I just did a boot fitting clinic. I cannot believe what a fool I have been all these years...
Shims-for those not in the know shims are fill used to create a stable contact between the boot shell and the skiers foot and lower leg. Typical they are inserted between the shell and the lining.
This is important because of the wide variations in foot shape and size in humans. Essentially to make a boot fit correctly unless you are genetically lucky it will need to be shimed.
For example, I have a bizarrely high instep, as well as a substantial length difference in my legs (about 2cm), and very small calfs. Put all of this together and basically even though I have been to boot fitters all across the country, I have never had boots that fit right. This is because the high instep forces me into a larger boot to accommodate it, but without further adjustment (shims) it's too loose everywhere else.
Personally I had never thought about at the technical level that pro they brought in explained at. I would put a shim in the heel and that's about it. So now I am re shiming my boots for a perfect fit.
Some other big take aways are:
80% of the population is in a boot 1 to 2 sizes too big.
Always buckle your boots when you are not using them (plastic has memory) leaving them in buckled will destroy the fit.
Never heat your boots on heater to dry them off, (you can damage the lining), if you need to dry the blow a fan into the boot.
Never wear the same socks you will ski in to the hill, (you will bring moisture into the boot and your feet will be cold).
Your instep and toe buckles should be finger tight if you are racheting them down a lot the boot doesn't not fit right.
When you put your boots on kick your heel into the floor to seat your foot properly into the back of the boot and always start by buckling the ankle buckle as this will lock your foot into the back of the boot.
Hopefully this is useful to someone other than me...
Shims-for those not in the know shims are fill used to create a stable contact between the boot shell and the skiers foot and lower leg. Typical they are inserted between the shell and the lining.
This is important because of the wide variations in foot shape and size in humans. Essentially to make a boot fit correctly unless you are genetically lucky it will need to be shimed.
For example, I have a bizarrely high instep, as well as a substantial length difference in my legs (about 2cm), and very small calfs. Put all of this together and basically even though I have been to boot fitters all across the country, I have never had boots that fit right. This is because the high instep forces me into a larger boot to accommodate it, but without further adjustment (shims) it's too loose everywhere else.
Personally I had never thought about at the technical level that pro they brought in explained at. I would put a shim in the heel and that's about it. So now I am re shiming my boots for a perfect fit.
Some other big take aways are:
80% of the population is in a boot 1 to 2 sizes too big.
Always buckle your boots when you are not using them (plastic has memory) leaving them in buckled will destroy the fit.
Never heat your boots on heater to dry them off, (you can damage the lining), if you need to dry the blow a fan into the boot.
Never wear the same socks you will ski in to the hill, (you will bring moisture into the boot and your feet will be cold).
Your instep and toe buckles should be finger tight if you are racheting them down a lot the boot doesn't not fit right.
When you put your boots on kick your heel into the floor to seat your foot properly into the back of the boot and always start by buckling the ankle buckle as this will lock your foot into the back of the boot.
Hopefully this is useful to someone other than me...
