Recommendations for Custom Insoles and Boot Adjustments Near NYC

[interskidiate]

I’m looking for recommendations around NYC for custom ski boot insoles and adjustments. I’ve been having discomfort on the outer edge of my foot, even after trying heat molding and shell adjustments at a nearby place in Brooklyn.

I’ve heard of Surefoot but would love to hear your experiences or other suggestions for reliable boot fitters in or near NYC, especially for custom insoles to help with alignment and pressure relief.

 

[doublediamond]

if you ski southern Vermont, just go up to Nick’s outside of Mt Snow.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Yeah, I second the recommendation to travel to one of the top boot fitters in the east rather than stay in the NYC/NJ area given you have a serious problem. If they truly are a top fitter it's going to be roughly a 2 hour process, so if they tell you they can have you in & out in 30 or 40 minutes, dont go there. Bring a book.

 

[skiur]

Agree with others, get your boots fitted in a ski town. Surefoot does a good job but are on the expensive side. What mountains do you normally ski?

 

[ss20]

Yes, go to a ski town if you want a proper fit. It is night and day what a recreational shop and pro shop can do.

 

[interskidiate]

How important is it to be able to ‘test’ ski boot adjustments, like custom insoles or heat molding, nearby after getting them done?
For example, southern Vermont is a 4–5 hour drive for me, so I wouldn’t be able to go back and forth for follow-up adjustments. Similarly, I usually travel to Europe for 4-5 days of skiing, which doesn’t leave much time for iterative testing.

How crucial is the ability to make immediate follow-up tweaks for things like custom insoles or heat molding?
I’ll be skiing for a week split between Val Gardena and St. Anton, and I’m struggling to find a good setup to adjust my boots either before or during my time there.

 

[drjeff]

How important is it to be able to ‘test’ ski boot adjustments, like custom insoles or heat molding, nearby after getting them done?
For example, southern Vermont is a 4–5 hour drive for me, so I wouldn’t be able to go back and forth for follow-up adjustments. Similarly, I usually travel to Europe for 4-5 days of skiing, which doesn’t leave much time for iterative testing.

How crucial is the ability to make immediate follow-up tweaks for things like custom insoles or heat molding?
I’ll be skiing for a week split between Val Gardena and St. Anton, and I’m struggling to find a good setup to adjust my boots either before or during my time there.

That's a bit of a crap shoot. I have had multiple custom footbeds and heat molded boots fit for me over the last 25 years or so. Most of the time, if the fitter is good, I haven't needed any follow up (I have a fairly easy foot to fit per my trusted fitter apparently), but I have had a couple of times where I did need a slight tweak after a day or 2 on the hill with my new boots/footbeds. My wife, who has a much more challenging foot to fit (short, wide, and a TALL arch) will typically need 1-3 tweaks over her 1st say 10 to 15 days in her new boots/footbeds to get them properly dialed in, so there definitely is some variability on if/how many adjustments one may need after a fitting for boots/footbeds, even from a very reputitable boot fitter

 

[JimG.]

Highly recommend you see Gio at The Pro in Hunter. His father Keith who recently passed fitted all my ski boots since the early 90's. The apple fell right at the base of the tree. Gio just fitted my new boots about 2 weeks ago. I've skied them 3x and other than minute snugness adjustments the boots fit me flawlessly. Great performance and acceptable comfort, no hot spots.

Granted I have a "normal" foot, and other than making sure the boot I buy is large enough for my high volume foot, there were no fitment issues. Shop is right on route 23A just before the entrance to Hunter. Make an appointment, easy to do from the website, and yes plan to spend at least 1.5 to 2 hours getting fitted.

The Pro Ski and Ride Full-Service Ski and Snowboard Shop

The Pro Ski and Ride is a full-service ski and snowboard shop located near Hunter Mountain, NY. We provide specialty services at our store including boot fitting, ski and snowboard tuning and repair, and ski rentals. Our retail shop ships across the US and has equipment, clothes, and accessories...

theproskiandride.com

 

[BenedictGomez]

I think like Dr. Jeff alluded to, the better the bootfitter you go to, the less likely you're going to have problems. As I mentioned in my prior post, the "better" bootfitters are going to literally take several hours with you, expect to be there for 2 hours or more, the place I went to is literally by appointment only, no walk ins.

If you deal with that sort of expertise, while not failproof (nothing is), I have to imagine you're really lowering the odds of having a bad experience. In my case, I was willing to "pay extra" for that (and I'm thrifty as hell).

 

[abc]

How important is it to be able to ‘test’ ski boot adjustments, like custom insoles or heat molding, nearby after getting them done?
For example, southern Vermont is a 4–5 hour drive for me, so I wouldn’t be able to go back and forth for follow-up adjustments. Similarly, I usually travel to Europe for 4-5 days of skiing, which doesn’t leave much time for iterative testing.

How crucial is the ability to make immediate follow-up tweaks for things like custom insoles or heat molding?
I’ll be skiing for a week split between Val Gardena and St. Anton, and I’m struggling to find a good setup to adjust my boots either before or during my time there.

One adjustment at most. I’m on my second foot bed now. Both were “pretty good” out the door. Both time though, I had minor adjustment done after skiing it for a few hours.

But, that’s assuming your boot shell are close to what it should be. You may end up with minor punch/pad on the shell to make it perfect after the foot bed/molding. That’s easy to do. However, if it turns out your shells weren’t the right size/shape. Well… that’s a bigger job!

I’d say plan on making a “boot fitting trip” to a ski town now! Make appointment with a good boot fitter as recommended. Plan to ski after the fitting. And time for minor adjustment after the skiing.

The key is to get the major issue addressed on the first fitting. If you need minor adjustment after skiing several days, you probably know what needs to be done. Just pay for the minor adjustment by any half way competent fitters. It won’t cost much.