jtg

Major foot pain problems here. I plan to buy new boots next time I get a chance, and would like the help of a bootfitter during/after the purchase. I saw the boot FAQ thread and none of the shops I've been to seem like they would support that kind of thing (return visits, minor adjustments). I'll pay damn near anything if they can actually help. What I'm tired of is spending money experimenting with things that don't help. I don't expect magic, but someone experienced and interested in working out a solution would be great.

What I would really like is somewhere to rent high end demo boots, because I can never tell if they are working until I try a run on them.

Bauba

Take a trip to CO for a few days. Seriously, it might be worth it. Not to mention it would be fun. Say maybe Telluride There is a guy here who is amazing...really. I would do anything to have great boots.

NWBoarder

If you find either of these things around the area, post back and let others know. I'd love to know somewhere good to go to that would actually help out with the boot fitting. It seems every shop around here just gives you a bunch a boots and says "Here ya go, let me know which ones you want.". No help at all, just that line. I love the local shops, but they all suck at boot fitting IME.

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bseracka

The guy at Seattle ski and snowboard knows his shit. You may want to talk to him before taking that trip to CO. Only downside is limited brands there but iirc he'll fit anything you bring in at an hourly rate.

jtg

Yeah I went to Seattle Ski previously, problem was, as you said, very low on selection. I previously got my custom footbeds made there (like $160, stand in the mold for a bit, then they make fiberglass beds). Unfortunately they didn't seem to really help with my particular issue.

I ended up getting some Salomon F4.0s today from SnoCon downtown. Was in the area and they had my size on sale so it was kind of an impulse try-on that turned into a buy. Didn't catch the guy's name, but he helped me for quite a while. We tried taping foam strips to my feet where I was feeling a pressure point, and then heat molding the liners with the foam there. Overall the boot fit really well, except when I flex it, the outer shell (very stiff boot) puts a decent amount of pressure on my tendon on the top of my foot/instep. Everything else was too good about the boot compared to others I've tried that I bought them anyway with the hope that I can fix that up.

I might mess around with them at home or take them back for molding again after a few rides. He said it's free to come back and re-mold them. Aside from that though, it seemed like options are limited and he was running out of ideas.

Regardless, my experience is that in the store it's only possible to spot the major fitment issues, once I ride in them is when I really feel it. So we'll see I guess Gonna take them out to stevens tomorrow and see how it goes.

I kinda want that dialed in before I take a trip to CO, lest I waste prime riding vacation time fighting with gear.

schmitty34

I've heard Evo in Freemont has a good boot fitter, I may try going there with a problem I'm having.

Sturtevant's in Bellevue has a boot fitting shop for ski boots but they also help with snowboard boots. I went to them with my boot problem and they worked on it for almost two hours with me, but nothing helped (they didn't charge me anything which was cool). This may mean they aren't very good, or it may just mean my problem wasn't easy to fix. BurtonAvenger says it should be easy, so who knows.

I've also had two people tell me that Crystal Mountain has an amazing boot fitter. However, I wonder if he is really good with snowboard boots, ski boots, or both. I think ski boot fitters are more common.