Boot liners compressed!! can I wash them?

Greetings j2ski people
I am trying to extend the life of my Head ski-boots which I have had since learning to ski .. they have had a fair bit of use and I am now currently doing a season ..I have been clipping them up tighter I am sure the liners are compressed and the flex is too soft for me now (index 70)
I cant afford a new pair and wondered if if washing the liners might "fluff" them up a bit and they might bed down in a better shape now I can actually ski in a better position/stance.
probably a ridiculous idea but thought I would run it past you clever people
cheers Tim

Scapula - a different take on your issues.
You will probably have skied more so far this season than ever before, you will be getting fitter and probably skiing better maybe more aggresively.
Your feet are likely to change shape just as your legs do.
This is a likely reason your boots are needing doing up tighter.
No idea if washing the liners would extend their life, I don't think I would risk it with mine.
Don't understand flex numbers personally, but I expect you will progrees in your skiing beyond all recognition this season and maybe new boots is going to become a must have at some stage.

I think you have outgrown your boots, and they were pretty soft to start with. I don't believe that washing them will help. Go and see a bootfitter and be properly fitted. You have a lot of skiing to do this winter, you will improve loads, and your feet need to be comfy.

Scapula, if getting a new pair of boots it absolutely out of the question, I would personally look at buying some new footbeds and seeing if that made a difference. It would be a fraction of the price of completely new boots.

Scapula,
What about those new liners where you can surround them with foam to the shape of your foot within the boot? Or can you only get those with new boots?

Presumably you've tried the obvious solution - buying thicker socks!

I think beginners have boots with a softer flex because they make lots of unintentional wobbly movements that they don't want to transmit to their skis, whereas an expert wants boots that will transmit the slightest movement to their skis, instantly. Or at least this is how I see it - I'm no ski boot expert :lol:

However, I think Bandit's probably right and you need to buy some new boots now that you're a pretty good skier.

Ally

I would agree with the new boots vote. You have a lot more skiing to do this season, so it's not worth shorting your experience for the sake of new boots. The difference that well fitting boots, of the right flex will make is huge. Otherwise, you'll look back in years to come, and wonder what could have been, if only I had the right boots :wink:

Tim, you made it clear that you cannot afford a new pair of boots. I have been in exactly the same position, during my first season. I did an extreme thing, it cost nothing, and for me, it worked. trencher knows all about this.
I went under the bed, removed a carpet tile, traced around my feet, and cut out a pair of what became known in Niederau as "DaveMac" inner soles. I don't care. It worked. And, it wasn't until 20 years later, the Haus Frau took me to task about the carpet tile, (which I had put back in position, under the bed)

:lol: :lol: Dave I have no idea where to start or end with that one. You are officially as mad as a bag of frogs. :lol:

So Scapula you now have three options:-

1) Buy a new pair of boots
2) Buy some new footbeds
3) Find a stanley knife and a biro and get busy