Heat molding ski boots at home?

[MAD777]

Hi folks,
I know this sounds like a half-baked idea (no pun intended) but I don't live near a ski shop and as a backpacker, I have developed a habit of making or modifying gear at home so, the thought occurred to me to that I could heat mold new ski boots at home. (Assuming that they are designed for heat molding).

First thought was to sit a chair in front of the oven. Oven doors can be removed easily, then should I bake or broil? Do I want them browned on top? No, wait, convection! Moving air would be good! Do I need a fire extinguisher handy? Maybe, not such a good idea.

Second idea: Plastic garbage bag tied around my legs, just below the knees, with a very few small vent holes punched into the bottom, and stick a BLOW DRYER in the top through another hole! I like it! Now, my only question is,"How long do I need to do this?"

Those of you that have had this done in a ski shop, can you tell me how warm your feet got. Was it barely noticeable, nice cozy warm, definitely noticeably warm, or down-right when is this going to be over warm?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as well as any completely new ideas!

[hemas]

Search for article called "Cooking with Big Tim" at TelemarkTips.com

[davep]

another article here:
http://www.alpinecarving.com/bootfitting.html#shin

or just search tech talk here, or google this 'interweb' thing, there are a ton of how-tos.

I molded my g-ride liners at home, no problems. I'm a bit concerned molding alpine liners will be a bit trickier since I have a really hard time shoving a liner into my alpine shells, but most people seem to do it fine.

[YooperSteeze]

Don't bother even figuring out how to do it unless it's a fully custom heat moldable liner like an intuition or something similar. Liners like Salomon's "Mycustomfit" and Head's "Superheat" really aren't molding at all- you're just expediting the pack-out process by heating them up.

[L7]

Not sure of what liner type either but as the yooping guy above says unless it's a intuition or something don't bother. If it is biggest tip is pad lots around your toes so when you're done you've left lots of room for the toes to move.

There are a couple of options if it is a zipfit liner but I doubt that's it.

Actually the biggest tip is probably the one you already got above, search function.

[mntlion]

just ski, dont heat.

[MAD777]

Thanks for all your input so far.

I left out an important piece of info. obviously, the boots are the new Salomon Falcon 10's.

Hard to tell through all the fuzzy marketing hype but they say something like a moldable shell ??

Anyone familiar with this boot technology?

[L7]

boot technology =marketing technology. Just go ski if you really want use a blow dryer for a bit but it really isn't worth it.

[couloirman]

BUMPing an incredibly old thread to ask-- where can I buy toe caps for liner molding online? I can't seem to find them anywhere? I just got a new pair of Scarpa Maestrale RSs and I need more room in the toe box or my toes are going to freeze off and all my toenails will turn black (already got 1/10 starting to turn). Any good source for bootfitting supplies online such as toe caps for molding? I googled a bunch and did not find anything

[mall walker]

BUMPing an incredibly old thread to ask-- where can I buy toe caps for liner molding online? I can't seem to find them anywhere? I just got a new pair of Scarpa Maestrale RSs and I need more room in the toe box or my toes are going to freeze off and all my toenails will turn black (already got 1/10 starting to turn). Any good source for bootfitting supplies online such as toe caps for molding? I googled a bunch and did not find anything

I just made mine out of some old wool sock toes I cut off, think I used about 3 or 4 socks' worth of toes and just molded them one at a time. Worked fine for me. Ymmv

[couloirman]

OK, I just found these. Is this what Im looking for? Should I just get the medium and call it good? Large? Or do you really need to just have them all start small and go bigger as needed.

Thanks for the sock tip, but surprisingly, I don't have any pairs of socks I can really sacrifice right now.

[XXX-er]

you can make toe caps by cutting up the corrugated cardboard beer case for the beer you are drinking when you and a bud do the molding you want to have someone to help you get into the boot.

Just cut pieces of cardboard to go infront/on top of the toe, its easy to add more cardboard, wrap the whole toe area with lots of 1/2" masking tape and put a thin sock over the foot

[mntlion]

go large, use a thick sock, and REALY buckle the boot tight.

this will just help to pack the boot out to what it would be anyways, so might as well make it work

[sb]

You want to buy toe caps but are too cheap to go to wallyworld for cheap thick socks to cut?

Go to the overpass and find sum homeless folks for a bit of cardboard. The stronger the smell the better. Next get sum duct tape. The best way is to shoplift. The markup on duct tape is outrageous and you will be striking a blow for freedom.

Next you will wrap your feet with the cardboard and duct tape. Use lots since you want to be able to store yor collection of hamster porn in the boot to keep it with u always.

Mold liners.

Go ski in the nu comfort u have found and proclaim loudly to everyone in earshot you have the largest and warmest feet on the mountain. Be sure to smear honey mustard all over your arms and legs for effect.

After this all women will be wildly attracted to you and you will be soon swimming in poon so much that skiing will be the last thing on your mind.

[The SnowShow]

Molding question: I molding my right Lange liner at home and couldn't get the heel area from scrunching up in the process...here's what happened: After taking it out of the oven, I slid the footbed back in and then the liner into the boot. I could see that there were no folds (boot shell is transparent) at that point. Then I put my foot in for ten minutes while angling my toes up onto a phone book. Ten minutes later, I pull my foot out and look to see the rear area by my heel has some liner folding. What do I do or what am I doing wrong?!

[mntlion]

1) pull up on the back of the liner, once your foot is in the boot. Basically make your foot move in the liiner, and the liner move in the shell. Pumping the liner up and down, and pulling out any wrinkles.

2) after heating, put in the footbed, put your FOOT in the liner only, and then stuff the liner, with your foot in it, into the shell (get someone to help open the shell) then do a bit of #1 and cool.

[skiJ]

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...90#post4675690

RE : toe caps

Just fold desired volume of paper towels over the end of your toes (under your socks)
One to three paper towels should give you the volume you need...

Yooper's instructions are Excellent --
a strong friend may eliminate the need to build a 'boot spreader'

I personally Second mtlion's comment : I Just ski 'em.

[hutash]

I personally Second mtlion's comment : I Just ski 'em.

True, but why follow an actual professional bootfitters advice when he could get lots a random internet advice that may or maybe not be accurate?

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...90#post4675690

RE : toe caps

Just fold desired volume of paper towels over the end of your toes (under your socks).

I made a re-usable toecap for myself that I save for future use using duct tape (several layers thick). If you don't want to sacrifice a sock wrap your toes with a layer of paper towel first so the tape doesn't stick to your feet. Also, for tele boots put wadded up paper towel between 1&2 and 4&5 toes to make room for your toes to spread when you bend the knee. Do one boot at a time so you can focus on each one, and then you only need one toe cap (flip it over for other foot).

[The SnowShow]

mntlion: thanks, I'll give that a try.