Ski Boot Advice Needed

[Newport Skier]

Can anyone give me some good advice on good ski boots for a beginner-intermediate skier? I am trying to find a good pair but not too expensive on sites like ebay, craigslist, etc.. Thanks!

 

[deadheadskier]

The quickest way to turn a beginning skier off to the sport is to put them in the wrong boots. It is the most important piece of equipment there is.

If you're going to go the ebay / craigslist route, go to actual ski shops first and try on several pairs to see what you like. Then try and find the same model on ebay, etc. if you need to save the money. You should at the very least purchase something from the ski shop where you tried on the different boots.

Best analogy I can make is buying boots off of ebay without trying them on first would be like buying eye glasses off ebay. You'd never do it.

I even gambled too much by trying a similar model by the same manufacturer. It worked out, but I probably won't be taking that gamble again. Boots are too critical to the enjoyment of the sport.

 

[mondeo]

See a good bootfitter, worth every penny. What's a good boot for some will be terrible for others; fit is very personal, and a bootfitter will help make whatever boot you get fit your foot, making whatever modifications are necessary to eliminate pain points.

 

[Mildcat]

If you buy boots online make sure the store has a good return policy. I bought a pair of boots from REI Outlet, shipping to the closest REI store was free and when they felt like alligators biting my heels I returned them to the REI store free. I also bought a pair of boots from Tramdock that fit perfectly but I made sure that they had a good return policy first.

With that said, you can usually find beginner/intermediate boots pretty cheap if you can find some of last years models still at a store. If you wait there will be some good clearance sales soon. If you buy them from a good store and they don't quite fit right the store will work on them to make them fit. That has to be worth a few extra dollars.

 

[wa-loaf]

Can anyone give me some good advice on good ski boots for a beginner-intermediate skier? I am trying to find a good pair but not too expensive on sites like ebay, craigslist, etc.. Thanks!

If there is anything you spend money on it should be your boots. Get them at a shop, lots on sale now and you can go back and have any issues fixed. Get your skis on eBay.

 

[puckoach]

Don't cheat your feet !

No matter the sport, the correct footware is essential.

Following the demise of my bride's Hanson boots, she was reluctant to ski at all for quite a number of years. Despite a life long passion for the slopes.

Last year, our mission to find boots took us to over a dozen stores. Finally, a large inventory, and a great guy (Pete) at Rogers in Lincoln NH solved the problem.

Nice to see that smile on my brides face again !

 

[Rushski]

Retiterate what most of the others are syaing. Start with and spend as much money you can afford (and need to) on boots. No such thing as an average foot and fitting will make it all worthwhile.

As for boots themselves, maybe a Nordica Beast as it is a well made boot, has been around off and on for a while, 80 flex you can easily grow into and aren't very expensive.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Agree with what has been said BUY your boots in a store don't cheap out the boot is the most important piece of ski gear.. I f your feet are not happy you will be miserable and even worse you might suffer from a Neuroma

 

[SkaPig]

to reiterate what others have said:

if you can afford lift tickets, gas to the mountain, food, etc, than you should bite the bullet and get boots at a local shop. Skis online would be a much better cost saving option.

I just bought a new set of boots after 14 years and it took me 5 shops and countless boot models until I finally found the right pair. Not sure on your location, but I had the best service from Fire on the Mountain in Dover, NH and Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, ME.

Now is a good time to look if you can find the right size. Make sure the boots fit right. The boots should be tight, almost uncomfortable at first. Once you get into the skiing position most of the pressure at the front of the boot will relax. If the boots are too big it will be a miserable experience.

A beginner doesn't need an expensive boot, just a good fit. Don't assume that a boot is not good because it is a cheaper model... for a beginner the opposite might be true.

Good luck in your search.