Second hand boots - should I buy them?

Getting everyone back to topic, I've decided to go for a new pair of boots instead. I've narrowed down the outlets that are near me to:

Ellis Brigham
SkiBartlett
47 Degrees (Fulham)
Profeet
Solutions For Feet

Does anyone have any experience of the above and can recommend them? I'd rather pay extra and be fitted by an experienced and knowledgeable fitter rather than a school leaver employed on the national minimum wage who will inevitably point me towards the best looking and most expensive boots.

I use Solutions 4 Feet. I've used Profeet in the past, and I've also used EB's.

Both Solutions 4 Feet (CEM on j2ski) and Profeet, are British Ski Boot Fitters Assoc Members. Not sure about other stores.

http://www.skibootpro.co.uk/

Thanks Bandit. Just booked up an appointment with Solutions4Feet..

Coop wrote:Getting everyone back to topic, I've decided to go for a new pair of boots instead. I've narrowed down the outlets that are near me to:

Ellis Brigham
SkiBartlett
47 Degrees (Fulham)
Profeet
Solutions For Feet

Does anyone have any experience of the above and can recommend them? I'd rather pay extra and be fitted by an experienced and knowledgeable fitter rather than a school leaver employed on the national minimum wage who will inevitably point me towards the best looking and most expensive boots.

Yep Cem won't let you down ...... If I did not have perfect feet .... I would use Cem :thumbup:

Shame about the imperfect legs :D

Boot fitting is as much about the imperfect legs (and the rest of the body) as the feet.

Well, I'm on the second hand boots side. For me, as a budget skier, it makes good sense to buy secondhand. I went to a good local ski shop to have a look at some boots in the "sale" at £120, but by the time the shop had added on fitting, fettling, and heating/moulding of liners, special footbeds etc, £120 had risen to almost £300. Way over my budget. I don't deny that I would have ended up with an excellent, perfectly fitting pair of boots, or indeed suggest the shop were trying to fleece me...not at all. All their advice was good, and they even did a close inspection/poke/prod of my feet....eeugh!
In the end I took a punt, and got a year old pair of Nordicas off fleabay for £50. They fit me like a glove, no rubs, no pressure points, just right. Second season on them coming up. If they hadn't fitted, I would simply have resold them on fleabay. And then got some more etc. Two ski trips and I'm already in profit as opposed to hiring.
As mentioned on a previous post, any boot that isn't a hire boot will be kinder to your feet than the hard, nasty things that the hire shops chuck at you.

Coop wrote:Getting everyone back to topic, I've decided to go for a new pair of boots instead. I've narrowed down the outlets that are near me to:

Ellis Brigham
SkiBartlett
47 Degrees (Fulham)
Profeet
Solutions For Feet

Does anyone have any experience of the above and can recommend them? I'd rather pay extra and be fitted by an experienced and knowledgeable fitter rather than a school leaver employed on the national minimum wage who will inevitably point me towards the best looking and most expensive boots.

I got my boots from 47 Degrees in Fulham last year. The Kiwi guy with the long hair was brilliant. Spent ages going through all the different types of boot, my ability and finding the best one. Pretty good price too.

ok before i start (vested interest here) but i struggle with the whole second hand save yourself a few quid argument...you spend a pigging fortune on skiing, a 1/2 way decent holiday is going to cost £700-£1k per head for a week once you factor in all the extras like a beer at the end of the day and the lunch you said would be a sandwich which turns out to be a little more.... boots last you for years (or at least should do) they are a long term investment in your skiing comfort, performance and enjoyment of your holiday..... a good level of boot well fitted with custom footbeds will cost £350-£500 depending on the boot, break that down over the 20 or so weeks skiing that you should get before the liner is trashed and it is not a lot of money...buying ski gear is not about making a profit over hiring