ski boot advice, por favor

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I just got fitted for some plug boots, and I love the way they ski. I&#39;m also basically able to tolerate them--thought I&#39;d have to go back to the bootfitter after my first day (just a few runs), but skied them a second day and think they&#39;ll be OK--when I&#39;m skiing I feel fine, and the rest of the time the discomfort is pretty minor. But I&#39;m about to go to La Grave for a week and am worried about relying on these things...part of me thinks I should just take my old boots (comfy, old Head Vectors) as I&#39;m basically fine with how they ski, but there is definitely a performance difference between those boots and the &#39;new&#39; plugs. I guess the safe thing would be to just use the old boots, but given how well the plugs ski I&#39;d like to be in them. Two other notes: have only skied groomers in the plugs and feel that maybe for off piste stuff the performance difference won&#39;t be so dramatic, and I&#39;m also concerned about whatever hiking I may be doing. I think the plug boots will really suck for that. WWMD? I&#39;m seriously torn on this and only have few days to decide (bringing both pairs is not really an option).</p>

What the hell is going on here...if I post apostrophes does weird shit happen? Let's see...''''

What boots did you get fitted for? Just sounds like you need more work to get done on them and some potential features to get added to them.

Salomon X Lab. I think that's what they're called--the yellow and white ones.

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Originally Posted by onenerdykid

What boots did you get fitted for? Just sounds like you need more work to get done on them and some potential features to get added to them.

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Nothing about the plug boots? I am just here for the plug boots.

Go see your bootfitter. Either dial in your current boots or add a comfortable alternative. I know a lot of people that ski race class boots every day. Depends upon your priorities and how the boot is set up.

What do you ski? Where? Why race boots? What do you want from your boots? Are they your only boots?

Skiing La Grave in race boots sounds miserable but that's just me. I think you know the scene but if not, a lot of routes required a bit of walking sometimes with exposure. I want comfort and traction. But others will just power thought is a plug boot.

It seems a question you need to answer for your self. It is probably a function of now you want to enjoy La Grave but, conditions dependent, I'm be wanting to ski the road couloirs, Pan du Rideau and so on.

Skiing La Grave in race boots sounds miserable but that's just me. I think you know the scene but if not, a lot of routes required a bit of walking sometimes with exposure. I want comfort and traction. But others will just power thought is a plug boot.

It seems a question you need to answer for your self. It is probably a function of now you want to enjoy La Grave but, conditions dependent, I'm be wanting to ski the road couloirs, Pan du Rideau and so on.

take what you know. its worked for a while, and will be fine.

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Take what you know is comfortable. Skiing technical lines in La Grave does not call for a super stiff boot, and getting boot work done in France (or Europe in general) can be hit or miss. How old are these boots? Salomon race boots have been blue for some time now, the last yellow and white Salomon I remember is the X Max Race, which has a regular replaceable sole, etc.</p>

I skied the grave in my Lange plugs prolly my first 3 or 4 trips there. Back then it was fine, but I wouldn’t do it now. So much nicer to have some grip on the bottom for all the walking you do. That includes walking around all the towns too. Back then, the guides ground the bottoms and glued on some vibram for grip. Also like the others have said, get those things dialed perfectly before you go, or bring what you know. There is sooooooooo much traversing. I used to just unbuckle mine completely for the long traverses. Then sooo much hanging around in ski boots, (like the bus/van ride from St. Christophe), you want them to not hurt at all. There used to be a really good boot fitter in Monetier les Bain named Bruno. Maybe Pelle or one of the bureau guides can direct you.
Going to Monetier is fun anyway, great shopping, great apres bars, so different from the smallness of La Grave.

@Dexter - if your Salomon boots are white & yellow, they are most likely S/Max boots from at least 5-6 years ago. They're not actual race boots; they are narrow piste/all-mountain boots like a Hawx Ultra, Tecnica Mach1, Nordica Promachine, etc. As such, they are definitely not overkill for a trip to France, but as others have said, take what you are most comfortable with.

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Originally Posted by onenerdykid

@Dexter - if your Salomon boots are white & yellow, they are most likely S/Max boots from at least 5-6 years ago. They&#39;re not actual race boots; they are narrow piste/all-mountain boots like a Hawx Ultra, Tecnica Mach1, Nordica Promachine, etc. As such, they are definitely not overkill for a trip to France, but as others have said, take what you are most comfortable with.

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Whatever they are, I sure love my plug boots!
Plug boot plug boot plug boot!

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Originally Posted by beeeom

Whatever they are, I sure love my plug boots! Plug boot plug boot plug boot!

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Me too!! I think I am going to get some of those new Remedy plug boots to go with my old plug boots because plug boot.

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@Dexter - if your Salomon boots are white & yellow, they are most likely S/Max boots from at least 5-6 years ago. They're not actual race boots; they are narrow piste/all-mountain boots like a Hawx Ultra, Tecnica Mach1, Nordica Promachine, etc. As such, they are definitely not overkill for a trip to France, but as others have said, take what you are most comfortable with.

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No, they're X Labs, 95mm last. Definitely plugs. Can post a pic, but this website is so fucked up for me...this is the first time I've been able to login in a year(?), and I had to go to 'create new account' or whatever it's called to login. Reply with quote doesn't work, there was that punctuation mark stuff, if I try to log in otherwise it doesn't work. Whoever's running this site (is there actually anyone?) should go find the A-Basin crowd for some bags of dicks.

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@Dexter - if your Salomon boots are white &amp; yellow, they are most likely S/Max boots from at least 5-6 years ago. They&#39;re not actual race boots; they are narrow piste/all-mountain boots like a Hawx Ultra, Tecnica Mach1, Nordica Promachine, etc. As such, they are definitely not overkill for a trip to France, but as others have said, take what you are most comfortable with.

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No, they&#39;re X Labs, 95mm last. Definitely plugs. Can post a pic, but this website is so fucked up for me...this is the first time I&#39;ve been able to login in a year(?), and I had to go to &#39;create new account&#39; or whatever it&#39;s called to login. Reply with quote doesn&#39;t work, there was that punctuation mark stuff, if I try to log in otherwise it doesn&#39;t work. Whoever&#39;s running this site (is there actually anyone?) should go find the A-Basin crowd for some bags of dicks.</p>

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jfc</p>

Heh. Loving the forum frustration. As others have said go comfy. If you had already punched and altered your plug boots, then yeah. Go for it. But if you are only bringing one boot, bring one that fits.

&nbsp

These boots?

https://www.bootfitters.com/reviews/salomon-x-lab-130

Bring the plug boots or whatever boots fit to ski in.

J. Barron:

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These boots?

https://www.bootfitters.com/reviews/salomon-x-lab-130

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Yes.

They are civilian race boots. Not "plug" boots. Get 'em tweaked and go skiing.

I’ve been thinking about this some more. Bring your old boots. As I said earlier, plugs are fine, but even the walk from the hotel to the telepherique is a pain. It’ll be black ice or some sort of shitty experience just walking down the asphalt driveway to get in line. Since it’s late in the season, skiing to the base prolly won’t happen, so you’re going to be tromping around on rock and dirt(mud) even more than the typical lagraving you need to do there. Grip is good there.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2218ea34ed.jpg

Waxman is going to have explain what his definition of plug is. Lace up liners, 95 last, can't even think about putting these things on without a hair dryer and even in moderate temps have to wait ten minutes or so to get them off (my bootfitter calls them 'two beer boots,' as in don't even think about trying to get them off before your second beer). I'm throwing some vibram lugs on tomorrow (La Grave or not I want that done) and skiing them one more time before going. Still torn.
And to reply to a few people up there, I've already had pretty extensive work done on them, maybe require a tiny bit more for actual comfort (and it's a close call--I think if I had another week or two in them that might not be necessary).

Am I the only one to think that getting fitted in 10year old boots is wild?

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Originally Posted by Flippo

Am I the only one to think that getting fitted in 10year old boots is wild?

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Nope. We are all mystified.
ONK, this dude needs a pair of Remedy and a listen to your Blister Podcast.

Oh, and since we're talking plug boots... Can someone define what that is and why? I have race boots (Lange ZB's) and rec boots. What is a plug boot?

My understanding is that plug boots have thick wall plastic intended to be ground to fit, not heat moldable (as in bake the whole thing in an oven), narrow last, stiff flex, no walk mode, no changeable soles (no gripwalk), no pin fittings.

They are not intended to be skied out of the box. Fitting work is necessary, they are not really shaped like feet - - more of an approximation that needs to be carved and punched until it resembles your foot.

Liners are very thin, cold, uncomfortable, but precise.

I can't imagine wanting to ski in plugs for general skiing.

So basically a race boot? I am curious where the term plug came from and why. Sorry to take this off topic. I have never heard anyone under 40 refer to boots as plugs.

OP, take the boot you like to ski. If they arent comfortable, make them comfortable. Bring some Yaktrax if you need to walk a bunch.

A plug refers to the shitty, narrow, ass last that they shove into a plug boot. Then u need to grind and punch the general foot-appproximate-shaped, narrow cavity for ultimate performance. Then the pedantic nerds at blister will think they are Jesus reincarnated for trying to quash the term plug for some unimportant reason. Then the poor blister editors will have to craft 4 painful sentences every single time they want describe a plug boot in the future because theyve vanquished a perfectly good term that conveys the exact meaning in one word.

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Originally Posted by beeeom

A plug refers to the shitty, narrow, ass last that they shove into a plug boot. Then u need to grind and punch the general foot-appproximate-shaped, narrow cavity for ultimate performance. Then the pedantic nerds at blister will think they are Jesus reincarnated for trying to quash the term plug for some unimportant reason. Then the poor blister editors will have to craft 4 painful sentences every single time they want describe a plug boot in the future because theyve vanquished a perfectly good term that conveys the exact meaning in one word.

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Touche!!! Hahaha. I think the term is pretty well dead, anyway. I can generally guess how old someone is by whether they call them plugs or race boots. I work with race kids every day and spend a lot of time in a boot shop. The only place I hear plug is here or skitalk. I always thought it was a funny term, but it does convey a message and Jonathan does love to hear himself talk.

Not sure the term “plug” is dead, I hear it all the time but I’m around a lot of ex racers and race coaches.

When I was strong, I broke boot parts. I used Granite Chief as my ski shop, (near the former Squaw Valley), and they used to have a pre-season sale and invite mostly young ski racers and good customers, and all their ski manufacture reps. Gunnar invited me so I could have the Lange rep order me up some boots. The rep said I needed plugboots, so he ordered me a pair in size 9 for my 10.5 feet. A month later or whatever they came in and Gunner had me put them on, which was interesting, since, for example, my toes were curled under my feet. The plastic is extremely thick, (a plug of plastic that comes out of the mold), so it could be dremel tooled away until it fits your foot. There’s no punching those things. I would get some grinding, ski a run, come back and get more grinding, etc. This went on for a week or so, and then on through the season. The “liner” was basically 1/4 inch of foamish stuff.
Anyway, the beauty for me was that they don’t have parts to break except buckles, which I always kept some spares, and the fit never changes. The plastic obviously can’t pack out. Even today in my weak advanced age, I’m always tweaking my buckles on my intuition linered or my zip fit linered boots.

Plug boots take time. You will never git it right on the first visit to your boot fitter. I have a pair of RS 130 plugs that are 12 or 13 years old and are so comfortable that I'll never get rid of them. As comfortable as they are it still feels good to take them off at the end of the day.

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Originally Posted by halliday

Plug boots take time. You will never git it right on the first visit to your boot fitter. I have a pair of RS 130 plugs that are 12 or 13 years old and are so comfortable that I'll never get rid of them. As comfortable as they are it still feels good to take them off at the end of the day.

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For sure.
Although now I have Atomic Hawx with zip fits and taking those damn zip fits on and off every day is wacko. But dang, those zips ski nice.

Yes they do!! Right now I am having a love affair with Intuition wraps. My feet have never been warmer and happier. Life is too short for stock liners, though the Mimic liners are exceptional.

My ZB's have sat in the closet the last two seasons. I am skiing the new Armada boot right now with Intuition wraps. Totally different from a race boot. The fit is absolutely dialed after a proper bake job. Precision will go away as the wraps pack, but it is so easy compared to the hours of grinding and agony of taking off a cold race boot. Skiing over 100 days a year I just don't need that every time I take my boots off.

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Originally Posted by Flippo

Am I the only one to think that getting fitted in 10year old boots is wild?

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Unusual, sure, but they&#39;re still brand new boots and I&#39;ve actually never purchased boots from the current model year (why would you?? Ski boot tech hasn&#39;t changed in 25+ years). Picked these up for $200 a few years ago and haven&#39;t been able to deal with them until now (was actually scheduled for a fitting a few years back but couldn&#39;t make it and am no longer local to the fitter).</p>
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Originally Posted by SnowMachine

So basically a race boot? I am curious where the term plug came from and why. Sorry to take this off topic. I have never heard anyone under 40 refer to boots as plugs.

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Everyone calls them plugs.</p>
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Originally Posted by SnowMachine

T<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(17, 17, 120);">ouche!!! Hahaha. I think the term is pretty well dead, anyway. I can generally guess how old someone is by whether they call them plugs or race boots. I work with race kids every day and spend a lot of time in a boot shop. The only place I hear plug is here or skitalk. I always thought it was a funny term, but it does convey a message and Jonathan does love to hear himself talk.</span>

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Then they&#39;re probably too young for plugs and in consumer model race boots or junior boots (no plugs) and/or your shop doesn&#39;t do much with ski racers (they typically go into plugs around 14/15). Was on the hill two or three days ago listening to one of my 15 year olds bitch about his new plugs. You definitely can&#39;t tell anything about someone&#39;s age based on use of the term--not a dated term. There is definitely other ski terminology that has changed/is no longer in use, but plug boot is not in that category.</p>

La Grave was money, as always, and the plugs were a good call I think (despite some pain during the many km's of traversing and hiking). Appreciate the thoughts. Would do a TR but given how problematic making any kind of post is here...

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<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/DRa9QwrUZavxVn6k9">https://photos.app.goo.gl/DRa9QwrUZavxVn6k9</a></p>
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wtf</p>

edit: omg, no clue why this is posting under a dummy email account I set up years ago to send a single email...is this place still fucked the way it was a month or so ago (and for however long before)? Anyway, the boots worked out well but I was in agony a good part of every day. A few more punches or something and will be good to go. Thank god I put the vibram lugs on--some of the hiking was sketchy even with that traction. double edit: guess I already posted the &#39;results&#39; but forgot. Ha. Anyway, maybe the video will work this time.
triple edit: I guess I know the answer to if this place is still fucked or not looking at how the formatting and random insertion of #39 all over the place seems to be. Oh well. This could be my last post here...am guessing many others have given up and abandoned. Had a good run!!