Comments on: Let the Boot Fitting Commence — Zzero Round One http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/ Backcountry Skiing Snowboard Telemark Snowsports Information News Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:01:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7643 Lou Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:48:52 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=952#comment-7643 Thanks Josh, good idea about simply inverting the boot! Why didn't I think of that !? Thanks Josh, good idea about simply inverting the boot! Why didn’t I think of that !?

]]> By: Josh Hartung http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7641 Josh Hartung Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:41:01 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=952#comment-7641 Lou, Your in boot heater method seems very similar the the common stack heaters found in most good boot fitting shops. I am not a big fan of them because they do not completely heat the liner (as with the convection method). This means that the liner will not expand to fill in the various depressions and compress to take up the various bumps common to most shell designs. Instead, it will only compress to take lessen pressure around the foot. Commonly I have used these heaters to give a pre-heat to a boot to before trying it on a customer. It makes the boot feel like it would after being skiied for a half hour or so. If you are still interested in making one of these heaters, try inverting the boot so the heated air is propelled upward into the boot and is forced to remain there (because hot air rises). Be sure that there is airspace around the cuff so that excess air can escape. This should give you a more even heat. Good luck, Josh Lou,

Your in boot heater method seems very similar the the common stack heaters found in most good boot fitting shops. I am not a big fan of them because they do not completely heat the liner (as with the convection method). This means that the liner will not expand to fill in the various depressions and compress to take up the various bumps common to most shell designs. Instead, it will only compress to take lessen pressure around the foot.

Commonly I have used these heaters to give a pre-heat to a boot to before trying it on a customer. It makes the boot feel like it would after being skiied for a half hour or so.

If you are still interested in making one of these heaters, try inverting the boot so the heated air is propelled upward into the boot and is forced to remain there (because hot air rises). Be sure that there is airspace around the cuff so that excess air can escape. This should give you a more even heat.

Good luck,
Josh

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7635 Lou Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:59:39 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=952#comment-7635 Yeah, it's easy. Wash them and then use deodorant foot powder. Wash every few days by just rinsing out then drying overnight with a boot dryer. Speaking of which, after every day you use the boots, use a boot dryer that night. Yeah, it’s easy. Wash them and then use deodorant foot powder. Wash every few days by just rinsing out then drying overnight with a boot dryer. Speaking of which, after every day you use the boots, use a boot dryer that night.

]]> By: Marc http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7629 Marc Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:11:55 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=952#comment-7629 Lou- Do you have any tricks for getting the stink out of well used Intuition liners? I work in my boots all winter and find the closed cell liners are great for warmth and comfort, but not so good for oder! I've got a pair that are several seasons old but still going. I recooked them last year, and drove everyone out of the shop with the smell! Recently, I threw them in the wash with hot/warm water (not too hot!) and woollite, but have yet to ski them a day to see if that helped. Any other tips? Lou- Do you have any tricks for getting the stink out of well used Intuition liners? I work in my boots all winter and find the closed cell liners are great for warmth and comfort, but not so good for oder! I’ve got a pair that are several seasons old but still going. I recooked them last year, and drove everyone out of the shop with the smell! Recently, I threw them in the wash with hot/warm water (not too hot!) and woollite, but have yet to ski them a day to see if that helped. Any other tips?

]]> By: yyzcanuck http://www.wildsnow.com/952/let-the-boot-fitting-commence-zzero-round-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7628 yyzcanuck Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:38:31 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=952#comment-7628 Lou, thanks for posting the article on liner molding and of course thanks for the link to our tech article on how to 'cook at home' (http://www.yyzcanuck.com/E_tech_cooking.htm). For shell testing we've made a stick similar to the Scarpa item you describe. On ours, one end has an 11mm ball and the other end has a 19mm ball. For alpine snowboarding we've found this to be the -/+ starting point in shell size that works for most riders but, as you've noted, it's just a starting point. In response to Shane & Michael's experience with retailers telling them to ride before molding. At our shop we mold immediately. This puts 99% of the people on the hill with a good/great fit. The 1%'ers that have a problem come back and we continue to work with them. I figure better to show the benefit of a good moldable liner fit right up front otherwise... what is the point of moldable liners? Lou, thanks for posting the article on liner molding and of course thanks for the link to our tech article on how to ‘cook at home’ (http://www.yyzcanuck.com/E_tech_cooking.htm).

For shell testing we’ve made a stick similar to the Scarpa item you describe. On ours, one end has an 11mm ball and the other end has a 19mm ball. For alpine snowboarding we’ve found this to be the -/+ starting point in shell size that works for most riders but, as you’ve noted, it’s just a starting point.

In response to Shane & Michael’s experience with retailers telling them to ride before molding. At our shop we mold immediately. This puts 99% of the people on the hill with a good/great fit. The 1%’ers that have a problem come back and we continue to work with them. I figure better to show the benefit of a good moldable liner fit right up front otherwise… what is the point of moldable liners?

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