Boots: Seeking advice

[RootDKJ]

Hey everyone

I'm currently skiing on on (2006?) Nordica Speedmachiene 12's in a 27.0. A good stiff boot that has a deep & secureheel pocket, great feedback and edge control. I've always had some minor fit issues with them. Yesterday, they were perfect...hardly and adjusting required. Today, I just couldn't seem to get them to feel right. When I do get them to feel right, I really have no complaints about them. On days where they don't want to play, I find that opening the top buckles while in the lift line helps a lot.

About 2 years ago during a rainy day at Killington, I was killing time and spent some time doing a basic boot fitting. Basin put me back in the same boot. They thought it was a good match for my foot shape.

Hal at Northern Ski Works thought the Speedmachine 14 was a better choice. The Speedmachine 14 is now the Speedmachine 130. Hal also thought that the Tecnica Dragon 120 would also be a solid choice for me. One thing I noticed, is he was using boots that were 27.5's. Any idea why? Would it really matter if I'm pulling the footbed out anyway?

My Speedmachiene 12's must have around 135 days on them now and I'd really like to get something that requires less adjustments during the day. What is the consensus of buying boots online if you already kinda know what fits?

Lastly, anyone care to comment on the differences between the two models (foot bed width (last), stiffness, performance)?

Thanks

 

[deadheadskier]

I gambled and bought on line for my Kryptons and it worked out, but I don't think I'll do it again despite the couple hundred in savings. to risky a gamble.

 

[Glenn]

I'd go back to a fitter and go from there. My wife and I have been visiting Mt Snow Bootworks a lot lately. Custom footbeds....ahhhh! You may pay a bit more vs leftovers from the internet, but you'll make it up easily for what you get in service and fit. IMHO.

 

[marcski]

I have an older pair of speedmachines. I love them. I spend some money, went to a good bootfitting shop. I had a pair of custom footbeds made, which I feel are great and certainly add to the boots comfort. I don't even unbuckle the boots when I go in for lunch, let alone on the lifts. They are starting to get a good number of days on them and when I am skiing more advanced terrain, I do crank them up a bit. I think they have another year or so on them.

But, Root, I think my next boot, I may try and just buy another pair of speedmachines online and transfer the footbed. I'll look into the last sizes and try and get the same size. Nordica's have always fit me best. And...to be honest, other than having the footbed made, I didn't have to tweak the boots at all. If I had to get some fitting issues taking care of, I think I'd be less apt to purchase my next pair online.

 

[RootDKJ]

I had to do a lot to the Nordica's when I 1st got them. The on the left boot, I really had to get the outside by the buckle blown out as I was getting a pinch there. It took several trips to get that to an ok point. I had a few other modifications done, but don't recall them now.

My skiing has gotten much better, so that's also figuring in my wanting for something stiffer.

Anyone care to compare the two models?

 

[RootDKJ]

just my $.01, but sounds like there's no custom footbed in..y/n? Yank the stock mat out and have a custom footbed made + maybe a little bootwork(as mentioned)... Might also dry the liners same way, each day, if possible = not letting them stay in shells over night..

$.01

Superfeet Green's and heel lifts to help correct my (pronated) stance.

 

[bigbog]

Of course the 14 will be stiffer...but the 12 is already a stiff boot..imho(being ~170-180lbs). Fit in cuff, heel & surrounding area often seems to matter most, plus room over your instep for circulation...the rest can be worked..

$.01

 

[wa-loaf]

Spend the money at the shop for boots!

Besides being stiffer the SM14/130 has a narrower last I believe. Otherwise has all the same features as the 12.

 

[wa-loaf]

Related I had a pair of Nordica Hot Rods (same shell as the Doberman) that I bought on-line and spent a fair amount on boot fitting. The biggest problem was that the leaked like crazy, just basically sucked snow in while skiing. Put up with it for 2 years. ($400 boots, $150 footbeds, $200 for boot fitting/canting.alignment)

Picked up some Atomic CS130's this fall from the shop this time. Felt awesome in the shop, but once I started skiing I felt in the back seat all the time and the liner really sucked. Too soft and squishy for a performance boot. Went back to the shop for more work. Also did canting and alignment again. We put the liners from the Nordica's in just because they are much better (denser) than the Atomic ones. They ski awesome now. ($450 boots + $100 canting/alignment) Spent less and these should last for awhile now.

 

[Greg]

One thing I noticed, is he was using boots that were 27.5's. Any idea why? Would it really matter if I'm pulling the footbed out anyway?

Usually the only difference in half sizes are thinner liners. Same shell. So the 27.0 and 27.5 shells are the same.

 

[hammer]

Usually the only difference in half sizes are thinner liners. Same shell. So the 27.0 and 27.5 shells are the same.

IIRC sometimes the difference is in the thickness of the stock footbed...

Does anyone know the significance of the length marked on the side of the shell?

 

[wa-loaf]

IIRC sometimes the difference is in the thickness of the stock footbed...

Does anyone know the significance of the length marked on the side of the shell?

That's the boot sole length (bsl), you need to know that for mounting the bindings.

 

[hammer]

That's the boot sole length (bsl), you need to know that for mounting the bindings.

Thanks...any correlation between it and the internal shell size? I just remember reading how different manufactures size differently, so a 26 isn't really the same between manufacturers...:roll:

 

[wa-loaf]

Thanks...any correlation between it and the internal shell size? I just remember reading how different manufactures size differently, so a 26 isn't really the same between manufacturers...:roll:

The Shell Size 26, 26.5, 27, etc.. is the centimeter length of the inside of the shell. But that can vary from company to company.

 

[RootDKJ]

Ok, I'm off to see the bootfitter.

 

[RootDKJ]

Ok, I'm off to see the bootfitter.

So I'm less then thrilled with the current selection the local shops have. It seems like all the top ends of the product lines are either not carried or sold out.

 

[Glenn]

So I'm less then thrilled with the current selection the local shops have. It seems like all the top ends of the product lines are either not carried or sold out.

Yeah, that's a common theme now. We were at Mt Snow Bootworks this weekend. They litterally have about 8-10 pairs of womens boots left in the shop. My wife was thinking of getting new boots. But footbeds saved the day.

 

[wa-loaf]

But footbeds saved the day.

Good point. New footbeds might give you the little bit of extra comfort you need until you find the boot you want. And you can take them with you to the new boots.

 

[RootDKJ]

Yeah, that's a common theme now. We were at Mt Snow Bootworks this weekend. They litterally have about 8-10 pairs of womens boots left in the shop. My wife was thinking of getting new boots. But footbeds saved the day.

The guy at Heino's basically told me that it was a pretty good season so far and they moved a good percentage of their stock rather quickly. He actually suggested I try some of the larger shops near the mountains in VT or buy online.

He did say that if I found a boot I wanted online and came back to them for custom footbeds, that they would also take care of any minor shell issues for me. I thought that was pretty reasonable.

 

[o3jeff]

The guy at Heino's basically told me that it was a pretty good season so far and they moved a good percentage of their stock rather quickly. He actually suggested I try some of the larger shops near the mountains in VT or buy online.

He did say that if I found a boot I wanted online and came back to them for custom footbeds, that they would also take care of any minor shell issues for me. I thought that was pretty reasonable.

Any shop will take care of adjustments if they aren't bought there, but at a price. When you buy the boots at a shop they will usually take care of the adjustments for free for a at least a year and will usually give you a break on the footbeds.