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Newish to Zipfit GFT, mostly warm storm skiing so far, but just had cold feet on a few tours in reasonably cold weather a few days ago. It was a different feeling than the usual cold in touring boot and mostly felt in the toes. I noticed my custom insoles were a tad bit wider than the sole of the GFT and the edges were curved up. Trimmed it a bit and had another tour and felt much warmer. Also clipped the nails of my goblin feet!
My orthotics had to be reworked after switching to Zipfits, pretty common.
I'm considering some options for my boots and would love some feedback from the Zip Fit vets. I've got an older pair of Full Tilts that have worked well for me for quite a while, they've probably got ~125 days on them at this point. They're 27s and I bought them online but knew my foot decently and they've provided a relatively comfortable if not precision fit. I think if I got in new boots today I'd probably be in a 26 (feet measure 264.5 and 263.5 mm with a relatively high instep, high arch, and ~97-98mm width). Right now I'm debating getting a new shell vs. getting a zipfit to extend the life of the FTs and then putting the ZFs in a new boot in a year or two. I know ideally I'd do it at the same time but can't swing that financially (and stay married :D) this year.
Since I might end up going a size smaller (26) in the shell I'm curious about thoughts on buying a ZF in my current shells that can also work with newer shells in a year or two. Does it make more sense to get a size 27 ZF now and then try to squeeze them into a 26 shell in the future if that is indeed the shell size I go with for a new boot, or does it make more sense to get a size 26 ZF and inject some OM fit if needed to make that work in my 27 FT? Also I was thinking Gara but not sure about HV or LV. I'm assuming it will depend on whether I go with the 26 ZF (HV) or 27 ZF(LV)?
I've also never skied with footbeds and am considering doing that but not sure if it makes much difference in the above question.
Thanks!
if it’s all the same to you, i would get new boots and then get zips when the liners wear out.
that said, get the zipfit that fits your foot best. a tight liner can be really uncomfortable. hopefully you can try on or return as needed. lots of people run one size up from their boot, me included. I would also recommend starting with the HV so you don’t need to add as much cork, i wish i had. Just do a proper heated fitting cycle and start with loose buckles because you will really feel it.
@caderader
I don't think I'd have ever pulled the trigger on ZF if I had to ante up for the full price.
I got a pretty used pair on Ebay for pretty cheap - like $100 or something. (Even "fairly used" looked to have many years of use left in them, before I'd have another 150 days on them.)
I was super impressed with that "beater" pair and found a second, pretty much new, pair for $250 (And I passed on my first pair to a friend.)
You might consider doing the same. If you can find a fairly cheap pair to play with, you'll have a better idea if it works for you and won't be upside-down should you need to sell them on, because they didn't work.
Try CL/EBay and Facebook marketplace.
In my case, a 24.5 shell has been a push in the past, my big toe took a beating in the last pair I had. I've been in 25.5 shells since. But moving to the ZF made going to a 24.5 shell super easy. So, this applies in that - if I were doing it, I'd get a ZF liner and make the rest of the world revolve around the ZF. I kind of consider shells disposable/interchangeable at this point. If the ZF liner fits, and it's not a total dog of a shell, we'll be good.
Thanks that's helpful! And are you in a 25.5 zipfit or 24.5?Quote:
Originally Posted by gregorys
Recently picked up a GFT in 27.5, which fits the length of my foot almost exactly. I've popped it into 26.5 shells for the previous and new gen Hawx Ultra XTD 130 (new one with the BOA), as well as the original MTN Lab (blue ones). Liner fit in all 3 shells: it took some care and settling in sometimes to get the instep overlap to close, but length definitely wasn't an issue at all. Pretty sure the instep issue is temporary while the liner breaks in/gets fitted.
Zipfit recommended I size the liner to my foot rather than the boot shell and based on this experience I definitely agree. The shell fits are tight and the shorter liner would definitely have been miserable (given this one has virtually no extra length in the toes).
As an aside: the ankle pocket on the MTN lab was always so terrible for me. So I was impressed at 1) how much better it was with the GFT out of the box and 2) the fact that adding cork could probably salvage the situation pretty well. Have other plans for these liners, but still - impressed so far.
So, Zipfit Gara LV, inside Kryptons. Just got new boots, Cabrio LV130 LV. Felt some pressure on the top of my foot, over the instep. I never had this pressure in the Kryps. Also felt like the liner could lift up inside the shell.
Do I add cork to the tongue, build up that area, or cork all around to increase the liner volume?
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If the liner lifts, add some (a lot) to the tongue, and maybe also a bit to the foremost pockets, just to fill them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by naedward81
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Generally with dalbellos we have to add shims under the liner to take up volume since dalbellos are so tall inside. If the instep pressure is actually from the shell, try lifting the forefoot only.Quote:
Originally Posted by naedward81
Make sure the injection ports are folded up nicely and not balled up. Try pulling the laces and see if they are a culprit, then adjust the lacing pattern as needed.
24.5Quote:
Originally Posted by caderader
I read this whole SkiTalk thread....redundant in parts but lots of good stuff too. Surprised there is not more love for the leather Workhorse.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleBogey
I got Zipfits last year, after many years skiing in Cochise, Intuition and Surefoot liners.
I'm using a Surefoot custom insole in my Zipfits I got the leather Workhorse that are in 100mm Nordica Strider 120's. The Zipfit site recommended either a Gara LV or Workhorse based on normal calf, normal ankle width, all mountain-freeride, non-tour, high instep, non-roomy shell fit. I went Workhorse mainly for the leather interior and am very happy. Didn't have to remove any Omfit though initially they were tight on top of my forefoot. I baked mine 3x in our steam oven at 140F twice, and then 150F (all times on air heat) and after each time I baked them they slipped into the boot easier, and I was able push some tongue cork off the forefoot to alleviate the pressure there. By ski day 10 or so the fit was great. Comfy yet secure.
The shoe horn is a must to get Zipfits on/off racer style (I now carry an extra one in my day pack in case I want to take my boots off at lunch). It can be a bugger to get them in some days.
I can't get over how good the heel hold is in the leather lined Workhorse. Best part about Zipfits is you no longer have to crank your buckles down super hard to feel locked in, like you do with soft foam liners. The Zipfit cork is denser (than foam) and so your feet are held, without your feet losing circulation.
Worth every single penny IMO.
KC
It blows my mind how soft surefoot foam is now. What a useless product. My old ones were twice as dense as my zips and it was awesome. Honestly, I wish the zips were denser.
In a similar boat in that I fit zipfit 27.5s, but have some 26.5 boots.
However, when I was able to get the zipfits (GFTs) into the boots, there was no way I could get them in with my foot in! Just seemed way too tight. I guess it's made up by being able to ski a 27.5 boot without heelt lift.
I tried getting the zipfits in my size 26.5/27 Scarpa Maestrale RSs, and it was impossible to get my foot in. Same with 26.5 Lange RX 130 LVs.
Moved up to some 27.5 Langes and seems to fit ok. Maybe I will damage my feet less?
Quote:
Originally Posted by raerxk1
When I started (Gara LV in a Lange RS130) the throat of boot would barely close - 50 days in, slips in and on second notch on most buckles. The OMfit finds a way.
Did you find the cork migrated up the cuff and up the tongue? I feel like this happens a fair bit.
I have ZGPT and GFTs (both 26.5) and Ive now snapped both boot boards getting and out of these things, one of which was with the recommended boot horn. Is this just a fact of life or am I an idiot? To be clear, I'm still in love with the liners as I no longer get giant holes in my heels, I'm just trying to figure out what I'm missing here.
Have you considered a heated boot bag? My 130 flex boots go on so easily when they’re warm.Quote:
Originally Posted by suncrustable
I second this comment. When my boots are warm I can open the throats and slide right in. I stopped skiing my ZB's because of how difficult it is to get my feet out when it's cold. I have Boot Doc tape on my heels, too. Keeps things sliding easily. You might try some Boot Doc tape under the ball of your foot to allow the liner to slide on the boot board.Quote:
Originally Posted by spanky
What's the spray that folks recommend? If I recall correctly it was not silicone spray, though I'm pretty sure that's what my boot shop used initially when I was being fit.
No spray, put 3M PTFE/UHMV tape on inside spine of the boot, spine of the liner, and a strip on the boot board. You can skip the boot board if you’re worried about fit.
Silicone spray was recommended but I haven’t needed any with tape.
https://boosterstrap.com/product/slide-on/
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I had a lot of friction between the bootboard and toe of my liner so I put a strip of UHMW on the toes of the liners. That + keeping shells under passenger seat foot vent + boot horn = boot slides right onQuote:
Originally Posted by suncrustable
Yeah, some heat into them definitely makes a big difference. I have some tape on them now, but I'll try throwing some onto the spine as well. Thanks all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by suncrustable
I broke my xt3 tour pro boards with a GFT, got new boot boards and glued them into the shell, the styrofoam was too soft and I had a feeling it wasn’t the last time it was going to happen. Since gluing them, problem solved.
Heated boot bags are a must with zipfits IMO. Boots that start warm stay warm too
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