Hey hey not so good lookin, whatcha got cookin?

[Cornhead]

Head Vector Evo 120's, that's what. Got my new boots UPS yesterday. Tried them on and they felt pretty good. Toes felt a little cramped, so I decided to toss em in the oven. Both the liners and shells are heat moldable.

I took all but one rack out of the oven, put that rack on the lowest level, fired the oven up on convection at 210°, folded up a towel to place the boots on. I couldn't fit both boots in, so I did them one at a time. I left the liners in and faced the cuff in front of the fan at the back of the oven.

While the boots were "baking" I stuck cotton balls between my pinkie and big toes, then put the top of a heavy wool sock I sacrificed over my toes, then put my ski sock on. I nervously left the boot in for 10 minutes. Wearing gloves, I then put the boot on. Repeat for the other boot.

I must say, the boots fit much better. No more cramping of my toes. I might do it again, leave them in a little longer, not sure the liners got hot enough. Maybe take them out and heat the shell and liner apart at once.

Can't wait to get out and ski them, Black Friday at K, if not earlier.

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[prsboogie]

Good for you! I wouldn't have the balls to do it myself! Had my XPro 120s done at WaWa which was the best purchase I've ever made.


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[mbedle]

I would suggest that the next time you only heat the liners up. What kind of liners are they? I've never heard of moldable shells, seems counterintuitive to have moldable liners and shells. You would think that the liners would mold and never get to the point of pushing out enough pressure on the shells. Nothing better than moldable liners in ski boots. Could never go back to just off the shelf non-moldable liners.

 

[prsboogie]

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/salomon-x-pro-120

There are several models available


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[WWF-VT]

Why not just go to a bootfitter and get the right fit and have them be responsible for the heat molding process ?

 

[Tin]

Head Vector Evo 120's, that's what. Got my new boots UPS yesterday. Tried them on and they felt pretty good. Toes felt a little cramped, so I decided to toss em in the oven. Both the liners and shells are heat moldable.

I took all but one rack out of the oven, put that rack on the lowest level, fired the oven up on convection at 210°, folded up a towel to place the boots on. I couldn't fit both boots in, so I did them one at a time. I left the liners in and faced the cuff in front of the fan at the back of the oven.

While the boots were "baking" I stuck cotton balls between my pinkie and big toes, then put the top of a heavy wool sock I sacrificed over my toes, then put my ski sock on. I nervously left the boot in for 10 minutes. Wearing gloves, I then put the boot on. Repeat for the other boot.

I must say, the boots fit much better. No more cramping of my toes. I might do it again, leave them in a little longer, not sure the liners got hot enough. Maybe take them out and heat the shell and liner apart at once.

Can't wait to get out and ski them, Black Friday at K, if not earlier.

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Do the same with hockey skates and my new boots. The oven smells awful afterwards but it works!

 

[Jully]

Why not just go to a bootfitter and get the right fit and have them be responsible for the heat molding process ?

I'd assume it would cost a bit more.

 

[prsboogie]

And it takes away the fun of doing things yourself. I know the subject of mounting your own skis has been discussed at length but it feels great once your done


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[Cornhead]

Why not just go to a bootfitter and get the right fit and have them be responsible for the heat molding process ?

Well, these are the same boots I've been skiing, no issues with my old boots, other than 200 days on them. Cheapest new boots I've ever bought, $269 Evo, no shipping, no tax, last year's model.

I think the liners are as tight as they'll ever be prior to heat molding, so I think they should feel a little too tight prior to molding. The cotton ball / old sock toe trick works great for giving you some wiggle room in the toe box. A good thing on Polar Vortex days!


Third pair of Heads, I like them, they seem to fit my feet well. I like the spring loaded levers on the top two buckles. My first pair were pretty clunky, but the Vectors are pretty svelte.

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[Puck it]

Well, these are the same boots I've been skiing, no issues with my old boots, other than 200 days on them. Cheapest new boots I've ever bought, $269 Evo, no shipping, no tax, last year's model.

I think the liners are as tight as they'll ever be prior to heat molding, so I think they should feel a little too tight prior to molding. The cotton ball / old sock toe trick works great for giving you some wiggle room in the toe box. A good thing on Polar Vortex days!


Third pair of Heads, I like them, they seem to fit my feet well. I like the spring loaded levers on the top two buckles. My first pair were pretty clunky, but the Vectors are pretty svelte.

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I picked up a new pair of Challenger 130 from them for $255 and did the same thing the other night.

 

[dlague]

Buying boots online? Blasphemy!

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[Jully]

Buying boots online? Blasphemy!

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I just don't trust fitting correctly online. I gotta get new boots so at the end of this season I'll just be looking real closely at store deals.

 

[dlague]

Personally, I buy online due to pricing and I stick to a brand/model. I buy in the summer and it is free shipping and free returns if necessary. Has worked for my family thus far.

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[Cornhead]

I was pretty confident of a good fit since they were same make and model, and size, just newer design. I do feel a little guilty not supporting my local shop. Last boots I did buy from them, I showed them what price I could get them online, they split the difference, but it was still $100 more than I paid for these boots.

I did a warranty return on my skis I bought online through my local shop. I had to pay for shipping, understandable. They did come from a shop in Washington State, so I probably could've shipped them there and had them ship them to Volkl. The owner of my local shop gave be a BS line that Volkl only wanted to replace one ski with the same model year, but he convinced them to give me a pair of the current year's model. Both skis were damaged, yeah right.

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[Rambo]

Ha, Ha... Don't leave your new boots at the ski area, like you did once last season.
(good thing u called them and they located them and held them for u)

 

[Abubob]

Head Vector Evo 120's, that's what. Got my new boots UPS yesterday. Tried them on and they felt pretty good. Toes felt a little cramped, so I decided to toss em in the oven. Both the liners and shells are heat moldable.

I took all but one rack out of the oven, put that rack on the lowest level, fired the oven up on convection at 210°, folded up a towel to place the boots on. I couldn't fit both boots in, so I did them one at a time. I left the liners in and faced the cuff in front of the fan at the back of the oven.

While the boots were "baking" I stuck cotton balls between my pinkie and big toes, then put the top of a heavy wool sock I sacrificed over my toes, then put my ski sock on. I nervously left the boot in for 10 minutes. Wearing gloves, I then put the boot on. Repeat for the other boot.

I must say, the boots fit much better. No more cramping of my toes. I might do it again, leave them in a little longer, not sure the liners got hot enough. Maybe take them out and heat the shell and liner apart at once.

Can't wait to get out and ski them, Black Friday at K, if not earlier.

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When's the youtube video coming out?

 

[Cornhead]

When's the youtube video coming out?

After I run the self clean cycle on the oven, too embarrassing right now.

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[SIKSKIER]

Ha, Ha... Don't leave your new boots at the ski area, like you did once last season.
(good thing u called them and they located them and held them for u)

20 years ago my best friend couldn't find his ski boots on Sunday morning after a pretty drunk Saturday apres and night.We get to Cannon that morning and they are still sitting right where he left them....in the middle of the parking lot next to where he parked.True story.

 

[dlague]

20 years ago my best friend couldn't find his ski boots on sunday morning after a pretty drunk saturday apres and night.we get to cannon that morning and they are still sitting right where he left them....in the middle of the parking lot next to where he parked.true story.

lol!

 

[KD7000]

Bake-your-own ski boots is pretty brave, congrats.

-in regards to the ski boots left in the parking lot- I always wonder just how much lost crap a mountain is left with after a busy weekend. Gloves, goggles, poles, hats... the occasional pair of boots and skis.