Is this a stupid question? I am not too experienced at this but, I desperately need new gear - particularly boots - for next winter - I have been looking at boots off and on for about a month now - thinking I could pick up a pair during the great end of season mark down, and think I have settled on a pair that I like ---- unfortunately while I have been looking, the pair that I had tried on and had been sized were (ahem) sold while I wasted time looking around - so - I have found them on line at several sites - do many people buy boots on line considering the fact that the boots need to be fiddled with to make them fit me....? Skis, goggles, clothes etc seem easy enough ---- but boots? Or should I wait for next winter with the new gear?
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should I buy boots on line?
- Thread starter beckt
- Start date
There are bootfitters who will (for a fee) work on boots purchased elsewhere, but it's absolutely imperative to start off with a boot shell that is the right size and in general, the right "shape" for your anatomy. You can't get that kind of fitting buying a boot online. Even within a particular brand, different models of boot could fit differently so it's critical that you try on the exact boot model/size that you're going to buy.
I'll buy skis, clothes, goggles, and any other skiing item online, but buying boots is something I'll always do through a competent bootfitter.
I'll buy skis, clothes, goggles, and any other skiing item online, but buying boots is something I'll always do through a competent bootfitter.
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
NO!!!!! 
Your boots are THE MOST important piece of equipment you'll own. If your boots don't fit, your skis won't get any messages you're trying to send them so they'll be slow to respond and unpredictable. Put as much time and $ into buying and getting your boots fitted as you can. You can always rent skis.
Have you read these yet?
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2169
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2075
Once you're more knowlegable and have tried on many, many boots, you may be able to do the internet thing, but don't short change yourself this early in the game.
Your boots are THE MOST important piece of equipment you'll own. If your boots don't fit, your skis won't get any messages you're trying to send them so they'll be slow to respond and unpredictable. Put as much time and $ into buying and getting your boots fitted as you can. You can always rent skis.
Have you read these yet?
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2169
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2075
Once you're more knowlegable and have tried on many, many boots, you may be able to do the internet thing, but don't short change yourself this early in the game.
Elangirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I could not agree more!!! Boots are too important---and really, it is so unfair to a bootfitter who fits you and spend the time to help you find a boot to then buy the boot online and expect him/her to then make that boot work for you.
I also struggle with the cost of ski equipment---but, this is a terrible place to save money----but everything else on sale, online, wherever you find the best price---but, boots need to be fitted by a bootfitter who can then work with you and the boots to get the correct fit.
Last year, I had a client in a Women's Workshop whose husband bought her boots online for her. They were at least two sized too large for her--she could barely ski down the mountain in them---then, she had to take the time to get fitted and buy a different pair of boots!! She missed half the workshop fiddling around with her boots.
Even if you have to wait till next year and (gulp) pay full price, it is worth the money. But, find a good bootfitter in your area and keep looking--you still might find a boot on sale. At least establish a relationship with a bootfitter that you like, so that you know where to go int he fall. Blake, my bootfitter, is my best bud===he makes my life easier!! I worship him!!!! Find a bootfitter that you like and respect =-=and THEN buy boots from him/her.
I also struggle with the cost of ski equipment---but, this is a terrible place to save money----but everything else on sale, online, wherever you find the best price---but, boots need to be fitted by a bootfitter who can then work with you and the boots to get the correct fit.
Last year, I had a client in a Women's Workshop whose husband bought her boots online for her. They were at least two sized too large for her--she could barely ski down the mountain in them---then, she had to take the time to get fitted and buy a different pair of boots!! She missed half the workshop fiddling around with her boots.
Even if you have to wait till next year and (gulp) pay full price, it is worth the money. But, find a good bootfitter in your area and keep looking--you still might find a boot on sale. At least establish a relationship with a bootfitter that you like, so that you know where to go int he fall. Blake, my bootfitter, is my best bud===he makes my life easier!! I worship him!!!! Find a bootfitter that you like and respect =-=and THEN buy boots from him/her.
C
CMCM
Guest
I spent 2 years in boots that just didn't fit me right. 
They fit but they didn't fit....they were extremely hard to get on and off, they were painful during the ski day to the point where I had to get them off once or twice for relief. I got custom footbeds, but they still weren't right.
A couple of months ago I went into a good ski shop and they promised to get me into a boot that fit and didn't hurt....and they did. After the purchase, I had to go back for some liner tweaking. Unfortunately, at that time nothing was on sale, but actually, NOW is a great time to buy. I just saw my same boots for 40% off at the same store, and I could get the same great fitting service now if I had waited. I should have done this 2 years ago rather than buying something on my own on sale (at REI, where the sales person really didn't know a thing about ski boot fitting). Anyhow, find a great ski store with good boot fitters, it's worth it.
If your boots aren't right, you won't be able to ski right either. I think boots are more important than skis, actually! Also, when I got into these new boots my skiing felt sooo much better, better communication with my skis, and finally comfortable.
They fit but they didn't fit....they were extremely hard to get on and off, they were painful during the ski day to the point where I had to get them off once or twice for relief. I got custom footbeds, but they still weren't right.A couple of months ago I went into a good ski shop and they promised to get me into a boot that fit and didn't hurt....and they did. After the purchase, I had to go back for some liner tweaking. Unfortunately, at that time nothing was on sale, but actually, NOW is a great time to buy. I just saw my same boots for 40% off at the same store, and I could get the same great fitting service now if I had waited. I should have done this 2 years ago rather than buying something on my own on sale (at REI, where the sales person really didn't know a thing about ski boot fitting). Anyhow, find a great ski store with good boot fitters, it's worth it.
If your boots aren't right, you won't be able to ski right either. I think boots are more important than skis, actually! Also, when I got into these new boots my skiing felt sooo much better, better communication with my skis, and finally comfortable.
Quiver Queen
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Ditto to all the above.
Additionally, even if the boots on line have been determined by a good fitter to be the boots for you, most shops charge substantial amounts to tweak boots they didn't sell (and some charge even more if they find out you bought them on line). So you can easily end up spending more than if you had bought them from your local shop in the beginning. Besides which, purchasing boots from a skilled fitter instills trust--you in him and him in you--and builds a mutually beneficial relationship.
Additionally, even if the boots on line have been determined by a good fitter to be the boots for you, most shops charge substantial amounts to tweak boots they didn't sell (and some charge even more if they find out you bought them on line). So you can easily end up spending more than if you had bought them from your local shop in the beginning. Besides which, purchasing boots from a skilled fitter instills trust--you in him and him in you--and builds a mutually beneficial relationship.
