Custom footbeds

[Shredhead]

I have had some foot problems in the past and wear footbeds in almost all of my shoes. I've tried most brands from $400 ones made by an ortho to off the shelf for $25.

The quality of the custom really depends on guy making them. But they also have to have a quality product to begin with. Conformables are just too soft for me, I like a firmer product like the Protec or Superfeet Cork.

I think a lot of people could get away with the off the shelf. I like the Downunders a little better than the Superfeet green.

[mntlion]

I fit boots all winter, and have done this for almost 10 years: (and use off the rack ones for myself in almost everything)

if the off the shelf ones fit you: great, if they don't the customs are the way to go.

think of them as a trailered suit. Most people can use a off the rack suit just fine. Sure a hand made Italian one will fit a bit nicer, but not really that much. It that "normal" person wants the very best, great, get a hand made suit, but no it will not be 10 * nicer then the off the rack one

So you are not normal and 5ft 6" and 200 pounds and a body builder. Ya you might not fit the off the rack stuff and for you the custom is the only way to go.

[Danno]

A slightly different take:

If somebody thinks they need to spend the coin to see a specialty bootfitter to fit their foot in some boots they bought, then 99% they're gonna benefit GREATLY from footbeds.

With today's thermofit liners, not everyone is as savy as the citizens of Tech Talk, some people are intimidated and would rather have a pro thermofit their liners.

[lemon boy]

why not just get them molded at the store of purchase then?

I think I know who you're talking about b/c he's told me before that he does not mold liners w/o custom beds. Period, end of sentence.

Why? Because it keeps him from having an unhappy customer running around whining about the fit when they should've just got the custom in the first place and then requiring a second molding to get the thing right. <- some of my interpretation in there.

Of course, when I got new boots last year I sacked up and paid full pop (which then included all the bootfitting) instead of me buying on a form (easily could've) and then sinking the 150 or so I saved back into bootfitting and feeling like a heel for not supporting a sweet local business.

[DEVO]

I fit boots all winter, and have done this for almost 10 years: (and use off the rack ones for myself in almost everything)

if the off the shelf ones fit you: great, if they don't the customs are the way to go.

think of them as a trailered suit. Most people can use a off the rack suit just fine. Sure a hand made Italian one will fit a bit nicer, but not really that much. It that "normal" person wants the very best, great, get a hand made suit, but no it will not be 10 * nicer then the off the rack one

So you are not normal and 5ft 6" and 200 pounds and a body builder. Ya you might not fit the off the rack stuff and for you the custom is the only way to go.

Other than "Superfeet" what other off the shelf footbeds are you talking about? Are there better off the shelf footbeds that "customize" better than Superfeet?

Edit: How about "Sole" brand footbeds that you buy and heat up at home in your oven? Anyone try these? If so, which model?
Re-Edit: I did a seasrch and found a few comments on "Sole" footbeds, but of course, some were good, some were bad. Still looking for any recent experience with these footbeds.

[Danno]

why not just get them molded at the store of purchase then?

I think I know who you're talking about b/c he's told me before that he does not mold liners w/o custom beds. Period, end of sentence.

Why? Because it keeps him from having an unhappy customer running around whining about the fit when they should've just got the custom in the first place and then requiring a second molding to get the thing right. <- some of my interpretation in there.

Of course, when I got new boots last year I sacked up and paid full pop (which then included all the bootfitting) instead of me buying on a form (easily could've) and then sinking the 150 or so I saved back into bootfitting and feeling like a heel for not supporting a sweet local business.

I'm not saying what business it is, and don't want to get in any speculation about that. Essentially, this thread isn't about any particular business, it's about a concept. And none of this is about me, it is about a friend who was put off by the notion that EVERYONE needed $200 footbeds, when that friend was already stretched moneywise. The friend asked me about it, so I asked TGR about it.

And I do see your point, the customer is guaranteed to be happy with a $200 footbed along with the molded liner. But as has been pointed out in here, $200 footbeds is overkill for some folks, many of those folks would also be happy in a $25 footbed, and I think you do the customer a disservice by automatically putting them in $200 footbeds without discussing it first; not everybody has that kind of coin, and if the goal is ending with a happy customer, listening to the customer is one part of that process. I would prefer someone actually talk to me, look at my feet, get a sense of my foot problems, if any, first.

If you assume that all of your customers have lots of money to burn, then sure, make them spend lots of money to ensure that they'll be 100&#37; happy. But there's something to be said for businesses that take into account that while there is a "best" option, not every customer can afford it, and some of those customers will be almost as happy, or just as happy, with the "good" option. :shrug:

[Phall]

http://www.aline.com/
do it.

[GapersGoHome]

....or you could just go with intuition liners, which negates the need for a footbed, since it molds to your arches... do a search.

[Jax]

^^^^^^^^

Please do not do that...

While I've known a few folks that for whatever reason don't put footbeds in their custom liners, they do not provide proper arch support in most cases. A footbed is still required!

[mntlion]

Other than "Superfeet" what other off the shelf footbeds are you talking about? Are there better off the shelf footbeds that "customize" better than Superfeet?

Edit: How about "Sole" brand footbeds that you buy and heat up at home in your oven? Anyone try these? If so, which model?
Re-Edit: I did a seasrch and found a few comments on "Sole" footbeds, but of course, some were good, some were bad. Still looking for any recent experience with these footbeds.

the super feet have a lower arch height, soles have taller arches, so the soles are better FOR ME. try them both on and see what feels better. Soles can be heated (or just worn) and they mold to your feet with a bit of use. If you have low arches they will feel like someone put a golf ball under your arch (and so use superfeet) If you have high arches they will feel nice and supportive.

[skibumnh]

http://www.aline.com/
do it.

I just "did it" a couple weeks ago. It seems like a good idea, I went in to have my ener-g's baked and came out with a pair of those fitted. My real problem with this system is the anti-slip coating on the footbed. Its would work if you can get your foot into the boot without the ball touching the footbed (near impossible), but everytime I slip my boots on I end up jamming the thing forward in the liners, and the heel arch is misplaced underneath the ball of my foot creating a pressure point. Im going to try a piece of packing tape or something on the surface to give me some glide but if it doesnt work out they are going back. Good concept, and IMO to this point poorly executed for ski use.

[DEVO]

I just "did it" a couple weeks ago. It seems like a good idea, I went in to have my ener-g's baked and came out with a pair of those fitted. My real problem with this system is the anti-slip coating on the footbed. Its would work if you can get your foot into the boot without the ball touching the footbed (near impossible), but everytime I slip my boots on I end up jamming the thing forward in the liners, and the heel arch is misplaced underneath the ball of my foot creating a pressure point. Im going to try a piece of packing tape or something on the surface to give me some glide but if it doesnt work out they are going back. Good concept, and IMO to this point poorly executed for ski use.

I have heard that about Alines

[SummerSucks77]

Just lube 'em up....

If you spray them with armor all they become just slippery enough to get your foot into them. Aline actually sells a lubricant, but it does basically the same thing as armor all

[birdman829]

http://www.aline.com/
do it.

I think I'm gonna try these this year. I've heard nothing but good things other than that particular problem which seems like a pretty easy fix to me.

[pechelman]

the bootfitter who just did my lady's liners and custom footbeds actually told her that superfeet are great for heel and some midfoot\arch support.
(very well respected bootfitter in the denver area)

apparently he still pushes his own stuff because the superfeet lack in forefoot support, which is definitely true. His work was pretty flawless from looking at how the liners and footbeds turned out, and the gf raved about the experience all-in-all.

this guy also quoted a high price to mold liners (85), but then substantially dropped the price when she also did footbeds.

granted, I dont think she really *needed* customs because of her track record with superfeet, but she wanted them so it worked out.

i really like mntlion's analogy with the suit having just bought one.

[skibumnh]

Just lube 'em up....

If you spray them with armor all they become just slippery enough to get your foot into them. Aline actually sells a lubricant, but it does basically the same thing as armor all

Good idea. Ill try it.

[JKon]

Seems to me that a high-end custom bootfitter who does nothing but bootfitting is entitled to assume that anyone who walks through the door is looking for a custom fit, and doesn't want the same answer you'll get at the aptly-named Dick's Sporting Goods ("umm, well, we've got these Superfeet things here... maybe see if those work for you?").

[soylent green]

Second on the SOLE footbeds. Their molding system works very well. I have a high arch and they fill that space very well. At first I thought they didn't mold to my foot much, but over time they really took on the shape of my foot. I have no complaints. Definitely better than Superfeet.