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Newschoolers please help me find the boot for me!

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BeefiestExpert
Posts: 2804 - Karma: 3,275
So here is the deal NS, I have neatly placed all the info below about me as a skier. I am asking for YOU to help me find a boot that will fit my needs.

This upcoming year is my third year skiing all around

I would consider my skill advanced

I ski at hood so we do have a ton of pow days so i am around 70% park 30%powder/all mountain

I will be doing a considerable amount of filming and photography (if this means anything)

I just like to have fun in the park jibbing around and I would love to try some butters and presses. I just like to have fun and really don't see myself trying to throw down and compete in the future.

60% Jibs 40% Jumps

Size 11.5 with my width foot being average at 100.

Will be using 2013 Line Blends with FKS14



I am currently using 2010 Saloman Spk boots: 337 Bsl/ 29.5 and its at a 100 flex rating.

The problem: These boots are slightly big for me. I feel that they arent very tight to my foot and that i am able to wiggle around. They're are also super flexed out to the point its just like nothing.... Its not responsive at all on jumps and i often feel like i am flying out of my boots or landing and having my shins press down really hard. Riding all mountain is kind of annoying with them because of how soft they are i feel that with a stiffer boots i could be able to have a more comfortable and enjoyable ride. The condition of the boot itself is really bad actually so its just time for an upgrade.

I would love to try a stiffer boot and am actually very interested in Dalbello or Ace 3/2 Stars

I went into my local shop and asked the boot fitter and the first thing he asked me was what do i normally do.... Of course i responded by saying i ride park. He instanly referred me to the full tilt B&E but i tried explaining to him how i hate soft boots and i want to try something stiff. He told me that no park skier should use a boot stiffer than 120..... I know this is complete bs and he was just trying to get me to buy the expensive full tilts with extra tongues because apparently you need to switch the tongues out if your going to be doing jumps/rails......

So i have only owned the spks my whole skiing career and know nothing different. I am worried because i truly dont know if i would like stiff boots because i have never experienced riding in one....

But going from like an 80 all the way to a 130 will this make a huge difference? What may be the outcome? Will it be difficult to get used to?

So newschoolers what do you think? Ace 3 Stars? Any advice?

Thank you!
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Jul 12 2014 12:53AM
12 5
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Scotty_Boy
Posts: 777 - Karma: 1,449
Just go to a boot fitter
Jul 12 2014 1:10AM
3 1
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BeefiestExpert
Posts: 2804 - Karma: 3,275
Scotty_BoyJust go to a boot fitter


I cant i tried if you would of read as i said the guys is an idiot...... He wanted me to buy full tilt b&e and then buy two sets of tongues and that no park skier should buy a boot that is as stiff as the ace 3 star..... So a boot fitter can measure my foot for me but when i am trying to talk to him about boots he will just refer to full tilt everytime
Jul 12 2014 1:56AM
0 0
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frickindarn
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 11,374
BeefiestExpertI cant i tried if you would of read as i said the guys is an idiot...... He wanted me to buy full tilt b&e and then buy two sets of tongues and that no park skier should buy a boot that is as stiff as the ace 3 star..... So a boot fitter can measure my foot for me but when i am trying to talk to him about boots he will just refer to full tilt everytime


Dude my boot fitter lied to me 2 different times. I was told I'm a 27.5 with a 98 width. I'm a 26.5 with a 103 width. Try to find a boot fitter with a foot measuring track and do it yourself. There was one just sitting on the floor at the shop near my house and I did it all within 2 minutes for both feet. Good luck homie!
Jul 12 2014 2:41AM
1 0
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Yeah I'd travel and go to a boot fitter...I'm asumming there's better boot fitters around hood. Also on my boots I have a skiing mode and a walking mode. The walking mode basically is just flexier so it's easier to get around. If your filming and need to take your boots off this is a good feature
Jul 12 2014 6:31PM
0 0
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BeefiestExpert
Posts: 2804 - Karma: 3,275
Ok I will look around for other boot fitters. Does anyone ahve the ace 3 stars and can give me any information on them like personka experience?

Im really wworied from riding a 70 flex all the way up to a 120 flex
Jul 12 2014 7:41PM
0 0
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Donketts
Posts: 261 - Karma: 173
Go to a boot fitter and tell them all this.
Jul 13 2014 1:34AM
0 0
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50Kal
Posts: 2826 - Karma: 5,367
Find a ski racer and ask him where he gets his bootfitted at. Ski racers usually know the best bootfitters in the area. Seriously.
You might need to travel far just to find a good one.
Jul 13 2014 5:31AM
1 0
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slayaa
Posts: 197 - Karma: 582
You might want to look at full tilts, especially if they don't fit. But seriously, go to a boot fitter!!!
Jul 13 2014 3:44PM
0 0
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6638 - Karma: 10,532
You have a lot of detailed information here, but none of it will help unfortunately.

What you need to do is research who are the good boot-fitters in your area. If there are none, then research who are the good boot-fitters where you go skiing. There is bound to be someone who knows how to fit boots and get you properly set up. Don't be afraid to drive a couple of hours in order to do it- your boots are your most important part of gear so spend the extra time to do it right.

And FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, do not have a boot in mind before you have a fitter examine your biomechanical needs. Finding the right boot more complicated then simply knowing your length. Walking into a fit session with a boot on your mind is probably the worst thing you could do for your own comfort and enjoyment of this rad sport and will only add to your confusion and complicating things.

So to recap- find the right fitter in your area (even it means making a day out of it and driving somewhere), don't approach the fit with a boot already in your mind- be open to the fact that the best boot for you might even been a "race boot" (the entire Wells family skis in race boots FYI).
Jul 14 2014 3:40AM
1 0
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BeefiestExpert
Posts: 2804 - Karma: 3,275
onenerdykidYou have a lot of detailed information here, but none of it will help unfortunately.

What you need to do is research who are the good boot-fitters in your area. If there are none, then research who are the good boot-fitters where you go skiing. There is bound to be someone who knows how to fit boots and get you properly set up. Don't be afraid to drive a couple of hours in order to do it- your boots are your most important part of gear so spend the extra time to do it right.

And FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, do not have a boot in mind before you have a fitter examine your biomechanical needs. Finding the right boot more complicated then simply knowing your length. Walking into a fit session with a boot on your mind is probably the worst thing you could do for your own comfort and enjoyment of this rad sport and will only add to your confusion and complicating things.

So to recap- find the right fitter in your area (even it means making a day out of it and driving somewhere), don't approach the fit with a boot already in your mind- be open to the fact that the best boot for you might even been a "race boot" (the entire Wells family skis in race boots FYI).


Alright thanks everyone for the information. I will try finding a boot fitter who knows his stuff.
Jul 16 2014 12:58PM
0 0
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caderobinson
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 4,770
Ace 3 star is so comfy so filming wont suck.
Jul 16 2014 7:29PM
0 1
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OregonDead
Posts: 6792 - Karma: 23,529
You need to try a couple of different shops. It is summer so some of the good shops might not have their best boot fitter on the floor. The Mountain Shop in Portland has a good reputation and they don't even sell Full Tilts, you might want to try them. You might be able to fill in some volume in your current boots with a new insole or wedge etc. and fix the problem for less money than new boots. If you do go with new boots don't worry too much about the flex rating #, there is no standard for this so the number doesn't really help you compare boots.
Jul 16 2014 8:03PM
0 0
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ZachAndCheese
Posts: 816 - Karma: 5,116
I was in your boots a while back. I was contemplating buying boots online or just a pair someone recommended because I thought that my boot fitter was a complete dingleberry. After posting a thread quite like this I decided to stop in at a bootfitter at the mountain I was at (not my home hill or shop). Prices there were rape but I had the fitter take a look at my foot and just get the specifics and such. I didn't end up buying a pair from their but the fitter was pretty much the perfect bootfitter so I gave him a large tip and wrote down everything that he had told me. Upon returning to my home mountain/shop I bought the boots he recommended (get hooked up with pro deals there) and did everything that he said. Ended up with the perfect boot and was beyond stoked to shred on it. You can also buy it online but most people here will call you a doosh for not supporting your local shop.
Jul 16 2014 8:11PM
2 0
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
ZachAndCheeseI was in your boots a while back. I was contemplating buying boots online or just a pair someone recommended because I thought that my boot fitter was a complete dingleberry. After posting a thread quite like this I decided to stop in at a bootfitter at the mountain I was at (not my home hill or shop). Prices there were rape but I had the fitter take a look at my foot and just get the specifics and such. I didn't end up buying a pair from their but the fitter was pretty much the perfect bootfitter so I gave him a large tip and wrote down everything that he had told me. Upon returning to my home mountain/shop I bought the boots he recommended (get hooked up with pro deals there) and did everything that he said. Ended up with the perfect boot and was beyond stoked to shred on it. You can also buy it online but most people here will call you a doosh for not supporting your local shop.


The problem with buying online is more that it will actually en up costing more then just buying from the shop. People forget fitting is free when you buy a boot in a shop but hen you but online all the fitting you need will be charged. the other thing is every skier should be using custom footbeds an these need to be made in a shop. So really never buy boot online as it will end up costing more and you will still need them fitting in a shop anyway.
Jul 16 2014 8:17PM
2 0
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