful.
 

snoWYmonkey

Angel Diva
Anither RS 120 Short cuff with the zipfit gara high volume. Note that high volume with zipfit is the opposite of a shell that is HV. The HV liner is thicker and pads out even more for tiny ankles like mine.

Both the boot and the liner are new for me. I am still teaching in the Lange RX 110 with an intuition liner and tons of extra foam glued on to the outside of the liner to take up even more space.

Dialing in new boots is such a frustrating process that ends up being so rewarding at the end. I am also playing around with a pair of Nordica Pro machine boots but I'm actually finding that the taller cuff is not the Panacea I had hoped for.
 

MissySki

Angel Diva
Oh interesting! I guess I am banking on going down in size from a 23.5 to a 22.5 would take care of the extra room. Have you ever tried a boot with an adjustable tongue? I am a little annoyed that is a feature on the new Tx boot but only in the 130 flex men’s sizes. It seems like it could be really useful.
Ah good point, hopefully that will help a lot overall!

Adjustable tongue in what way? The Mach 1 allowed you to adjust the tongue position closer and further from your instep with a connection of velcro down at the toes… unfortunately even moving it in and padding it didn’t do enough after awhile as things packed out, but it did help at first.
 

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