If you're reading this forum, you're thinking about boots.
If you're thinking about boots, you need to do custom footbeds.
If you're here on Pugski hopefully you're way smarter than I am and you have yours already.
If you have a spouse or significant other who doesn't have custom footbeds yet, please show her/him this post.
Background: I did at least replace the footbeds that came in my new boots with ones that the shop suggested, but I was too cheap to do the custom footbeds. This cheapskate and inner bargain hunter in me rationalized that I'm a low intermediate. I'm a fair-weather skier (don't love ice/scraped off hardpack out East, not a fan of damp cold) and I usually only get between 5 - 10 ski days in a year. Do I really need custom footbeds?
Fast forward a year and a half. It's a bluebird spring Saturday at the start of a week-long trip to Lake Tahoe. That day I got more vertical in during a women's cancer charity fundraiser and clinic day than I had during my entire sad 2017 mid-Atlantic season. In spite of my feet hurting, I was in demo heaven. (Thanks, Bobo's Reno and Head! Awesome reviews of Head Joy skis to come later.)
Back to boots...
Sunday morning I headed to Northstar, excited about their great groomer reputation and about doing some turns later that day with @Tricia and @Philpug. I went to do the top to bottom long green runs for a warm-up. It was awful. My feet were still killing me, but even worse than the day before. I couldn't do it.
Fortunately, I knew where to go.
That day I had custom footbeds done by the master, @Philpug himself. (If any of you are within a day's drive of Tahoe go see Phil and Tricia at True North.) Phil also tweaked my boots...re-heated the shells, and made them more upright.
What. A. Difference. No more whining and struggling every time I put my boots on. No more getting off the hill after an hour or so to take a break to give my feet a rest from boots that I thought weren't that bad before now.
Bottom line: If you want your skiing to progress, or if you plan to ski more than 2 times a year, get custom footbeds--no matter your current level. As with many things, costs will vary depending on what region you're in, where you go, and what kind you get. But trust me...it will be the best $125 - $225 or so you ever spent. Ever. More important than the boots themselves IMO.
In the locker room I heard a guy talking to a friend visiting from out of town. The visitor was telling his friend how he liked his new boots better than the rentals he had, but his feet still hurt after a day on the slopes. I said: "Custom footbeds. Best thing ever."
He asked, "How do different do they feel from ones you buy off the shelf at the shop?"
I said, "Hmmm... It's kind of like the difference between driving a riding lawn mower and a car."
In short, no comparison.
And in case you had any doubt, @Philpug rocks!
If you're thinking about boots, you need to do custom footbeds.
If you're here on Pugski hopefully you're way smarter than I am and you have yours already.
If you have a spouse or significant other who doesn't have custom footbeds yet, please show her/him this post.
Background: I did at least replace the footbeds that came in my new boots with ones that the shop suggested, but I was too cheap to do the custom footbeds. This cheapskate and inner bargain hunter in me rationalized that I'm a low intermediate. I'm a fair-weather skier (don't love ice/scraped off hardpack out East, not a fan of damp cold) and I usually only get between 5 - 10 ski days in a year. Do I really need custom footbeds?
Fast forward a year and a half. It's a bluebird spring Saturday at the start of a week-long trip to Lake Tahoe. That day I got more vertical in during a women's cancer charity fundraiser and clinic day than I had during my entire sad 2017 mid-Atlantic season. In spite of my feet hurting, I was in demo heaven. (Thanks, Bobo's Reno and Head! Awesome reviews of Head Joy skis to come later.)
Back to boots...
Sunday morning I headed to Northstar, excited about their great groomer reputation and about doing some turns later that day with @Tricia and @Philpug. I went to do the top to bottom long green runs for a warm-up. It was awful. My feet were still killing me, but even worse than the day before. I couldn't do it.
Fortunately, I knew where to go.
That day I had custom footbeds done by the master, @Philpug himself. (If any of you are within a day's drive of Tahoe go see Phil and Tricia at True North.) Phil also tweaked my boots...re-heated the shells, and made them more upright. What. A. Difference. No more whining and struggling every time I put my boots on. No more getting off the hill after an hour or so to take a break to give my feet a rest from boots that I thought weren't that bad before now.
Bottom line: If you want your skiing to progress, or if you plan to ski more than 2 times a year, get custom footbeds--no matter your current level. As with many things, costs will vary depending on what region you're in, where you go, and what kind you get. But trust me...it will be the best $125 - $225 or so you ever spent. Ever. More important than the boots themselves IMO.
In the locker room I heard a guy talking to a friend visiting from out of town. The visitor was telling his friend how he liked his new boots better than the rentals he had, but his feet still hurt after a day on the slopes. I said: "Custom footbeds. Best thing ever."
He asked, "How do different do they feel from ones you buy off the shelf at the shop?"
I said, "Hmmm... It's kind of like the difference between driving a riding lawn mower and a car."
In short, no comparison.
And in case you had any doubt, @Philpug rocks!
I also got custom footbeds this season along with boot fit with Chris at SkiBootFitters @ Vail. Made me ski better, safer. Justs overall MUCH more control. Turns out I had decent skills but the gear was holding me back (had boots that were too soft for me and also too high volume). The modded Lange RS130's are just awesome for resort skiing. Next year might get an even tighter fit (go down to 26.5's) as suggested by Chris but he made the 27.5's work great.
