hi
does anyone out there know of a place that I can buy ski boots that are molded to fit an individual? I know you can get the foam insides molded to fit, but I have heard that it is possible to have this done with the hard outer shell as well. Has anyone had it done? do you know where it can be done?
Thanks

um ilive in davos and theres a dude that custom fits your boot but it will set you back round 400 to 500

The sports shop in Einsiedeln (opposite the railway station and just along from the big Migros - sorry, I forgot the name) will do it. Staff are really pleasant and helpful. None of the boots I have had from there have ever let me down and I have been going there for the last 8 years for ski stuff.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm looking for moulded ski boots as well, hopefully in the Lausanne region. Any help/ suggestions where to go/ prices would be ace Thanks!

Here is a link to a guy that makes them in Zurich. Have not been there, but would expect them to run about 600-800 based on what he charges just for custom insoles for golf shoes plus the cost of a boot.

http://www.zumglueck.ch/Schuh-Fitting_en.html

Christop at Zumglueck is first class but expensive, but if you have problem feet and want comfortable ski boots it is worth a try. I am now in my forth season with his fitted boots and no problems.

You mean here:

http://www.wisel-kaelin-sport.ch/Web...tartseite.html

I was there this year for some new boots and it worked out really good.

Thanks to all for the replies. Appointment has been made with the guy in Zurich. It looks just the right place (though probably very expensive :-( but skiing without pain is very important. Very impressed that they offer a 3 year warrenty.

I've just completed my 4th boot purchase - went with the Scarpa Typhoon - but as a general gear freak I'm interested in knowing the details.

I know that you can:
- mold thermo-moldable liners such as Intuitions to your feet;
- punch out areas of the shell to accommodate for 'hotspots';
- get plug shells and grind out the inside: apparently popular with racers

.. But mold the shell? I've never heard of this before. Please share some more details!

BTW I dropped by Zum Glueck last season, and didn't purchase there since the foam-injected liners they do made the boot too heavy for what I was trying to get (80% lift-based skiing, 20% touring). At that time the guy said nothing about molding the shell.

I have never heard of moulded shells? When I got mine fitted he did say if I had a pinch in the boot he could sort this? maybe this is what they mean by moulding?

BTW, the liners are very heavy.

Stöckli Swiss Sports AG (Balz-Zimmermann-Strasse 7 8302 Kloten) will mold the shell for free if you buy the ski boots from them. This is what they offered me in case I will get any problems (I bought a pair of Lange)

It's getting to be that time of year again, and Im thinking of getting back into some skiing after a 5 year break.

Anyone tried out these boot fitters close to Einsiedeln http://www.mass-skischuh.ch/ ?

BTW Until the end of this week (27 Oct) Ochnser is doing ski services half price.

I went to Zum Gluck last year and I have very wide feet. After he measured my feet we went into town while he worked. When we came back the boots were modified. He showed me an original boot (narrow) and the widened ones (my new boots). I don`t know how he did it but I am sure you can expand a shell, Im not sure if thats what we are talking about here.

I dont have the custom liner. I asked for it but was told by Christop I don`t need it and my boots were "cheaper" because of that but still expensive. Completely worth it for me. Standard boots were so uncomfortable that I was sitting in the cafe while my wife and child were at ski school.

I thoroughly recommend the boots. Lot of money upfront but have made getting in and out of the boots MUCH easier for me and I now ski pain free.

Ball-park cost of your boots without any custom liner?

They put a press into the shell pushing on the part to expand, then use a handle to gradually increase the pressure to a judged amount. Once in place, the boot shell is heated to 'just the right temperature' with a hot air gun, then allowed to cool into its new shape. This can be repeated at several spots on the shell if required.

In general, if you can't get boots that fit properly, I'd recommend going for tighter ones then getting them 'blown out' like this, as long as the amount we're talking about is not too great. Most shops will do this for free if you buy the boots there, although I'm aware of specialist fitting services that will charge you for the privilege rather than selling you the boots.

One point to note is that over time they will tend to revert to their original shape, especially if they're overheated by leaving on or near a radiator or in a hot car in the full sun. So they may become tighter over time, wlthough this would usually be more than compensated for by the boot inner becoming more compressed.

Getting injection-moulded inners is really quite different, and more often used when the originals have given up the ghost than from new (except for top racers, where the whole boot is custom-made to fit). It will be able, to some degree, to compensate for a shell that's too loose all round, but I wouldn't recommend it as a general fix for all. All else apart, they are made to fit the foot _exactly_, and when, for example, you've had them made at the end of one long season, you then try to put them on at the start of the next, you may find, as I did, that your foot has changed shape sufficiently over the summer to render the exact fitting inners completely the wrong shape. Agony may ensue, for quite some time until your feet re-adapt to skiing and start to regain their previous shape.

Custom footbed which I need for high arches ( I wear orthotics), boots widened significantly (I wear US 4E trainers), custom fit, spent 3 hours in the store myself between measuring, fitting, adjusting myself and 2 hours in the middle of the day I went to central Zurich while he worked on the boots.

Total cost 1,000 chf No custom liner. Lange Super blaster 120 boots bright orange on the bottom black on top.

And I was told to bring them back for any problems and I know from Thalwiler that he means it and stands by his product. Not cheap but worth it for me.

This seems an interesting new offer http://www.fischersports.com/en/Alpi...hts/VACUUM-FIT

Combined with bespoke footbed..?

i read some reviews on these last night. Basically they seemed to have some teething problems while the bookmakers figured out exactly how to fit them properly. Wouldn't have worked for me as with a last of 98 and +/- 5 on the custom fit they still wouldn't have been wide enough. I'm sorted now for hopefully the next 10 years.

I think it still comes down the quality of the fitter so if you can find one you trust through recommendations thats what Id look for.

Assuming your German is OK, it's worth talking to Hans Vetsch of Sportis in Richterswil. He did my current boots and footbeds and they're the most comfortable and best fitting I've ever had (and I've tried a few "bootfitting" services in resort). I've also had my last 2 or 3 pairs of skis from them. As a qualified high mountain guide, Hans' natural inclination is more towards touring setups but he carries a good range of touring, alpine and hybrid boots. And I like supporting my local independent shop too, very personal service. They also do "intro to powder" type days a few times through the season too, as well as harder-core touring if that's your bag

I might take a look at Sportis, I like to support local business. What ballpark cost?