Ski Boot general question

[mango]

hi, i am new here, just joined today.

i currently have a pair of Nordica Syntech boots (the mid-entry ones) that is near the end of its life. i am a bit overwhelmed by the choices out there. i have a few general boot questions:

1. do boots from same manufacturer tend to fit the same foot type? e.g. "X brand runs narrow"?
2. are prices a crude indicator of the level of skill/ski level? e.g. cheaper = beginner, $$$$=advance skier?
3. since i had nordica before, should i try nordicas first, or should i venture to other brands?

btw i am a non-agressive advanced skier (blue and black runs, but don't go fast). thanks for any help!

 

[smpayne]

WELCOME!!!

I'm not the gear head - yet, but the ladies here have help me alot recently. I just bought new boots based on some of thier comments and now I have extremely Happy Feet

Go to a good bootfitter, NOT a chain store! Tell them you need to be fitted for boots and you want to spend some time trying them on. They should ask you a bunch of questions and measure your foot, etc. When they measure your foot, they should be able to tell you what brand of boot would best fit your foot.

If they ask what your shoe size is or what color you want RUN out the door!!!!

The best thing I did was get custom footbeds made and have everything tweeked to my feet. This does take a few trips back to the bootfitter to get it right, but once it's right, it is amazing.

 

[Jilly]

Like smpayne says, get yourself to a specialty ski shop with a boot fitter. You don't say where you are from. Give us a general area and I'm sure someone can point you to a good shop. Boots have got to fit. I'm going through it right now too. Generally some of the boot companies are noted for things. Atomic boots fit wide feet. You's a C or D width check them out. Mostly you are going to notice a big difference going from the Syntech to a 3-4 buckle boot. More flex forward for the first thing. Also your Syntech's were comfortable and not made for performance. Now you're looking for performance. But don't forget comfort. So when in the shop if the first question is price or shoe size, just leave. There is so much information on the web from all the manufacturers do your homework. Check out the sites that have equipment selectors to narrow down choices. I know none of this is clearing things up, but we all here to help you.

 

[volklgirl]

Hi Mango, welcome!

Check out this post to see what to expect from an experienced boot fitter: https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466&page=2

A great bootfitter will be able to look at, measure, and feel your feet and then have a decent idea of which models would best fit. If location allows, check out at least 2 or more stores....typically each will carry different manufacturers. Don't go in with any pre-set ideas of which boot you're looking for, but do be adamant about your skill level, goals, and fit. Don't let them sell you just what they have in stock - demand a great fit or walk away. Usually the 'boot wall' will be arranged according to skill level, with the race/expert at the top of the wall and moving down in skill level as you move down the wall. If you're not heavy or aggressive, expect to be fitted for models near the middle or upper end of the wall, but not the very top. If it feels like they're trying to down-sell you or are not taking you seriously, go somewhere else.

That said - based on my recent my experiences, in general (and even models within a manufacturer's line will vary), Lange fits very narrow to medium, Nordica and Salomon fit narrow heel with medium to wide forefoot, Atomic fits wide all over. Rossignol and Roxy both typically come out of Lange molds, Technica fits tight in the calf area and have a very roomy heel area, and Head fits snuggish in the forefoot. I can't comment on Daleboot or Dalbello. Of course, YMMV!

Good luck on the boot search!

 

[mango]

thank you ladies!

i am in N. Calif. in the SF bay area. the best place here is Helm, but i went twice and they were pretty busy so i thought i would do some research before going in again on a weekday.

btw DH desperately needs boots so i let him get fitted first. 2 fittings later he still hasn't found anything (the Technica Rival is the widest they had but still not good). he has super wide feet - the guy joked that he has 6 big toes!

there is also REI and Any Mountain but Helm is way better

 

[volklgirl]

If possible, call ahead and set up an appointment. Let them know you're looking to purchase and get fit, and ask for their best fitter. Plan on a minimum of 1-2 hours for initial purchasing and fit and an additional 1-3 hours if you need any significant work done.

Sounds like DH really needs to find some Atomics to try. They normally tend to run wide and they even make a "wide" last! If the Technica fit but was just really, really tight, a good bootfitter should be able to grind or 'blow out' the area for the 6th toe, any bunions, and most other forefoot issues. The most important parts of the fit, and the hardest parts to fix effectively are a heel area that's too wide and an instep area that pinches.

 

[smpayne]

As Volklgirl said!!!

Stay away from REI when getting boots fit!!! Don't get me wrong, I love that store, just not for bootfitting. Make no mistake, they are a chain store pushing products and the employees are young and usually seasonal. They have great sales at the end of the season, awsome deals at the used gear sales and you can return anything that doesn't fit or work for you even if you have used it, but it is not the place to get FIT for boots.

Check out this site: www.bootfitters.com
It has a lot of good information and a list of good bootfitters across the country.

When they ask you how it feels, be honest. If there is preasure tell them, they can fix it. Don't leave with the feeling of "It will do" you will be sorry.

My bootfitter has their boots lined up from widest to narrowest by brand. I did try a pair of Dalbellos on and they seem to run a bit narrower in the toe, but then again I have wide feet, hence I'm now in Technicas.

 

[Quiver Queen]

Nobody's commented about Heads--I have a very narrow heel, high instep and broad forefoot and my Heads fit beautifully with very little tweaking.

 

[katie]

fat calves small foot

which boot fits small (size 5 womens) and fat cales? I have a Dalbello boot now and it is painful and six years old. I need a new boot and was going to get fitted this next week or so. I have heard the Nordica and Dalbello's were good, but Im skeptical since I already have a Dalbello, even though Im sure the technology is better than 6 years ago.

 

[Quiver Queen]

Trying to find decent boots for the small adult foot can be challenging, but sometimes you can get a good fit with the upper end (and even racing) junior boots, so don't hesitate to try them, too.

 

[SnowHot]

About Dalbello fitting:

I had all but dismissed the dalbello line of boots because those I had tried on were too wide for my feet.
My niece, who has wide, short feet with little instep found dalbello boots that suited her great.

I was at my wits end, trying to find a low volume ski boot, when Phil asked me to try the Dalbello Krypton. He had to REALLY assure me that they were not the wide boot I had experienced.

I got my foot into the Krypton with the Id Liner and found my sweet spot with my very narrow, size 7 foot.

Don't assume the whole line of a boot manufacturer - in this case Dalbello - makes one type of boot for one type of foot. You may find your perfect boot in a line you would have otherwise dismissed.

As for the syntech, I don't have any personal experience with it, but I've not heard good things about it from people who really know their boots.

 

[Jilly]

Try Rossi. The Zena line is cut low in the back and even has a dip/cut out for the calf. I loved my Saphir's but they've seen better days, so I'm going through the same thing. I don't like the Zena's for my kind of skiing, but it might be the right thing for you.

 

[volklgirl]

Seconding Quiver Queen on the junior boot. They tend to have lower cuffs that easily fit large calves (because kids legs are just plain shorter), and softer flex that works well for women's lower weight to muscle ratio. Plus they come in small sizes (like my 23.5)!