Dalbello?

I've rented three sets of boots and not had any complaints on any of them.

Nobody recommends specific brands or models.

It's a joke getting advice on kit.

Tspill, Navada Sports are pretty good.

Tin pot, brand and model are immaterial its all about fit.

Sadly Pavel Montebelluna is no longer the force it was in ski boot manufacture. Production is steadily being shifted to Eastern Europe; by 2013 Bulgaria will be the world's largest producer of skiing equipment after Amer Sports (Atomic/Salomon) have completed their plan to move as much production as they can there.

I recently had an extensive fitting session for my first "own" pair of boots, having always previously rented. The session in the shop was pretty rigorous and the boots (which happened to be Dalbello, but that was the shop's choice, based on their measurements of my feet etc), felt very snug, if not tight, but not uncomfortably so. The whole session took most of the afternoon, and included the replacement of the standard boot liner with a more bespoke one, from Zipfit. This was because I told the boot fitter that, despite the overall "snug" fit of the boot there was still some movement up and down the sides of my heels. After the change of liner (extra cost, of course!), the boots felt fine, although the toes were butting up against the front of the boot. I know this is what you should expect when trying boots on in a shop, so that when leaning forward against one's shins when skiing, the toes tend to come back from the front of the boot. The following week they went into action in earnest in Austria and after two days my big toes were black and blue under the toenails, being bruised by the constant contact with the front of the boot. For the third day's skiing I had to rent a pair from the ski hire shop, which were much "comfier", insofar as they didn't bruise the toes, but were also obviously not anything like so "snug" everywhere else. Anyway, once I got back home, I went back to the fitter, showed him my black toenails, and he then made various adjustments to the boots and also was able to lengthen them in the big toe area, and to give a bit more height over the big toe too, which seems to have fixed the problem. I will know after another week's skiing in early Jan, but am hopeful.

Overall, I didn't mind too much the not-perfect first fit, as the after-care was excellent and I now, hopefully, have a very snug and secure-feeling boot yet without the bruised toes !

I'm no expert, but I should imagine it's nigh-on impossible to be 100 percent sure, simply in a shop, even with the best boot-fitter in the world, that a boot will perform perfectly in action, so the follow-up is vitally important, not just the up-front service.

Billip1 and his experience happens to most skiers. Rare is the perfect boot fitting at shop.
I have a new ski boot from another boot company and it is now three weeks. I am still making "modifications" after several days of skiing. This is due, not to the quality of the boots, but to my strange feet and my "unique" skiing requirements !

Skiers take the time to get boots "right on" , then do not change for at least 10 years!

Again fit fit fit is most important element! That depends on a great ski store with a great boot fitter who is patient and will make constant minor changes !

Billip1,,know all about those black toes. I had many a foam injected boots! Now they have you wear a "cap" over the toes before injecting the foam ! Saves the toes from "the black death" !

Pavel

It's also easy to forget to keep those toe nails cut very short in ski season.

Trencher wrote:It's also easy to forget to keep those toe nails cut very short in ski season.

Yes, absolutely.
I have been banging on about toe nails for years mainly with laughter and being ignored the result.
Good to hear someone authoritative saying the same.
Ladies in particular need to note that beautifully pedicured nails may need to be sacrificed to avoid black toes after a weeks skiing.

Old Andy,

Do you realize what you are asking?

The inner conflict you are creating ?

Better skiing with no pain,,,,or better '"beauty" !

Here comes to retorts,,,,I can hear the footsteps coming,,,,,,must go on hill before,,,,,ah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,gulp!!!!!

pavelski wrote:Old Andy,

Do you realize what you are asking?

The inner conflict you are creating ?

Better skiing with no pain,,,,or better '"beauty" !

Here comes to retorts,,,,I can hear the footsteps coming,,,,,,must go on hill before,,,,,ah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,gulp!!!!!

Ah the vanity of life ...
I wonder how many of us succumb to that?
:oops:
I am still inclined to rest the tails of my skis up on my boot when in the crush of a telecabine so it looks like I am skiing longer skis that I really am ....
:roll: