Att zipfit gurus!

[Huskier]

Another something I saw recently, don't pull up on the tongue. Creates a pinch point. Tongue should be level with the cuff.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

Yep doing that. It's reeeaally uncomfortable if I don't get the tongue nestled in there. I'll try just pounding it out on my next few days, see where it gets me.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[NW_SKIER]

I am struggling with my Gara LV's. Bought my shell size (28.5), through a shop, we heated them, jammed them in my XT3s, and the amount of tongue and material over the instep/throat of the boot is out of hand. My left boot is fine, a little tough to buckle but no pain. My right boot, due to some past ankle trauma/anatomic weirdness is just way too tight. Can barely buckle the boot, significant pressure over the instep/throat. It's not unskiable but it is mildly uncomfortable. I'm wondering if this is a case for removing cork or just trying to re-mold. If the latter, is there anything I can jam in the liner to free up some volume? Not sure the cork has anywhere else to go.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I have gara lv's in xt3 free 130's. I also have one ankle that is larger than the other thanks to last falls mtb crash. I can confirm that they suck at first but will get better with no cork removal. Take then for a tour for an hour. The heat of your foot plus climbing in them will make them form to your foot waaaay faster than suffering on chairlift skiing for 5 days or more.

[pfluffenmeister]

2 ideas: make sure the lower laces arent right over the area you are feeling the pressure on your instep, if so relace leaving those lace loops open. otherwise as mentioned, warmup the lower tounge area and move the cork with your thumbs up higher in the tounge. Start towards the top of the area in question, so you are creating room to move the cork from the area you feel the pressure.

Definitely check to see if your hotspot is under the lowest lace.
I had to move mine up and it made a world of difference.

First three days were objectively painful.
Now ... Nirvana.

[Stuntmonkey]

Yep doing that. It's reeeaally uncomfortable if I don't get the tongue nestled in there. I'll try just pounding it out on my next few days, see where it gets me.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I'm in the same boat. Instep hurts like a motherfucker after 5-6 hard runs, and it's just above where the toe box starts. I'm only on day 3 of breaking them in, so giving it a few more before I hit it with a hairdryer or oven. Wife also got Garas at the same time and hers have fully settled in.

Pulling the tongue up actually causes the toe box to overlap itself and creates a fold, so I'm focusing on making sure that it is level with cuff.

[toast2266]

I am struggling with my Gara LV's. Bought my shell size (28.5), through a shop, we heated them, jammed them in my XT3s, and the amount of tongue and material over the instep/throat of the boot is out of hand. My left boot is fine, a little tough to buckle but no pain. My right boot, due to some past ankle trauma/anatomic weirdness is just way too tight. Can barely buckle the boot, significant pressure over the instep/throat. It's not unskiable but it is mildly uncomfortable. I'm wondering if this is a case for removing cork or just trying to re-mold. If the latter, is there anything I can jam in the liner to free up some volume? Not sure the cork has anywhere else to go.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I had similar issues. Did the obvious stuff with not running the laces through the bottom loops. Ultimately ended up grinding the boot board in my shell as low as I could. Also did some shell work to get a little more room over my instep. Boots now feel snug in the instep, but bearable. I think zipfits are just thick / tall in that zone compared to assorted other liners. They're certainly thicker in that zone than both my stock salomon liners as well as intuitions. And at least for me, the right spot is just below the tongue cork pocket, so removing cork from that area doesn't really change anything.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[rainy512day]

Like he said, don’t run the laces through the bottom loop. If you heat up the tongue you can push the cork out of the instep pocket into the upper tongue.

[DoubleBogey]

Things I've done before skiing in my zipfits...
-heated boot bag
-hair dryer
-warm up water bottles and put them in liners

Don't put them in front of a fireplace and forget about them....

[GoldenBC]

I am struggling with my Gara LV's. Bought my shell size (28.5), through a shop, we heated them, jammed them in my XT3s, and the amount of tongue and material over the instep/throat of the boot is out of hand. My left boot is fine, a little tough to buckle but no pain. My right boot, due to some past ankle trauma/anatomic weirdness is just way too tight. Can barely buckle the boot, significant pressure over the instep/throat. It's not unskiable but it is mildly uncomfortable. I'm wondering if this is a case for removing cork or just trying to re-mold. If the latter, is there anything I can jam in the liner to free up some volume? Not sure the cork has anywhere else to go.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

You’ve got a lot of good advice. No need to use a screw driver to move the cork, you can just massage it up with your fingers. Hold the liner with the sole facing away from you and the cuff towards your belly. Hold the tongue with both hands on either side of the tongue at the bend, thumbs on top of the liner, fingers underneath. Massage it up with your index fingers.

Also try when you heat mold, kick your heels into the back of the boot and start by doing your lowest buckle up first. Think of it as squishing the cork up the tongue. Open and close the buckle like you are pumping it up. Move to a tighter ladder and continue.

[adrian.bee]

Anyone have experience fotting a Sidewinder?
I'm in boot Nirvana, but also going down the rabbit hole.
I've got a cherry pair and also love the grippy leather interior, almost like smooth suede.
Anyway, I also have wicked big ankles and that inner, top to bottom layer of that stiff honeycomb powertransferstuff does not play nicely.
Shell is punched there; "punch" the liners there
too?
I was thinking targeted, light heat gun (now that I think more about, probably masking off the area outside of ankle point with aluminum foil) and yje handle of s screwdriver from inside the liner?

Ive already done (just once, I think) a heat fitting via hot water bottles placed w/I the liner.

Any update on this? I have the same problem and can tell my ankle bone has pushed out all the cork.

[kc_7777]

In my second year in Zipfit Workhorse liners in Nordica Strider 120’s. Pretty happy.

Finally got tired of the Zipfit Velcro straps. Pain in the ass in the shell. Removed them and don’t really notice them gone. Wondering how many of you use the ZF Velcro strap?

Also, here’s a hack that make people laugh at me but I think I may be a genius. We have to drive to Creekside parking lot, and it sucks to put the ZF liner on in the parking lot. I would much prefer to put my liners on in the nice warm lodge we stay at. But I gotta drive. And driving I ski boots is sketch.

Solution….size 13 crocs cut to fit my 24 Workhorse liners.

Genius?




Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[chicken feathers]

I’ve seen people walking around parking lots & base areas in zipfits, so I’d say crocs over are an improvement. Though, couldn’t you just drive in the liner and use crocs if you’re hopping out of the car?

Cool to see the workhorse. I’m leaning towards those over the gara hv.

[DoubleBogey]

Brilliant KC!
I'm currently in the Gara HV, do you notice any drawbacks to the unsupported portion of the calf where there's no stealth/honeycomb? I really want to try a Zip with leather interior.

[2FUNKY]

That’s awesome. I don’t run the strap on mine without any ill effects.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[kc_7777]

Though, couldn’t you just drive in the liner and use crocs if you’re hopping out of the car?
Cool to see the workhorse. I’m leaning towards those over the gara hv.

It’s quite the walk down to the truck….and it’s a gravel parking lot. Or if there’s snow on the ground the Crocs are awesome. I even drove the [emoji637].[emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]] hrs home from Whistler in them.

DoubleBogey - haven't skied the Garas so can't say if any drawback to the Workhorse's support, except to say that the leather interior of the Workhorse is really awesome and adds to the Zipfit experience. The leather inside really holds your foot in place. Which also means you can never get your foot into the boot when the liner is already in. But I carry a piece of the plastic to use to get into the shell in my pack.

The leather inside is so good. It molds perfectly to your foot.

Sent from my iPhone

[DoubleBogey]

The only benefit I see is if the honeycomb material comes up above the plastic of the shell, adding stiffness above the actual shell. I wish they offered a leather interior option in all their liners, I'd pay extra without second thought.

[NW_SKIER]

I'm also strapless on my zipfits. Way easier to work with.

[2FUNKY]

My Fischer branded Gara came strapless; ignorance is bliss.

Same same. Zero issues.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[nickwm21]

+replace the cinch lace with standard laces….


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[chicken feathers]

KC, I’m with ya on protecting the liners while walking around. Just make sure the crocs stay secure while driving! A croc under the brake pedal would be a buzz kill. I’m getting into the weeds here.

[The Iron Horse]

+replace the cinch lace with standard laces….

I think the speed laces that come with the Corsa are the least obtrusive option. Really thin.

[kc_7777]

KC, I’m with ya on protecting the liners while walking around. Just make sure the crocs stay secure while driving! A croc under the brake pedal would be a buzz kill. I’m getting into the weeds here.

chicken - I trimmed some of the front part of the Croc opening over the instep, making it large enough to give enough room that I can have the back strap on while driving. I've even tested them drinking a beer at Dusty's. You get some looks...looks that say either Jerry or Genius.

And re strapless....yup it makes more sense. I may also try regular laces.

[waxman]

Re: the Sidewinder. I'm over 300 days in and notice the volume of the cuff for sure, it doesn't bug me. I'm in a Lange Heritage 140 24.5 for reference. My store manager found the black "honeycomb" obtrusive so he actually cut it off from about 2" down from the Zipfit powerstrap to the bottom of the liner. He is also in the Lange Heritage 140 but 25.5. Previously in the Dalbello DRS 130 but the Zipfit did not get along with that boot at all. He say the honeycomb removal is the best thing he's ever done.

[2FUNKY]

[emoji637];[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji640][emoji639]]+replace the cinch lace with standard laces….


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

No thanks, I prefer the thin cinch lace on my fischer ZF liners and even added them to my freerides before I got my fischers. I need all the room I can get in the instep. The standard laces made for weird pressure points.


Sent from my iPhone using [emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji640][emoji638][emoji638][emoji638]]TGR Forums

[Just Looking]

chicken - I trimmed some of the front part of the Croc opening over the instep, making it large enough to give enough room that I can have the back strap on while driving. I've even tested them drinking a beer at Dusty's. You get some looks...looks that say either Jerry or Genius.

And re strapless....yup it makes more sense. I may also try regular laces.

I went the easy route and got these:

https://www.tingleyrubber.com/collec...es-g2-overshoe

incase I suck at the link, they are the Tingley g2 overshoe. I've found them easy on/off, and pretty protective for sloppy parking lots, though I havent tried drinking beer in them yet.

though customized crocs are certainly a bit more flashy. Just need some of those croc truck nutz to really put them over the top.

[mc_roon]

I went the easy route and got these:

https://www.tingleyrubber.com/collec...es-g2-overshoe

incase I suck at the link, they are the Tingley g2 overshoe. I've found them easy on/off, and pretty protective for sloppy parking lots, though I havent tried drinking beer in them yet.

though customized crocs are certainly a bit more flashy. Just need some of those croc truck nutz to really put them over the top.

I've been thinking about something similar and this is definitely the easy button.

What is your liner size & what overshoe size works well for you?