Thermo Liners - OUCH!

[yesIsaidyes]

Just got a pair of Scarpa thermo liners to put in a pair of lasers - both are mp 25. I skied a few hours yesterday on em (no heating) and they were so tight in the forefoot (super low volume) that I couldn't wait to get to the car (they were better on the uptrack with the boots loose). They seem way more low volume than the standard liner the boot came with (even before they packed out) so the question I have is:

Is molding these things going to decrease the volume in the forefoot or should I sell em or give em to the wife unmolded?

[Z]

Just got a pair of Scarpa thermo liners to put in a pair of lasers - both are mp 25. I skied a few hours yesterday on em (no heating) and they were so tight in the forefoot (super low volume) that I couldn't wait to get to the car (they were better on the uptrack with the boots loose). They seem way more low volume than the standard liner the boot came with (even before they packed out) so the question I have is:

Is molding these things going to decrease the volume in the forefoot or should I sell em or give em to the wife unmolded?

If not mistaken you NEED to mold these liners. First off they look very uncomfortable out of the box, and are probably folding up/giving pressure points, etc. in your boot. Heat em up for yourself, and if they still suck give em away...

[yesIsaidyes]

they aren't the flat ones - they are the roundy ones that come with the newer boots - still need to mold these? For some reason, I remember people saying don't bother molding them unless they hurt (these hurt, but its because of high volume, with molding reduce the volume?)

[Will]

Mold your liners.

Flat, "roundy", whatever.. mold them.

Thermo liners are not shaped around a foot (or last) so much as they are formed in a rough foot shape with the assumption that the molding will take care of the particular idiosyncratic aspects of your particular feet. Also, thermo liners (depending on the model) do not really "expand" around your foot when heated, so much as they compress. Where the liners are too low-volume will compress more and provide more room.

For specific instructions on various ways to fiddle with the cooling process for a particular fit search here, or over on T-tips.

If you still think they suck, you can re-mold them, or the subsequent purchaser can do so.

buying moldable liners and then not using the very function for which you paid extra $$ is silly.

Quick point: the first day or two after molding your feet may still hurt. I, and other folks from anecdotal evidence, have found that it takes a day or two after molding to finish breaking in the liner. Also, you need to find just how tight/loose you want to buckle your shells with the different liner. This will take trial and error.

[hop]

tighter buckles than normal during molding=looser fit when skiing (since they are compressed during the molding process).
looser buckles than normal during molding=tighter fit (since they are not as compressed)

make sure you put a neoprene toe cap on your feet when molding to give your toes extra room. The toe of a thick sock works in a pinch. Keep it all together with your wifes pantyhose. Oh yeah!

[yesIsaidyes]

perfect - weekend project...thanks all!
hop - I am ALWAYS holding it all together with my wife's pantyhose

[Sphinx]

Safeway plastic bag reduces friction better than pantyhose, fyi.

[marshalolson]

tighter buckles than normal during molding=looser fit when skiing (since they are compressed during the molding process).
looser buckles than normal during molding=tighter fit (since they are not as compressed)

make sure you put a neoprene toe cap on your feet when molding to give your toes extra room. The toe of a thick sock works in a pinch. Keep it all together with your wifes pantyhose. Oh yeah!

looser buckles-> packout after 20 days

[lemon boy]

tighter buckles ----> packed out immediately

[marshalolson]

lemon - you should let me learn to tele on yer new setup.

[ak_telemike]

tried mine for a day at NAS at Alpine w/o heating the liners and I thought I was going to die just standing around digging pits, doing avy search, etc.......

eric o at the backcountry did a great job fitting me and all it cost me was an 18 pack of Bud cans

[yesIsaidyes]

^^^ that's totally how I felt - I thought I was going to pass out from the pain just as I got to the car. OK - watched the video, will try the home fit - anyone recommend taping footbeds to your feet vs. putting in the just baked liners? Also, thanks for the tip on the plastic bag...

[Sphinx]

Tape em.

[Sinecure]

Here's a link to a good how-to on molding. Its on a snowboard related site, but the idea is identical.

Yes, its normal that they hurt if you don't mold them. IMO, molding is best done as a two-person job.

[lemon boy]

Sure marshal. They'll be easy to learn on, a lot of fore-aft stability. A buddy gave me some very old T-2s (gen 1) in apparently good shape that might fit you if you're interested.

[marshalolson]

Sure marshal. They'll be easy to learn on, a lot of fore-aft stability. A buddy gave me some very old T-2s (gen 1) in apparently good shape that might fit you if you're interested.

i was holding out for some asolo tele-breezes.