Wobbly Boots?

[Gary]

When I purchased my Head boots last year I took them into my bootfitter to have him check out my alignment. After everything checked out OK, my fitter said we should probably plane the bottom of the boots.

Well heck, I had skied the boots and all seemed perfect....no need to mess with a good thing.

Well as fall approaced this year, I had new footbeds made. In the process, I set my boots up on the kitchen counter and noticed they wobbled. What is up with that I thought. I checked the other boot and same thing. The boot SHOULD sit flat on a flat surface. My thinking here is that since we are trying to create the "perfect"neutural stance, if the boots aren't flat, it could throw your entire kit and kabooddle out of whack.

So, I took the boots in for a sole cut. The fitter took off just a couple of high spots and now they sit nice and flat. What that means to my skiing....don't know yet or even if I'll notice a difference. In my mind though, I can't blame the equipment....it's all me now.

Ron told me that when he went to Billy, his boot fitter, Billy stated the for whatever reason, Head is notoriously known for having their boot bottoms off kilter.? He also stated that having your bottoms checked ( no wise cracks) is worth it since this can affect your alignment.

I know, one more thing to think about. Hey, what? do you have to loose. Grab your boot, make sure your wifes not in the kitchen, put one up on the countertop, apply downward pressure on the boot and see if it wobbles.

If you've worked on getting aligned or have any concerns in this area, check your bottoms baby, your turns just might appreciate it!

Best,
Gary

[Barrettscv]

Hi Gary,

My daughter and I had our boots aligned at Green Mountain Orthotics Lab last year. They also planed the soles of her Nordica Beasts and my Salomon Course. The cost for the service was small, around $25.

Nick Blaylock determined how much canting we needed and then looked at the "twist" in the boot sole. He said the twist in my boot soles needed to be uniformly flat. However, he did not want to totally remove the twist, since it was providing some canting benefit. He planed my soles just enough to remove the irregularities on the boot and provide a flat interface to the binding system. He also planed & aligned my daughters boots, her service charge was less than $40 and this included heal lifts.

Nick explained that during manufacturing, every boot is taken from the molds before the plastic is fully cured. All boots will twist as they cure and need to be machined flat. However, not a single manufacturer machines the boot soles and all are essentially delivering an imperfect product.

I know the GMOL inspects every boot they service to see if this service is required and beneficial.

Cheers,

Michael

[Gary]

WOw Michael...should have brought this up when I bought my boots....

Great comments and ain't knowledge wonderful!

Hope this helps others with "Wobbly Boots"!

Have a great weekend!
Gary

[jbotti]

It is also very important to realize that all the correct canting work done on your boots is rendered useless the minute you start to walk on a hard surface with your boots. Skis boots wear down on concrete faster than do shoes and just take a look at the soles of your shoes if you want to see what occurs. The only way to preserve the canting work is by wearing cat tarcks religiously!! I realize that this is a pain, but I don't even go in to pee without putting mine on. It takes an extra minute, but without them your canting work is done for good after about 5 ski days (and significant damage is done on the first day!!).

Gary if you are walking without cat tracks, this has had more to do with your wobbling than anything else. For $12 it's actually a very good investment. JB.

[jim-ratliff]

JB:  I'm impressed.  It takes me a lot longer that a minute to put the cat trax on when I have my boots on.  It probably takes me almost a minute just to get my backpack off and get them out.  But, I don't know of anything better and they make it a lot easier to walk on hard or icy surfaces in addition to protecting boot soles.

[jbotti]

The real key here is the twine that Diana attaches to the back of the cat tracks. This gives you something to hold onto where you have some leverage. Everyone should do this to their cat tracks. It makes putting them on take very little time. Of course if you keep them in your jacket pocket you save another minute or two as well!! JB.

[fredm8]

How does one know when one's boots are past there use by date ? or just need a tune up from too much walking in the carpark etc ?

Douglas

[trtaylor]

I've "extended" the tabs on the back of my Cat Tracks using black duck tape. Much easier to get on and off that way. Also, I've streched mine out a bit, almost to the point of being too loose. I just give them a twist if needed.

[Barrettscv]

How does one know when one's boots are past there use by date ? or just need a tune up from too much walking in the carpark etc ?

Douglas

Several boot manufacturers have replaceable sections at the toe & heel of the boot sole, this might help extend the life of an older boot that still functions well.

Another solution is to plane the sole, install a plate on the sole and machine the binding interface to restore that dimension, see : http://www.gmolfoot.com/bsm.html

Cheers,

Michael

[Gary]

Great points guys.... I know when I'm on the mountain, if I'm walking around, I try and find areas that are snow covered to avoid hard surfaces.

But....like Jim, I always thought it was too much a pain in the neck putting on the cat tracks. Will try some of your suggestions though to make it easier to put on.

As far as putting them on to pee....well Michael, there's only so much info you should tell us....but thanks anyways.

Going down to my ski bag now and get out my cat tracks for todays modification of the day!

Gary

[jim-ratliff]

I've "extended" the tabs on the back of my Cat Tracks using black duck tape. Much easier to get on and off that way. Also, I've streched mine out a bit, almost to the point of being too loose. I just give them a twist if needed.

Great idea.  I can't visualize JB's twine approach (seems like it would cut through the plastic) but looping a length of Duct Tape around  the pull tabs in the back is something even I can accomplish, and that's exactly the problem I have, getting a grip on the tabs with an 'Old-guys' lack of flexibility.

As far a carrying them in a pocket, I don't have to stop to pee that often.

Thanks, everyone.

JIm

[Barrettscv]

As far as putting them on to pee....well Michael, there's only so much info you should tell us....but thanks anyways.
Gary

What!?!

[jim-ratliff]

As far as putting them on to pee....well Michael, there's only so much info you should tell us....but thanks anyways.
Gary

What!?!

Michael, me thinks you have been falsely accused of a certain use of the Cat-trax that was actually from JBotti, unless you and Gary have been spending time together that the rest of us don't know about.   

[Barrettscv]

OK, this is getting a little weird.

Michael

[Gary]

Yep, my bad.....so it's very clear here....jbotti puts on his cat tracks to pee.

Didn't know they worked on street shoes!

Gary