Hi Ski Divas, long time lurker first time poster. There isn’t a ton of Zipfit info on the internet? Hope this helps future people like myself to make an informed decision either way. I ended up getting Zipfit Freeride and so far very impressed as I feel greater control and edging. I hope to use these forever.
Metadata
Boots: 2019 K2 Anthem 115 w/ canting adjusted, + custom footbed since 22-23 season
Fitter: The Sports Loft in SLC
Home mountains: Alta / Bird
Skier type: 5’1, 140lb, 38, cautious, level 6 - 6.5 on a good day haha
Favors: Mellow trees, soft moguls, leftover powder (I’m lazy, I don’t want to sit in traffic or fight youngin’s)
Why Zipfit
I was using stock liners. After 90 days - it’s just packed out. The ankle wiggle just grew too much to ignore. There are other great aftermarket liners out there but I wanted the Zipfits because I didn’t want yet another liner that will just slowly pack out and then need replacement. I wanted it to be easily transferable to a new boot. Since it’s an unusual liner that uses this cork paste that continuously molds when warmed and more can be added (or removed) - I like having that option.
Fitting
Booked an appointment at The Sports Loft (where I had my fitting & all boot adjustments done before). Derek agreed that the issue is my liners are packed out and I asked if Zipfits are the right choice and he said let’s try it on. Right away the right foot felt amazing and locked in. The left foot felt torturous w/ a lot of pressure on the outside of my ankle. Derek says this is normal as the cork needs to mold with heat (I knew this going in from reading on Zipfits’ own website). Toe box fit is perfect for both feet. Since it fits and I accepted the price, we went ahead with the heat fit. He heated the liners, taped and capped parts of the toes and put my foot in a plastic bag for the fitting process. Per usual heat molding process I stood in the warmed up liners in the boot with slight flex for 10 minutes (as expected this is uncomfortable). After the molding the left foot fit was also perfect! Derek did warn me though that it should still take about 3 days of skiing before it really breaks in.
I was also given some care instructions
Day 1 of Use
Put my stuff from the warm house to the car trunk and put on the liners without extra heating. It was uncomfortably tight around the ankles. After 5 runs it was better but still not the perfect feeling like after we did the heat fit.
To put on the liners, I stood on one leg and put the other leg on the car trunk. Then I shoved my foot in, toe first, in the boot using this steps I found on this video
as a guide. For me, I found what works is to step in toe first like the video but then kinda do a deep squat or I couldn’t get my heel in. Getting out is exactly as the video describes, I bend the knee (it doesn’t need to touch the dirty ground). I tried using a boot horn but it worked for the first boot but then trying to balance with one boot already on, I needed one hand on my car trunk to support myself and the other to hold the boot so no more hands for the boot horn.
Day 2 of Use
Right before leaving, I put a heat pad on low in a soft cooler (I reused a sunbeam back pad that’s w/ a battery), then I put the zip fits in still upside down on the pad and zip the whole thing up. It seems to have warmed it just enough and no painful pressure. Was comfortable right away. I didn’t want to heat it up too much and risk the cork paste moving too much.
Since I can now focus on the actual feel of it I found I was able to edge a lot more (I always struggle with edging, I’m more a leg steerer). I also noticed I had subconsciously built in some compensation for the ankle wiggle from the loose liner so I can stand taller.
Day 3 of Use
Glorious storm day at Alta w/ 8+ inches of fresh snow. Put the liner in the heated cooler again but the shells were colder so it was harder to put on. That struggle bus was quickly forgiven the moment I clicked in. The liners felt perfect today skiing.
In summary: Strongly recommend w/ caution
It’s extra effort to take care of them and put them on separately from the boot. I’m not sure what would be a good method to put on / take off the liner if you can’t do those awkward motions - maybe contact Zipfit or ask a boot fitter if this is an issue for you.
I don’t regret that I started w/ stock and as I got more experienced from lessons and getting more mileage so I developed a better understanding of what I needed and appreciate the difference enough to be willing to go through the steps.
Metadata
Boots: 2019 K2 Anthem 115 w/ canting adjusted, + custom footbed since 22-23 season
Fitter: The Sports Loft in SLC
Home mountains: Alta / Bird
Skier type: 5’1, 140lb, 38, cautious, level 6 - 6.5 on a good day haha
Favors: Mellow trees, soft moguls, leftover powder (I’m lazy, I don’t want to sit in traffic or fight youngin’s)
Why Zipfit
I was using stock liners. After 90 days - it’s just packed out. The ankle wiggle just grew too much to ignore. There are other great aftermarket liners out there but I wanted the Zipfits because I didn’t want yet another liner that will just slowly pack out and then need replacement. I wanted it to be easily transferable to a new boot. Since it’s an unusual liner that uses this cork paste that continuously molds when warmed and more can be added (or removed) - I like having that option.
Fitting
Booked an appointment at The Sports Loft (where I had my fitting & all boot adjustments done before). Derek agreed that the issue is my liners are packed out and I asked if Zipfits are the right choice and he said let’s try it on. Right away the right foot felt amazing and locked in. The left foot felt torturous w/ a lot of pressure on the outside of my ankle. Derek says this is normal as the cork needs to mold with heat (I knew this going in from reading on Zipfits’ own website). Toe box fit is perfect for both feet. Since it fits and I accepted the price, we went ahead with the heat fit. He heated the liners, taped and capped parts of the toes and put my foot in a plastic bag for the fitting process. Per usual heat molding process I stood in the warmed up liners in the boot with slight flex for 10 minutes (as expected this is uncomfortable). After the molding the left foot fit was also perfect! Derek did warn me though that it should still take about 3 days of skiing before it really breaks in.
I was also given some care instructions
- Put on the liner separately and then step into the shell
- Store them upside down, as gravity means the cork will slowly migrate over time. It’s better to have the cork travel up the boot and then come back down when you are wearing them skiing.
- You don’t need to pull the tongue up or lace it super tight - you can bundle up the laces and then hold it in place w/ the liner strap
- Consider a heated boot bag to warm up the liners for each start of the day
Day 1 of Use
Put my stuff from the warm house to the car trunk and put on the liners without extra heating. It was uncomfortably tight around the ankles. After 5 runs it was better but still not the perfect feeling like after we did the heat fit.
To put on the liners, I stood on one leg and put the other leg on the car trunk. Then I shoved my foot in, toe first, in the boot using this steps I found on this video
Day 2 of Use
Right before leaving, I put a heat pad on low in a soft cooler (I reused a sunbeam back pad that’s w/ a battery), then I put the zip fits in still upside down on the pad and zip the whole thing up. It seems to have warmed it just enough and no painful pressure. Was comfortable right away. I didn’t want to heat it up too much and risk the cork paste moving too much.
Since I can now focus on the actual feel of it I found I was able to edge a lot more (I always struggle with edging, I’m more a leg steerer). I also noticed I had subconsciously built in some compensation for the ankle wiggle from the loose liner so I can stand taller.
Day 3 of Use
Glorious storm day at Alta w/ 8+ inches of fresh snow. Put the liner in the heated cooler again but the shells were colder so it was harder to put on. That struggle bus was quickly forgiven the moment I clicked in. The liners felt perfect today skiing.
In summary: Strongly recommend w/ caution
It’s extra effort to take care of them and put them on separately from the boot. I’m not sure what would be a good method to put on / take off the liner if you can’t do those awkward motions - maybe contact Zipfit or ask a boot fitter if this is an issue for you.
I don’t regret that I started w/ stock and as I got more experienced from lessons and getting more mileage so I developed a better understanding of what I needed and appreciate the difference enough to be willing to go through the steps.