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Experience buying boots online

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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Hello NS

Currently have been riding dalbello krypton rampages for now close to 9-10 years. I love the boots to death, fit my feet very very well and ride well. My problem ever since I got them is that they are just not aggressive enough for me. Being a youngin when I bought them, I was more interested in a cool, comfy boot vs an aggressive boot and i have gained about 20 lbs since I started using them.

I do have a racer back ground but love the freeride boots stance and versatility. Been looking at some of the stiffer dalbello krypton boot lineup (120-130 flex). Anyone know how much the boots have changed over the years? Is this a good idea? I know you should buy in store but would buying online to save 3-400 be worth it?
Sep 14 2015 1:11PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6638 - Karma: 10,532
If you are buying current year product, there will be almost no advantages to buying online. Quite often, buying from a store will get you a boot-fit guarantee and the shop will perform any boot fitting related labor for cheap or free of charge. This will most likely come in handy for you at some point.

Regardless, you definitely want to get assessed by a boot-fitter to see if that is the right boot for you still. Things have changed slightly with the boot and most likely with your leg&foot shape over the years. Your boots are the most important part of your set up and you will have them for a few years at least (just like your old ones), so definitely make sure you take the right steps and don't cut corners. It will only bite you in the ass in the long run if you do it wrong.
Sep 14 2015 1:50PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
onenerdykidIf you are buying current year product, there will be almost no advantages to buying online. Quite often, buying from a store will get you a boot-fit guarantee and the shop will perform any boot fitting related labor for cheap or free of charge. This will most likely come in handy for you at some point.

Regardless, you definitely want to get assessed by a boot-fitter to see if that is the right boot for you still. Things have changed slightly with the boot and most likely with your leg&foot shape over the years. Your boots are the most important part of your set up and you will have them for a few years at least (just like your old ones), so definitely make sure you take the right steps and don't cut corners. It will only bite you in the ass in the long run if you do it wrong.


True. Good point. That was my biggest fear. Guess I will just have to stick out another year in my rampages don't really want to spend 6-700 bucks on 120-130 flex boots.

Know of any tips to get some stiffer flex in a boot? I have had a booster strap for years. Honestly on super cold days from last year (-20+ degrees) the extra stiffness helped so much. Its not a big deal on the EC so much but when I get out west on steeper terrain I could use the higher performance.
Sep 14 2015 3:17PM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 868
Rivet the cuff to the clog? That'll make them a whole lot stiffer though...
Sep 14 2015 3:33PM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
Do you have custom footbeds? Footbeds can actually make the boot feel stiffer because when you support your feet in the boot with the footbed and get them into a neutral position you cut down on the movement in the boot which can make them feel stiffer or more powerful.

I always found my boots to feel far more powerful once I got a footbed into them.

You could look into getting a foam injection liner perhaps? The foam will fill in all the little gaps in the boot which can help reduce movement in the boot which again can help make the boot feel stiffer. I don't know if you would want spend the money on a new liner though just for a years use.
Sep 14 2015 5:04PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
NegromancerDo you have custom footbeds? Footbeds can actually make the boot feel stiffer because when you support your feet in the boot with the footbed and get them into a neutral position you cut down on the movement in the boot which can make them feel stiffer or more powerful.

I always found my boots to feel far more powerful once I got a footbed into them.

You could look into getting a foam injection liner perhaps? The foam will fill in all the little gaps in the boot which can help reduce movement in the boot which again can help make the boot feel stiffer. I don't know if you would want spend the money on a new liner though just for a years use.


Yea have had custom footbeds since day 1. I have always been a very aggresive skier and now that I weight a lot more I need something much stiffer...120-130 especially with a racer background.

Anyone know anything about Nordica Patron Pros? Found them online for $200
Sep 16 2015 11:33AM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
If I remember correctly you could just buy stiffer tongues for the rampages, I think A is the stiffest and is about a 130 flex, but your gonna need the origninal tongue style, they changed them for the kr2 and lupos.
Sep 16 2015 3:52PM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
KravtZAnyone know anything about Nordica Patron Pros? Found them online for $200


Other peoples opinion on boots mean nothing at all.

One person may say that the boot is the greatest boot of all time because they fit that particular person really well.
Another person may say that the same boot is the worst boot ever made because they didn't fit properly.

If you're asking about build quality or material quality though all major brands, Nordica, Atomic, Lange, Dalbello, etc make well made boots.

Just go to a boot fitter and get fitted properly. If you cheap out on boots and buy them online all you're going to end up doing is wasting money and inflicting pain and unhappiness on yourself. Trust me you can buy cheap, 20th hand skis, jackets, pants, and goggles but the one piece of equipment you don't want to cheap out on is ski boots.
Sep 16 2015 8:46PM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
The other thing I forgot to add in is that the chances of a pair of boots fitting out the box is very small, especially if you're an ex-racer, I'd assume you have a specific way your boots like to fit. If you buy your boots from a good shop and fitter then getting work done on them such as punching and grinding should be free. If you buy your boots online and then take them into a shop to get them modified, the shop is going to charge you and often they'll charge you a lot which defeats the whole purpose of buying online to save money.
Sep 16 2015 8:50PM
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poonis
Posts: 248 - Karma: 1,389
Go to a boot fitter, try the boot you want in your size, get all the info you need to know, and if it's the same exact boot and size online, then pull the trigger. NEVER buy a boot online if you haven't gone to a boot fitter!!

I recently bought a pair of Full Tilt Drop Kicks online, but I made sure to go to a boot fitter first and get everything I needed to know.
Sep 19 2015 12:58AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
keefskiGo to a boot fitter, try the boot you want in your size, get all the info you need to know, and if it's the same exact boot and size online, then pull the trigger. NEVER buy a boot online if you haven't gone to a boot fitter!!

I recently bought a pair of Full Tilt Drop Kicks online, but I made sure to go to a boot fitter first and get everything I needed to know.


Pulled the trigger on the boots I wanted. Nordica Patron Pro's. Nordica's generally fit me pretty well. I have very narrow feet also. If they are THAT uncompatable with my feet ill simply just return them. But Im going to take a big risk right now. Hope I can get them to fit me well.

Does anyone have any advice how to break in a boot without skiing? Walk around the house in them?
Sep 19 2015 10:19AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6638 - Karma: 10,532
KravtZDoes anyone have any advice how to break in a boot without skiing? Walk around the house in them?


The liners in those boots don't use a very thick foam or foam layers, so break in time will be very minimal in regards to the liner. The shell, however, will never break in and thus no matter how you wear it, it will never become better as time goes on. It could get worse, however, and cause bones to grow calcium deposits in order to protect themselves.

So, just do yourself a flavor and as soon as you get them go to a boot-fitter (and bring your footbeds with you). Just have him assess the boot and find out what the boot will need before you go skiing. If he recommends that you will need a stretch and/or grind somewhere, do it before you go skiing since skiing will not make it any better if the plastic is not the right shape for you from the start.
Sep 19 2015 12:33PM
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BlackcountryBill
Posts: 955 - Karma: 576
KravtZPulled the trigger on the boots I wanted. Nordica Patron Pro's. Nordica's generally fit me pretty well. I have very narrow feet also. If they are THAT uncompatable with my feet ill simply just return them. But Im going to take a big risk right now. Hope I can get them to fit me well.

Does anyone have any advice how to break in a boot without skiing? Walk around the house in them?


So you asked for advice, then went against all the advice you got? You're dumb.
Sep 22 2015 6:47AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
BlackcountryBillSo you asked for advice, then went against all the advice you got? You're dumb.


As I said before...big ris big reward. All in the boots cost me $50 bucks. Seems like a solid deal for $700 dollar boots. I did a lot of research on the boot and I think they will generally fit my foot well since its really narrow. Hoping a store could do some serious work and make the fit like a glove. Gotta buy new bindings and some other stuff so hopefully they package that in with my bootwork
Sep 22 2015 9:40AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Just wanted to follow up on this. Got my boots. Im very very surprised. For one they are super light and just a badass looking boot. Besides that, fit wise, they fit AMAZING out of the box. Granted Im sure theyll need some adjustments after I use them...plan on getting new footbeds since I have very flat feet. But pleasantly surprised.

Anyone else thinking of buying cheaper boots online I would recommend it after this. Obviously if you can afford to go in store def do that...but for me 90% off was so worth it.

Did a lot of research into how boots generally fit and what would be best for my feet.
Sep 29 2015 10:04AM
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