Boot fitting question

[IVplay]

I am 14 yoa and am getting new boots while here in vail, my old ones were too small (I lost two toenails, ouch) and was wondering if it was worth it to get them custom fitted, as I hear the local ski boot fitter is awesome. I am a size 10.5 and my dad is 11. My only worry is that of I get them moulded that my foot will grow a little and mess up the whole custom fit. In conclusion I'm pretty much wondering if the investment is worth it now, or if I should just buy normal boots and wait a year to get them custom fitted.

Thanks

[gregL]

Depends on who the local awesome guy is and what his employment situation is. A boot fitter's job is to put you in a boot that will best facilitate your skiing goals, but good ones will also take into consideration your life situation. If the fitter works for a retail shop, chances are that some of his or her services will be included in the price of the boots. If they are independent, especially if they don't actually sell boots, it's a different matter. The "fitting" can be as simple as putting you in the right length and model of boot. Custom "moulding" of shells is the exception rather than the rule; cooking thermal liners is more common but they can be re-cooked.

Go try on several boots, and don't put too much stock in your street shoe size - take the liners out and put your foot in the shells. You should also do this with your current boots - black toenails can mean too loose a fit or too much time spent skiing in the back seat as well as too small a boot. This is where the advice of a good bootfitter will come in handy; you don't necessarily have to spend huge amounts of money on footbeds and shell or liner modifications. Unless your foot structure really demands it, think in terms of "trim-to-fit" footbeds rather than full custom until your feet stop growing.

FWIW, if you were in a tight fit for your size and your foot only grew 1/2 size (there's no guarantee you'll end up with the same size foot as your dad, my kids got taller and grew bigger feet than me after the age of 14) any decent bootfitter should be able to punch the boot to give you another 5mm of length.

[IVplay]

Depends on who the local awesome guy is and what his employment situation is. A boot fitter's job is to put you in a boot that will best facilitate your skiing goals, but good ones will also take into consideration your life situation. If the fitter works for a retail shop, chances are that some of his or her services will be included in the price of the boots. If they are independent, especially if they don't actually sell boots, it's a different matter. The "fitting" can be as simple as putting you in the right length and model of boot. Custom "moulding" of shells is the exception rather than the rule; cooking thermal liners is more common but they can be re-cooked.

Go try on several boots, and don't put too much stock in your street shoe size - take the liners out and put your foot in the shells. You should also do this with your current boots - black toenails can mean too loose a fit or too much time spent skiing in the back seat as well as too small a boot. This is where the advice of a good bootfitter will come in handy; you don't necessarily have to spend huge amounts of money on footbeds and shell or liner modifications. Unless your foot structure really demands it, think in terms of "trim-to-fit" footbeds rather than full custom until your feet stop growing.

FWIW, if you were in a tight fit for your size and your foot only grew 1/2 size (there's no guarantee you'll end up with the same size foot as your dad, my kids got taller and grew bigger feet than me after the age of 14) any decent bootfitter should be able to punch the boot to give you another 5mm of length.

Ya my current boots were way too small, I had to curl my toes to fit. Also might have nerve damage. Anyways thanks for the great info. I've read some great reviews about ski boot fitting, here in vail.

[LC]

Speak to your guy and take your old boots with you.

[givethepigeye]

Ya my current boots were way too small, I had to curl my toes to fit. Also might have nerve damage. Anyways thanks for the great info. I've read some great reviews about ski boot fitting, here in vail.

^Greg, Chris and Jeff have all treated me well. You should do fine there. Not saying others are not good as well. Just have more experience w/ Chris doing a great job.

[jfost]

don't buy size 14 like you kids do with Jordans. You're not going to "grow into them"...

[userA]

bring a 10$ bill 4 tip 4ply since you shouldn't be hauling beers in for a few more years.
bF

[IVplay]

bring a 10$ bill 4 tip 4ply since you shouldn't be hauling beers in for a few more years.
bF

Ok? Thanks for answering my question though, really insightful, definitely not trying to boost your post count.

[Caucasian Asian]

Ok? Thanks for answering my question though, really insightful, definitely not trying to boost your post count.

Don't be a dick. He was offering some advice. Always shoot your fitter a little something(beer or $) extra. It will make your experience better in the long run.


Before you buy new boots, take your old ones in to the fitter, and ask him what you should do and what you should be buying.

[IVplay]

Don't be a dick. He was offering some advice. Always shoot your fitter a little something(beer or $) extra. It will make your experience better in the long run.


Before you buy new boots, take your old ones in to the fitter, and ask him what you should do and what you should be buying.

My bad, didn't get what he was meaning, no harm meant.

[Bronic]

Just boosting my post count...

[old goat]

Just echoing what others have said--if you buy from a good ski shop or a specialty boot shop the cost of fitting, including recommendations of models and sizes, basic modifications, any molding of the stock liners, (but not custom footbeds) and including follow up mods for a period of time (which won't do you any good if you're just there on vacation) should be included in the price of the boots. There's really no reason not to have custom fitting if you're prepared to pay retail price, and even if you buy at a steep discount on line, by the time you're done with the process, assuming you wind up with the right size of a model compatible with your feet, you'll probably spend just as much. What to do about boots when you're 14 is a tough one. People mature and stop growing at different ages, and feet usually stop growing before height (and waist continues to grow forever). You might be able to tell something by how physically mature your body is and how long your father's feet kept growing (except that he probably won't remember). Probably not a bad idea to go for a recreational shell fit (1-1.5 cm) rather than a 0.5cm (1/4 inch performance fit) so you do have at least some room to grow without the boots being too big now.

[XXX-er]

I agree^^ people fuck around buying a cheap boot on line which is possibly the wrong shell and can never be made to fit SO they try the same thing the next season, it would probably have been cheaper to pay list in a good ski store to get boots that fit and consider that the $ spent on ski boots is not the pricey part of skiing


I paid list for boots in whistler during a 1 month stay because there was SO much product to chose from, the expertise was there to fit the boot which I could not get at home, I figured there was enough time to work things out and I was right

[tsproul]

I agree^^ people fuck around buying a cheap boot on line which is possibly the wrong shell and can never be made to fit SO they try the same thing the next season, it would probably have been cheaper to pay list in a good ski store to get boots that fit and consider that the $ spent on ski boots is not the pricey part of skiing

A 14 yr old is likely to need new boots the next season. Unless he ignores previous advice about avoiding buying boots he'll grow into.

[auvgeek]

What to do about boots when you're 14 is a tough one. People mature and stop growing at different ages, and feet usually stop growing before height (and waist continues to grow forever). You might be able to tell something by how physically mature your body is and how long your father's feet kept growing (except that he probably won't remember). Probably not a bad idea to go for a recreational shell fit (1-1.5 cm) rather than a 0.5cm (1/4 inch performance fit) so you do have at least some room to grow without the boots being too big now.

This is good advice. Size up from a performance fit, but DO NOT size them larger than that. A bootfitter should be able to get you ~5mm in the toes if you end up growing substantially.

I bought a pair of boots sz 29 when I was 14 because we thought I'd to grow into them...and they cost next to nothing. The shop subsequently punched the fuck out of the sixth toe because my foot was moving around so much I was getting a bunion. Skied them 'till college because I didn't know any better, and miraculously skied okay on them. Sized down to a 27 in college after learning a bit more about fitting, and just sized down again to a 26. bsl dropped a full 30 mm. (No idea how I even skied at all in those 29s...I still have them and would consider skiing 'em for shits and giggles, but they don't fit any of my skis.)

IME, YMMV, all that jazz, but be VERY careful about buying boots thinking you'll grow into them.

[XavierD]

I broke my leg once because I bought boots that I would grow into, deeply discounted, at a labor day tent sale. I was 16 when I bought them, 16 when I broke my leg. They were size 27. I currently ski a 26.

[IVplay]

I just ended up renting ski boots for the final two days. Thanks for all the advice though.

Edit: I'm still growing (grew an inch the last month) so will just wait until next year.

[Cabinfever]

I'm not a boot fitter but am a gear junkie with 3 teenage rippers including a 14 yr old boy.

Do u have a narrow / medium foot / lower leg?

If so, figure out what size u are in full tilt (shell fit without liner + half an inch or so)

Find yourself that size in a 6 or 8 flex / 99mm width full tilt boot for as cheap as u can and go ski. Should be able to find something for $300 or less.

Solid boot+cool factor+cheap. If u grow out of it repeat the process.

[gregL]

If so, figure out what size u are in full tilt (shell fit without liner + half an inch or so)

Find yourself that size in a 6 or 8 flex / 99mm width full tilt boot for as cheap as u can and go ski. Should be able to find something for $300 or less.

Solid boot+cool factor+cheap. If u grow out of it repeat the process.

If you buy a 99mm lasted Full Tilt, stock up on buckles. A Full Tilt won't magically grow in length any better than any other boot, though.

[Cabinfever]

Agree on finding a buckle source.

As far as "magically growing" = no shit.

That is why I said go with full tilts that fit for $300 or less and just buy new ones if he out grows them.

Plenty of time to do the full monty $800+ custom fit once his foot stops growing. Now is not the time unless he is a high end comp kid.

[Snowy Spartan]

If you buy a 99mm lasted Full Tilt, stock up on buckles. A Full Tilt won't magically grow in length any better than any other boot, though.

It could... Full tilt uses two full sizes (i.e. 26 and 27) for shells with a toe dam. Depends on what he ends up getting size wise.

[old goat]

I just ended up renting ski boots for the final two days. Thanks for all the advice though.

Edit: I'm still growing (grew an inch the last month) so will just wait until next year.

Have your mondo size (length of foot in cm) measured at a shop and write it down and put it with your gear for the summer. Next season you can see if you're still growing--feet grow faster and stop growing sooner than the rest of you so even if you're height is still increasing your feet may not. If your feet are still growing perhaps a local shop has a trade in program for kids/teens so you can get a properly fitted boot and trade it in the following season. (Wish I had had half your sense about gear when I was 14--or 24, or 34, or 44--figured it out by about 54.)

[IVplay]

Have your mondo size (length of foot in cm) measured at a shop and write it down and put it with your gear for the summer. Next season you can see if you're still growing--feet grow faster and stop growing sooner than the rest of you so even if you're height is still increasing your feet may not. If your feet are still growing perhaps a local shop has a trade in program for kids/teens so you can get a properly fitted boot and trade it in the following season. (Wish I had had half your sense about gear when I was 14--or 24, or 34, or 44--figured it out by about 54.)

Haha when it comes to boots I pretty much know nothing, but I do know to come to the experts (you guys).

[gregL]

It could... Full tilt uses two full sizes (i.e. 26 and 27) for shells with a toe dam. Depends on what he ends up getting size wise.

I believe that's just in the 102mm shells, ie High Five and Booter. If so, yes you can grind off the toe dam and get another centimeter for "free," but why not just do what most of my friends have done and get this boot instead (probably the best deal in town, last week they even had 17% off):

http://www.evo.com/outlet/alpine-ski...hite_Image.jpg

[IVplay]

I believe that's just in the 102mm shells, ie High Five and Booter. If so, yes you can grind off the toe dam and get another centimeter for "free," but why not just do what most of my friends have done and get this boot instead (probably the best deal in town, last week they even had 17% off):

http://www.evo.com/outlet/alpine-ski...hite_Image.jpg

Idk, that 130 flex may be a bit too much for me, I'm still pretty light (125).