please help. boot help

[freddiegemini]

Last season for my birthday I got money for ski boots .living in England I was unfortunately miss-guided by an awful boot fitter. I have wide feet, especially at the ankles and directly below. I now learn I should have been put in Nordica Boots but I was sold a pair of Head World Cup boots (bright yellow.) I was originally given size 27.5 but after a weeks skiing realised they were too big, and was having to crank up the buckles to keep my foot wedged well. Whilst on the holiday I got a pair of custom footbeds which I thought might have decreased the volume in the boot a little. Anyhow to cut the story short I went back to the shop and asked for a refund, I was refused but was given an exchange for size 26.5. Having skied on them on at New Year this year they were much better. I actually like the boot and it offers decent stiffness. However the narrowness was still an issue and I had to hire boots for 3 days whilst the shell was stretched. Now to my questions

They need stretching just below the ankle bone this time as they weren’t done perfectly by the shop, this is not commonly done apparently but is it feasible?

Also can I get the custom footbeds I got for the 27.5 grinded down and thinned in order to fit them into the new 26.5 shell or should I start again?

Should I get the footbeds sorted first then get the shell stretched the second time or get the shell stretched and then the footbeds sorted?

Will the stretching in this area make the boots too wide for my liners, and if so would a wide custom fitted foot bed help?

I KNOW once this ankle part is sorted the boots will be great. They are a perfect length and I like the stiffness and fit (apart from the pinching just below the ankle bone.) Thank you for your time. And please can you guys advise as I know how awful ski boot advice is over here in England.

[Snow Dog]

I don't know how you fit boots over there but it doesn't take 3 days to punch out a shell. Here it's while you wait -- check the fit, adjust the shell, repeat.

They should be able to grind down the footbed to the smaller shell. My footbeds are pretty thin so I can't imagine making them thinner. Don't forget to take out the factory footbeds.

If you're getting footbeds and a fitting it's best done by one bootfitter -- then the fit is guaranteed.

Eventually the real bootfitters will come back from skiing and provide more information.

[mntlion]

this is not commonly done apparently but is it feasible?

yup

Also can I get the custom footbeds I got for the 27.5 grinded down and thinned in order to fit them into the new 26.5 shell or should I start again?

use the old ones

Should I get the footbeds sorted first then get the shell stretched the second time or get the shell stretched and then the footbeds sorted?

use the old footbeds and try the shell then

Will the stretching in this area make the boots too wide for my liners, and if so would a wide custom fitted foot bed help?

liners will pack out to any size, yes the liners will strech out, that is the point. You will need a footbed as wide as the shell is so that your foot doesn;t hang off the sides

I KNOW once this ankle part is sorted the boots will be great. They are a perfect length and I like the stiffness and fit (apart from the pinching just below the ankle bone.) Thank you for your time. And please can you guys advise as I know how awful ski boot advice is over here in England

your welcome


snow dog. Yup good ski day, back at work (boot fitting) right now

[freddiegemini]

thanks guys, question to mntiion.

i have put the original footbeds into my new 26.5 liners but they are a VERY tight fit and once in the shell i cany put my foot in, simply isnt enough room. yet at the same time they will probably be right for the stretched shell after the liners have packed out. what do you reccommend here? should i still get the footbeds thinned in both hight and witdth in order to be able to fit into the liners then hope once the second shell moulding is done that they are not too small? i dont think, once this is done, there will be that much difference as i only want to shell doing this time in a very localised area and not to such a large extent as before, but what do you see happening?

p.s is the boot i have thought highly of and is it a fairly old boot?

thank-you once again.

[wildstyle]

The snow and rock and ellis brigham lot just don't cut it....... and trying to get served in there during the ski season just drives me up the wall.

I spoke to the Nordica Rep recently and he recommended these guys as being the shiznit at boot fitting in the UK.

http://www.lockwoods.uk.com/

They're in leamington spa but i will be using their services for my next set of boots,

[freddiegemini]

The snow and rock and ellis brigham lot just don't cut it....... and trying to get served in there during the ski season just drives me up the wall.

I spoke to the Nordica Rep recently and he recommended these guys as being the shiznit at boot fitting in the UK.

http://www.lockwoods.uk.com/

They're in leamington spa but i will be using their services for my next set of boots,

i agree, but unfortunately i am up in Newcastle so no way near Leamington on Spa. I am going to speak to the work shop guy at the Snow and Rock in Gateshead and find out about his experience and expertise, if i dont feel he can cut and will do crap job on my boots and footbeds i will just wait untill i get out to france in the easter.

the advantage of snow and rock doing it would mean no language barrier and hopefully no more messing about whilst actually in the ski resorts and wasting mornings and afternoons having the boots done. well we will soon see i suppose.

all this could have been avoided if i had had the help of a well trained boot fitter initially...lesson learned!