more boots and feet questions

[basom]

so i'm despretly trying to figure out what new boot to get into. right now i'm in xwave10's that seem a bit to high volume for me, especially after three seasons of liner pack. i was thinking of going to the promodle, but my shop doesn't carry it so i tried on last years 1080 (am i right in my thinking that the 1080 have the same volume last just different flex?) and they still seemed to hgh volume in the ankle area. should i move away from solly's? the manufactures i have access to are solly,technica (used to swear by them, untill the icon happend, but now thats changed again- do i go back?) lange, nordica.

my idea is to get something a touch softer flexing than the xwave10, yet more responsve latteraly (seeing as the fit i have now i feel like i'm swimming by the afternoon, and if its warm forget about it *the shell size is correct*).

i also have a typical issue with my left foot being almost a full size smaller than my right. as it is now my shell size is split right between the two. should i just go smaller?? lange toebox is small and could be a problem.....

[crashnburn'd]

I bought some of the Technica Diablo whatevers last weekend... Sounds like you've got pretty much the same feet problems as me (medium foot, but small from the heel up). The pro models were to big in the heel and ankle until my toes started to get crushed.

The technicas are really soft feeling though, specially compared to the old Icons. For you going from the X-Waves to there may be quite a jump, espcially considering you've probably got 25-30 lbs on me.

Here's a summary of what I tried on:

Technicas - fit best - the second buckle from the top seems to have a different angle on it that pulls my ankle back into the liner better

Nordica - fit okay, heel seems to be a little bigger than the technicas

Lange - Heel pocket didn't fit right (not sure why, it just felt strange), front of boot crushed my foot

Salomon - Heel too big, otherwise, volume was okay

[basom]

The technicas are really soft feeling though, specially compared to the old Icons. For you going from the X-Waves to there may be quite a jump, espcially considering you've probably got 25-30 lbs on me.

thats what it seemed last night. they techinca rep was spewing about how they are built lateraly stiff, but the plasic seemed really soft, espcially the instep and out side of the foot, where it is suposedly stiff.

the nordicas are comfy as hell bus seem squishy, and their little door dealie seems evem more suspect than the technica. Lange may be my only choice. i forgot we also have rossi stuff but we don't have the high end ones to try on. anyone know about rossi boots??? which mid range models might fit the same as the top end ect......?

[basom]

the nordicas are comfy as hell bus

you have to agree the hell bus is super duper comfy

[crashnburn'd]

You looked at the Nordica SpeedMachine or whatever it's called? Supposed to be in between Beast and Doberman stiff.

I had a pair of Nordica Wave 12's and they were pretty decent. The toes and heels wore out on them so I would magically come flying out of my skis...

[descender]

I just finished the boot purchase process. I tried the XWaves, various Techinca’s, Beast, Dolomite, Diablo, Head, and some others. For a while the X wave 10 was in first place, but it was a bit roomy in the forefoot. The Beast felt really nice, almost too nice, but they weren’t tight enough around my ankle. I wanted them to work cause I had good experience with Nordica boots in the past. I eventually got some Technica Ico Alu Hot Forms from last year. I didn’t like the new Technica as much as they felt weird around my ankle. The Icon’s fit really well all over with a nice even pressure and there are lots of adjustments to dial everything in.

[basom]

the hinged door on the icon wierds me out.
lots of ajustability though.

i don't know. i'm gong to see what i can do with some langes this evening.

[descender]

the hinged door on the icon wierds me out.
lots of ajustability though.

The door is probably totally unnecessary, and too heavy, but it works well for getting in/out.

[rtp]

I always have trouble with boots too... Skinny calves and feet + bonny ankles don't fit in fuckin anything, but I finally ended up with a nordica beast this year. they have a little more volume than most, but i was ableto make up for it with some custom insoles.

I tried on about every boot they had and the promodels and technica diablos, and both fit pretty good, but hurt my ankles.

[420skier]

I have the nordica beats and have ridden in them for the last 2 seasons.. Have simaler feet. Please do your self a favor and stop getting solomon they are great boots but just dont. work for your feet. I have worked in a shop the last three years and can say that tenchincas, and nordica are my favorets. you will realy like the nordicas.. They pack out like all boots so get them small and you could always punch out the shell to make some room for problem areas but defently ski on them befor you do that. If you want to pick my brain some more just reply back.

Just spend a lot of time in them at the store nomater what the staff thinks. your feet will just be happer.
go Nordicas. you can always customise the fit most shops would be glad to workon a boot with you.
Adam

[Lostinthetrees]

..... They pack out like all boots .

Just spend a lot of time in them at the store nomater what the staff thinks. your feet will just be happer.

Adam

Couple things that Adam says is da truth. If he be real and working in ski shop I would buy the boot at his shop and let him or his boot tech work on the fit.

Pack Out - Forget the shell, brand, color, etc. Also, a few years ago a stiff boot was all the rage and key to success (remember that Technica IKON series in orange). Seems like the last couple years more flex and comfort have been the "sales pitch" to get you to switch boots.

You are buying the liner for control, warmth and comfort. Get the best liner you can afford that fits and will pack out and hold its shape/fit for multiple seasons. Spend your dollars on the liner quality.

Thinner Socks. I found wearing a thin 90% wool and 10% of some type of stretch in an over-the-calf style works best 4 me. Won't find them in ski shops. Find them in Hosiery dept of department or men's stores. Whatever you wear/prefer, use it to try on and use it all season.

Feet Shape - I read some reviews of what people tried on, but... unless you and they have the exact same shape foot (height of instep, long or short or curled or straight toes, wide or narrow heel, etc.) forget it. As Adam says... try them all on and keep them on as you walk around the shop for as long as you can.

Shell - I understand (can a boot tech reader confirm this?) that the 1/2 sizes use the same shell size as the full sizes. size 10 shell is used for size 10.5 for example. The manu's use different sized liners to acheive the 1/2 size increments. If this be true... then you could go down a 1/2 size shell but switch the liners for a beefier liner fit to pack out for a smaller/narrow foot. Ask about this for the brand/model(s) you are considering.

Boot Tech - I would never buy from a shop w/o someone who knows boots, feet, and fit. Chances are high that you will bring them back for a readjustment. The re-fit work and tech's time should be included in the purchase price. Forget the discount sporting goods stores. Find a qualified tech in a real ski shop.

litt

[SkiJunky05]

I don't believe they have been mentioned yet...but if you don't already own a pair, invest in a good pair of footbeds. Most cost effective would be Superfeet Green trim to fit ($29.99) You can go upwards of $150+ for full cork models...but trim to fits will at least give you a better idea of what you can expect.

They help in a few aspects...
1) properly supported feet won't splay out as much...prevents your feet from pronating/lengthening as they do when they go from unweighted to weighted. = can fit in a shorter shell

2) they're more comfortable- with more support under your foot, weight and pressure is distributed more evenly.

Granted, there are exceptions with certain feet...but get footbeds. I suggest the Superfeet trim to fits because stores often give you a 30 day guarantee.

I wouldn't ski without them. I pronate moderately and have trim to fits in my running and hiking shoes, and full corks in my ski boots.

Good boot fitters will tell you all this stuff. One exception would be with plug boots because the footbeds could decrease the volume a lil too much.

[basom]

i have full cork in my xwaves, and will do the same when i figer out what my next move is. i'm going to grill the solly rep tonight.

langs just aint going to work. Nordica speedmachines, i keep putting them on, and i keep thinking they feel 'creaky' or something. just not really feeling them. i guess i could order dobermangs, but i'm not really looking to get in a 130 flex for my first season post knee reconstruction.
The technica fires or hot spews or whatever the magnieum buckled over priced ones are feel flimsy latteraly, which is wierd bacause the rep assured me they were built to be bomber in that sense.

maybe i'll just get another pair of xwavs one hell size down and do the grindy, but i'm hoping the promodles are my ticket. picking skis is so much more fun. facking feet.

[Ski Monkey]

Shell - I understand (can a boot tech reader confirm this?) that the 1/2 sizes use the same shell size as the full sizes. size 10 shell is used for size 10.5 for example. The manu's use different sized liners to acheive the 1/2 size increments. If this be true... then you could go down a 1/2 size shell but switch the liners for a beefier liner fit to pack out for a smaller/narrow foot. Ask about this for the brand/model(s) you are considering.

This is true for the shell and most liners. Take a look at the size on liners, they usually say 9-9.5 etc. The size difference comes from a little thicker boot board or stock foot bed. Sometime, they put a spacer in the front to shorten it. I've seen that in junior boots.

Basom, the 1080 promodel and 1080 should have the same last. I thought the promodel and course had the same last. I haven't been in the shop in a couple months so I may be confusing the two.

[basom]

Basom, the 1080 promodel and 1080 should have the same last. I thought the promodel and course had the same last. I haven't been in the shop in a couple months so I may be confusing the two.

i'm pretty sure you are right, the course and the promodle have the same last, but we don't cary either boot. we do have last years reg. 1080, which may (i heard this, can someone confirm??) have the same last as well, but i'm not sure i'm getting a good read on the fit because they are soooo soft, especially in the warm store. They feel pretty good though. The Solly rep will be consulted tonight.

[slim]

what sized foot do you have? If it's 10.5 or smaller last years Technica Icon XT is a softer flexing race lasted boot. It fits like the Technica of Old... not the bizarro fit of today. I don't know anything about the new version of it the Diablo Race Pro.

[basom]

no dice. i'm a 28.5-29.

you feel my tall guy pain. what i would give to be 5-10 instead of 6-4.

[slim]

what i would give to be 5-10 instead of 6-4.

Well, you'd have to give up the bitches digging on your tall guy steeze and be stuck with all the other generic sub 6-footers. Plus your penis would be smaller.

[basom]

Well, you'd have to give up the bitches digging on your tall guy steeze and be stuck with all the other generic sub 6-footers. Plus your penis would be smaller.

thats true. although i'm not sure the bithces dig on my tall guy steeze. untill they get my pants off that is. OH YEAH!

[basom]

i almost compleatly made up my mind. does anyone know what the differences are between the spaceframe promodle SC and the promodle??

The SC doesn't have the hekka ill huck your meat foot cusioner, is that the only difference?

[Arty50]

i forgot we also have rossi stuff but we don't have the high end ones to try on. anyone know about rossi boots??? which mid range models might fit the same as the top end ect......?

I bought a pair of Race 9.2s last year after my Atomics fell apart. I tried on a pair of X-Waves first but my fitter and I decided they were too wide in the forefoot. The Rossis solved that problem. I'm 6'2" 230 and the flex on the 9.2s is absolutely perfect. They don't bottom out like my Atomics did, instead they have a sweet progressive flex. Plus the 9.2 is just right for me; not to soft, not too stiff. They made a 9.3 which is softer and the 9.1 and 9.1 Pro which are stiffer.

Unfortunately they changed the Race line this year, they're now called the "Elite" series. The cuff looks like the Soft boot. Preliminary reports said they changed the last a little and their boots have a slightly larger fit to be more universal I guess. My bootfitter was upset since he's skied basically these same boots for several years. I'm bummed too now that I've found the perfect boot.

Here's a really good review I just found on the new ones (definitely worth a read):
http://www.footloosesports.com/boots...ossignol.shtml

Still, see if you can find last year's boots too. The Race 9.x or whatever. They kick serious ass.

2003-4


2004-5

[basom]

The rossi rep is comming in this evening. i'll chew his ear about it. my problem is more that i have a mid volume forfoot with a lower (not lange lower) volume ankle/calf. The soli guys were super helpfull, and after seeing me in a xwave thought the promodel would provide the best fit.

[glademaster]

If they fit your foot or you don't mind getting them punched/ground to fit your foot, Lange is the way to go. I know it sounds old school and somewhat uneducated, but Lange are simply the best boots made. I've ridden Nordica 9.1's from like 5 or 6 years ago, some higher end Technica Freeride boot, and now my Lange Comp 120's. The langes are far and away the most responsive, quickest and most stable boot i've ever been in. I'm lucky they fit my foot shape so well, as I can't really see buying anything other than Langes in the future. Try the 120 Freeride, or whatever they're calling that model this year. Just a lower, slightly softer forward, stiffer laterally Comp 120 with the heel pad. Go with what fits, but I'll put my plug in for Lange anyway.

Edit: Lange now offers a medium volume that accomodates a much wider range of feet sizes and shapes.

[Arty50]

Basom, I just added a link in my previous post:

"The fit for the most part is unchanged, there is a little bit more toe room than in the past-no complaints there-and otherwise the overall shell fit is the same; tenacious mid-foot/heel, “B” width forefoot with a fair amount of instep volume. The heat moldable liner is more substantial and presumably more durable."

[basom]

thanks arty. i'm gonna check 'em out.

glade: it would take about eight hours of bootwork to get the comp 120 or the 120 fr's to work for me. much to narrrow all the way through. also i think the liners are flimsy. I'm sure they are great and everything, but not for this guy right here.
when i wear a boot around the store for awhile and i can in no way even concieve of how i could begin to make myself ski in them i put them aside. that was me with langes.