I am a skier both my sons are boarders. We are lodge members so go to the snow a few times each season and I go overseas every Feb. We normally have all our own kit and havent rented stuff for years. This year my youngest son (15) has outgrown all of us and the previously successful hand-me-down strategy no longer works since he now has the largest feet in the house. Prior to this development he would get the boots handed down from my older son (19).
Now that my older son has to buy his own stuff and the Bank of Dad isnt gifting him snowboard stuff anymore he has decided to hang onto all his existing gear and not hand anything down. Youngest son is in need of replacement boots.
I already know that the best way to buy boots is to go to a professional bootfitter, book some time, get the right flex rating and have the boots moulded and the footbeds custom made. Problem is that I cant afford the $450 + to buy my youngest son boots this way. I am probably going to take youngest to the US with me in Feb so a decent set of boots would be useful. We are going to the lodge in July so if he gets a set now he can use them for the Aus season then the US trip.
I normally bought him boots online cheap from the US but my former hunting grounds of Sierra Trading Post and Levelninesports seem to either be barren or the postage kills the deal. There doesnt seem to be much end of season stuff from the UK. I have been reduced to searching Scumtree, Facebook swapgroups and FeeBay for 2nd hand boots. Does anybody have any tips for a good place to buy Snowboard boots?
Have you thought about him renting the boots in Australia and then buying new boots when you get to the USA. Cheaper and more variety over there.