Ski Boots suitable for a high instep

Having skied for many years (badly! still not as good as I would like to be despite ski school - but hey!) I had a fab pair of Dachstein boots, however all good things come to an end, and so for the last few years I have hired boots, but suffered all the comings and goings of hire shops (including the worst one of all in the middle of Saalbach-Hinterglemm!) This year I have decided to reinvest in a new pair of boots around about the £200 mark-ish. Today I have been to my local outdoor shop for a fitting by a boot specialist - and after about 7 pairs, I found a pair of Nordica Speedmachine 8's (don't laugh, this is not how I ski!) but this is the first pair of boots I have tried this time. My problem is I have a very high instep, so have two difficulties, one is that it is quite often a real effort to get my foot into the boot to start off with, and two the top of my foot above the arch (the boney bit!)goes numb after a while because of rubbing. If I could have a pair of boots like the ones I eventually bought in 1992, I would be such a happy bunny! Back in the 1990's my local boot shop gave up on me after 3 whole Saturdays and 18 pairs of boots, I was the first person they could not help (other than shell out for custom made ones!)So - on the comfy slippers/trainers thread, has anyone found a brand that works for this type of foot?

(PS Suggestions of foot amputation are not welcome, I need them for lots of other things too!)

Painful feet can ruin your skiing hols and make you miserable. As you have tried lots of different boots, I'm guessing that now is the time to go and see a proper skiboot fitter, ie: someone who does little else in winter. There is a boot to fit you, and if all else fails, there are a couple of custom bootmakers, Daleboot and Strolz. I know that Strolz can take measurements of your feet and build a boot, just for you.

Is seeing a proper boot fitter an option? Where are you located?

The shop I use (on a regular basis for all things skiing and outdoor) is Lockwoods of Leamington (and others also sing its praises) so I have always been to a specialist fitter (hence spending all the time and different pairs of boots). I am loathe to pay out £500 for a custom made pair when I am only able to ski once a year, owing to annual leave constraints. Will happily swap feet with someone (do Ebay do feet?)! but a high instep is not a question of having freak feet, lots of dancers have the same. I know somewhere out there is a pair of boots - hence asking the question on this forum to hopefully save me a bit of time in finding a make that perhaps is a bit sympathetic to my foot shape.

I think I have found the right boots - highly recommend Ryan at the Snowdome, took a lot of time and trouble with measuring my feet and explaining. Sold me a pair of Atomic ladies boots which I now have to wear around the house for 20 hours to break them in, such a joy to find a boot I can slip my foot straight into without getting my instep stuck! Some very useful advice, no sales pressure and even gave me an after sales card and the offer to call him (even from the slopes) if there is a problem that needs tweaking! Very good shop too with some useful kit in!! Fingers crossed I will have a pain free week and my skiing will improve!

I am sure I will not be the only person doing the housework and the washing up in ski boots!

dgou Am I right in my interpretation of your post, that Lockwoods couldn't fit you, but Ellis B's at the Snowdome could?

I find it hard to believe that Lockwoods wouldn't do a fit.. from their 'reputation' anyway...

Nope, neither back in the 1990's nor this week can they fit me out with a comfortable boot because of my high instep - hence trying somewhere else and spending the afternoon there, so whilst I appreciate Lockwoods reputation (and it is my local outdoor and ski shop) they do not have the solution to my feet other than paying out £500 for a custom made pair - hence this reiterates the reason for going to Ellis Brigham at the Snowdome and getting far more advice and a better fit from Ryan! They also had far more variety there - hope this helps others who are also having fun and games (and sore feet) from trying on boots.