Custom boot liners?

[phUnk]

I've had full-cork footbeds (done with an un-weighted molding process) by a race-specific shop in the town of Jackson. I forget the exact name of the shop. Custom footbeds make a huge difference.

ZipFit liners (the ones with the leather inside, not the slightly cheaper velour-ish stuff) are great. Heat molded cork/something compound, thinner than stock, heat molded with areas for injecting (aunt) flo around the heel pocket and perhaps elsewhere to take up some volume and fit those areas better.

Got mine done at Superior Ski by Steve Bagley (generally considered to be a serious heavy hitter in boot fitting) last year. They felt not-so-great at first. Didn't feel terribly "fitted" and I could definitely feel the texture of the snow more. They got a lot better after a few days of skiing, as Steve told me they would and now I love them. I really like getting more feedback (roll off the treble, I know) from the snow, although it took a few days to get used to.

I've heard some negative experiences with foam injection. It's also a one-time process, which scares me.

I've had Thermoflex liners and loved those too. I got the ZipFits two years ago because I had heard some good things about them and my old thermoflex liners were too big for the new shells.

PS. I have my Lange Comp 120 Freeride boots coming in from my rep next week. <--- Psyched!

[Endlessseason]

Yep, Bagley's evidently THE guru to see. Several troller buds won't go to anyone else.

[Endlessseason]

I didn't have anyone special do mine--just the regular joes at Lifthouse. But I've been very happy with customs. Can't wait to use them again...

[baseWeldr]

absolutely wearing out my old zipfits- need new something pronto... izzat zipfit bootguy from park city? local shop dudes had a hard time with him or somthing cuz I got static when lookin last year, I'll try again I guess- depending on cost the tech alu warmform dude_le_skideal sounds good too as I have technica shells... been gettin away with top shelf store bought footbeds for many 60+ day years- maybe my feet are average enough- whatever keeps you out there and the best fit is one you never even think about it...

[Buzzworthy]

Thank you very much for the reminder. I am going down to the garage right now to pullout my customer footbeds out of the old Langes. I will say that those helped my feet so much and you know the feet problems I have. The footbeds did the trick back in the day. I aslo have Superfeet from like 10 years ago. They worked for a while and then I got customs and I loved my feet again. The Superfeet are now in my Vans.

[Big E]

Just as an opposing opinion, I had a lousy experience w/ Surefoot. Never got it right, different person every time I went. I will say that they stand by their warranty, after 2 years of back and forth with them and several lost toenails, I finally had it with them, and managed to sell the boots back to them at about 80% of what I paid for them, enough to cover the deal I was getting on brand new boots. Can't complain about that.

[Platinum Pete]

Any thoughts on which fit solution would work best for an AT boot? My Lowa Strukturas are packed out and I need to be able to climb safely and comfortably (sans skis) wearing these boots. Any AT specific recommendations or opinions?

[Arty50]

Thermoflex. Good and light.