Boots? SalomonScarlet or NordicaDobermanPro100

[snowday]

Hello! I just found this forum. Great help!
I'm trying to buy some new boots. I have very narrow feet, narrow heels, normal maybe low instep, so I need a low volume boot. I went to a boot fitter but they don't have all that I red here about (I live in Chicago, no mountains).
They tryed on me
-Head Dream-big all over
-Dalbello Storm-a bit smaller, still big plus hurting somewhere in the back
-Lange Exclusive 100-perfect on heels, big in front
After I red your postings, I asked about
-Salomon Scarlet but they don't have it and
-Nordica Dobermann Pro 100. Now those fit pretty good all over.

I'm intermediate-advanced, and I like powder when there is some. On groomed I keep up with my husband who skis FAST. From the specifications, Dobermann seems better for groomed high speed, but is it good for powder?

Scarlet seems good for everything but can anybody tell me if it's the same narrow feel as the Dobermann?

I can buy Scarlet online and send it back if doesn't fit, but does it worth the effort?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you for your help.

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

I don't really have a great answer to your question, but I'm actually considering between these 2 boots myself right now as well as the Lange Exclusive 80, so I'll be interested in any answers you get.
It sounds like our feet are similar-- I was able to try the Scarlet and found it to be a very snug fit-- for me there was no movement inside the boot whatsoever. Completely locked down.
I found the same thing as you about the Lange Exclusive line-- good fit in the heel, but could be narrower in the forefoot. It may still fit my needs though since I'm a low intermediate skier and the Dobermann and the Scarlet would need to be softened for me since they are stiff for me-- but they fit a bit better overall.

 

[snowday]

Hi NewEngland!
So you tryed both Scarlet and Dobermann? Do they fit similarly? What didn't you like about Scarlet?
Thanks again

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Yes, I did try both-- but the only Dobermann they had in stock was a size too big-- so couldn't really get a good feel for it. I felt like it would fit well if only they had had my size. I did get to try the Scarlet and I think I really liked it--nothing I really didn't like except that I think it will be a challenge to take off when the plastic is stiff from being outside, as it does have a low instep; even with a lower instep foot, I think it may be a challenge. Also I was hesitant about both the Dobermann and the Scarlet because of their thinner liners-- I wondered if my feet would get cold easier.

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Oh yeah-- I tried on the Scarlet again today and decided it has too much forward lean for my taste. But it might be great if you are looking for that. It really does have a nice tight fit in the foot though-- perfect if your feet are like mine.

 

[Eurogirl]

Scarlet or Dobermann?

Hi there, for what it's worth I'll tell you what I know!! I bought the Dobermann last season because like you I have narrow feet all over with a low instep. It was the best fit I have found in ten seasons full time ski teaching! They did slacken a little bit around the heel, but that was easily fixed with some neoprene molding. I was really happy with them. I ski everything on the mountain and teach in them six days a week 6 or 7 hours a day. Temperatures here in Andorra are generally mild. The only problem came when I went to Canada for an exam at the end of the season. The temperature dropped to -22 F and then the plastic became so stiff and unforgiving and the liner had no warmth, that I ended up with a severe bone bruise on one shin. I have been looking for some more boots that are a bit more comfort based and a bit more all round. I 've tried lots, I really wanted to try the Scarlet but couldn't find it here, but I have found the Salomon Instinct CS. The hold isn't quite the same as the Dobermann, but nothing that a bit of boot fitting won't sort out. I am planning on buying this week. I will let you know how I get on! I plan on keeping the Dobermann's and using them for racing. Good luck with it!

 

[Eurogirl]

I meant to say I agree though with New England that the Salomon boots I've had in the past have had too much forward lean for my taste, not in the last but in the sole of the boot. I didn't think it was as much as an issue in the Instinct, but it was one of the reasons I bought the Dobermann in the first place, for the flat not ramped foot bed.

 

[snowday]

Thank you both
I'm almost decided to order scarlet online, so i can try it, I'll keep you posted...

New England, I haven't try myself, but I red, that if you like Dobermann pro, but it's too stiff, you should try the junior Dobermann Team (flex 80, 70 and lower). They say it's basically the same boot...

By the way, I just found out that my cousin (woman) skis for 2 years now in Dobberman Aggressor 100 (that is 95 mm wide not 98 like the pro, it has thiner liner :( and it's taller). She said she is very happy with them. She and me also, don't ski under zero F... I cannot try these either because they don't have them in my size. I don't think I would want them anyway, my cousin loves to ski fast on groomed, I like better the "real" snow...

I'm curious if the forward lean has any technical disadvantage, beside personal preference/ feel?

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

I think I also tried the Nordica Dobermann Team 80--but if I remember correctly (I've tried so many boots) it seemed like the liner seemed thiner than the Pro 100 so the boot still seemed wide.
Another boot that I tried that is supposedly 98mm was the Tecnica Attiva Dragon 100-- this seemed a decent fit, though the heel could have been tighter. The other thing was it seems like many of the Tecnica boots use a very soft spongy liner and I prefer a firmer feeling liner-- I imagine the soft liner will pack out to ultimately be too big.

I think I've decided to just go with the Lange Exclusive 80s. At least the heel hold is good and even the forefoot is an improvement over the boots I've been skiing. And the forward lean is not too aggressive. And I'm sure my boot fitter can work with them to make any other adjustments they may need.

 

[snowday]

Follow up!
I ordered Salomon Scarlet and sent them back :( They were good fit on the foot but I cramped in them in 15 minutes. I felt that my knees were pushed toward outside, forcing my foot sole up on the inside part of the boot. Probably it was the forward lean that you mentioned.
I went back to the store to buy the Dobermann Pro 100 (great fit as I mentioned) and after moving around and flexing they started hurting on the shin. They said they are probably to short for me and they cannot adjust that.

Now they ordered the Dobermann Aggressor 100, that I couldn't try in my size, just a size bigger. They are supposed to be tighter, but taller and they have that natural stance, that to me felt great. If they fit right, I could always add a heater or even a custom liner. We'll see...

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Sorry to hear you haven't found anything yet. I'm sure something will work out for you.
I'm not a boot fitter and if you're working with one you trust then I'd listen to what they say, but do you think it's possible that the shin pain on the Pro 100 may not be a function of the height of the boot but of the way that boot tongue is not distributing the pressure evenly on your shin? If it was a tongue issue they could probably deal with that.

I hope something works out for you soon.

 

[snowday]

Actually the pain was on the top of the tongue, on the edge, and it was bad. The boot fitter was very quick in telling me that that would mean the boots are too short for me... I didn't question him.
It was a thread here dealing with how women are treated differently than men in ski shops. These guys are very nice, they listen to what I say, but they don't give me any technical info. And I hear them talking lots of technics with guys that are in the store...

Well I wanted to shop locally, to support their business, there are not many real ski shops in Midwest. I appreciate them being here, and not having to shop at Sports Authority. But if these Dobermann Aggressors don't fit, I'll start over in Colorado...

What have you bought NewEnglandSkier?

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

I ended up going with the Lange Exclusive 80. I wish it were a bit narrower in the foot, but at least the heel seems to fit really well. Every boot I tried seemed to have some issue as to why it wouldn't work well for me, so I went with what seemed to work best overall.

 

[snowday]

Dobermann Aggressor

I ended up with the Nordica Dobermann Aggressor 100. They had some hot spots out of the box but they are gone after two warmings of the boots. They took out the metal bolts in the back to make the flex softer. I added custom foot beds from surefoot and because I still had some volume to fill they added one mm shim all over under the foot bed.

The lining is very thin, but it doesn't seem to bother me. They didn't feel cold The only negative is that they are hard to take off, I found is better to wait for 5-10 min inside a warm space before attempting to take them off.

They are actually great, very responsive. I think that natural stance is working for me. After I got used with them (I needed like 3 days to adjust everything), I found myself going way faster than before