Zipfit Grand Fuckin’ Teton Liner

[GoldenBC]

As I get back into the shop life, I’m reminded how many people put their boots in walk mode to step in and take them off. 99% of the time I lock out the cuff and their life is easier. When putting on, your heel will snag the heel cup if it’s open. When taking off, you have no leverage to pry the boot off with the cuff.

Just a friendly reminder to try putting your boots on with the boot in ski mode. If you really can’t do it, try a shoe horn. If you need to do it in walk mode, use a shoe horn to avoid hooking on the heel. If everything works perfect, ignore.

[plugboots]

Not to be a total naysayer, but I’ve never understood who would want to use the same sweaty boot liner for over a hundred days.

Do people have some sort of cleaning routine that takes away the bacteria and sweat?

Use deodorant or antiperspirant on your feet. I started using it ages ago because it helps put my compression socks on, especially sliding it over the heel part. Also the stuff the other folks say.

[TahoeJosh]

Drill a hole in the tab. tie a piece of thin tough string or some super heavy fishing line to it. This way you can hold it up when getting into boot

Thanks, @MTslackcountry. I might try that. My plan is to first try @vermontana's "put on in walk mode" approach, then UHMW tape extensions of the stalk, and then piercing the stalk to affix an extension as you describe. I may alternatively sew UHMW tape directly to the fabric... I've got a bunch of options now, so thanks everyone for your ideas! I'll report back on what works.

[TahoeJosh]

I think I found a solution. For getting the 4Q’s on WC style without destroying my foot, the liner, the shell, or my sanity. There are two parts: a simple mod and technique.

The mod is simply to use UHMW tape to extend the rubber stalk almost to the top of the cuff. To get the tape to stay, I started it at the base of the heel cup, ran it up the spine of the clog and up the gaiter and rubber stalk, folded it over just under the top of the cuff, and stuck it to itself as it extends back down to just under the bottom of the stalk. This sandwiches the stalk in the tape which helps the tape establish a firm hold. Here’s a pic:



I also taped the boot board. That’s especially necessary because of the rubber 1/2 length boot boars in these boots.

Re technique, with one hand I press the tape against the back of the cuff to help my heel slide by, and with the other I pull up and slightly out on the shell’s tongue. I found that pulling on the tongue is THE key to preventing the instep from getting hung up on the tongue protrusions circled below:



It took me a while to recognize that the liner was getting caught on these “fins” coming off the tongue rather than the clog.

The boot goes on super smoothly now.

[redbarnPD]

Bravo, sir!

Digging for the UHMW tape now... Although the OE liner is pretty easy to get into while in-shell, the GFT doesn't play nice with this boot.

[GoldenBC]

I’m well aware of Sven’s genius, and have always been curious about Zipfits, but not enough do drop huge $ when Intuitions are so comfortable, light weight, and warm, and at a fraction of the price. People seem to love them, but other than durability and dealing with problems (pain, slop, blisters) that I don’t have, what is it that makes Zipfits worth the premium in $ and weight?

Simple math. Intuition last 50-100 days max and cost $300cdn. Zipfit last 500+ days and cost $590.

[ASmileyFace]

GFTs + 2021 ZGTP... am I an idiot or are these just about impossible to get into? I was successful once during the initial fitting off the heat stacks but even in the warmth of home I cannot get this to work. I have more limited flexion and strength on my right leg since my femur/knee injury but holy shit... if I cannot get this on in the house, how can I expect to get this on in the field? I have Gara's in my Lange RS130s and after a little getting used to the movement I can get the liners in first try even if they are moderately cold. I have a boot horn that helps a lot, but with these brand new GFTs and ZGTP I cannot get the heel to slip past the top of the lower on my right boot. I added UHMW tape to the boot board already but it seems like the heel bunches up a ton and I cannot get the instep area to stretch enough to allow the liner to move forward. Any tips for the ZGTP x GFT crowd?

[TahoeJosh]

GFTs + 2021 ZGTP... am I an idiot or are these just about impossible to get into? I was successful once during the initial fitting off the heat stacks but even in the warmth of home I cannot get this to work. I have more limited flexion and strength on my right leg since my femur/knee injury but holy shit... if I cannot get this on in the house, how can I expect to get this on in the field? I have Gara's in my Lange RS130s and after a little getting used to the movement I can get the liners in first try even if they are moderately cold. I have a boot horn that helps a lot, but with these brand new GFTs and ZGTP I cannot get the heel to slip past the top of the lower on my right boot. I added UHMW tape to the boot board already but it seems like the heel bunches up a ton and I cannot get the instep area to stretch enough to allow the liner to move forward. Any tips for the ZGTP x GFT crowd?

Are you prying open the cuff overlaps? I tried on 27.5 ZGTP's with my 28.5 GFT's at the boot fitter (so, not tape or other mods). I needed to pull open both sides of the overlapping cuff so the instep would clear, but after that entry was easy. I don't recall the heel getting caught on anything. Of course, all feet are different so YMMV...

[GoldenBC]

What he said but also they start hard and eventually the shell breaks in and it gets wayyyyyyyy easier.

[jackattack]

Is anybody skiing the GFT in the Lange XT3 Tour Pro?

[gwat]

Yes. Fits great (for me).
It was challenging to get in and out. I cracked the foam bootboard day one with the GFT. I’ve taped the bootboard and spine, much better entry/exit now.

Walk mode is constantly flipping back to ski mode after a few strides.
Carpet testing with a shim bolted to the shell above the walk/ski mechanism looks promising.

[Bunion 2020]

A very light spritz of silicone spray works wonders.

[GoldenBC]

Is anybody skiing the GFT in the Lange XT3 Tour Pro?

People do. When walking, make sure you loosen your upper buckles enough so the liner doesn't rub the walk mode other wise it closes it. Look at ways of reducing that friction; tape, silicone spray, etc.

[Judo Chop!]

Walk mode is constantly flipping back to ski mode after a few strides.

[Andyski]

GFTs + 2021 ZGTP... am I an idiot or are these just about impossible to get into? I was successful once during the initial fitting off the heat stacks but even in the warmth of home I cannot get this to work. I have more limited flexion and strength on my right leg since my femur/knee injury but holy shit... if I cannot get this on in the house, how can I expect to get this on in the field? I have Gara's in my Lange RS130s and after a little getting used to the movement I can get the liners in first try even if they are moderately cold. I have a boot horn that helps a lot, but with these brand new GFTs and ZGTP I cannot get the heel to slip past the top of the lower on my right boot. I added UHMW tape to the boot board already but it seems like the heel bunches up a ton and I cannot get the instep area to stretch enough to allow the liner to move forward. Any tips for the ZGTP x GFT crowd?

Boot horn, silicone spritz, shells under the foot heaters in the truck, rip that fucking lower open, and it’s still a bitch every. Damned. Time.


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[kyleramer]

Does anyone have experience removing the plastic and honeycomb backing that sits just above the ankles? Is removing the plastic possible? I've been getting a pinching sensation on the back of my outer ankles that aligns exactly with where the plastic and honeycomb backing get stitched onto the liner, right above the v-shaped stitch. Hoping that removing the plastic could alleviate the problem, but I don't want to go down that road if removing it ruins the integrity of the liner.

[mr_pretzel]

Does anyone have experience removing the plastic and honeycomb backing that sits just above the ankles? Is removing the plastic possible? I've been getting a pinching sensation on the back of my outer ankles that aligns exactly with where the plastic and honeycomb backing get stitched onto the liner, right above the v-shaped stitch. Hoping that removing the plastic could alleviate the problem, but I don't want to go down that road if removing it ruins the integrity of the liner.

You can cut them off no problem. Just seamrip the stiching

[ASmileyFace]

You can cut them off no problem. Just seamrip the stiching

This mod was suggested by Jeff at Zipfit himself. I am going to give it a try at some point soon.

Guess I should update from my last post in the thread and say Zipfit has the best customer service. Jeff reached out after seeing a different post where I was questioning how these were going to work if I couldn't get them on. Talked me through a few aspects of the technique and sent me a boot horn. That plus some UHMW tape from the heelcup to the top of the lower has made a world of difference. I did crack my zeppa in half, but I taped it back together so no harm no foul there.

[North]

I've been GFT curious for a but and have located a half price pair for sale with light use (<10 days). Of course, the seller slit a portion of the inner liner to remove cork near the ankle instead of doing it the right way. I don't have a good understanding of how these things are put together. Are they fubar or still worth grabbing? Something I can fix with backer material behind the slit and aquaseal over the top or nah?

[GoldenBC]

Fuck no. Half price is a massive rip off for a severely compromised liner

[ASmileyFace]

That is worth maybe the cost of the cork and nothing more. There is no way to fix that problem that wouldn't effect the feeling of the neoprene on your ankle. I would skip it unless you can get it for less than $80

[North]

GoldenBC's response was enough to save me from my dirtbag mr. fix it tendencies. Gracias for the reality check fellas!

[bthomson22]

Well shit... ~70 days in and I blew a hole above my heel. I can't pin down exactly when it happened, just noticed as I was putting them on today. Anyone else seen this?

[DoubleBogey]

Gotta be a warranty claim there...

[bthomson22]

I'm hoping it can be repaired somehow, though I'm not optimistic. I have them dialed. Reached out to customer services, will see what they say.