@BeetleJuice Do you have video of your skiing? It may help to demonstrate the issues with your current boots to the bootfitter by showing them a video. It could get them on board with your self-assessment.
The Dreamliner is nice but it is like putting a really good All-Season tire on a race car, which is what a ZB is.
Don't take this the wrong way but if I'm a bootfitter who doesn't know you I'm reading quite a lot of ego into what you are saying - you simply must have a plug boot , you are pre decided on what model and size it must be. In such circumstances I can see bfs saying "this guy is going to be too much hard work to be worth my while", particularly if you are a mission to squeeze into a size that objective measurements say is too small.
This times three.
For better or worse, the reality is that even though you are the "customer", and you have the money, it's very much a two-way street. A significant amount of humility and diplomacy is required on the part of the "fittee" before the fitter is going to really work for you. It takes time, effort, and honest (sometimes unflattering) self-assessment to learn how to be a "fittee." A six-pack for shop staff along the way won't hurt, when you come back to report good progress but a new hotspot.
You gotta slow down, sit down at the table, unbutton your collar, and let the chef and the sommelier talk you through what is going to make you the most happy. Let them drive the conversation. Listen more than you talk. Then, with great patience, let them do their jobs. Play with your phone. Eat a piece of bread. Have a glass of champagne. Send a photo back home. The last thing you want to do is come in with a whole long list of high-profile dishes and wines you have opinions about. They don't care. They live this stuff. You're not going to tell them much they don't already know, except insofar as how you reacted to certain things. Let them set you up. Leave them a good tip.
When you come back the next time, tell them how good x was and what you didn't like about y. Let them try again. Leave them a good tip again. Form a relationship.
Ego!?!?! Are you kidding me? Are you even reading? I have paid lots of money to be put in the wrong boot before, and WILL NOT do it again! I guess that’s my ego! That’s funny.
I think it’s the other way around. Most bootfitters have the biggest egos in all the ski industry.
Im just a guy that knows what he wants, and none of the bootfitters want to spend the time to fit me in the smaller boot. I have tried the 28.5 route before, should I do it again and keep doing it? Waste time and money? Keep listening when the boots dont fit and I dont wanna ski in a big boot??
Ya it’s my ego stopping all this..
That’s just wrong. It shouldn’t be like that for people who ski 100 days a year and know what theyre doing. Ya bootfitters know a lot about boots, but they don’t know ME better than I do. When they consistently sell me on 28.5 boots that are too big, I lose my patience for that dinner party your talking about.
I think olympic bootfitters in squaw will help me out. The main guy seems super nice and has no ego. We’ve already talked about grinding a 27.5 ZB, and he seems like he’d be into it. I dont have to jump through hoops, or bring him flowers lol.
The shop I went to yesterday, I will never go back. For bike or ski stuff. I’ve had enough of this. It’s not my ego that’s the problem, it’s the fitters egos. I cant even get a say in, they just all want me in a boot thats too big, and start filling it with material to take hp volume. That’s just wrong..I guess because they don’t think I ski hard enough for a performance fit. They don’t even know how I ski!!! They just assume I dont “ need” a half finger performance fit.
Literally, the fitter I spoke with the other day, was talking about how hes an ex pro, big mtn comp ski, skied with Arne Backstrom, and only someone like him needs a half finger performance fit, with boot work. And that I need 28.5 1.5 finger fit, and start filling up volume with foam.. what a joke. Talk about ego lol.
If you have been reading, I hope you don’t think my ego’s the problem at this point. I have tried the 28.5 route many times, it’s not my ego stopping me from doing it again..
Ego!?!?! Are you kidding me? Are you even reading? I have paid lots of money to be put in the wrong boot before, and WILL NOT do it again! I guess that’s my ego! That’s funny.
I think it’s the other way around. Most bootfitters have the biggest egos in all the ski industry.
Im just a guy that knows what he wants, and none of the bootfitters want to spend the time to fit me in the smaller boot. I have tried the 28.5 route before, should I do it again and keep doing it? Waste time and money? Keep listening when the boots dont fit and I dont wanna ski in a big boot??
Ya it’s my ego stopping all this..
Just tossing it out there, but if you are paying $8-900 for plugs there’s an issue.
Color me intrigued - care to elaborate?
LOL, I'm not suggesting OP find a hot tub time machine and go get an antique boot fitted by the fitter who makes boots for his WC winning national team members.There's a good reason cork super feet are gone (not to mention that the unlikelihood of a 15-20 y.o. Foot bed is still a valid fit.. feet change over time) and that rock hard injectable foams aren't used any more. Francois, you really need to stop talking about unavailable and decades old gear.
I'm merely suggesting that he get the proper length boot, get some custom foamed boots and footbeds made, and providing anecdotal proof that foam along a good footbed and proper fitting will hold the heel in place
I don't know what would be the modern equivalent of (or improvement over) my old liners, but Sure Foot is a contender. The key, as explained to me was that the custom foam could be made with different amounts of foam - a little foam for a comfy soft fit, or a lot of foam for instant transmission with no give and a stiffer over-all boot flex. That's where a good fitter comes in. And the liner might still need some modification after the foam has set and the boots skied hard for a few days. Choosing what custom foam liner to use is also where a good fitter comes in.Sure Foot?
That is the standard procedure for Sure Foot.
(01) Sell the customer a set of foot bed.
(02) Stick customer's foot in boot.
(03) Fill boot with foam.
(04) Done. Another "satisfied customer."
Good business model though.