First boot fitting and sticker shock

[Mistletoes]

So I went in for my first boot-fitting yesterday. The business does not sell ski boots so I brought my own. The good news is I am in the right sized boot and they still have at least a couple years of life left in them. I got fitted for a custom insole, he's grinding out some hot spots in the shell and is doing some canting. I think he also mentioned moving the ladders in on my boots so they can be even more snug around my ankles and legs. The appointment took a solid 1.5-2 hours. Overall cost was just north of $500. Obviously this is a lot of work that the fitter needs to be compensated for and I won't know how much this helps my skiing until next season. I just didn't expect it to cost this much out of the gate. I learned that my feet are bigger than I thought and I should be in a 10 narrow shoe (yeah, I have frog feet).

Anyway, I have no reason NOT to trust this fitter but was still taken back by the overall cost. I wasn't expecting to go directly to canting and I could've opted out but he said my alignment was off and I figured if I was going to do this, might as well go the whole way. So my question to you divas is: is this a common reaction? Can you please help me justify the expense?

 

[Jilly]

Well I had all that done the first time too. It was about 6 years ago and was $400. So sounds about right.

 

[marzNC]

How much were the custom footbeds? I got a new pair this season at very well respected ski shop with multiple experienced boot fitters. I think the price was around $200 without tax. I used the previous pair for six seasons. Moved them between boots when I upgraded boots a few years ago.

My impression is that the hourly rate for tweaks done for boots that weren't bought at a ski shop is $75-150. Given what needed to be done, $300 for all the work you mentioned is in the right ball park. Especially in a region without much competition, meaning there aren't multiple shops with good boot fitters to choose from.

Getting custom fitted boots is an investment. No question. But of all the money I spent for ski gear as I was starting to ski enough days to progress from an intermediate to a solid advanced skier, I have no regrets on buying 3 pairs of boots, plus two pairs of custom footbeds, over the last 10 years. Boots were bought during early or late season sales from boot fitters in the southeast. In comparison, I haven't bought current model year skis that weren't demo skis yet. Ski pants, ski jackets, ski gloves . . . all bought on sale.

Does that help put your cost in perspective?

 

[Mistletoes]

How much were the custom footbeds? I got a new pair this season at very well respected ski shop with multiple experienced boot fitters. I think the price was around $200 without tax. I used the previous pair for six seasons. Moved them between boots when I upgraded boots a few years ago.

My impression is that the hourly rate for tweaks done for boots that weren't bought at a ski shop is $75-150. Given what needed to be done, $300 for all the work you mentioned is in the right ball park. Especially in a region without much competition, meaning there aren't multiple shops with good boot fitters to choose from.

Getting custom fitted boots is an investment. No question. But of all the money I spent for ski gear as I was starting to ski enough days to progress from an intermediate to a solid advanced skier, I have no regrets on buying 3 pairs of boots, plus two pairs of custom footbeds, over the last 10 years. Boots were bought during early or late season sales from boot fitters in the southeast. In comparison, I haven't bought current model year skis that weren't demo skis yet. Ski pants, ski jackets, ski gloves . . . all bought on sale.

Does that help put your cost in perspective?

Footbeds were $270 including tax. Thanks for the feedback, it does help keep it all in perspective. I'm excited to see how different these perform next year. My husband also pointed out that I can move the footbeds to new boots so it's really just $270 out of pocket (he's a great enabler ) I'll be sure to report back with an update when I get on these next season.

 

[Skier31]

Who is bootfitter?

Good news is that footbeds should last many seasons, depending on number of ski days.

Overall number sounds about right.

You should notice an improvement in both peformance and comfort will all of that work.

 

[Jilly]

Again, it was 6 years ago, but I think the footbeds were $200 of the total. So 6 years later..$270 (don't know your tax rates) is good.

And as mentioned the footbeds can moved. So, it's a good investment.

 

[sibhusky]

All I can say is yowzers. My footbeds are over a decade old. Things were cheaper back then. So glad I have boring feet.

 

[WaterGirl]

My husband also pointed out that I can move the footbeds (he's a great enabler )

Ohhh thats nice to have -
an enabling husband

 

[CarverJill]

Most good shops that sell you boots also do free boot fitting but that doesn't include the custom footbeds. So that price minus the footbeds is what I think you overpaid by going to a place that's doesn't sell boots. Did you get your boots for a deal online? Maybe that would make it worth it.

 

[marzNC]

Most good shops that sell you boots also do free boot fitting but that doesn't include the custom footbeds. So that price minus the footbeds is what I think you overpaid by going to a place that's doesn't sell boots. Did you get your boots for a deal online? Maybe that would make it worth it.

When someone doesn't live in ski country, finding a shop that has an experienced boot fitter can be difficult. Could well be over more than a 2-hour drive one-way. The OP has had her boots for a while but needed more than the off-the-shelf fit. I know of plenty of people who use a boot fitter in SC even though he doesn't have a retail shop for ski boots. But they can drive to his shop and don't want to buy boots during a ski trip out west.

The other situation where waiting to get to a good boot fitter is not practical is when old ski boots fail during a ski trip. That happened to my ski buddy. He'd put off buying new boots for way too long. We were at a destination resort when the old boots cracked, luckily not when he was actually skiing. He got boots that day that were a decent fit but not ideal. Ended up paying extra at a couple other ski shops over the next couple seasons to get those boots to fit as well as possible.

 

[Jilly]

My boot fitter doesn't sell boots in the east, so it's extra. But well worth it. If I was in WB during the season, it might be included as he works out of one of the shops there. But you're going to pay more at a resort.

I bought my new boots based on his recommendation. There was limited work this time around. I already had the foot beds and heaters. I could install of that myself. But rounding out the toe box took his expertise. I think that cost me about $300 total for the pair to be done at different times.

 

[Mistletoes]

Most good shops that sell you boots also do free boot fitting but that doesn't include the custom footbeds. So that price minus the footbeds is what I think you overpaid by going to a place that's doesn't sell boots. Did you get your boots for a deal online? Maybe that would make it worth it.

Thank you for your opinion, I bought my boots 3 years ago on sale at a local shop. My number of ski days since purchase have been maybe 60. According to the fitter, the stock liners aren't even packed out. I'm in Western NY and there's basically one local ski shop and REI that has a limited in store selection. I'll agree with @marzNC, it's a small market with only a few boot fitters.

 

[Mistletoes]

My boot fitter doesn't sell boots in the east, so it's extra. But well worth it. If I was in WB during the season, it might be included as he works out of one of the shops there. But you're going to pay more at a resort.

I bought my new boots based on his recommendation. There was limited work this time around. I already had the foot beds and heaters. I could install of that myself. But rounding out the toe box took his expertise. I think that cost me about $300 total for the pair to be done at different times.

So there's hope for my next pair of boots! I'm sure this experience will make me more knowledgeable about how a boot should feel and perform. I suppose that knowledge is priceless...

 

[volklgirl]

To aid in perspective, I bought my footbeds for around $175 in the late 1980s. I have had both my podiatrist and boot fitters evaluate them on a regular basis, and all have said "good to go". That brings my investment down to around $5-6 a year - WELL worth it. The last time I had custom work that I didn't do myself, I think it was around $200.

Sticker shock, yes....but not a rip-off.

 

[Ski Sine Fine]

Please forgive my ignorance. Custom footbeds ... are these like custom orthotics? Are they different from custom orthotics for shoes?

 

[marzNC]

Please forgive my ignorance. Custom footbeds ... are these like custom orthotics? Are they different from custom orthotics for shoes?

Yes and no. The orthotic inserts I have for regular shoes do not cover the entire length. But the man I bought them from said he had clients who use them in ski boots.

The heat-molded footbeds I got for ski boots are more like the off-the-shelf footbeds sold for athletic and hiking shoes. The "stock footbeds" that come in ski boots are generally considered to be pretty worthless by experienced boot fitters. Even $25 off-the-shelf footbeds are better.

My sense is that people who need custom orthotics for regular shoes are definitely going to be happier with custom footbeds in ski boots. But even people who don't need orthotics on a day-to-day may benefit from better support in ski boots because of the way those suppose to fit for best performance and comfort.

 

[volklgirl]

The stock footbeds that come in your boots are typically just a floppy piece of cardboard or cardboard and plastic, with little built-in support. Even with "normal" feet, they do nothing to minimize foot movement within the boot - making it much harder to control the skis. Even an off-the-shelf footbed will offer more support and help translate leg and foot movements to the skis.

If your feet are not "normal" (pronation, supination, extra mobile, weirdly shaped, etc), then custom footbeds are a godsend. I basically can't ski without mine as my entire arch collapses and my foot is super narrow, so I have to move like crazy before anything happens, plus my ankle bone bangs against the inside edge of the shell, leaving me sore and bruised. With my footbeds in, my feet are properly supported, and even the tiniest twitch makes stuff happen. Custom footbeds can also partially align the foot and shin to compensate for some canting issues.

Custom footbeds tend to be slightly more mobile than orthotics and generally are full length, while orthotics are 3/4 length. True orthotics are made through a podiatic specialist, while any most ski shop can make footbeds.

 

[Ski Sine Fine]

I have custom orthotics prescribed after a bout of plantar fasciitis. They are full length. The first set lasted almost eight years before the leather top sheet started delaminating. I went back to podiatry for a new set and was chastised for waiting this long to renew. Every three years is what they recommend as apparently my gait can change from time to time (I’m sure the torn meniscus has me favoring one leg over the other). They had me walk barefooted repeatedly across this (what I assumed to be) pressure sensitive mat. Four weeks later, two sets of full length orthotics showed up at my door.

My ski boots have some off-the-shelf inserts the boot fitter used when my boots were fitted. Next time, I’ll be sure to remember to mention I have custom orthotics and see how that affects the boot fitting process.

 

[marzNC]

My ski boots have some off-the-shelf inserts the boot fitter used when my boots were fitted. Next time, I’ll be sure to remember to mention I have custom orthotics and see how that affects the boot fitting process.

It's quite possible to add heat-molded footbeds to boots you already have.

I got a very good deal on lightly used ski boots (2 days) for my adult niece several years ago. Far better than rental boots even though not bought with the help of a boot fitter. After she skied them for a day, one boot was fine but she had issues with the other. We went to see a boot fitter in the ski town we were staying in. After he checked things out, he noted her high arches (very good ballet dancer). Recommended footbeds that were $40 that could be molded. Obviously won't last as long as $200 footbeds but she's skis very few days. After the footbeds were set up, the look on her face showed how much difference it made to have support so that her arch didn't flatten out and make her toes push up.

 

[fgor]

Custom footbeds are a godsend. I always had off-the-shelf footbeds (even those make a HUGE difference over the piece of felted cardboard that come with the boots) but this season I've moved to custom footbeds. My feet have never been so comfortable in ski boots, even though I also moved to a much narrower boot. I've always had problems with my arches hurting previously but now I don't even think about my feet. Definitely recommend if you have weird feet (e.g. I have narrow feet with reasonable arches that like to totally collapse).