I have kind of a dilemma: I live in the flatlands of eastern Nebraska, about 8 hours away from the nearest serious ski shop/boot fitter. I usually go on a couple of ski trips a year, and I'm getting tired of renting gear each time. I want to at least purchase boots, just so I have a little more consistency from trip to trip, I don't like always having different boots that fit a little differently.
Because the friends that I ski with are the kind of people who want to use as little vacation time as possible for a trip, the only way I could stop at a decent ski shop while on a trip would be to skip at least part of a day of skiing. My other options are to drive to Denver some weekend to go to the bootfitter there, or try my luck with a local big-box outdoor shop, which almost certainly won't have anyone on staff who knows much about ski boots. Anybody have any other suggestions? Know of a ski shop closer to Omaha, NE than Denver? Is it worth trying to find a decent-fitting pair of boots locally on my own, without expert help? Will it be worth missing out on a ski day to buy good boots?
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Ski boot question
Started by AlphaBet, Jan 15 2011 10:37 AM
10 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 16 January 2011 - 05:29 AM
It'll certainly save you money in the long run if you have your own and don't have to rent boots every time. You'll also know what you're getting every trip, and they'll be more comfortable. Try a late season sale to save some money
This shows two ski shops in Nebraska, one of them in Lincoln. A couple in Kansas City too
http://www.skisite.c...st.cfm?state=NE
This shows two ski shops in Nebraska, one of them in Lincoln. A couple in Kansas City too
http://www.skisite.c...st.cfm?state=NE
- Tyler
West Palm Beach, FL - elev. 9 feet
West Palm Beach, FL - elev. 9 feet
#3
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Posted 16 January 2011 - 07:30 AM
Where do you normally go skiing on your trips? If you come to Colorado, IMHO it would be worth spending a few hours at a good ski shop to get fitted for boots. When I travel, I often times leave my skis at home (Baggage fees, cars without ski racks, etc) BUT I always take my own boots - no surprises needed.
I just looked at the above site and I would recommend Kansas City over Lincoln. You want to find a shop that deals mainly with skiing, snowboarding, bikes in summer. You stand a better chance of getting a knowledgeable fitter.
Dino
I just looked at the above site and I would recommend Kansas City over Lincoln. You want to find a shop that deals mainly with skiing, snowboarding, bikes in summer. You stand a better chance of getting a knowledgeable fitter.
Dino
This post has been edited by Lift Dinosaur: 16 January 2011 - 07:36 AM
"Things turn out best for the people that make the best of the way things turn out." A.L.
#5
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Posted 20 January 2011 - 06:21 AM
Spring is a good time as the shops are having sales. The downside is their inventory is lower.
If you get to Summit County, CO try Christy Sports in Dillon/Silverthorne. Knowledgeable folks with multiple stores in Summit Co to draw from.
MHO
Dino
If you get to Summit County, CO try Christy Sports in Dillon/Silverthorne. Knowledgeable folks with multiple stores in Summit Co to draw from.
MHO
Dino
"Things turn out best for the people that make the best of the way things turn out." A.L.
#6
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Posted 20 January 2011 - 10:34 AM
If you do come through Denver, I suggest Colorado Ski and Golf. There's three locations in the metro area and they have consistently good service and very knowledgable bootfitters. Christy Sports isn't bad either, but their prices are likely to be higher than a front range store.
-Matt
"Today's problems cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them." -Albert Einstein
"Today's problems cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them." -Albert Einstein
#7
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Posted 20 January 2011 - 11:03 AM
skierdude9450, on 20 January 2011 - 10:34 AM, said:
If you do come through Denver, I suggest Colorado Ski and Golf. There's three locations in the metro area and they have consistently good service and very knowledgable bootfitters. Christy Sports isn't bad either, but their prices are likely to be higher than a front range store.
I agree...
Dino
"Things turn out best for the people that make the best of the way things turn out." A.L.
#8
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Posted 20 January 2011 - 12:56 PM
I've had good luck at Christy Sports at Deer Valley late in the season. I got my current skis (Rossignol B2's) as one-year used demos from there with bindings for $150, and brand new last-season Nordica boots for $39 bucks. Worth a look if you happen to be near one
- Tyler
West Palm Beach, FL - elev. 9 feet
West Palm Beach, FL - elev. 9 feet
#10
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Posted 05 February 2011 - 10:24 PM
Give your local big box joint a try. Try on a few pairs and see what you think. While I am a big advocate for your local shop (or somebody's local shop anyway) your options seem to be limited.
Points to remember:
Your heel SHOULD NOT MOVE. No up and down or side to side.
You should be able to wiggle your toes a bit but your foot should not slide side to side.
If your toes touch the end, bend your knees and they might not. They are for skiing in, not standing tall and walking around. A friend of mine said "if you show me comfortable ski boots, I'll show you a trash can that they belong in." Good boots should force you to bend your knees.
Start a full size smaller than you wear for shoes. Most people are a half to a full size bigger in shoes than they should be and are at least a size large in ski boots. You'll know if they are too small. You probably won't if they are too big.
Something to consider: properly fitting shoes should have an inch between the lacing eyes. Most people have shoes that are too big and this gap is smaller. Ski boots are often the same. If you have the right size, you will probably have them hooked in the middle of each buckle, not on the tightest setting. Ones with thermic fit will often conform to your feet better, but you have to start with a decent fit overall.
Most places you can return for a while after you buy them if you don't use them. Put them on and wear them at home for a couple days. If you have a pair of skis around that fit them, crank the bindings up and lean forward to see how your feet move inside of them. This will give you a good idea of heel lift if nothing else. It will also give you an idea of how they flex. This will wind up being the final determining factor if they fit.
Spending a thousand bucks on a pair of custom boots is certainly not a bad idea as far as your skiing and enjoyment goes, so big box may be sufficient without hurting the wallet as much. Just don't buy a pair that doesn't fit right simply because they are on sale.
I've worked every department, with a little too much emphasis on rental and retail at times.
Points to remember:
Your heel SHOULD NOT MOVE. No up and down or side to side.
You should be able to wiggle your toes a bit but your foot should not slide side to side.
If your toes touch the end, bend your knees and they might not. They are for skiing in, not standing tall and walking around. A friend of mine said "if you show me comfortable ski boots, I'll show you a trash can that they belong in." Good boots should force you to bend your knees.
Start a full size smaller than you wear for shoes. Most people are a half to a full size bigger in shoes than they should be and are at least a size large in ski boots. You'll know if they are too small. You probably won't if they are too big.
Something to consider: properly fitting shoes should have an inch between the lacing eyes. Most people have shoes that are too big and this gap is smaller. Ski boots are often the same. If you have the right size, you will probably have them hooked in the middle of each buckle, not on the tightest setting. Ones with thermic fit will often conform to your feet better, but you have to start with a decent fit overall.
Most places you can return for a while after you buy them if you don't use them. Put them on and wear them at home for a couple days. If you have a pair of skis around that fit them, crank the bindings up and lean forward to see how your feet move inside of them. This will give you a good idea of heel lift if nothing else. It will also give you an idea of how they flex. This will wind up being the final determining factor if they fit.
Spending a thousand bucks on a pair of custom boots is certainly not a bad idea as far as your skiing and enjoyment goes, so big box may be sufficient without hurting the wallet as much. Just don't buy a pair that doesn't fit right simply because they are on sale.
I've worked every department, with a little too much emphasis on rental and retail at times.
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