noob boot question

bovril

I'm researching ski boots online at the minute (will buy in a shop if I do get some). There is the option of a custom shell with some Salomen boots. I see custom footbeds are also recommended. What does custom shell mean and is it different to footbeds? Are both a good idea?

Thanks in advance

EileenG

Unless you are a pretty committed skier, this might not be worth worrying about. I'd be more inclined to go out and hire the high end boots and see how you get on with them.

That said, a custom footbed is probably a good idea, particularly if you have flat feet or unusual arches or plantar fasciitis or anything like that. You go to a specialist shop and they use your foot to mold the footbed to your exact shape. A custom foot bed can be put into hire boots and will hugely improve the comfort. I've used custom footbets in hiking boots as well.

A custom shell is a much more expensive thing, and really not worth considering unless you are really good. They basically mold the shell of the boot around your foot, so you get an exact close fit. This makes for really precise ski control, but can mean that it's a real struggle to get the boots on and to walk in them. Ski racers all have custom shells.

It can be worth it if you have every unusual feet, like one a size bigger than the other.

A much cheaper half way option is to buy a standard pair of boots, and get them blown to fit you. This means that they use a thing like a hair dryer to soften the plastic over problem areas, and alter the shape where necessary so it dries to a better shape for your foot.

I_luv_2_ski!

I agree with EileenG...theres no point in getting custom shells...there a pain in d a*se getting on and off and there quite expensive!!!

For some custom insoles are a good idea...my boyfriend used them in his boots last year and thought they were great...I on the other hand have skinny ankles so to stop my ankle from moving too much in the boot i needed super feet to lift my heal!!! It all depends on the person and their feet!!!

Theres an oldish guy in the Great Outdoors and he really knows what hes talking about and what hes doing...i suggest if your buying go into him and see what he recommends...also if your in on a good day the insoles come free...don't be afraid to bargain with them...my boyfriend also go a free boot bag out of the deal!!!

olaola

We had a good chat about boots with a the boot-man in the Intersport in Ishgl. He said only a small percentage of people will need the custom fit. A trained boot-fitter will be able to recommend you a boot that is suitable for your foot shape. He recommended and sold (which happened to be the cheapest pair in the shop) a pair to my friend that day, and he now refers to them as his 'slippers'. Better off buying over there - my mate had the option to bring them back for a full refund at the end of the week if he had any problems.

bovril

Thanks for all the replies and for clearing up my questions

@Olaola - I'd consider getting them away alright but not sure I'd have the time. I'm going on a package deal and the Sunday morning is mental what with getting all your hire gear and sorting yourself out for classification. That's even being at the hire shop the minute it opens. I am now considering getting them in Belfast (Climate or Macski).

olaola

bovril wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies and for clearing up my questions

@Olaola - I'd consider getting them away alright but not sure I'd have the time. I'm going on a package deal and the Sunday morning is mental what with getting all your hire gear and sorting yourself out for classification. That's even being at the hire shop the minute it opens. I am now considering getting them in Belfast (Climate or Macski).

You could hire your boots on the Sunday morning for one day - and go back that evening and buy a pair. If you mention that morning that you want to buy a pair later that evening, they might even give you the days rental for free.

bovril

Cheers, that sounds like a plan alright.

Fattes

bovril: I am a qualifide boot tech and work for Salomon just to be open before you read the below.

Now where to start with all the rubbish that has been written

Your own boots are a god send and with any boot a custom footbed is worth every penny you will spend on it. Makes the boot more comfortable and more responsive. There is a huge diffrence between the top end rental and the middle of the road retail boot in terms of weight,Fit and comfort.

A good boot fitter will recomend a boot that needs the least
amount of customisation but 99.99% of them will recommend footbeds

A custom shell is a much more expensive thing, and really not worth considering unless you are really good

:eek::eek::eek:

The above is absollute Bull Manure. The Custom Shell on the Salomon boot is the same or very close to the price as any of its competitiors equivelant. There purpose is to allow people with wider feet a better choice of boots instead of been stuck with the entry level wide slippers.

Atomic Hawk 80 £220 - £250

Salomon Impact 8 £225 - £250

Ski racers all have custom shells.

Not all racers have custom shells most racers have full custom liners totally diffrent thing. Most boot shells are not actually fully mouldable and boot fitters grind away and stretch the shell rather than custom fitting it.

I agree with EileenG...theres no point in getting custom shells...there a pain in d a*se getting on and off and there quite expensive!!!

Actually no diffrent to normal boots other than the fact that the shell will expand and probably easier to get on and off for that reason.;).

A much cheaper half way option is to buy a standard pair of boots, and get them blown to fit you. This means that they use a thing like a hair dryer to soften the plastic over problem areas, and alter the shape where necessary so it dries to a better shape for your foot.

That is exactly what the Custom Fit shell is designed to do at no extra cost & withouth damaging the plastic in the boot.

Personally if it wasnt for Custom shell I wouldnt be able to the high end performance boots because of there narrow fit but now I can.

Basically it can turn a 100m last boot to 110 last in 20 min with no extra cost to the base line price of the boot or fancy modifications.


Climate and McSki are both excellent as is Snow and Rock (Dan or Ian) or Neill in the Great Outdoors.