Backcountry.com (mini rant)

[crank]

So I've been looking for some backcountry boots and had tried several on a few weeks ago in VT. None fit. So I was looking at some boots recommended for wide feet on backcountry.com. The little chat window pops up so I tell them what I am looking for and the guy recommends a boot. I look at the page and the 2 reviews, one of which says, "..fit great right out of the box and I have a long and very narrow foot" So I type back to the "expert" in the chat box, "lol. read the reviews." He types back that he just goes by specs and can't see the reviews. I 'spect he is going by what they are pushing and have a decent profit margin on and leave the site.

No I am not planning on buying boots online but wanted to get an idea what brands models might have a chance of fitting me. Their online expert was no help...just saying'.

 

[deadheadskier]

did the dimensions of the boot support the reviewer or the backcountry.com employee? Width numbers are pretty well published these days.

 

[Puck it]

Never had a probelm with the experts. They always knew the products and use them.

 

[snowmonster]

Give the guy a break. They're generalists looking at the entire bc.com catalog not a dedicated bootfitter. Besides, if a boot is listed as having a 102 toebox, that's probably going to fit someone with wide feet (as opposed to a 97 toebox). Also, just because someone has a long narrow foot does not mean his feet won't do well in boot with a wider toebox. In my case, I have a narrow-ish foot that fits well in a Lange with a 98 toebox. My AT boot (BD Factor) has a 102 toebox. Fits perfectly well right out of the box. So, the bc guy may just be right too.

 

[thetrailboss]

I only had one issue with Backcountry.com and that was they accidentally sent the wrong bindings for my Tigersharks. I got a hold of a nice sales rep and they overnighted the right ones, paid for the wrong ones to be sent back, etc. Can't beat that. It happens...nobody is perfect. It is how they fix it.

Otherwise, I have had great luck with them. They are based here in SLC, which is dangerous, because you can go to the warehouse and get exactly what you want right there.

And you already admitted that buying boots online is a bad idea. I don't think that they would push you to a certain model to make more money. That does not work out too well in the long run for businesses, especially online outdoor retailers where the competition is fierce.

 

[crank]

What I do know is that in all my searches for boots that fit wide feet the boot he recommended came up in none of them and a guy with narrow feet was raving about the fit. Doesn't take an expert boot fitter to figure out that something's wrong there.

 

[〽❄❅]

Give the guy a break. They're generalists looking at the entire bc.com catalog not a dedicated bootfitter. Besides, if a boot is listed as having a 102 toebox, that's probably going to fit someone with wide feet (as opposed to a 97 toebox). Also, just because someone has a long narrow foot does not mean his feet won't do well in boot with a wider toebox. In my case, I have a narrow-ish foot that fits well in a Lange with a 98 toebox. My AT boot (BD Factor) has a 102 toebox. Fits perfectly well right out of the box. So, the bc guy may just be right too.

+1
i have a narrow heel low volume forefoot but my big toe is the longest and my toes don't exactly taper inward. To give you a idea they are a shape which fit the five finger vibram shoes and merril trail glove shoes as if those were custom made for my feet. Wide ski boots such as salmon's 100+ last and most all others don't work because they still taper like a football. As do the boots with zones to add width, they're probably great for people with bunions, not me. And 97 last boots are great in the heel but don't work because they squeeze my toes together much more than i trust to punch (assuming their liners would expand to the shape).

 

[marcski]

+1 on the BD Factors. I generally like them with some room up front and tight in the back. (ski boots not women! :-o) The factors did fit me right out of the box with the 102 toe box and a super tight, grippy heel pocket. Obviously you would want to try them on before you make a purchase online.

 

[riverc0il]

It sounds like you have particular needs for fitting a difficult to fit foot (I have wide feet too). It also sounds like you only went to one shop and then were expecting someone online to tell you which boot would best fit your hard to fit foot that a local shop already couldn't help you with. Maybe you should shop more shops and try on more boots and not ask online customer service to help you with something that they can't help you with online. You can't fit books via instant message, you are expecting too much.

 

[hammer]

Bought hiking boots online (steepandcheap) once...didn't fit and they took them back no problem, but I ate the shipping costs ($20). Only way I would try it again is if I had free shipping both ways or I could return them back to a store (e.g., REI, LLBean). Too many variables to know if a boot would fit before actually trying them on.

 

[crank]

It sounds like you have particular needs for fitting a difficult to fit foot (I have wide feet too). It also sounds like you only went to one shop and then were expecting someone online to tell you which boot would best fit your hard to fit foot that a local shop already couldn't help you with. Maybe you should shop more shops and try on more boots and not ask online customer service to help you with something that they can't help you with online. You can't fit books via instant message, you are expecting too much.

I was only looking for boots that would be good for me to try on and was offered what I considered to be bad advice. Had you read my OP more carefully you might have noticed the sentence that said "I am not planning to buy boots online."

That's all.