Boot half sizes

[miahw2828]

so if boot shells really come in whole sizes and the .5 sizes are made up by using different liners, which shell sizes are going to be the same?

ie, is a 29 and 29.5 the same shell, or is a 29.5 and 30 the same shell?

ultimately the question is will the 29.5 liner I want to use in a 29 shell going to work?

[Howie]

I think 29 and 29.5 is the same, apart from in dynafit boots, where i think it is 29.5 and 30. Not 100% Sure on this though.

[mntlion]

yes, .0 and .5 are the same shell, liners just pack out to that shell.

[LightRanger]

so if boot shells really come in whole sizes and the .5 sizes are made up by using different liners, which shell sizes are going to be the same?

ie, is a 29 and 29.5 the same shell, or is a 29.5 and 30 the same shell?

ultimately the question is will the 29.5 liner I want to use in a 29 shell going to work?

Depends on the manufacturer. Most companies are 29.0 and 29.5 = same shell. There are a few exceptions though. I know for sure that Scarpa has 29.5 and 30.0 as the same shell. And I guess maybe Dynafit, according to Howie, although I had not heard that.

[Howie]

Depends on the manufacturer. Most companies are 29.0 and 29.5 = same shell. There are a few exceptions though. I know for sure that Scarpa has 29.5 and 30.0 as the same shell. And I guess maybe Dynafit, according to Howie, although I had not heard that.

Oh no, you're right. It was Scarpa, not Dynafit.

[jaobrien6]

So one thing I've always wondered about. The 29 and 29.5 are the same shell size, so obviously the 29 gets a thicker liner. Does that thicker liner pack out into a correspondingly thicker packed-out liner?

What I'm wondering is does the person in the 29 have to replace their liners sooner because the thicker liner packs out too much over time? Or are the liners designed of materials such that it doesn't really happen like that and they actually both pack out about the same so that the packed out 29 liner is still a thicker liner than the packed out 29.5 liner.

[skimaxpower]

So one thing I've always wondered about. The 29 and 29.5 are the same shell size, so obviously the 29 gets a thicker liner. Does that thicker liner pack out into a correspondingly thicker packed-out liner?

The difference is generally negligible. Consequently most ski shops only carry the XX.5 size (easier to sell, and more realistic gauge of fit.)

I generally don't even look at the Mondo size anymore. I focus on the BSL in mm, because it tells you more precisely the length of the footbed in the boot.

As a general rule, BSL - 40 mm gives you the length of the footbed in milimeters. Take, for example, my "28.5" Dalbello Krypton Rampage. BSL=326mm. Subtract 40mm = 28.6cm. If someone bought the 28.0 version of this boot, they would end up with 6mm of unpredicted extra space in the footbed.

[JFE24]

So one thing I've always wondered about. The 29 and 29.5 are the same shell size, so obviously the 29 gets a thicker liner.

My understanding is that companies are definitely not putting thicker / different liners in a boot to make up the difference between a full size and a half size. You get the exact same liner in, say, a 26.0 and a 26.5.

The difference is either in the footbed being used, or possibly just the presence of a shim placed between the footbed and the bottom of the liner that functions to suck up extra room between the top of the foot and the boot shell.

In other words, as soon as you toss out the stock insole that comes with your ski boot and insert a custom footbed, you have effectively removed any difference between that 26.0 and the 26.5.

If this all sounds pretty low-tech and not worthy of the price of most high end boots, well, I'd agree. Ski technology and design is getting so good. I can't wait for the day when boot design / technology catches up.

[L7]

As mentioned the split occurs USUALLY on the full size. Also mentioned the scarpa is on the .5 size and very oddly the Atomic B last is also on the .5 even though none of their other lasts do the split there.

[miahw2828]

I know for sure that Scarpa has 29.5 and 30.0 as the same shell.

damn...The shells that I wanted to put the 29.5 liners in a 29 shell are scarpa's

guess there is only one way to find out if they're going to fit

[jaobrien6]

My understanding is that companies are definitely not putting thicker / different liners in a boot to make up the difference between a full size and a half size. You get the exact same liner in, say, a 26.0 and a 26.5.

The difference is either in the footbed being used, or possibly just the presence of a shim placed between the footbed and the bottom of the liner that functions to suck up extra room between the top of the foot and the boot shell.

In other words, as soon as you toss out the stock insole that comes with your ski boot and insert a custom footbed, you have effectively removed any difference between that 26.0 and the 26.5.

If this all sounds pretty low-tech and not worthy of the price of most high end boots, well, I'd agree. Ski technology and design is getting so good. I can't wait for the day when boot design / technology catches up.

Interesting. So if that's the case, then a 26 would really just be intended for someone with a slightly lower volume foot than the 26.5, right? Not actually a shorter foot?

[skimaxpower]

Interesting. So if that's the case, then a 26 would really just be intended for someone with a slightly lower volume foot than the 26.5, right? Not actually a shorter foot?

Edit: ignore the incorrect sentence I wrote. The 26.0 would be intended for someone with a fatter (higher volume) foot, because there is (supposedly) more space than the 26.5.

Alternatively, the 26.0 would be intended for someone who didn't understand this system, and buys boots that will be sloppy big in 12 months - forcing another boot purchase.

[jaobrien6]

The 26.0 would be intended for someone with a fatter (higher volume) foot, because there is (supposedly) more space than the 26.5.

You must have that backwards, right? Why would a 26.0 have more room in it than a 26.5? That doesn't make any sense at all.

[JFE24]

Again: remover the stock insert and replace with a custom footbed and a 26.0 = 26.5.

No difference.

If you were to keep the stock insert, then yes, it would seem that skimaxpower would have it backward, and jaobrien6 has it right.

[skimaxpower]

You must have that backwards, right? Why would a 26.0 have more room in it than a 26.5? That doesn't make any sense at all.

Yes, you're absolutely correct. Skimaxpower=brainfart.

[stuckathuntermtn]

all to frequently they chince out and 29-30.5 are a 30 shell. Also some boots go on the half, but it's rare.