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Boots dilemma.

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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Hi there NSers, hoping you guys can give me a bit of advice here...

Last year was my first 'real' season where I sort of decided to get into sking as a hobby, but I really knew nothing about the sport at the time so I bought boots that really weren't/aren't great for what I'm wanting to do.

This brings me to the real issue at hand - what boots to buy. I've been lurking the forums since the end of the Aussie ski season last year and the general consensus seems to be that FullTilts and Dalbellos are the way to go.

Now I could jump onto any website or eBay and pick up a pair in my size (28.5) for about $300-$400 USD which is about $285-$385 AUD - sweet! Problem solved, right? Not really... I have no idea if these things will fit me at all.

But Sameface, y u no go into store to try them on? Well, in Ausfailia there are only a handful of stores that sell boots and only 2-3 that even stock the boots I'm after. Not just that but they charge $50 to try boots on (this price is taken out of the sale price if you buy them however).

But SAMEFACE, Y U NO BUY FROM STORE? Welp, a pair of FullTilt Hotdoggers would probably cost me about $700-$800 AUD to buy in-store.... Yeah, they seriously charge that much... I have no idea why.

So there's my problem... buy them for less than half price online OR spend like $800 to get a guarenteed fit. What do guys, what do?

Sorry for the long, long, incredibly long wind-up.

Not sure if you would need this but here's my "stats";
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 65kg
Skis: K2 Revivals (164cm)
Bindings: Marker Griffon

Thanks in advance dudes!

Mar 25 2012 9:37PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
What kind of boots are you in now? Are you 100% sure that you are a 28 shell? So you wear an 11 or 12 US shoe then?
Mar 25 2012 9:47PM
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Nate_Doggg
Posts: 476 - Karma: 415
go "buy" them in AUs, just try them on to find the right size and don't purchase or return them if you do... and Buy online for cheapp. Check out this shop ( its local ) they're 385$ USD here http://suburbanskiandbike.com/store/product/19228/Full-Tilt-Hot-Dogger-11-12-240/
Mar 25 2012 9:51PM
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Caucasian_Asian
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 1,665
Don't be a tool.  Buy boots from a brick and mortal shop.  Spend some time and find one with a good bootfitter.  Yes, they exist in AUS.  And then get the boot that fits your foot, not the trend whore boot.

How much is that $385USD boot going to cost to ship HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD?  Is it going to fit?  Is it the right size?  How much will it cost the bootfitter(that you should have seen in the first place) to fit that boot that you just bought online?

Mar 25 2012 9:59PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Hey thanks for your response.

Well I'm currently using Salomon Impact 8's. No I'm not 100% sure I'm a 28 shell but my Impact 8's are a 28.5. I usually wear a 10(ish) US shoe.

Mar 25 2012 10:03PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

All excellent points which I have deliberated at length.

Yes there are stores in Australia that can do this but last time I did this they just got whatever stock they had left in the store and sold me some boots, sure they fit OK but they just wanted to make a sale.

I like your point about the 'trend whore boot' - I have no idea if the FullTilts will fit me at all and I sure don't want to buy some boots just because all of the big kids did as well. I will take this into consideration.

Are you implying that the cost of shipping is going to be upward of $300? Because that's the price difference between buying them online and buying them in Australia, link at the bottom of the page for reference.

All of your points about size/fit/et cetera are vaild, this is what I'm thinking really... Will it be worth me just buying some boots online then getting them fitted to my foot or buying from the store and paying another $300-$400?

+k for a great response.

http://www.jindabynesports.com.au/browse/details.asp?ProdID=135380

Mar 25 2012 10:10PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Yeeeahhh, sorry if I wasn't clear but they will charge me to try them on. If I walk out of the store without making a purchase then I have to give them $50. I don't think they will accept a return if they've been fitted to my foot.

Thanks for your response.

Mar 25 2012 10:15PM
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Nate_Doggg
Posts: 476 - Karma: 415
They can't make you pay for not buying anything. Tell them to fuck off and leave.
Mar 25 2012 10:23PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
What are you trying to gain by going to new boots? A proper fitting boot is 95% of the time smaller than your shoe size. The last thing you wanna do is drop coin and end up with boots that pack out and are too big. FTs are going to be a much tighter and lower volume fit than the impacts, esp in the toe box and instep areas..
Mar 25 2012 10:23PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

They can and do, that's just the way it is mate.

If I did just "tell them to fuck off and leave" I would then effectively 'blacklist' myself from the only ski store in town.

Mar 25 2012 10:26PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Well my Impact's don't really feel like they have any flex to them - maybe I don't NEED new boots at all, as you say.

Also weight, I've felt Hotdoggers (just as an example) before and both feel like they weighed less than one of my boots. Maybe it was all in my head but I would assume that I would have a whole lot more mobility with the lighter boots.

Oh I forgot to mention in my OP that I was wanting to get into doing a lot more park sking this year as well and less downhill stuff. Not sure if that was a given.

Mar 25 2012 10:30PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 465
Not to be a buzzkill, but I think that's a pretty good policy for them. Why let kids try on your boots so they can get a good fit from a pair off ebay?
Mar 25 2012 10:31PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Not at all dude, I totally understand why they do this.

I would be happy to buy them from the store if there wasn't such a HUGE price jump. Seriously, how do they justify a $400 difference?

Mar 25 2012 10:33PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
FTs are waaaay lighter than any other boot out there right now that Ive come across. That said, at 150lbs, you should be able to flex that boot, its pretty soft. The fact that its probably a size or two too big is not helping you flex the boot either.
Mar 25 2012 10:45PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Haha ok so I need to work on the leg muscles then.

Well there you go - the Impacts I bought from a store for like $700, custom fitted, custom footbeds etc and now you reckon the bloke who fitted them gave me two sizes too big? Maybe I have wonky feet that grow and shrink depending on the temperature.

Mar 25 2012 10:52PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 465
I would try them on, pay 50 bucks, then buy them on ebay.
Mar 25 2012 11:48PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Good advice, cheers mate.

+k

Mar 25 2012 11:52PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
Word, well maybe then they are right, but in the 6 years that I fitted at a rather high end shop, I think I had maybe four people that ended in the same size boot as shoes. Esp if you have a custom footbed which is made to drop you down a shell size usually. Do you remember if you got shell fitted?

Either way, drop the 50 bones, get sized right, then if ya must, buy them online and save a couple bills.
Mar 26 2012 12:21PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
Really if you can buy the boots in a shop rather then online. I think you will find that $300-400 price difference disappears quite fast. Getting a boot ship will cost a bit, as will the import charges. Then you will need the boots molding ($50) if you need a stretch to the forefoot on each boot thats another $40 then if you need any alignment, footbeds ect ect its all going to add up. Your best bet is to buy in a shop and get all the fitting done for free at time of purchase. If your in an impact 100 at the moment, you may be better looking at the SPK 90. Similar fit to the impact, although the last is wider in the forefoot. But the 90 flex and more upright stance may suit you better. The FT's may fell a little tight, there much tighter then the impacts.
Mar 26 2012 12:46PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Sweet thanks guys, you're both top blokes. Cheers for the advice!

Mar 26 2012 5:39PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139
Oh and to answer your question, yes I was shell fitted when I bought the Impacts.
Mar 26 2012 5:45PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
Right, do you remember how many fingers/cms it was? Two? Three? A half?
Mar 26 2012 5:49PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139
It was close to two years ago now, but if i recall correctly I think it was maybe two cm's or so.
Mar 26 2012 6:08PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
You do realize that Full Tilts and Dalbello (mostly the former) are held in high regard mostly by 14 year olds who are more concered about emulating Tom Wallisch than about a proper fitting boot. Go to local shops and be a blank slate. Maybe you'll be lucky and there will be an excellent fitting boot on sale, and that $50 fee will be laughable. Or you could blindly order online, get the wrong fit or size, and have fun racking up lots of international shipping costs
Mar 26 2012 7:11PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
not to mention the 200 buck fitting cost to get them to fit right after buying online.
Mar 26 2012 7:17PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6638 - Karma: 10,532
Stuff tends to be way more expensive in Australia because of exchange rate and simply getting the product all the way over there is a pain in the ass for companies- I know.

With that said, try to support the local shop. Australia has surprisingly good boot-fitters (it tends to be an English speaking thing) so getting your boot fit from the start by them will pay off in the long run. No point saving money if it gives you shinbang and no fit-guarantee. It sucks that things are usually way more in Australia but it's just how it is. Pay more for your boot and have it get fit by good boot-fitter who will guarantee the fit and take care of you down the road if problems arise.
Mar 26 2012 11:11PM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Wisdom.

Yeah I do try to support the local places as much as I can, but for something that doesn't need fitting (ie boots) I can't really justify spending double or triple on what the product 'should' cost.

Thanks for the response onenerdykid and thanks everyone else for your advice.

Mar 26 2012 11:35PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
you should win an award for that statement. 99% of boot problem/feet pain threads here on NS would have been solved if the person had bought boots from a reputable retailer who knew what they were doing. Its kinda like buying a Ferrari from the corner mexican pos dealer, or buying one the is a CPO from a ferrari dealer.
Mar 27 2012 12:04AM
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YUNG_milksteAk
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 4,327
I don't know much about boots but your skis seem to small, but good luck on the boots
Mar 27 2012 12:14AM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
Click for larger image
Mar 27 2012 12:36AM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Punter purchase hehe, I'll probably pick up some 173cm Punx for this coming season. Cheers mate.

Appreciate everyones advice so far - I'll stop bumping the thread because my question has pretty much been answered.

Thanks again guys.

Mar 27 2012 12:44AM
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Sameface
Posts: 138 - Karma: 139

Obviously a typo, you know what I mean dickhead.

Mar 27 2012 12:51AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
If any of the aussie shops have sites you could buy off there and if they fit take them to the shop to get them customized, and I'd they don't return them under the distance sellers act? If it applies in AU
Mar 27 2012 3:41AM
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