Introduction

Introduction

There are a bewildering range of ski boots available, and at first it can appear difficult to select the right ones, but a good boot-fitter will be able to help and advise you on the boot that compliments you the best.

Although we do list some of the boots on our website, we always recommend that you visit a boot fitter to have the boot correctly checked for size and set up. When considering a boot, although you might have a preferred colour or brand, in reality the brand or model you have in mind may not be appropriate for your foot shape or skiing ability, so always take this into consideration! A well fitting boot is of far more benefit to you than a boot that you cannot wear for more than an hour, but goes with your jacket!

When considering a boot fitting always seriously consider having a custom footbed made at the same time. This isn't sold to you to make an additional sale; a custom footbed allows us to address any issues with your fitting, allows us to stabilise the foot in the correct position, and add comfort. We can modify the footbed (And indeed the boots) to take into account all manner of diverse foot shapes and issues. You may say your feet are 'different', and you would be correct - no two are the same, and its surprising how different your right and left feet can be too!

Here is our guide to buying a ski boot.



Why are you buying?

Hire boots are great when you first try skiing or boarding, because paying out for new boots when you don't even know if you will enjoy your time on the mountain is a big expense. But as you progress beyond a couple of weeks, there is no doubt that a boot fitted to you will allow you to improve quicker, as it will be correctly fitted with your feet comfortably in the right position, so you can focus on improving rather than that niggling pain under your arch or in your shins.

You may also have bought boots already, but are having problems with them. We have many customer who buy in resort because the price was attractive, but then find down the line they have problems, and its difficult to visit and spend time at an in-resort fitter, without losing valuable holiday time!

In both the above instances, the cost of hiring and buying abroad has risen sharply, so its no surprise that many are turning to buying their ski boots and having ski boot fitting here in the UK, where time can be taken prior to your holiday to ensure a good fit.



Which boots should I buy then?

Which boots should I buy then?

he number one goal is FIT every time. So you need to identify a boot that fits your foot profile first. Different brands have different profiles (or 'lasts') for their ski boots, and some brands vary along their product range too. The key pointers are your foot length, and the width of your foot to. Ski boots will generally have an indication of the width in the toe box, the mid section, and the ankle. Its important to select a ski boot that gets the right blend of these three widths correct for your foot.

Although we can work our magic with ski boots, blowing out the toe box for example, or adding material around the ankle to reduce movement, the ultimate goal is a boot that requires as little adjustment as possible.

When you look at ski boots, you will find a strange MONDO sizing number. It's actually quite simple, a MONDO 27.5 boot for example has an internal length of 27.5cm. Don't pay attention to the small measurement stamped on the heel of most boots, that is the external length, that helps us to set up your ski bindings. Here is a comparison chart for sizing:



So the above chart should give you an indication of your ski boot size. Brands and models do vary but it is a good starting point. Then it is a case of looking at the width of your foot, and selecting a boot that matches this width. Our boot details on our website contain widths whenever these have been passed onto us.



Step 3 - Fitting

Step 3 - Fitting

We now try a few boots out until we find the one that best fits your foot profile and your personal requirements. We haven't looked at budget at this point. This isn't because we only pick expensive boots (although with boots you really do get what you pay for) as sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised and find that a lower price boot is the best one for you.

If you have opted to have custom footbeds at the same time - and we cannot recommend this enough, we will set up the Sidas moulding equipment. This is great fun; your feet are moulded in a silicone bed, which we remove air from to give us your foot profile. We then create footbeds (insoles) specifically for your feet, making adjustments as a result of the step one interview and then these are finished to fit your foot perfectly.

These are then popped into the boots we have worked together to select, and you are given another cup of tea or coffee and the freedom of the showroom to walk around for about 5-10 minutes to see if the boots feel right.

Any issues pointed out to us (e.g., ankle rubbing a little, big toe aching) are noted, the boots whisked into the workshop, and all manner of strange looking tools are used to modify the shape we want for the boot shell.

We then refit, recheck, and if necessary repeat. When it is all done, we have a great fitting boot and your legs pointing in the right direction. A great fitting boot also improves your skiing or boarding, as you will have more control and balance.



Step 4 - Finished?

Step 4 - Finished?

Now you have your shiny new boots and maybe custom footbeds, it's time to say farewell. But we may see you again! We encourage you to walk around in your boots A LOT before your holiday. We find doing the ironing with them on works well; in fact it makes chores more fun! If you have access to a snowdome, these can be fantastic for boot testing, as a drag lift always reveals any issues.

So if after this you identify any problems, get in touch and we will book you back in for a refit. Even if we have to start from scratch there will be NO CHARGE for this, it's part of our service.

So we hope that you will consider us for your boot fitting. With the combination of a relaxed environment, flexible appointments (we do early mornings and late nights 7 days a week) and a dedication to the best levels of service, we look forward to making your next trip on the pistes a comfortable and precise one!



Pricing

Pricing

As stated above, we strongly recommend the fitting of a custom footbed at the same time as fitting a new boot. The following prices include the fitting of the boot and the fitting of a footbed. Please visit our buyers guide on footbeds:

Standard Footbed & Boot Fitting: £50.00
The standard footbed is a customised footbed with a plain base. This was the most common footbed until recent additions to the custom footbed line. This is still the best option for the purist or for those wanting a race style fit.

PRO Footbed & Boot Fitting: £65.00
This footbed includes several advantages over the standard footbed. It has an Alacantra forefoot which allows easier entry into the boot, and double reinforcement at the heel cup for stability.

PREMIUM Footbed & Boot Fitting: £75.00
This new footbed is the top-of-the-line. Designed for maximum comfort it has a full reinforced (Transflux) base, a mid length additonal support, and "Poron" heel cup for maximum comfort.

Want nice warm feet too?

We can fit a Therm-ic heating element to your footbed for £25 so that you can combine your custom footbed with a Therm-ic battery boot heating system (see our accessories department).