footbeds and bootfitters

[automagp68]

Hi guys

Had a quick question. Not sure this is in the right place

I have some issues with boots. I have extreamly wide and flat feet. Currently im rocking technica vento 80's with down unders in them
Last year was brutal, Everyday i could barely walk in my boots.
I had a guy at the ski market " bootfitter" ( yea right) grind some of the spots out to help with limited succes.
This year a guy recomended i try A lines instead of down unders or super feet. Can any one give me some input if they have used either and also. I would like to pay a vist to a REAL bootfitter around the boston area. Will drive whereever but the closer the better to see the real deal

Thanks for any input

 

[Hawkshot99]

Have used and sold A lines before. If you have a flat arch they will hurt. The biggest problem we had with them was that they are so hard with no pad at all. Trying to convince someone your feet would get used to the feel was almost impossible.
I used a pair for a while and was pretty happy with the way they felt. Never used Super Feet to compare to, but will this winter as we are carrying them.

 

[riverc0il]

Ditch the prepackage stuff and get a custom footbed made, ASAP! I have extremely flat feet so customs helped me get my arch in the right place. I never experienced boot pain like a lot of people do but the customs did improve both fit and performance. The guys at Ski Market, in all likely hood, don't have the experience, knowledge, or custom fitting tools to truly fit your foot.

The good bootfitter in the Boston area has since left, if I hear word correctly. Next closest to Boston that I know of is Jeff Bokum in Concord. Maybe there are others closer, but Jeff has received very high praise from folks here at AZ so you can't go wrong with Jeff based on the comments made here.

 

[Puck it]

I have used A-lines. I liked them alot in my old Head World Cup RS100 boots. I had a problem with the middle of my foot hurting. This corrected the problem. Only issue was the material was rather sticky and made it hard to get into my boot. These had a ot of grinding and heating done to them. My foot and ankle are very wide. When I switched boots(Head Mojo Heatfits). Voila. I only had to boil the boots and have the inside of the ankles blown out a little. The RS100's would take about 2 or 3 runs before I could buckle them. The Mojo's could be buckled right away. The "boiling" not really gets the boot for me about 75% there. I would suggest this first. It is very easy to do. The question that I have for you, is your current boot the right width to start with. It is easier to fit a boot if you have a boot that is wide. What type of boot is it?

 

[RISkier]

You might try to get in touch with Jeff Bokem. He's a certified pedorthist and knows what he's doing. He was in Concord and his phone and email were 603-491-4917 and skiboot@aol.com, respectively. I seem to recall hearing that he had opened another shop somewhere in Maine. He used to do a discount for Alpinezone members. I don't know if that deal is still going or not. Dan Lewis at Stan and Dan's in North Conway has a very good reputation. Find someone who knows what they're doing.

 

[severine]

Also, there is one really good bootfitter at the Ski Market in Avon, CT (don't know where you're located): Dave Newman. He used to have his own ski shop and knows what he's talking about. Several AZers have utilized his services--I, in fact, had a thorough analysis last season with custom footbeds made that completely corrected problems caused by improperly-made footbeds from another "reputable" ski shop. Highly recommend him. BTW, I have flexible flat feet (have an arch that collapses with pressure) and the custom footbeds Dave Newman made for me have addressed this the best so far out of any kinds of footbeds I've used.

Good luck!

 

[marcski]

Also, there is one really good bootfitter at the Ski Market in Avon, CT (don't know where you're located): Dave Newman. He used to have his own ski shop and knows what he's talking about. Several AZers have utilized his services--I, in fact, had a thorough analysis last season with custom footbeds made that completely corrected problems caused by improperly-made footbeds from another "reputable" ski shop. Highly recommend him. BTW, I have flexible flat feet (have an arch that collapses with pressure) and the custom footbeds Dave Newman made for me have addressed this the best so far out of any kinds of footbeds I've used.

Good luck!

I also had a pair of unweighted customs made at shop. They are great. They had me sit on a high chair, so my feet hung and didn't touch the ground. He then put the moldable beds on my feet..and then used a plastic bag with a vacuum pump..sucked all the air out and molded the beds to my feet in an unweighted position. These beds rock. So comfortable..plus it helps as others have stated to start out with a boot that matches your foot structure. I don't even have to unbuckle my boots during the day..and these boots are going on 5 years old already and have probably clost to 100 days on them already.

 

[WWF-VT]

Ski Stop in Westwood, MA maybe the closest to Boston. That shop has been consistently rated highly in past boot threads

 

[skidmarks]

Aline

Alines work real good and sometimes better than many custom food beds.

Like Superfeet Korks, the focus is getting the ankles in a neutral position. That's 90% of what you want in a ski boot right there. Rigid footbeds that lock your foot into the high arch have fallen out of favor with most high performance skiers and racers. The Aline concept is to let the forefoot do it's own thing for the sake of balance.

I personally own a Conform’able HD Vac machine which is a nice system and the Shop has a Superfeet system but I have a hard time selling myself on the idea that my customer needs more than the $60.00 Aline offers.

 

[wa-loaf]

You might try to get in touch with Jeff Bokem. He's a certified pedorthist and knows what he's doing. He was in Concord and his phone and email were 603-491-4917 and skiboot@aol.com, respectively. I seem to recall hearing that he had opened another shop somewhere in Maine. He used to do a discount for Alpinezone members. I don't know if that deal is still going or not. Dan Lewis at Stan and Dan's in North Conway has a very good reputation. Find someone who knows what they're doing.

He's still there, but he also opened another location at Sunday River. So just make an appointment. Not sure how he is splitting his time right now.

There is also Ben out of the Mtn Side shop at Wachusett. He made my footbeds and did a good job. I haven't had any other work done by him, but he is a C-Ped and one of the Boot Fitters on EpicSki.com.

 

[umby]

Anyone ever use Wilderness House on Comm Ave in Allston?

I got my boots blown out there last year and it worked pretty well. They use that A Line footbed (which I was already using) and it worked out well. I am going back there soon most likely to get some intuition liners to replace my packed out stock nordica liners.

 

[WJenness]

I also have flat feet.

A-Lines made a HUGE difference in my boots (I had some significant ankle pain on the insides of my ankles).

I just got a pair of new boots via Ski Haus in Salem, NH, and after I ski them a few times, I will probably head to Jeff Bokum for some fine tuning.

-w

 

[foofy]

I've used A Lines for about 4 years now and love them. They did take some getting used to at first - they felt really "bumpy" under the foot - but that went away after a few days skiing on them. As mentioned above, they are "sticky" but since I also have Hotronics with the cambrelle cover on top, the stickiness is a non-issue for me. The cambrelle bought on its own is inexpensive.

I have a high arch and pronate a fair amount. For the past year I have been battling plantar fasciitis in one foot, which becomes a complete non-issue, thankfully, when in my ski boots with my A Lines. In fact, last season I wasn't working - just skiing, a lot - and my foot would only hurt when I took it OUT of my ski boot.

I know people who use Down Unders and are happy with them. I've used Superfeet for non-ski boot uses and I don't feel they are 100% correct for my foot. Prior to my A Lines, I had custom footbeds which also worked for me, but the A Lines are so much cheaper that I wouldn't go the custom route again.

 

[Clarkl23]

I can recommend Jack Frost Shop, now next door to the Red Parka Pub if you're in the North Conway area on your way up. They've done a ton of people from beginners to racers in our league for foot beds and stance balancing. Either Jim or Tink, I seem to recall seeing what they say was the first foot bed done in the area there. They also have Andy Kramp, one of the best ski tuning guys in the area there.

 

[Bostonian]

I recommend Richelsons in Plymouth NH. While it is a little pricey for custom footbeds, I felt it was worth the price. Saved me from extreme pain I was experiencing early last season.

 

[Clarkl23]

And a little closer... Strands in Worcester. I've always heard good things about them for bootfitting and they're also the only ones who hit my skis with anything more mechanical than a flat file.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Ditch the prepackage stuff and get a custom footbed made, ASAP! .

Very good advice. That old saying "You get what you pay for" never rings any truer that when getting footbeds done the right way.

 

[automagp68]

Wow!

Thanks for the over whelming responce! So much input!

I thnk im going to try to locate Jeff

I dont mind the ride and i could care less what it costs if it means im going to be ale to ski all winter wtih out being in immense pain. Thanks again

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Alines work real good and sometimes better than many custom food beds.

Like Superfeet Korks, the focus is getting the ankles in a neutral position. That's 90% of what you want in a ski boot right there. Rigid footbeds that lock your foot into the high arch have fallen out of favor with most high performance skiers and racers. The Aline concept is to let the forefoot do it's own thing for the sake of balance.

I personally own a Conform’able HD Vac machine which is a nice system and the Shop has a Superfeet system but I have a hard time selling myself on the idea that my customer needs more than the $60.00 Aline offers.

I completely agree with Skid...I'm a formerly certified pedorthist, jumped through all the masterfit hoops, and spent a lot of years bootfitting before moving on to other roles in the industry. I've even got a HD Vac in my basement...it makes a great footbed when in the hands of a skilled fitter, but I'm skiing on ALines myself and have found them to work at least as good as any bed I've made myself.

 

[automagp68]

I completely agree with Skid...I'm a formerly certified pedorthist, jumped through all the masterfit hoops, and spent a lot of years bootfitting before moving on to other roles in the industry. I've even got a HD Vac in my basement...it makes a great footbed when in the hands of a skilled fitter, but I'm skiing on ALines myself and have found them to work at least as good as any bed I've made myself.

How do you think they will preform for someone that has extreamly wide and flat feet with virtually no arch?
My biggest problem is the width. I get alot of presure from the outside waste or 'last" i beleive they call it?

Thanks