Approx cost for bootfitting/Bootfitting on the cheap?

[sethschmautz]

Hey guys,

Before I get flamed by the bootfitters on the site, I have heard and believe the importance of proper bootfitting. I'm just not sure I have the ca$h for it as I've never inquired.

How much does it generally cost to get boots fitted properly?

Is it cheaper if you buy the boots from the bootfitter?

Will a bootfitter work on your boots if you don't buy the boots from them?

I'm looking to buy a new pair of touring boots to replace my Factors with the goal of getting similar or better stiffness, but lighter weight and better fit. I'm doing as much research online as well as borrowing boots from friends to figure out which boots to target, as I don't think we have any/many bootfitters in this part of Montana (that I'm aware of).

If money was not an issue, I'd go to a bootfitter, buy boots from him/her, and have everything fit properly. However, if I find that I can't afford this, what's my next best option?

Seth

P.S. I have a small convection oven that I have used at home for molding for years which is normally what I would do.

[skinnyskier]

Good luck.

[bfree]

Fitting/labor is generally included with the purchase of boots from any good store, but note that this doesn't include mat'l cost of footbeds or liners.

As an average, I would expect something like $20/punch, $100 stance alignment (ramp, cant), $200 custom footbed. Liners you can do yourself at home, but again any shop will mold them for you if you buy them there. If your foot plays nicely with out-of-the-box footbeds, that can save you some significant change. Figure out how much cheaper you can get the used boots for and decide if it's worth it to you. All good bootfitters will work on your boots if you don't buy them there (in fact some of the best fitters ONLY operate this way, they don't even want to sell boots). If you have the $$, the peace of mind from a store can be nice to have: you can keep going back again and again until you're satisfied of the fit.

I've tried DIY punches with boiling water in the kitchen sink and various garage tools. Don't bother. Punches/grinds are cheap, get them done right.

[splat]

Put feet in boots. Put boots in oven. Duh!

[kthack]

First of all, let me say I am not a bootfitter in any way, just someone like you who has tried to get comfortable boots on a budget and gone through this process before.

Yes, in many cases if you buy the boots from the boot fitter they will do at least some of the work for free or at least at a discounted rate. I know a lot of shops will do a certain number of punches for free for example if you buy boots from them. The amount of work done for free will vary from shop to shop obviously, you'll have to check. Some select shops (probably not many though) will do all of the labor for free if you buy the boots from them - punches, grinding, molding, everything. One thing to check however is whether a shop guarantees their work - i.e. if they screw up your boots will they give you new ones, as well as if they decide that a punch will solve your problem and it doesn't, will they refund your money or continue to work with you till the problem is solved. Bootfitting is definitely a process, i.e. it will definitely take many days and may take years to get it perfect.

The total cost of getting boots fitted properly will vary greatly from person to person. If your foot just happens to be the same shape as the inside of the boot, you will buy footbeds and be on your way. If your foot is super strange and requires tons of work, it could be hundreds of dollars. Realistically most people probably fall somewhere between.

Also bootfitters will definitely work on boots bought other places, they will often just charge more. For reference, I brought my 2 pairs of boots (Dalbello Krypton Pro and Nordica Dobermann Aggressor) in to Fanatyk in Whistler Village a couple years ago on a vacation (I didn't buy them there) to have the big toe area punched out, and they charged $20 per punch, or $80 total for the two pairs. Not super cheap, but definitely worth it to me for the huge increase in comfort. Also, I would guess downtown Whistler village is probably one of the more expensive places in the world to get boots fitted.

[sb]

Work for the wife's alpine boots with liners molded and grinds/punches on each shell(toe box) last fall was $50/hr x 2hours of work.

There is a decent book on fitting available on Amazon. Educated yorself for cheap but the tools are spensive.

[bfree]

Whistler village is probably one of the more expensive places in the world to get boots fitted.

Yes, but they also have some great fitters and being able to ski a run or two and then stop by the shop again is certainly some added value.

[kthack]

Absolutely, good point. They got me in and out quickly and knew exactly what needed to be done to solve my problem.

[sethschmautz]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback. This will help when budgeting for the new boots.

Thanks!

Seth

[El Chupacabra]

How much does it generally cost to get boots fitted properly?

Is it cheaper if you buy the boots from the bootfitter?

Will a bootfitter work on your boots if you don't buy the boots from them?

1) Depends on what needs to be done. Seems like $20 per punch is typical pricing around Reno/Tahoe. Grinding, adding padding, cooking liners, etc., all cost $ separately.
2) Boot fitting work seems to be cheaper (often included in the purchase price) if you buy boots from the boot fitter, but the price may be considerably higher (i.e. near-MSRP).
3) Yes.

Best option IMHO: if you can find a shop with reasonable prices on boots, and they have a decent boot fitter, buy from them.

Try on lots of different boots first though, and figure out what fits your feet best (i.e. what boots have shells that are the closest to the shape of your foot), and buy those boots. Then work on fitting. No point in going through bootfitting work on boots that just don't fit very well to start.

[old goat]

The shops I've been generally guarantee the fit for a year--which includes punches and grinds, molding stock liner, not canting or other alignment work, not footbeds. If you can find a pair of boots that fit properly (and assuming you know how to check that) for a big discount on line, at a swap, from a bigbox store like rei, you may come out ahead after paying a bootfitter for adjustments, especially if the boots require minimal work, otherwise there really is no downside to using a good bootfitter. If someone ones to charge you for basic fitting for a pair of boots he's selling you go elsewhere. I bought a pair of $650 boots for $100 new at a swap. 6 years, 2 sets of footbeds, one punch, and one intuition liner later and I've spent about the MSRP (and I would have needed to pay for the beds and liner anyway). But I got lucky.

[XXX-er]

I brought my 2 pairs of boots (Dalbello Krypton Pro and Nordica Dobermann Aggressor) in to Fanatyk in Whistler Village a couple years ago on a vacation (I didn't buy them there) to have the big toe area punched out, and they charged $20 per punch, or $80 total for the two pairs. Not super cheap, but definitely worth it to me for the huge increase in comfort. Also, I would guess downtown Whistler village is probably one of the more expensive places in the world to get boots fitted.

Compared to what you spent on the vaca in whistler to enjoy yourself the 80$ is a bargain ... it sucks if you are paying 100$ for a lift ticket and your feet hurt

IME Whistler was a good place to buy gear I went out for a case of beer and came home with new boots and a helmet cuz I started wandering around the products I wanted/needed were all there and they were not overpriced because all the stores have to compete with eachother

I paid list for new boots at Fanatyk cuz boots that don't fit are no bargain, buddy said they were open til 9pm if I needed any fit work but the fit was perfect

[Climber Joe]

I went to a boot fitter and told him I wanted to get shell fit for his boot recommendation, and then I planned on buying them online, and returning to get work done on them. He had no problem with that, and got my boots fitting very nicely.

Most boot fitters are pretty awesome about doing stuff.

[hutash]

Whole lot o' options. As the season nears the end a lot of boots go on sale, so buying from a shop maybe almost as cheap as online. As many have said most shop do a certain amount of fitting for free. My guy in Mammoth will work on boots for two years with no charge for most routine things.

Get your boots done at or near the hill so you can ski and tweek as needed. Nothing worse then a day in pain, and trip home, then to the boot fitter, then next rip to the hill your feet still hurt.

Find the best fitter at what ever hill you will be at routinely, it will work out best in the long run.

[sethschmautz]

Awesome. Great advice, thanks guys.

[Charmander]

At the shop I work at we gurantee fit for a year if you buy your boots from us. As far as just having work done a punch/grind job will vary from 10-25 bucks depending on what needs done. A cuff alignment is like 35 I believe and a heat mold on a liner is 20.

As far as buying boots online I recommend not doing that, I've seen enough people in the wrong boot to recommend getting help with one, even if you think you know what you need.