Ski Boots - Where to get them?

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  Hybroid on 28/05/2024 - 18:45

  +2

  There's about 5 or 6 ski shops in close proximity within each other in the CBD. That would probably be first port of call to spend a day looking at their products and offers (and/or waiting for EOFY sale next week).

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  DJR9000 on 28/05/2024 - 18:48

  +3

  I'd spend the time going to a proper shop and getting fitted or custom fitting especially if you have wide feet.
  Depends on where you are but it could be good to pay for a demo-rental, a few places near ski resorts do this and will let you try out the boots you want before you buy them. I'm doing ex-demo this year, not sure i'll buy a set of boots but will be nice to get something that's above standard rental spec

  • 

    YadaYadaYada on 28/05/2024 - 20:19

    Yes someone I know did this and swore by the boots they bought after trying out multiple on the ski fields before choosing the right ones.

  • 

    Randxyz123 on 29/05/2024 - 08:11

    +1

    This. Spend time getting fitted. Don’t buy online.

    Go to the slopes, most shops on the slopes will rent the same boots they sell. It might be a little bit more expensive than buying in the city but it is worth it to try before you buy. Custom insoles are a good investment as well.

    It is like work shoes or hiking boots. Comfort is key. A ski boot isn’t going to feel like a pair of runners but having something uncomfortable will ruin your ski holiday and your feet. If the less comfortable ones are $100 less don’t buy them. Buy the ones that are more comfortable.

    I also have wide feet. There are brands that cater to this. I can’t remember what mine are called but I specifically bought them because they are for wide feet, I can dig them out later and tell you. I also had a custom footbed made.

    A good pair will last you 15+ years. So it is worth the investment.

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  chickensalad12 on 28/05/2024 - 19:03

  +1

  I went through this pain last year.

  My major recommendation would be to find a retail shop in the CBD that has a place at one of the resorts (not many). You will almost certainly get fit problems, and you will want to fix those when you're skiing, which you cannot do if the shop only exists in the CBD of that city. I did not do this, and spent a week trying to fix small niggles and spend maybe an additional $200-300 than I already had on boots. Alternatively, get them fitted in the nearest town (Cooma, Jindabyne, Bright etc.), so you can make corrections and the price will be a touch less than the slope-side.

  On price: $400 won't go that far in 2024 unfortunately, but I would recommend at least getting moulded foot beds. These will have the largest impact on stability and comfort. The stock footbeds do nothing.

  On actual store: It depends on location. Larry Adler is in both Sydney and Jindabyne. Yogi's is apparently quite good at Falls Creek too.

  Good luck!

  • 

    morse on 30/05/2024 - 03:29

    I’m going disagree on foot beds. I’ve had custom footbeds and sidas footbeds and find the sidas better. The insoles that come with the boot, I agree are fairly useless but the need for customisation is person dependent. The issue with customisation is that for some patterns of foot movement a custom bed might accomodate an unhelpful skiing position rather than correct it, and you’re very reliant on the judgement of the fitter here. In my experience most fitters accomodate rather than correct and some people are better off corrected. So in my experience the sidas puts me in a good alignment without the need for customisation.

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  mungas on 28/05/2024 - 20:52

  I highly recommend STM in Bondi. They do great work there, good range, and extremely helpful. I've been fitted for boots and boards there (snowboard).

  Service every time was onpoint. To be honest, not sure of ski pricing, but I dont think $400 will get you far.

  Rhythm in Jindabyne have an amazing range. Not necessarily the cheapest but I'm certain you'll have a wider price range there to pick from. Service there is always great.

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  2ndeffort on 28/05/2024 - 21:32

  I've had more than a few pairs and more than a few issues with painful boots. My current pair I bought at Aussieskier in Malvern Victoria (Melbourne). They did an awesome job, the boots they recommended were probably the last pair I would have chosen (probably why I've had so many issues) and the fit they did was excellent. Ive been wearing them for the last 3 seasons including a trip to Revelstoke BC and they've been mostly pain free.

  I love skiing bargains and I have bought boots online before and taken them to a bootfitter after I bought them. It never works and I've given up, ski boots are now one of those things I just find a good bootfitter and pay the money.

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  Youfah Mizzum on 29/05/2024 - 09:45

  My wife was looking for ski boots last year and we lobbed in unannounced to Snowbound in Chatwood (Willougby end on Penshurst St from recollection).
  They were excellent. They took great care in measuring, brought out about 4 to 5 boots to try.

  This after going to 3 other boot fitters who didn't take as much care and consideration, or have as great a selection to try. I wont mention the other retailers but Snowbound was far better than the other shops.

  She used them in Japan this season and her feet have never been so pain-free!

  Don't be so caught up on the price. The main factor in longevity is comfort - and for that you often need to pay. You might get lucky and the pair you most like could be on special but let that be a secondary factor. Go for comfort. Spend a solid 30 to 45 mins in the shop with the boots on so any pressure points become apparent.