The Search for the Narrowest 06/07 Ski Boot Thread

[Cornelius]

This thread is for my foot brothers that have been to a shop where the bootfitter extols the narrowness of the Flexon Pro or the Lange Comp LF because he has the narrowest foot of anyone he's ever met and these boots are the narrowest boots in existence according to him. You skeptically try them on and promptly max out the buckles in the store. The bootfitter looks at the boots in awe and then launches into a laughable discussion about the myriad of fitting techniques to take up volume in the boot. You thank him for his time, tell him you're going to continue your search and shake your head at what a douche he was as you drive away because he actually had so little respect for you to think that he could sell you a brand new pair of boots that don't even fit and fill them with shims and shit.

I doubt I'm the only person plagued by the devastingly narrow yet long foot so hopefully this thread will serve as a resource for the other lowest of low volume boot shoppers as well. Searches revealed some info on Dobies and scant info on other plugs but most do not cover 06/07. Some of the manufacturers websites do not even mention some of the boots and the information is often incomplete so its time to turn to the maggot community to fill in the blanks.

I ski the whole mountain like the rest of you and do not want an iron stiff race boot to rip steeps, trees, crud and bumps and at 6ft 160lb on a full stomach I probably can't bend the super burl plugs which leads me to search for the elusive freeride plug boot.

Canidates for the narrowest of the narrow in 06/07:

True Plugs - bruiser stiff, 95mm last wafer thin liner, no bells, probably too stiff for me but they are ultra narrow.
Nordica Doberman WC 150
Salomon Falcon S-Lab
Lang World Cup 150 Race Plug
Rossignol Race 150
Atomic RT TI 150/130 World Cup, 95mm
Head RS 96 Superheat 3 - Flex 130, last RD96 (96mm), Bodie's drinking boot


Retail/Detuned Plugs - 96-99mm last, 110-130 flex, some bells
Nordica Doberman Pro 130/110 - available in 2 flexes, pro last (forefoot width 98mm) and world cup last (forefoot width 95mm)
Rossignol Bandit B-Squad Plug Freeride, 120/130 flex, 98mm last
Rossignol Radical Pro Race Plug, 110/120 flex, 98mm last
Salomon Falcon Race - Flex 120, forefoot width 98mm, instep 87mm
Technica Diablo Race Pro 110/130 - available in 2 flexes, width unknown ???, has bells & whistles.
Lange World Cup 130 WC fit, Lange 130/120 HP fit
Atomic Race TEC RT CS 130/100, 2 flexes, 99mm last


Most of these boots are difficult to find so I will probably be hunting around at boot fitters in the mountains this sept-oct. I'll try to update the list with new findings. Any reviews/additions/corrections are appreciated.

[ill-advised strategy]

I think the fact that you have a problem with custom bootfitting and expect that there should be a boot that fits your weird foot right out of the box is straight-up retarded.

I have a similar foot and can relate to putting on a boot that's really tight in the toes and instantly maxing out the buckling system.

I have had success with my daleboots.

[ulty_guy]

check out http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=61307 cause some of those head boots are going to be pretty tight.

[team ftb]

Getting a list of narrow boots seems worthwhile.

Like you I tried on the Flexon Pro and had the same results. A variety of other suggestions and I got nothing close. I tried on the Nordica Doberman 130's and thought I was home free. 20 days later and I have 1/4" shims under the foot. I should of scoured some 150's (I hear they are 95mm versus the 98mm of the 130's). You can then soften them by removing rivets (easy) and/or getting a U-notch ground in the side of the shell.

Internet bootfitting is bullshit so take this with a grain of salt: You may need a 95mm last as it sounds as though the 98's you tried were too wide.

Welcome to the art of finding fitting boots. A pain in the ass but if you don't do it correctly you pay dearly.

[El Chupacabra]

Canidates for the narrowest of the narrow in 06/07:

Technica Diablo Race Pro 110/130 - available in 2 flexes, width unknown ???, has bells & whistles.

I have wide feet in the forefoot, narrow heels, and had the old (first year?) Diablo Pro 130, which fit me nicely. So if the old last is the same as the 2006-07 last, this probably won't work for you.

For comparison, I tried on the Krypton Pro, and it was too narrow for my feet at the ball of the foot. If the Krypton was too wide for you then I doubt the Diablo will work, since I found it to be wider.

[marshalolson]

softening stiff boots is really easy, stiffening soft boots is really hard

i can turn a 130 plug boot into a 90 flex boot pretty easily, for what its worth.

i'd look at a plug and mod it out. they will for sure be the narrowest out of the box



edit: and if you live in denver, the best bootfitter in the country works outta boulder

[real9999]

Plug boots need not be stiff.

The Dobie 150 can be softened. The Lange / Rossi plug goes down to a 'ZA' (kids) flex, and there's an XS 100 flex Atomic Ti.

Find a bootfitter that will make them work.

Let me know if you need more info.

[Cornelius]

check out http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=61307 cause some of those head boots are going to be pretty tight.

Disgustingly great deal on the Head N97 but I need a bootfitter to work with me on these types of boots which precludes me from ordering boots on the internet.

Heard good things about Dale as well but the shop is in SLC.

edit: and if you live in denver, the best bootfitter in the country works outta boulder

I assume you're referring to the infamous Larry up in boulder? I think I read that he used to work at Boulder Ski deals and perhaps went out on his own? I haven't been up there yet. Does he still sell boots or is he a bootfitter only like Lee Kinney at The Custom Foot (formely at the Mountain Miser) in Englewood who does not actually sell boots, but makes custom footbeds, liners, and modifications to existing boots? Lee has done some excellent work on my existing boots but they didn't even sell Alpine boots at the Mountain Miser.

According to the Nordica website the Doberman Pro is available in a 110 flex and with the World Cup 95mm last (same as Dobie WC 150). If Larry sells this boot then I will be paying him a visit.

[lemon boy]

Does he still sell boots or is he a bootfitter only like Lee Kinney at The Custom Foot (formely at the Mountain Miser) in Englewood who does not actually sell boots, but makes custom footbeds, liners, and modifications to existing boots? Lee has done some excellent work on my existing boots but they didn't even sell Alpine boots at the Mountain Miser.

According to the Nordica website the Doberman Pro is available in a 110 flex and with the World Cup 95mm last (same as Dobie WC 150). If Larry sells this boot then I will be paying him a visit.

wow dude, you are out of the loop:
mountain miser is gone, fini caput
lee has his own shop on Bway just N. of the Gothic and now is stocking boots (nordys for sure not 100% on what else): www.thecustomfoot.com (make an appointment)

larry is now out on his own and selling boots too IIRC

[comish]

My feet fall exactly into your catagory. Too narrow/low volume for Flexon's, Langes, etc. Rocked Langes w/ Zip fits for a lot of years, but always ended up padding, putting bontex boards under the liners, shin bang, etc.

I found the Dobie soft's, aka 150's a few years ago in Cham and life has been good ever since. I'm 5'9", 160ish and they were beasts until I got them softened. I have had 2 pair now over the past 5 years and each was softened differently. I prefer my current pair which has bits cut out of the sides of the cuff as suggested by Nordica and drawn on the shell, rather than the V or U in the back which was how my first pair were softened. Kevin at Footloose in Mammy did this pair and the flex is great. Very easy operation.

The Dobie 130 wasn't nearly narrow enough for me. They are completely different boots. The 130 isn't just a softer 150. Different last, shape, and most importantly the liner in the 150 is far superior to the 130. My 150 liners have lasted around 200 daysish which is pretty dang good for a liner in my experience when all other stock liners were packed out after 30. Some of the best liners I have seen.

You will need a boot fitter to grind them in places, but thats the idea behind them. They also leak like champions, but my current solution works really well. Blue silicone put between the overlap seals them up perfectly. Did neoprene between the overlap + ducttape on the first pair which worked better than nothing, but not perfect. This was more than a little dampness at the end of the day, I could feel the river pouring in, hence my attempts at solutions.

Mrs Comish has the Xsofts and hasn't had any leakage problems, so it could just be how the boots fit me.

We are big fans of the fit of these things once worked on. They ski amazingly well, and are super comfy for me. I have done overnight tours and 5000 ft climbs in them as well, that comfortable, just get friendly with your boot fitters favorite flavor of beverage.

[soul_skier]

they're called daleboots, www.dalebootusa.com

[slim]

Here's the problem with plug boots. They're rarely available in anything bigger than a size 10.5.

I'm as narrow and low volume as they get... with a size 13 foot.

The Flexon Pro was really the only choice.

[Spats]

they're called daleboots, www.dalebootusa.com

No kidding. People spend weeks obsessing about this stuff, and thousands of dollars on boots that never quite work, when they could just go to the Daleboot factory and have everything taken care of by professionals in about an hour and a half.

[doublediamond223]

Here's the problem with plug boots. They're rarely available in anything bigger than a size 10.5.

I'm as narrow and low volume as they get... with a size 13 foot.

The Flexon Pro was really the only choice.

With enough grinding and punching, you could get into a 10. It would probably take 6-7 hrs of boot work though. I have a 11.5 left foot and a 12.5 right foot (weird I know) and ski a 27 dobermann. It took some time, but they are great now.

As far as the narrowest, I believe the course x2 (not sure on the falcon x2) was 92 or 93mm across the forefoot.

[cj001f]

http://www.strolzboots.com/

Also does custom boots - expensive, but when you see how much time they put into the boot, cheaper than other solutions.

[Flexon Phil]

Krypton with the ID liner. My foot is just (approx) 100mm wide and these are too narrow.

[Zalg8]

Foothills Ski and Bike in Genesee has Atomic Racetechs, Lange 150s and the new Fischer boots. I'm using Racetech extra softs (original Racetechs, before TI or CS).

The Atomics don't stiffen much in the cold, so keep that in mind if you try them on. The TIs have a very resilient liner.

John also makes excellent footbeds.

[adam]

Foothills Ski and Bike in Genesee has Atomic Racetechs, Lange 150s and the new Fischer boots. I'm using Racetech extra softs (original Racetechs, before TI or CS).

The Atomics don't stiffen much in the cold, so keep that in mind if you try them on. The TIs have a very resilient liner.

John also makes excellent footbeds.

I just got some Fischers from him today. He knows his shit it would seem.

[Toby]

http://www.strolzboots.com/

Also does custom boots - expensive, but when you see how much time they put into the boot, cheaper than other solutions.

Word. If anyone's ever in the Arlberg (and anywhere else you find them but the Arlberg's their spiritual home and where the best bootfitters will reside), it's worth the time and money to get them. Best is to get your foot measured in the afternoon, they'll mold the shell overnight, get the liners foamed the next day, then 24 hours later the foam will be cured into the perfect shape forever. Parts are easily available if you break buckles, liners last way longer than anything I've ever used. I would've got at least 500 days out of my old liners and I only retired them because the shell had had it. I love my new ones even more than the old. The only drawback I can find is the liners are mucho stiff and hard to remove/put back in. And also they are nigh on impossible to put on cold. I'm not kidding, it took me about 30 minutes to get the liners in and another 15 to get the boots on on an overnight hut trip last winter, and that was after ~1hr near a lit wood stove. They might be easier if you asked for a more relaxed fit and a softer shell than the ones I got ...

[skiitsbetter]

My friend (SkiFree) rolls on the Lange Comp LF's, he swears by them, maybe because he payed for a good share of them.

But I have my opinions (he's gonna come back and flame me, sorry I dont know what you are feeling, but here are my observations).

1. Well he ended up buying 3 pairs of boots 2 seasons ago, each one he was dissatisfied with fit. It all started with some ski swapped Atomics, he never even skied on, then he went with some Bandits, hoping for a freeride specific boot, but no dice on the fit. His last boot of the year was the Salomon Teneighty, though he got his Langes the next year because he didnt like the fit.

2. Tried out the Langes and Dobermans, opting for the Langes as they arent cement blocks.

3. His feet are always getting cold. He has to find some boot heaters as he plans on doing some touring (pretty much punishment in Lange Comp 120s). I personallly think (my observations here steve, send me a happy pm if I am wrong), that his feet arent that narrow to warrant going with the low fits. He never does the lower buckles on hits boots up, or else his feet fall asleep and get cold (though this happened with his Teneighties). I personally think that he could have gone with a little wider last, and saved a bit of money, and skin cells in his feet from frostbite.

[mtaylor]

and skifree takes his boots off at every opportunity. What does that tell u?

[doublediamond223]

and skifree takes his boots off at every opportunity. What does that tell u?

It tells me that he needs to see a bootfitter and get some widening done to that shell.

[skiitsbetter]

It tells me that he needs to see a bootfitter and get some widening done to that shell.

Which could mean that he could have used a wider last?

[skifree]

Which could mean that he could have used a wider last?

I've tried on wider lasts, but much wider than I'm on right now is way too sloppy for me. When I start to cinch up wider boots to compensate for the slop, it compresses my flat arch and I get bad foot cramps. The sacrifice in getting the good fitting Langes has been cold feet. I'll be looking into boot heaters this year, and hopefully my problems will be solved.

[doublediamond223]

Which could mean that he could have used a wider last?

Everyone has a different expectation of how much performance is enough. I ski a dobermann wc 150, so my boots are basically custom to my feet. Was 95mm too narrow for my C-width foot? Of course. The boots are basically a custom mold of my feet formed through hours of punching and grinding. Conversely, they offer hair-trigger response with no hot spots. They are not for everyone, as the inherent cold due to the very thin liner can be a PITA. The period between starting the bootwork and getting them dialed in to where they are comfortable is somewhat painful, as well. It took ~4 visits to Greg Hoffmann after the initial fitting.

I buckle everything to the first catch, even if I'm racing. There is no need to cinch down more.