Buying ski boots

[RhubarbFairy]

I'm considering getting my own pair of boots. I don't usually have too much trouble with hire boots as my feet seem to be fairly standard, though there is the odd exception, but fancy having a pair of my own now.

I posted on Snowheads and the overwhelming consensus was to go to Solutions4Feet in Bicester. I've been on the website and read the reviews and in addition to the cost and time of getting to Bicester (3 hour round trip) it looks unlikely that I'll come out spending less than about £600-£700 with boots, fitting and custom insoles. I'm not disputing that they do an amazing job, but that's a crazy amount of money that I'm not comfortable spending.

I have a budget of around £500, though if possible would like to come in under that and I'm in the South West, near Bath. Does anyone have any experience with Ellis Brigham or Snow and Rock in Bristol please?

Or advice for buying boots without going to 'The Savile Row of ski boots' (quote from a Google review)?

Thanks.

I've not been to the Bristol Snow and Rock but I got my boots from the portsmouth one. I didn't like the first person who helped me, they seemed clueless and pushy so I went back another day and they were great! They added extra pads in bits to give a really good fit, and I paid around £200 although this was a few years back. I still have them though and they are so much better than rented boots! I would say avoid going on a weekend, the weekday staff seemed so much more knowledgeable but that could have just been a fluke

If you usually get on well with "standard" hire boots then there is probably no need for custom-made £700 boots from a specialist like the excellent Solutions4Feet. Which is not to say that S4F are not worth it - I got my boots there as I have very strange feet (courtesy of some old sports injuries) and they were worth every penny.

But if you have "ordinary" feet, you are probably OK buying a pair in resort - if the hire boots fit, then ask if you can buy a new pair of the same model, possibly with a few final tweaks. Folks on Snowheads will be able to recommend good boot fitters in the various resorts.

As an aside, European resorts barely opened last season and the ski shops are bulging with boots, skis and helmets from last season that hardly got used, if at all, and lots of stock that didn't get sold. So there are going to be lots of bargains - your £500 should easily buy you a pair of good, fitted boots and still leave change for a few glasses of gluhwein or vin chaud.

I wouldn't bother with the Saville Row versions if you have no prob with rented ones. As the previous poster said, I would have a look in resort and buy there - I would think there would be a much larger choice at better prices. It is not as if you can "wear them in" if you buy them in the UK!!

Thanks all. We've been to the resort we're going to next month before and I remember there being a ski shop in the village. I looked it up yesterday after seeing the replies and it has fantastic reviews. Seems to be a family run business. The hire shop doesn't sell boots or skis, just smaller items like helmets, goggles, gloves etc.

We arrive in resort at about 4pm and it's open until 6, so I think I'll go down that afternoon to get some and then I've got the whole week to play with them on snow and have any tweaks fixed.

DP has just bought some boots from Ellis Brigham on Whiteladies road in Bristol and I have to say they were absolutely fantastic.

You have to book a slot for fitting but they spent 2 full hours trying on different boots until they found the ones that fit best. They didn't have the boots DP decided on in store so they ordered them in, we booked another appointment and they checked once again that the boots were still comfortable. His boots were £350 but totally worth it for the fitting process.

I was really impressed. Would definitely recommend!

I’d just say your boot requirements as to flex and even fit will change as you progress your skiing. A one week skier will want something different to a high intermediate. So you might be looking for something different in a few years. Just something to bear in mind.

The one thing I would say OP is that the day you arrive in resort is likely to be transfer day so the ski hire shops are likely to be full with people renting or returning.
I'd likely bite the bullet and hire for the week, but let them know you're thinking of buying. They may well let you swap around during the week to see what you prefer and possibly do you a deal. Maybe email in advance to see what they think.

Blimey! I’ve never paid more than €100 for ski boots, but I do then to get them second hand. DD’s were bought from eBay for €60, worn for 1 week by a novice skier who shelled out for intermediate boots. Brand new Salomon, we tried on the same model in a shop to ensure a good fit before buying from eBay (sizing is rarely uniform). Mine were similar, bought at Decathlon second hand sale, top brand, they were practically new. Only DP paid more than €100 for his.

I would second looking at ski hire places, my friend does this every year for her kids. €500 is a lot, unless you’re pretty advanced and ski a lot. No one I know spends that kind of money on boots and we live near the Alps.

Actually Decathlon might be a good place to go to for new boots. Just had a quick look and great selection under £200, from when I've been in before the boot fitters seem
Quite professional.

I would get them in the resort. They are the experts and saves you having to lug them on the outbound journey.

I have got my own (second hand) boots, but I think getting the more expensive hire boots and perhaps trying on a couple of pairs, will get you a really good pair of boots.