I need new ski boots - help!!!

[astridhj]

I skied in the boots I bought in 92 untill two years ago, when there was nothing left of them to go skiing with. I went to different shops and tried different boots, until I bought the only one that fit me in the shop. This was due to me going away for a skiing holiday the next day. These boots have been pain for me nearly all of the 50 days I have used them for skiing.

Info about myself:
I ski in a boot size 24 to 24.5, and I do think that is the correct size. I'm an intermediate/advanced skier, and I like skiing grooms and powder. Since I mostly ski in Norway, it is like skiing in the Eastcoast, or so I have been told. I do like a boot with a high flex, or at least the ones I've tried have been good for me. I have a narrow feet, narrow heel, but quite big calves. I have fallen metatarsal arch, and use custom footbeds for walking in normal shoes, so will need that for skiing as well...

Hope someone can help me recommend boots for me to try on. There is not much hope of getting a professional bootfitter here to help me, so will appreciate all help I can get.

-Astrid

(crossposted to the epicski.com)

 

[cinnabon]

You really need to try on all the different brands and find the ones that fit you best. Aren't the people who work in the ski shops knowledgable at all about boots? It's going to be difficult to get good recommendations online about which brands will fit you best. But off the top of my head, avoid Tecnicas, and maybe Nordicas, which run wide, and you might try Lange and Rossi boots which traditionally run on the narrow side. I don't know how the other brands run.

 

[Robyn]

Not all people who work in shops are knowledgable so don't necessarily trust them without reccomendation. If you can't find a good bootfitter could you do something like a Superfeet insole to hold you until you get to Colorado. You'll be here for 6 weeks which should give you enough time to work with a fitter here (there's a fantastic one in Breckenridge).

 

[KatyPerrey]

The Nordica Doberman Pro and Aggressor (100 flex) models are for a narrow foot but might be a bit stiff and the cuff might be to high. The Womens SpeedMachine might work because of the slightly lower cuff. I don't know much about the other brands BUT...

As Cinnabon said TRY on as many boots/brands as possible to get the boot that fits YOUR foot.

Good luck and you might get some good feedback on epic.

 

[astridhj]

Not all people who work in shops are knowledgable so don't necessarily trust them without reccomendation. If you can't find a good bootfitter could you do something like a Superfeet insole to hold you until you get to Colorado. You'll be here for 6 weeks which should give you enough time to work with a fitter here (there's a fantastic one in Breckenridge).

That is my plan Robyn to find a proper boot fitter in CO, but I really need new boots for this upcoming season. I will try to get 6-8 weeks of skiing done before I go to CO, so I need boots that will fit me temporary until I can get proper help. The ones I have at the moment will not be able to do that for me, even with superfeet insoles. I have tried.

At the moment I am just researching the internet, since I have time for it. Not able to go to the shops to try anything until Nov 13th. And that is dangerously close to Nov 15th when I start skiing.

I am sooo looking forward to skiing again, but I am not looking forward to skiing with the boots I am having now. I am just trying to build up a list of boots to try on.

Just some more info. My feet are 24 cm long, and just under 9 cm wide. Lou on EpicSki gave me one suggestion. It has just been my experience that if the ski boot fits over my calf, then it is just too big for my feet, and I end up having little control over my skis.

 

[Robyn]

Give Epic a couple of days to see if more of the boot guys check in there. They're really good resources. Glad you'll be on snow soon!

 

[PowDiva85]

ok... lets see. If you have thicker calves its important that you look for boots that have had the spoilers removed. Alot of shops leave these in their womens boots and/or dont open the calf adjustments up. This will be a critical adjustment to give you some extra room in the calf. Also a boot with a lower cuff will let the thicker part of your calf sit outside the boot reducing its impact on your fit, for example the nordica doberman pro 100 is an excellent narrow lasted (95 mm) boot with a low cuff. Lange is not a bad choice either but you need to have serious dorsa flexion (ankle flexibility) to be able to handle the forward lean of these boots..a good test is stand bare foot on a hard surface and try to flex your knees while keeping your heels on the ground...if you can bend far your ankles are flexible if not..then your are relatively tight. A nordica beast is another lower cuff boot which is great for problem feet. The speedmachine is the #1 selling boot from Nordica but its a taller cuff boot. Head boots from the dream line have a three piece liner that gives more room for the calf. I am a boot fitter with similar issues...rather thick calves and narrow feet and the lange wins out for me but the speedmachine is an ok fit too.
good luck!

 

[PowDiva85]

oh yes.. and as far as the fallen metatarsel issue a superfeet pink (it has to be a specific one) has a foam pad under the met heads which can help comfort that or a custom insole can be built to accommodate it

 

[dloveski]

I am foot-challenged and struggled with the proper fit until I found a great boot fitter. He prescribed Solomon Rush 9's with orthotic foot beds. I found a pair of Solomon Rush 8's for $50 at REI which I also bought and will swap liners and footbeds. They are flexible and accommodate my narrow heel, long toes, and bunions.

As the other Divas have said---boots are everything, no one style fits all, and if you work with a knowledgeable fitter, you are more likely to invest in a boot that works for you. My boot fitter guarantees satisfaction---I can go back for adjustments or if I'm not happy, he'll work with me. It costs, but hey, not as much as serial boot purchases.

good luck.

 

[SnowHot]

Hi Astridhj, first let me say, I miss playing scrabble with you......now, on to your boots.

I read the thread on Epic, and I'm sorry you haven't gotten more response, yet. Keep in mind that they are not around much on the weekends, so they may give you more advice during the week.

I am not sure about the Head dream thang, but I trust Lou very much. The closest good bootfitter that I know of for you is in England(not so close) CEM,(colin) on Epic Ski. You may send him a PM.

Next, with my boot experience, I have a very narrow foot but also a small, but muscular, calf. I like a soft/medium flex boot, but am experimenting with some stiffer boots this year.
My favourite boots are Dalbello Krypton's. My boot that I've had for two years is the Storm, which has been great. This year I got the Kryzma, which is a stiffer version with a higher cuff, but then decided(after I committed my storms to my sister) that I wanted to keep a Storm for a spare pair with a soft flex option.

This is a picture of the three boots side by side. Ass you can see, the wrap Intuition liner does create a zone for a smaller calf but it is also a significantly lower cuff. You may be well served to try one on and see how it works for you.

 

[Pattn]

Astrid,
You've probably already seen these threads. I found them very, very helpful. It wouldn't replace a fitter, but if you are going to go it alone......

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2075

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5200&highlight=buckles

On another note, someday I'll find my boxes in the basement and let you know more about my family info related to Farsund. Would be interesting to see if the area was close to you.

Good luck with your boots.

 

[Jilly]

Like the rest I would prefer you see a boot fitter, but I also understand your problems. As for Rossi, the new Electra sensor has the narrowest forefoot on their recreational line. They have 2 models with different flex. On Atomic take a look at the M line, not the B-tech. M is the high performance and narrower on the forefoot too. I'm a B width in shoes, and I've always found the Salomon's too wide, but our shop doesn't do the top line like the Origin.

And give the guru's at Epic time. I know you want to get this over, but patience and you might not have to buy two pair!

 

[astridhj]

Thank you all for your answers. I knew I could count on you ladies for help!

At the moment I am just surfing since I do have the time for it. I wish I could go to one of the boot fitters you recommend, but that is a little bit difficult for me. I have read through all the threads on what to look for on this forum and on EpicSki, and I have to say that is helping me a lot. So much to think about. So many to choose between, or not choose between in my case.

I also might have found a boot fitter in Hemsedal, one of the ski areas I use in the pre season, so might wait to buy boots until I go skiing there next. Not sure which boots they have though. But hopefully they can help me.

Pattn: I would love to hear more about your family from Farsund, and I might even find out more information if you would like to know more about your relatives.

SnowHot: Wish we could still play scrabble together. It was great fun. Good luck with your games. I also read through the thread you have on EpicSki about women boots: https://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=73388
It was very interesting.

Hopefully this will be me in a few weeks.

Have fun skiing ladies :D

 

[SnowHot]

SnowHot: Wish we could still play scrabble together. It was great fun. Good luck with your games. I also read through the thread you have on EpicSki about women boots: https://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=73388
It was very interesting.

Hopefully this will be me in a few weeks.

Have fun skiing ladies :D

I am glad you got some information out of that thread, and hope you got some chuckles out of it, too!
I'm afraid there is more entertainment than information in that thread, but you get the idea

 

[astridhj]

I am glad you got some information out of that thread, and hope you got some chuckles out of it, too!
I'm afraid there is more entertainment than information in that thread, but you get the idea

Oh yes, I had a good laugh. Just what I needed, but the boys (men) at work were looking strange at me... But that is not unusual. Me = , at least at work.

 

[astridhj]

oh yes.. and as far as the fallen metatarsel issue a superfeet pink (it has to be a specific one) has a foam pad under the met heads which can help comfort that or a custom insole can be built to accommodate it

I have custom made insoles, so that is the only part I have control over...

 

[SnowHot]

Oh yes, I had a good laugh. Just what I needed, but the boys (men) at work were looking strange at me... But that is not unusual. Me = , at least at work.

When you find a boot fitter, you need to make sure he has a proper Plumb bob

 

[astridhj]

When you find a boot fitter, you need to make sure he has a proper Plumb bob

Of course

And the guys are staring again... :ROTF: