BCoon

I wear a size 14 shoe usually.. sometimes have to bump to a 15 as my left foot is slightly larger than my right. I'm waiting to finalize a purchase on a snowboard/binding combo and then picking up some boots.

This past weekend, I rented up in Pinetop, AZ and had to go with a size 15 Rossignol boot (don't recall the model). My left big piggy was jammed into the boot with the 14s and there was a bit of space and heel movement in the 15s. No half-size convenience for big footers!

Any pointers?

MunkySpunk

Try a REAL boot fitter. The best money I ever spent in snowboarding was on custom insoles and getting my Sz 13 cirros fitted properly. Try lots of different pairs on.

If you've got $500 to spend on boarding, at least $300 should go to boots. It's the single most important piece of equipment. Real boot fitting can use well over %50 of your budget. Don't be afraid of this, it means you're doing it right. Two guys go to the hill, one has a $1500 Burton Method board. The other has a $50 Lamar he got used at a garage sale. Guy number one didn't go to a boot fitter and his feet are too sore to board more than one run at a time before he has to loosen up and sit. Guy number two went to a boot fitter and rides all day on his crappy Lamar. Which guy has more fun?

Yup.

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."

10/11 - 24, Smote on Feb 13

BCoon

Pardon my ignorance. By real boot fitter, what exactly do you mean? This will be my first time purchasing boots.. there is a ski/board shop here in Phoenix called SkiPro that I planned on going to..

MunkySpunk

There are people who are formally trained and specialize in fitting customers with ski and snowboard boots. They usually own or manage local sports shops. They're called bootfitters and they can work wonders.

Try googling for one in your area. You may not need any custom work done, but they'll work with you and offer invaluable advice.

EDIT: Also seriously consider Focus Boa lacing. My Vans Cirro are an example, although it's gotten much more popular in the past few years, so you have quite a wide choice of boots with Boa now.

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."

10/11 - 24, Smote on Feb 13

BCoon

A brief search turned up nothing in the bootfitting department here in Phoenix.