How much does a good boot fitting cost?

[ArmyWife]

I've never had a boot fitting done, but then again it's been YEARS since I had new boots. Now that I've bought some new boots how much do you think a good boot fitting will cost and approx how long will it take? Anyone have any suggestions for getting a boot fitting done when you live in FL where you can't even find a ski shop close by??? I hate to spend alot of time getting boots fitted while I'm on vacation. What's a Diva to do???

 

[SnowHot]

Typically speaking, you buy your boots from someone who is qualified to fit them for you.

I, for instance, got mine from an alternate source because the shop near me didn't have the boots I wanted and was willing to fit them for me after the purchase.
The cost can vary according to the things that may need to be done.
The best thing to do is check with your local shops and ask them what they charge for different services.
Custom foot beds can be one thing,
punching out an area for a problem in the foot, or grinding can be another thing...........many many options.

 

[Lynn]

Suggest that when you are going on a ski vacation, add an extra day for equipment issues. Plan on doing your alignment the day you arrive, so you can ski the next day and go back for any tweaking needed.
The first time I had boots 'done', I was there for 4 hours. I have pronating, long, skinny feet and and skinny ankles and shins. Took a while and many steps to get it right. I went back twice for hot spots (toes). Now the damn things feel loose, so am going back after 2 years and 50 days of skiing to get new liners. They are the best performing boots I have had, but it is definitely a process. Worth it in the long run.

 

[Jilly]

Hubby paid $75.00 Cdn, plus the foot beds at $150.00. He was over 2 hours total the first day and about 1/2 hour the next day after they had blown out his shell. The boot fit at $75.00 was a deal according to the fitter, they usually charge $ 65.00/hour. Sounds just like a car mechanic, but maybe it's the same thing really. So far he has skied one day in them. Wants to break them in slowly. I need to take away his old boots. Reminds of my Grandmother when we bought her anything new. You had to take the old one away, or she would save it till the original finally broke. That could be years. I'm going to push him during the Christmas break. Why spend all that money not to try to use them?

 

[sleddog]

Boot fitting - stretching, grinding, punching, heat fitting of liners - should be included in the purchase price of a new boot if your shop is equipped to do that. If you're taking your own boots in to be fitted it's often dependant on what's being done - simple things like a heel lift or cuff adjustment might have nominal or no charge except for the materials used. If the boots need to be punched for bunions or ground it's often priced by the hour. Alignment evals are around $25-35, grinding the cant angle into the boots could be upwards of $160 (but then gives one the ability to demo skis with proper alignment), but you now need to be extra careful when walking and use CatTracks or WalkEZ. Under binding cants are cheaper but becoming more difficult to do due to "rail" system bindings (and cannot be transferred to a demo ski).

 

[volklgirl]

I purchased boots at a shop that finally had what I was looking for in my size, but I took them to a different shop for fitting. I had lots of conversations with local racers and coaches to find the best boot fitter around - he's 2 hours away. I made an appointment with him and we spent 1 1/2 working on the boots. The original size and stance evaluation was free (he agreed I had appropriate boots in the right size). Then it was $60 for stretching, grinding, and punching the toe boxes on both boots and $50 for the Lange cant plates for the left boot. Unfortunately they only come in 1.5 deg while I only need 1 deg. So I'm trying them out. If it turns out I'm now over canted, he'll put the flat plates back on and apply that $50 to the $150 cost to plane the boot sole. So, it might cost me $100 more (possible total of $210). However, additional fit issues that may come up are covered for the life of the boots. Yay!

 

[Jilly]

I can't see a shop doing anything more than heat fitting the liner and possibly pads. Anything after that is customizing and should be paid for. You need to pay for that expertice. It takes time to grind or punch, plus you need to know where and how much. But if you pay for that, any adjustments should be free after.

 

[Little Lightning]

Last spring I bought my boots at a retail store called "Outdoor Divas" in Boulder. I was skeptical of how much service I would get but they had a boot to fit me and the price was right so I bought from them.

In Oct. they installed my custom orthotics and Hot Tronic heaters. I skied them a few times, the right one was killing my instep, took them back, they ground down the boot board and trimmed some of the elastic away from the liner. Perfect now except the bone on the side of my foot hurt so I took them back today to have heel lifts installed and that spot taken care of. Cost of all this so far, $0.

I've walked into Christy Sports in Summit County and they have worked on my boots free of charge, even though I didn't buy them there.

Kathi

 

[volklgirl]

The shop at the foot of the Steamboat gondola spent significant time with my boots during a vacation as well. Total cost: $5 for the heel lifts.