Room in the Toe

When you buy a new pair of boots - how much room do you want in the toe?

I'm considering a pair with really no room and it has been suggested the liner will stretch after a couple of ski sessions. The toes are definitely not scrunched just snug right now.

Angus said:

When you buy a new pair of boots - how much room do you want in the toe?

I'm considering a pair with really no room and it has been suggested the liner will stretch after a couple of ski sessions. The toes are definitely not scrunched just snug right now.

Click to expand...

Not scrunched but snug is usually just abour right for a brand new boot. Pretty quickly that liner will start to pack out(makes it feel like it stretches) and you be left with a comfortable feeling boot

w\When I buy a boot, the toes will be just grazing the front of the liner.

Boot fit

Angus,
Here are some things you can do to help you decide if you've got the right boot....

Pull the liner to see how much room you have in the shell. With your toe just touching the front, you should be able to get the width of your index finger behind your heel. Any less and you will have a very tight fit. Any more and the boot will likely get sloppy as it breaks in. Given you have a proper 'shell fit', a boot fitter should have the appropriate tools to stretch the toe area of your liner - no need to wait for the liner to 'pack'. This is an 'every day' process for an experienced boot fitter.

Before you go any further, be sure you have some type of footbed (other than what came with the boot) to give your entire foot a proper foundation. Because your arch will be supported, you will likely find more toe room than you had before. When you have a footbed in place and you are in the boot with a 'thin' ski sock, it's o.k. if you feel the front of the liner. When you flex the boot, you should feel some additional room develop as your heel moves back into the heel pocket. Be sure you have the bottom 'cuff buckle' secure in order to hold your foot in place.

All this advice covers the proper fit with regard ONLY to the length. Keep in mind that you also need to be certain that you're in the right 'last' (width across the metatarsals). Getting the right shell for your foot is all a part of the process. If the boot is too narrow, the shell can be stretched (with so many options, this is generally not advised for a new purchase). If it is too wide, you are bound to have problems - 'filling up' a new boot to make it fit is also NOT advised.

Lastly (pun not intended), the flex pattern needs to be evaluated for your specific needs - skier type, strength, flexibility as well as type of ski. Bottom line - you should visit an experienced boot fitter to properly determine whether the boot is right for you. There's no such thing as a good deal, if the boot doesn't fit. A boot fit CAN'T be bought over the internet.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to write.
Good luck and have a great season.
Dave Newman, Master Certified Boot Fitter
http://twitter.com/skibootdoc

Nicely done!