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Boots too tight help!

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 alasdair19 10 Jan 2023

Help my boots don't fit!

I've not skiied since 2017 and due to dramatic life changes my feet no longer spent lots of time in skiing, mountaineering and climbing boots. As a result they're bigger, not much longer but a bit wider and my snug touring boots are now pretty painful. 

Is there anyone closer to Sheffield than the nice people in Otley that can stretch a pair of touring boots? Dynafit tlt 6 with the carbon collar/upright bit if that makes any difference. 

Thanks Alasdair 

 kevin stephens 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19: have you tried Sidas ultra thin ski socks? I wear mine for the first day or so until the boot liners pack out a bit, then I revert to normal ski socks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sidas-Ultra-Socks-unisex-black/dp/B01LXNXQID

Post edited at 09:03
 Doug 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

 Thermoformable liners might be a solution without having to stretch the boots

 deepsoup 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

>  Is there anyone closer to Sheffield than the nice people in Otley that can stretch a pair of touring boots?

It miiight be worth giving Feet First* a call.  I don't know whether they can stretch your boots, but they do have a stretching machine.
*(In Chesterfield, not the Sheffield one.)

 kristian Global Crag Moderator 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

Dick's boardstore can possibly sort you out with this service

1
 kevin stephens 11 Jan 2023
In reply to kristian:

> Dick's boardstore can possibly sort you out with this service

If I had to modify boots I’d rather make the trip to Otley (or Rivington)

 mike123 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19: same thing happened to me a couple of years ago and I ve tried all sorts . My orange maestrales  used to fit perfectly and now don’t . I had the liners remolded at a good boot fitter , I  got new liners and had them fitted properly. No joy . I tried thin socks and this worked for a bit ( probably along with the new liners ) but I still find them uncomfortable. Boot fitter didn’t think there was any mileage in blowing the shells as my feet have just got bigger rather than a specific “ point “ . I think the real answer for me is ,   unfortunately , the £500 one . I’m happy to be corrected , but I don’t think it needs to be a touring shop just a good boot fitter . I went to anything technical in Kendal  . 

 Dark-Cloud 11 Jan 2023
In reply to mike123:

Personally i wouldn't touch Anything Technical with a bargepole, particularly one of their "fitters" you might get lucky and avoid issues but if you want touring boots go to a decent shop that specialise in touring.

As with everything YMMV.

 65 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

Backcountry UK in Ilkley have a very good reputation. 

However you may find that you need different boots as you are effectively trying to fit the same boots onto different sized and shaped feet.

 mike123 11 Jan 2023
In reply to Dark-Cloud:

really ? not my experience with staff there . i ve had some good help and advice with servicing skis at  home . I know that that the owner is a bit marmite but I find him ok (usually) . mind you the boots still don't fit very well .

edit : even though they did once.

Post edited at 12:09
 Dark-Cloud 11 Jan 2023
In reply to mike123:

I had a pair of boots fitted, admittedly they were only WTR not touring as i use them on piste, went for custom insoles, always felt like my left boot was awful after first ski, right not good either, finally got pissed off with it and ripped the liners out to check what was going on, insoles were in the wrong boot, so consequentially the inner moulding is pretty much useless.

As i say, YMMV but i won't use them again, and yes, the owner is marmite to some, downright rude to others.

 daWalt 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

Mike's got a good  point, you can't just inflate these things like a balloon.

You might just be better to sell them rather than risk irreparable modifications. 

If the inners are quite unused then there's a chance the foam might compress a bit, but if they're already well worn there's probably not much give to be had there. 

 kevin stephens 11 Jan 2023
In reply to Dark-Cloud: Anything Technical are great at supplying, er, anything technical. They were able to supply me with a set of alpine soles for my obsolete touring boots. However many years ago I bought and had fitted my first pair of ski boots there, which turned out to be grossly over sized. There’s really no point in going to Kendal for boot fitting when one of the best boot fitters in the country is just down the road at Rivington Alpine.

 Kean 11 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

Thinner socks and footbeds might just swing it. Surprising how much difference they can make. I've punched ski boots and heat moulded liners many times with varying degrees of success, for me and the wifey, but certainly no expert. I've managed to get some "give" on heat mouldable liners just by padding up pressure points on my feet, putting liners in an enclosed space (box), thoroughly heating them with a hair drier, and putting them on with the buckles well clamped down. For the shells, bought a cheap heat gun ("magic" temperature 160°C - any more and the plastic bubbles), and digital thermometer online, and "attacked" a pair of brutally painful Dynafit TLT 6 boots (ankle bone rather than size, so very accessible point). Complete success! Been using them for 10 years now. Some pretty good tutorials on YouTube now.

OP alasdair19 12 Jan 2023
In reply to alasdair19:

Thanks all, given me some ideas.


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