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All of the boots in size 26 or even 26.5 felt tight for me, even though my feet measure less than that. I was wondering do people buy boots according to their foot measurements or go with boots similar size to their street footwear? If the boots are a bit big, does that have a negative impact on your skiing? Obviously for racers, it does, and I know they go with boots that are well tight and narrow and can only wear them for five minutes or something, but what about more casual skiiers who are just into riding powder through the trees? Most of the boots I tried yesterday have thermofit liners, so I guess that would help a bit in some cases....

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A few suggestions on what to avoid: 1. If the boot fitter doesn't inspect your bare feet, both of them, he/she probably isn't an expert so you better hope you have an ``average'' foot shape. 2. If t

I like Technica because I have wide feet. Also like the new noridca boots they are pretty awesome if you buy the sidecountry range. Boots are a pain the worst part about skiing really. As for another

I have read online that Fuso ski boot shop in Tokyo is decent for boot fitting but haven't been there myself.   I am hoping to go to an English speaking boot fitter in Niseko this winter.   I have

What's your "last" Gary?....the distance between the widest parts of your foot. I wanted Lange or Salomon because they tend to be on the narrower side. I wear a 28 shoe and I fit into a 27 boot. My previous boots were a 28 and by the time they packed out they were pretty sloppy. These are TIGHT and I expect they will be a little uncomfortable for a while. It seems the best method is buy small,,, try them out,,,,then find a boot fitter to relieve the areas that hurt.

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I tried on about 10 pair of boots before getting my most recent.

the sizes were all over the place, some larger, some smaller, some for skinner feet, some for wider feet. specific brands didnt seem to have any pattern.

i think its all about what fits you personally. everyone has different feet. so nobody can give you advice on a make/model or size.

 

like Chriselle said, careful about loose fitting boots. the liners will pack out over time (especially so the first couple of days) making them even looser. so go tight.

also, when your feet are warm in the shop theyre actually bigger (cause theyre full of blood). so you should go even tighter.

and if you havent been skiing in a while, your feet are bigger still.

 

i think boots are the most important part of a kit. if you have to choose between expensive boots vs cheap boots and new skis youve been eyeing off, definitely go the boots.

but i thought id add that ski boots can be 1/2 to 1/3 the price in usa. its crazy how expensive they can be in japan.

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I thought I had wide feet, but they measured my last around 98. I have to say though, that the boots with last size of 100mm or more seem a lot better for me. I think I will probably go with the Lange RX 110 in a 26.5 - they still feel pretty tight on my feet. I liked the padding on those above the heel which really holds it in place well. I can get a pair of these for 44K which is just about within my budget. Are there any places in Tokyo that do proper boot fitting - punching and grinding and so on? I have to say, the places I've been to around Kanda all seem to have no idea whatsoever...

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Tecnica hotform system. Hotformed last to the shape of your feet and you can heat up the last overnight to dry them out and have nice warm boots in the morning.

 

I believed in them, but the soles are always cold.

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I thought I had wide feet, but they measured my last around 98. I have to say though, that the boots with last size of 100mm or more seem a lot better for me. I think I will probably go with the Lange RX 110 in a 26.5 - they still feel pretty tight on my feet. I liked the padding on those above the heel which really holds it in place well. I can get a pair of these for 44K which is just about within my budget. Are there any places in Tokyo that do proper boot fitting - punching and grinding and so on? I have to say, the places I've been to around Kanda all seem to have no idea whatsoever...

 

I have read online that Fuso ski boot shop in Tokyo is decent for boot fitting but haven't been there myself.

 

I am hoping to go to an English speaking boot fitter in Niseko this winter.

 

I have similar foot sizes (about 25.5 and 26) and would recommend dropping a shell size to 25.5. My current boots are 26 Mondo and are too big. I am currently messing around with shims, foam padding and ankle braces over the liner to try and get them to fit tighter. It’s not very fun. I get a much better fit from the 25.5 Mondo boots I have been trying on recently. They definitely would have felt too tight when I got my boots a couple of years ago (and didn't really know what I was doing) but that is the tight fit you need for skiing.

 

Also, there are no half sizes with boots, they just add a thicker sole into the liner. The liners and shells are the same with 26 and 26.5 boots, for example. Some companies have 25.5 and 26 as the same shell size. You can check by looking for the BSL (Boot Sole Length) on the boot. It is normally on the side of the shell around the heel. The BSL will be the same for two half sizes.

 

Boots should feel tight as the liners will pack out. This is also why you should do a shell check. If the liner packs out, you want the shell to fit the shape of your foot. To do a shell check, you remove the liner and place your foot inside the shell to see if the shell fits you correctly. Place your foot in the boot so that your toes lightly touch the front of the boot. You want around 5 to 15mm of space behind your heel. You should also check that the boot fits the width and contours of your foot when placing your foot in the center of the boot.

 

Different boots fit different foot types so if the boot doesn’t seem to fit right, don’t go up a size. Instead, find another boot that will fit your foot shape.

 

Having a tight fitting boot is not just for racers. If the boots are fitted correctly, they will be tight without any pressure points so they will be warm and comfortable. A loose boot will seriously reduce performance and you will end up with cold feet from having to over tighten the buckles to stop your foot slopping around. I have found this out the hard way so please don’t make the same mistake I did.

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Thanks for chiming in Besniwod...and welcome to the forums.. Yes, I too, learned the hard way in my last boots. I pretty much did everything wrong in buying them. Since then though I've learned quite a bit on the subject. I'm a member of Fuso sports and that was the first shop I was going to ask about fitting should I have issues. :thumbsup:

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Thanks for that info. I think I did everything wrong in buying my first boots too - I just tried on a pair that I could afford and then found a size which felt nice and comfy. My current boots are size 27.5, no doubt way too big for my feet which measure 26 left and 25 right. I'll try not to make the same mistake this time round - hopefully having proper fitting boots will help me improve my skiing. I guess a well fit boot will be a biggest help with edging, but even in the powder, I imagine a good fit will stop the skis getting knocked around as much and having to constantly make adjustments as a result.

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Thanks. Yeah, it is unfortunately a rather expensive lesson. Especially in Japan where the importers seem to just double the price of foreign ski hardware.

 

You might want to check a boot shop for the model that fits best and then order the boots from abroad. Even with shipping, it will be cheaper.

 

One drawback, however, is that you don't have a shop to mold the liners. But you can just take them to a shop and they will charge you to get them molded. Still cheaper overall.

 

I think the only reason you would want to buy boots in Japan would be if they are from a decent boot fitter that gives at least a 2 year guarantee on the fit of the boot. Having a boot professionally fitted is worth the extra money then. If possible, you want the fitter to be at a ski area so you can try out the boots and bring them back for any readjustments.

 

An easy way to tell if the fitter is worth giving your money to is if they do a shell check. If they don't, you should politely thank them but take your business elsewhere.

 

The only specialist ski shop in my area has a fair bit of decent equipment, but only offers a one year guarantee on the fit and have never done a shell check on my foot. Most other sport shops only stock skiing gear during the winter season and don't really know what they are doing. Why pay double the price again?

 

A good fit will enable you to control your skis much better and make skiing easier. If the fit is loose, you will waste energy turning your foot inside the boot when you try to turn your skis. If you are skiing powder in Japan, you will probably be in the trees so being able to turn efficiently with tight fitting boots will give you more energy to ski harder and for longer, and give you the control you need to avoid making a face pancake with a tree. Although there is plenty of icing around I suppose.

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Chriselle - have you used your new boots yet?

Only walking around the house and watching tv... I was thinking of going to Hakuba this weekend however work orders have flooded in and I have to get everything done before I go up to Hokkaido on the 22nd. So probably not until then.... :eyes:

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I got them on yahoo auction but brand new. Of course, that means any heat fitting etc. is up to me, but yeah, a pretty good price. Cheapest i could get them for cash from a shop was 44k. Some very fortunate individual got the size 27.5 for 22k, but they would have been too big for me.

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Unless you want to take them to a shop to get the liners heat fitted, you can do it at home with some rice in a sock. Just heat the rice sock in a microwave and then place in your boots. You will want to make some sort of toe cap out of old socks so that you have some toe room when you mold the liners. Also, don't buckle the boot too tightly when you mold them as it will result in a looser fit. You can also stand with your toes slightly elevated on a block of wood or something of your own improvisation to get your heel into the back of the boot while they mold for about 10 minutes.

 

Good luck with your new boots.

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I've had shin bang for the last couple of season.. Thinking about buying 'Booster Straps'. Has anybody used these? My boots got fitted at InSki a couple of years ago, and I'm worried they are slightly big and that's why i'm getting this pain (I don't ski backseat)!

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Unless you want to take them to a shop to get the liners heat fitted, you can do it at home with some rice in a sock. Just heat the rice sock in a microwave and then place in your boots. You will want to make some sort of toe cap out of old socks so that you have some toe room when you mold the liners. Also, don't buckle the boot too tightly when you mold them as it will result in a looser fit. You can also stand with your toes slightly elevated on a block of wood or something of your own improvisation to get your heel into the back of the boot while they mold for about 10 minutes.

 

Good luck with your new boots.

 

So....you put the heated rice sock in the boot...let it heat up..take it out and then stick your foot in? Is that going to generate enough heat? Interesting.

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Intuition provides more detailed directions on the process: https://intuitionliners.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IntuitionHomeFit.pdf

 

From what I have read, the rice sock method is inferior to heating using a convection oven but if you don't need to make big changes to the fit of the liner it should be sufficient. Also, it is more idiot proof. You can't easily mess it up like you can with an oven (i.e. melting it into a paperweight).

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The Lone Ranger arrives at a saloon after a hard day's riding. The horses are so hot, they need cooling.

 

Tonto: "I's cool the horses by running around them and get a wind up kimosabe"

 

Lone Rangere: "OK Tonto" and walks into the saloon.

 

Five minutes later a cowboy walks into the saloon, looks around and shouts "who's horses are them outside?"

 

Lone Ranger, stands up and looks at the cowboy: "They're mine"

 

Cowboy: "you left your injun runnin' "

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