Ski boots

This issue of tightness of boots is very subjective. Just because Warren says so, it doesn't mean its right or that everyone should try it.
I do however agree about the way the French instructors used to insist everyone had them done up like vices - thats how I was taught!

These days, I do every single clip up, but only so that it is flick tight, if you know what I mean. If you have to force it shut, its too tight and you'll hurt your feet.

I find that I need the top of the cuff doing up to a certain level so that the boot and ski won't "wiggle" around or it won't adversely affect my steering, but the lower clip on the leg part of the boot I always leave as loose as possible, and almost to the degree of coming undone I mean. This I find adds to the flex and comfort, as I have only found doing this clip up causes discomfort.
On the foot part of the boot, I always ski first thing with them only just done up, ie on the first notch, but then find I have to do them up one more notch, but then thats usually it for the day.
I get no pain at all in my feet, and usually find I never have to adjust the boots during the day. However, this does change if I ski off piste or in powder as you do ski differently, and also I noticed when conditions are warm as I found my feet tend to heat up and expand more when its warm.

However, I do think boots are a very personal thing, and one thing thats right for one skier may not be right for another, as everyone has different technique, stance, ability, boot quality, socks, shaped feet/ankles/calves......etc. Best bet is to try a few different things and see whats best for you personally - thats how I ended up with what I do as outlined above.

My boots are set in the morning as tight as I can get them and they stay that way till I take them off in the evening and I never experience any discomfort, I have never been taught to do them up tight, for me they just feels better that way, but I guess I have perfect feet and by that I mean no knobbly bits.

Ian Wickham wrote:My boots are set in the morning as tight as I can get them and they stay that way till I take them off in the evening and I never experience any discomfort, I have never been taught to do them up tight, for me they just feels better that way, but I guess I have perfect feet and by that I mean no knobbly bits.

Weird, thats almost the total opposite compared to me. If I did them up that tight, by the time I'd done the first run or two my feet would be cramping and I'd be in agony.

Tony_H wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:My boots are set in the morning as tight as I can get them and they stay that way till I take them off in the evening and I never experience any discomfort, I have never been taught to do them up tight, for me they just feels better that way, but I guess I have perfect feet and by that I mean no knobbly bits.

Weird, thats almost the total opposite compared to me. If I did them up that tight, by the time I'd done the first run or two my feet would be cramping and I'd be in agony.

I don't like too much foot movement in my boots, I tried them loose but can't get on with it so I now tend to stick with what feels best for me.

Ian Wickham wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:My boots are set in the morning as tight as I can get them and they stay that way till I take them off in the evening and I never experience any discomfort, I have never been taught to do them up tight, for me they just feels better that way, but I guess I have perfect feet and by that I mean no knobbly bits.

Weird, thats almost the total opposite compared to me. If I did them up that tight, by the time I'd done the first run or two my feet would be cramping and I'd be in agony.

I don't like too much foot movement in my boots, I tried them loose but can't get on with it so I now tend to stick with what feels best for me.

I dont like ANY foot movement in my boots either. Is it wrong to suggest your boots may be too big?

Tony_H wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:My boots are set in the morning as tight as I can get them and they stay that way till I take them off in the evening and I never experience any discomfort, I have never been taught to do them up tight, for me they just feels better that way, but I guess I have perfect feet and by that I mean no knobbly bits.

Weird, thats almost the total opposite compared to me. If I did them up that tight, by the time I'd done the first run or two my feet would be cramping and I'd be in agony.

I don't like too much foot movement in my boots, I tried them loose but can't get on with it so I now tend to stick with what feels best for me.

I dont like ANY foot movement in my boots either. Is it wrong to suggest your boots may be too big?

No they fit fine it is just a personal preference

I tighten up my boots as the day progresses. the morning settings are not tight enough in the afternoon. But I still try to keep the second top buckle loose as my boots are stiff and my ankles flex better this way.

I may be actually in the market for new boots for next season. Definitely could do with a softer and lighter boot. My shell alone weighs just little bit less than my b/f's whole boot, if my size was much bigger it probably would have had the same weight. and he's taller and heavier and skis over 100 days per year, so if I ski more than just weekends on 5-6 day my tendons are in pieces. One of the problems is that I need a narrow last and this often comes together with additional stiffness, so it can be a long search. I can't understand why no manufacturer makes a boot with 95mm last and a medium flex...

verbier_ski_bum wrote:I tighten up my boots as the day progresses. the morning settings are not tight enough in the afternoon. But I still try to keep the second top buckle loose as my boots are stiff and my ankles flex better this way.

I may be actually in the market for new boots for next season. Definitely could do with a softer and lighter boot. My shell alone weighs just little bit less than my b/f's whole boot, if my size was much bigger it probably would have had the same weight. and he's taller and heavier and skis over 100 days per year, so if I ski more than just weekends on 5-6 day my tendons are in pieces. One of the problems is that I need a narrow last and this often comes together with additional stiffness, so it can be a long search. I can't understand why no manufacturer makes a boot with 95mm last and a medium flex...

You might look at junior race boots, which often come with flex options of 70/80, and narrow last. They also tend to be lighter, as they don't have all the bells and whistles of high end boots (which also makes them cheaper). Fischer race boots seem to be be softer flexing than the number implies. Otherwise, A good boot fitter can cut plastic from the shell to soften flex. Some after market liners like the raichle Thermoflex will then to reduce the stiffnes of a boot.

FWIW My daughter's Fischer junior race boots with a flex of 80 weigh about 1.75 kg

http://www.fischerskis.com/en/products_lineup.php?page_id=60010