nickia wrote:
Thanks Obrules15. I just read up what "plug" boots are. Thank you for pointing this out. Do you know how much work and cost is typically required to fit a plug boot? Would it make more sense to get something else instead?
Let me tell you a little about my boot journey. I measure a 24.75. I was originally put in 25.5 Lange RX Low Volume Boot by a decent fitter who did canting and outside foot punches/stretches. It was OK the first season when I was returning after an 8 year hiatus (I started skiing in '79-'80 on straight skis when I was 9, got stuck in Stem Christy's as I never skied enough as an adult to clear those old movement patterns). The second season on those boots the liners completely packed out and the boot became very sloshy, I tried an after market liner which helped but I still had major problems.
Last spring after I decided I'd be doing a camp this year I decided to go to the shop in CO and just get my aligment session early. They were able to make a ton of amazing adjustments and gave me custom footbeds. Those mods helped a quite a lot but the boots were still way too big. When I went for camp I ended up trading down to a Head Raptor in a 24.5, which I love.
I've never bought a boot online and taken it someplace for shell mods, though I have recently heard of a fitter in Quebec who doesn't sell boots just works on them, I don't know what they charge.
I definitely don't know the best way for you to proceed but I was miserable in a boot that was only half as much too big for my foot as yours is for you so I agree that you'd be happier in something different.
I'm pretty sure you could go to colorado and get a boot there for the same price as a $1400 Dodge Boot. The Head Raptor 120 is $650 (footbeds/canting are extra) flights are less than $500 from your area, a B&B near the shop instead of slopeside accomodations is <$150/night. Overall I think you come out ahead just to make the pilgrimage to the shop. If international flights are too expensive the trip to Detroit driving the QEW is an easy drive and flights on Delta from that airport to CO are reasonable. Oh, and of course you could ski in Colorado, the shop is on the way to everything.
P.S. Flights to Denver from Detroit are $176 round trip right now.