Moulded footbeds

Three seasons ago when I bought my current boots I paid the extra for moulded footbeds (£65 I think). They were OK, never gave a wow factor and for the first day or two each trip I would get aching arches but I just trusted that they were doing some good.

Anyway this year my boots got a bit damp, so I stood them above a radiator. (If I had half a brain cell I might have thought this through, but no.) After about 10 minutes the footbeds had softened and completely deformed.

Luckily I have always kept the standard insoles in my boot-bag and so could put these in for the first time. And the next day the boots were more comfortable then ever before.

I'm now convinced that the custom soles were completely unnecessary in the first place. grrrrrr.

smartski wrote:Three seasons ago when I bought my current boots I paid the extra for moulded footbeds (£65 I think). They were OK, never gave a wow factor and for the first day or two each trip I would get aching arches but I just trusted that they were doing some good.

Anyway this year my boots got a bit damp, so I stood them above a radiator. (If I had half a brain cell I might have thought this through, but no.) After about 10 minutes the footbeds had softened and completely deformed.

Luckily I have always kept the standard insoles in my boot-bag and so could put these in for the first time. And the next day the boots were more comfortable then ever before.

I'm now convinced that the custom soles were completely unnecessary in the first place. grrrrrr.

They normally do after a couple of years of cold weather

Custom, moulded footbeds need to be made correctly to function properly. It's a little more complex than standing in a moulding while the footbed cools under your foot.

I think that while everyone would benefit from custom molded footbeds, some benefit more than others. Some people can get away with skiing a boot as it comes, and others can't. As Bandit says, a good bootfitter is setting your foot in the mold in a particular way, as in his mind he sees your foot sitting in the particular boot with any modifications he will make to it.

Have to say, I benefitted 10fold from mine and have dried them over radiators but they are still as good as they were when bought

Prob the best investment in skiing I've ever made

rossyhead wrote:Have to say, I benefitted 10fold from mine and have dried them over radiators but they are still as good as they were when bought

Prob the best investment in skiing I've ever made

Gotta say I agree, but I'm sure it's down to who makes them.

A couple of seasons ago my boots were missing at the airport and I had to hire some..I tried at least 5 pairs ...I had the most uncomfortable week ..I even thought about snowboarding!!...with the insoles I have no problems

I have absolutely no idea if my moulded footbeds made any difference to my skiing. But the issue I went in about, ie left ski wanting to edge, has not gone away, which leads me to believe they have not been worth having. I have a 100% refund available - should I take them back?