Short gal with high arches looking for touring boots

[Verve]

Good luck on your boot search! If you do end up going to a boot fitter and don’t mind traveling - they have a nice array of uphill options at my local spot in VT and they get good feedback on this forum (and I’ve had good experiences with them as well): Alpine Options near Sugarbush. I’d maybe steer clear of Ski Monster in Boston, unless they’ve upped their boot fitting game in the last 4 years, which they may have! Finally, I’ll share that it’s somewhat common for an uphill boot to be larger than your downhill shell - we pressure the ball of our feet and spread our toes pushing down on each step. I have a higher volume boot for my uphill - K2 Mindbenders too, whaddup @KathrynC. I have low arches so not much help there but I did get custom footbed in my uphill boots and imagine that once you find the right boot, you could work with a boot fitter for more arch support. Heat molded insoles like Boot Dr. aren’t too pricey!

 

[arbusch]

I would recommend trying on boots with a bootfitter. You got some decent recommendations from previous divas. Each foot experience and backcountry goals are unique. I have one girlfriend who is like a size 5 or 6 and think she's in a pair of dynafits but no idea on foot shape or volume. We just call her tiny feet.

If you don't live near one, cripple creek does virtual appointments- https://cripplecreekbc.com/

I live over 4 hours away from a store to try on touring boots. I have used their services. It at least helps you narrow down your choices and they will mail you boots to try on ( you do purchase them but you get your money back if you don't keep a pair). This helped when I just felt like something was off with my gea rs. I ended up not getting a new pair but we had a great conversation about boots and my feet and gave me some ideas for the meantime and eased concerns about my boots. I started touring in 2006 when you had two boot options. Either a scarpa or garmont boot. I stuck with scarpa ever since. I figured maybe that might not be the right boot now.

Some day I want to visit their Seattle store and have a fitting in person which is 7 hours away. Just don't get that way often from NE Oregon.

For now if I need boot modifications I see my friend who lives nearby that use to be a bootfitter at a store. Luckily he kept all his tools. You just need to bring your boots. So you need to start with pair you are pretty happy with.

 

[echo_VT]

What @Verve said on the size slightly larger than alpine. And others tips! There are some good tips here. I have a high arch, but a low volume foot with small ankles. Short calves as well. I use scarpa for touring boots (hiking as well) — I have the scarpa gea and scarpa f1 gt. I have a review of the second on this forum. I go to my bootfitter and get the boots molded with a custom footbed as well as adjustments to the liner to fill in gaps.

best of luck and keep us posted!

 

[HuntersEmma57]

Hey all!

I’m new to the forum! Excited to join the community. Wondering if any of the shorter folks with high arches have had good experience with a particular touring boot. I always have issues with comfort on the top of the foot even after a fitting. I’m only 5’ so calf fit can also be tricky.

I’m just a wee girl drifting in a giants world.

Any luck with the AT boots? I have Dynafit Radical Pro which better accommodates both high instep and high arch. I find there's just a bit too much volume and width to feel solid on the downhills and am working with a bootfitter on new liner and footbed.
I've saw mention of Scarpas - they've been the gold standard for me in hardcore Nordic backcountry (free heel, no skins just fishscales and different approach/technique - fantastic for low angle backcountry). Their telemark boots are second to none, but have never skied their AT fix-heel stuff.

 

[vilen13]

I have one foot that has higher arches than the others. I like my Scarpa Gea RS but I replace their insole with a different insole which I think a good combination. Also get it fitted !

 

[elle.CAN]

I have similar feet to you- high arch, tiny foot and I’m very petite.
I have gone through 4 pairs of boots trying to find the right fit- it is challenging!The scarpa gea was my first try but it was just too big for me. Next up were various dynafits- finally found one pair I loved but buckle broke after a season and they no longer made the boot. On warranty I ended up in the dynafit hoji- and so far so good!

*I do have a custom footbed that helps take up some volume in order to make any boot fit. May be something you consider as well?
Good luck; let us know what you go with!

 

[echo_VT]

Oh very interesting! I will try the dynafit hoji then. I am consigning the scarpa gea's b/c they are just too big, and exclusively using the scarpa f1 gt and so far so good, but definitely feeling like a better fit for touring ski boot could be helpful.

 

[elle.CAN]

I have the scarpa f1 for my lightweight set up too!
Give the Hoji’s a try! I hope they work for you!

 

[Heat]

Hey all!

I’m new to the forum! Excited to join the community. Wondering if any of the shorter folks with high arches have had good experience with a particular touring boot. I always have issues with comfort on the top of the foot even after a fitting. I’m only 5’ so calf fit can also be tricky.

I’m just a wee girl drifting in a giants world.

Hi. Check out the Tecnica Zero G, 2024/2025 model.

 

[Michellezil]

Hi @Skiskisarah! I’ve just found AT boots at the end of last season with the help of people here on the forum. I have a relatively high instep with a low volume foot, and the Scarpa GEA RS fit me well.

I did not use my bootfitter because I tried everything they had for AT and nothing worked. I tried two other bootfitters in the area and nothing worked either (I have fussy feet and options were super limited.)

So I posted here, collected great recommendations from people with similar LV feet, and ordered a bunch of boots online. It helps that I know what a good fit for me feels like.

I went out a couple of times and so far the boots are fine, but I think the jury is still out until I use them more often this upcoming season.

+1 for the Scarpa Geas - my best friend meets your profile and loves these boots.

 

[echo_VT]

Oh it’s been like 3 years since the original post!

We never did hear back on what the decision was and if it worked…