How do you like them? Worth 35 bucks?
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How do you like them? Worth 35 bucks?
I use em cause I'm too cheap to shell out $100+ for the customs.
Worth the dough, way better than the stock footbed in any ski boot I've owned.
Better than stock. But if you are going to spend money on footbeds, why not suck it up and spend the money for a custom set? I'm a big fan of Surefoot footbeds and their service.
I use superfeet in my Pearl Izumi bike shoes.
Agreed, they're better than stock, but not as good as the more expensive custom beds. I have a pair of them in my current boots, but I plan on upgrading sometime this season.
I love 'em.
yep, worth $35. I haven't tried custom insoles, but these are definately better than stock insoles. The biggest benefit for me is that they keep your arch curved a bit, pulling your toes back from the end of the boot a bit - important for me since I have skinny feet and size down boots to the point that my toes bash the ends.
Not worth it, fall apart like crap. Spend the several hundred and get medical orthotics.
Better than stock, but only if you absolutely cannot under any circumstances afford customs. Customs are the best money you can spend on your skiing.
Word. The difference between the $35 trim-to-fits and the $100 heat molded footbeds is huge when compared to the difference between the slice of foam that comes in the boots and the $35 trim-to-fits. The trim-to-fits are best reserved for your every day shoes IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by DJSapp
Word, but the difference between 100$ heat molded sh*t and custom orthotics is huge. Orthotics don't loose their shape after a season of use and will not fall apart.Quote:
Originally Posted by SponsoredByDuctTape
Custom foot beds are the way to go. The secret though is to go somewhere good.My first pair cost $150. and were shit. My new ones are great and worth the $$. Most people buy new boots but what they really need are footbeds.If you look at it like that, the foot beds are cheap. $150. vs like $500.+ for boots
worth it & I think better than a custom job! Even better are comforable insoles if you can find them
I use 'em and love 'em....
i used to use them, but now i have customs way better than than stocks, which give no support at all (even though they look like they just collapse when pressure is applied)
If you are good skier, or want to be, get custom. If you just cruise and don't push it, use cut to fit. If you rent skis and only by the green run ticket use the ones in the rental boot, because you can't ski anyways.
Superfeet are good, custom is way better.
If you're skiing alot, or have ever had any footpain while skiing, go with the custom footbeds. While superfeet provide comfort, custom footbeds will provide comfort as well as support and stability in your boot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terpski
I use superfeet in my hiking boots. They are sooo worth the $35. Don't know about ski boots though.
so custom foot beds = awesome? damnit, more money to spend.
How long do these things last? (please answer in number of days)
i have, and they were the difference between the boots fitting and not. that being said, i would definitely throw down for full custom this year.
I have trim to fit greens and blues in the several hundred adult rental boots in the rental shop i manage...not all rental shops are created equal.Quote:
Originally Posted by hutash
That being said, a trim to fit will support your feet, a stock sock liner in a ski boot will not, the trim to fits provide the support needed for approximately 50% of the skiing populace, we have found that the superfeet kork custom works for about 85% of people....and that other 15% need serious corrective (medical) orthotics. The big difference between a trim to fit, and an unweighted custom is that a trim to fit betters your alignment, supports your feet and gets you close to subTalar neutral, a well made custom betters alignment, supports your feet specifically, and if made correctly puts you foot into true subTalar neutral, which makes for much better balance, less back and neck pain after a long day, and more responsive skiing.
The key in all of this is the technician, some folks swear by comformable, or instaprint, or superfeet, or archfitters....they can all be great with a good technician, though biomechanically a weight bearing footbed makes no sense from a support point of view.
Working in the "foot" industry underfoot support is key for everyday life in my eyes, too many people focus on putting 160 dollar inserts in a ski boot they wear on the weekends while they have no support in their work shoe that they wear 5 days a week 50 days a year, thats when you do damage to your arches and your alignment, do yourself a favor and get yourself a pair of trim to fits or dress fits for your work shoes as well.
just my .02
Colin, excellent post. I have never owned the custom orthodics. Its nothing to do with affordability, I just have never experienced anything other than Superfeet or heat molded foot beds. So, I don't think there is a problem with the fit of my boots. I have had punches and grinds in the right places, and I feel a good contact in the footbed. What are the signs that you need a better foot bed or orthodic?
PS. I never wore heavy leather orthodic shoes WTF. I have a strong arch structure and don't experience pressure points or numbness. Why would I consider expensive orthodics in ski boots?
if you have a strong foot, you most likely dont "need" a custom footbed solution, you could benefit from it comfort wise as it is completely molded to your foot, but a trim to fit superfeet is the culmination of over 900 measurements of the foot, to hundreds of test subjects in each size range...so it may fit your foot almost perfectly, and there may be almost no gain in going to a custom footbed in something like a ski boot where your foot does not pronate or go throug the gait cycle. if you feel pain on the bottom of your foot, feel balance issues, or something just feels not quite as good as it should, then consider a custom, otherwise stick with the trim to fit, but realize that it has a much shorter life span than a custom, 1-2 seasons tops, versus 10 or so years on a kork.
the reason to consider an expensive custom solution in a ski boot is all about support and balance, when you are walking down a hallway at the office, the fact that you are out of alignment is less pronounced than when you are skiing a steep pitch at high speeds, so as a result most people only seek to remedy the alignment issue while skiing, which due to the extreme forces associated with it require much more drastic and expensive custom solutions than are required for everyday footwear. But, as I pointed out before, for nearly 50% of people, super agro skier or not, a simple trim to fit will solve any and all support issues they have, the custom will last longer, and will be sturdier...but it may not be the best solution for you, the trim to fits may be plenty for you, i know more than a few fellow employees at our shop that only wear a trim to fit, and they can outski me going backwards. If your boots fit awesome, you dont have any control or balance issues, then run it, dont bother spending a lot of money for something that doesnt seem like it would drastically improve your skiing, instead take that money and invest it in some superfeet or comprable products for your everyday shoes, so you can benefit from better balance and alignment everyday
Colin pretty much said everything I was going to say. In fact, you could say I posted it, but he beat me to ie.
Anyhow, IMHO, the $35 Superfeet are a great addition to any boot you purchase, regardless, just like Booster Straps.... Custom footbeds, IMHO, are really only necessary if you have odd foot problems. I'm probably totally missing out on an orgasmic aspect of wearing ski boots, but I've never felt like I wanted them, which means I probably don't need them.
Simply an awesome coupla posts Colin. Hats off to you. Your shop has an excellent reputation and posts like yours add to the goodness.
I've used the superfeet greens for a couple years in my boots. I also use them in my hiking boots and shoes. I love them. However, this year I'm going custom because my boots are starting to get packed-out and I want something a little better in there than my superfeet.
I've skied with custom footbed for over 10 years. I just got my 4th or 5th pair the other day. I have tried all sorts of different brands. At this point skiing without footbeds just seems stupid to me. The difference in fit and performance is worth every penny. Any serious skier should have a pair, IMO.
Thanks, we are all about education, and as a result sell a few pairs of skis and boots every year :)Quote:
Originally Posted by team ftb
Bueno in my T2Xs :)
edg
I've got bunions, so I have custom 3/4 leather orthodics which I swap between all my shoes. Before that, I had superfeet for my hiking boots. I've got long (13) skinny feet so I'm often stacking two pairs of insoles to take up room. I've tried various combinations of superfeet, orthodics, sorbothane(?) cut to fit insoles, and some brand of cut-to-fit a friend got me as a present.
If it works fit-wise I *always* put the orthodics in my boots. Ski boots, hiking boots, mountaineering boots - whatever, they make them fit better. If, for whatever reason, the orthodics ain't gonna cut it I go with the superfeet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinB
Sorry Colin, no diss intended to the good rental companies that take good care of their clients. I rented gear for my kids for years until they got their boots. I was hinting at the cheapo places that send out unwaxed, dulled edge skis, bent poles, and ill fitting boots. Most of the good shops put superfeet in their rentals, at least in their demos.
I agree that more people should use them in every day shoes. I wear Birkenstocks 99% of the time which form to my foot. I move my custom superfeet to my hike boots for the off season.
As to the question about longevity, I would say years. I have had mine five season (30-50 days per season), and use them in hiking boots in the off season. I just moved them to a new pair of Langes for this year.
I got my first custom custom superfeet cork insert back in 1982. I still have the sucker. It was re heated twice by Mr CL and it is still in my boot today keeping my feet pain free. My feet are as flat as a board.
So 120+ days on Avg a year since 1982, best money I ever spent on skiing! Thanks Footloose for getting rid of my pain for all these years...
PS: They stink big time!
Yeah superfeet are well worth the $35, unless you want to buck up for the custom foot beds. They are 10x better than the stock footbeds, and I dont think that you would need to go custom unless you are REALLY picky about fit. I have them in my bike shoes (like a size too big for me-doh!!), and while the stock beds gave me cramps, the superfeet having been chugging hard since day 2 (day 1 was on stocks).
thats why Corty gets paid the big bucks :biggrin:Quote:
Originally Posted by msnowmn
Tell him The Snowman says hello!Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinB
Colin, I didn't get back on your earlier response to me. Excellent information, and I really appreciate you taking the time. Those of us with standardize out of the box feet, arches and nothing worse than a ingrown toenail have the hardest time understanding the need for custom. I'll stop by Footloose this winter and explore what higher potential my boots have. I normally ski up at KW, but am willing to make the big sacrifice and ski Mammoth occasionally. You guys need appointments?