Do comfortable ski boots exist?

I%26#039;m 20 and the ski equipment I use I bought from a rental shop when I was 14 because the skis and boots and bindings were out of date and I%26#039;m really thinking I need an upgrade.





My ski boots hurt so bad at the end of the day it%26#039;s a real push to get back to the car, does anyone know of a comfortable ski boot?





I%26#039;m thinking about a pair of tk or tlk skis or whatever I don%26#039;t remember the name exactly, does anyone know the best pair of skis out there? (I%26#039;m kinda on a budget and I don%26#039;t want to spend too much, I don%26#039;t care if they%26#039;re used or a few years old) I spend a little time at the park every time I go, but it%26#039;s mostly mogules and high country.





thanks for any help!

Do comfortable ski boots exist?
The boots you have are old and outdated, and were probqably worn out when you bought them. Never buy old rental equipment. That stuff gerts beat on, abused, and is normally used by peoploe who dont know what they are doing, so of course its gonna be in bad shape. Different manufacturers make boots that are different shapes and conform to differnt types of feet. Find a good bootfitter and they can lead you to the proper boot, heat mold your liners for you, and build you custom footbeds that are shaped to fit the bottom of your foot.





As for skis, I would go with an all-mountain style ski, designed for various types of skiing. Sounds like you ski mostly groomed and moguled runs...do you spend alot of time off-piste, in the trees, or in the backcountry? If so, I would look at the Rossignol Bandit Series, or the K2 Apache series. If not, look for something with a bit norrower waist and not as much beef in the tip and tail. This will help with carving GS turns on groomers and better edge transfer in the bumps.
Reply:I have flat feet and have dealt with a lot of pain from ski boots. Two years ago I got a pair of Nordica Beast 10%26#039;s and have to say they are pure heaven. I barely unbuckle them throughout the day. The only downside is that they seem to have %26#039;packed out%26#039; a good deal and I am getting close to using the ends of the buckles to keep them snug. With this in mind I would recommend getting a half size smaller than normal as the liners will pack out a lot. Also they have moldable footbeds so you don%26#039;t have to go spend money on custom footbeds.





Definitely go to a boot fitter whatever you do. It%26#039;s well worth the price. Don%26#039;t be surprised if you have to go back a couple times to get things right. They shouldn%26#039;t charge you if you have to come back.





For low cost skis go to a ski shop and see if you can find a pair of demo skis from a year or two ago. They may be a little beat up but if the base and edges are decent then you are good to go. Just make sure to get them tuned if they need it and you will be all set.
Reply:You probably would want new boots (not used). You would need to try on different pairs to find a best fit. You don%26#039;t necessarily need a special bootfitter, only if you are bow legged, or have some other foot problem.





Decent skis can be found used. Usually a good pair would be around $200.
Reply:I would suggest getting a bootfitter to work on your boots. I have custom footbeds in all my ski and snowboard boots and I think they help a lot. Sometimes I just use the orthotics I got from a podiatrist. I have a flat foot and spent a great deal of time when I was younger working with bootfitters to try to stop the spot in my ankle where it was rubbing so bad. Putting a good orthotic under my foot solved the problem because the bone that was rubbing didn%26#039;t stick out any more!





I would ask around and at your ski shop if they can reccomend a good boot fitter. It may be a little expensive at the start, but the footbeds should last many years and it will ease the pain so it%26#039;s worth it!





Good luck.
Reply:Go to a professional ski shop, talk with their top boot fitter and don%26#039;t spare the expense on the boots. A good pair that fits properly with a foot bed that is correct for you will allow you to ski all day and dance most of the night. You do not need a top of the line race boot, but a good top end recreational or professional or teaching boot. A ski instructor is in his boots for 4-8 hours a day, a racer about 1 hour, with his boots tightened about 10 minutes.


A good pair of boots should last you 4-6 years before the liners start to wear out.


A good pair of skiis can still be had at a retail shop from a season rental return or from an instructor who is retiring a pair. These are usually at a very good price if you shop around.


The skiis are not near as important as the boots. Have fun.
Reply:They exist, I have two pair. Get the liners custom-molded, it pays if you ski alot!


As far as skis, try some 1080%26#039;s, they make a pretty decent all-mountain ski (as far as park, moguls, and off-piste).
Reply:Quite a few companies now sell boots with inners that you can mould to your own feet, so they should be comfortable and properly fitted (provided the inner is the right size obviously!) Lots of ski shops can help you with this, with the initial fitting and the moulding. The liners can be remoulded a few times as well, so you should get lots of life out of them, even if you find them uncomfortable in the future.





Not sure exactly of all the brands that do the moulding inners, but I know for sure that Salomon do.





Hope this helps!
Reply:I don%26#039;t think that they have any comfy ski boots, but I just got a pair of Rossi ski boots and I love them. I tend to leave my boots unbuckled while skiing the bunny slopes with my daughter, and every now and then a run or two of my own. I found by leaving them loose for a run or two relieved the agony at the end of the day. As for the skis, I%26#039;m old school and can%26#039;t help you there as they don%26#039;t make straight skis anymore! There is a place called Play it Again Sports that may have a nice used pair of skis you like though.



FISH