Custom ski boot fitting at Ellis Brigham is free and, as Andrew Dent discovered, a complete game changer. Find out why he’s a convert and what to expect from your custom fitting.
Custom ski boot fitting, Ellis Brigham
Why choose a custom ski booting fitting at Ellis Brigham?
I have skied nearly 10 years in my current boots. Well over 100 days of action on-piste, plus quite a few hours of après ski dancing and general walking around resorts, transfer buses and the rest. They’ve had a decent innings.
I never wanted to change, because they didn’t give me any problems. But is that reason enough to ignore a decade of new technology? I probably would have gone on one more season had the good folks at Ellis Brigham not persuaded me to come in and try a custom ski boot fitting.
The new boots have yet to touch the snow, yet I can already tell by walking around the shop and my living room, that they’re going to be game changers. My guess is a custom ski boot fitting shouldn’t be considered a luxury, but a necessity.
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Boot Fit Station, Ellis Brigham
Two hours that could transform the way you ski, forever
The ski boot fitting process involves booking a minimum two-hour slot, and is available at 14 Ellis Brigham stores across the UK. The service is free, and there’s no obligation to buy boots, but you must book an appointment in advance.
I choose the flagship store in Covent Garden which is spacious with a great selection of boots to choose from, and I was looked after by Toby, the Head of Ski Equipment. But there were at least two other equally knowledgeable gents doing fittings at the same time.
After all the normal questions about skiing ability, it starts with a measurement of your bare foot. Length and width are important here. Turns out most people’s feet are not equally sized and that your shoe size, is not in fact your foot size. Some foot sizes might be one shoe size down or even two. Who knew?
Then they measure your feet with a ski sock. The recommended sock is a Merino Sure Fit, not too thick. Toby recommended two days per pair. So, buy three pairs for a ski week and you’ll be all set.
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Toby, fitting expert, Ellis Brigham
How the custom ski boot fitting process works
Ellis Brigham carry all the main brands: Salomon, Atomic, Nordica, K2. However, they are really only looking to get you into the right boot for your foot shape and ability. I was recommended the Salomon S/Pro Dual Boa 120s. The Boa refers to new technology where there are no clips at all anymore. Instead, two dials are turned to tighten and loosen the boots – the ‘double Boa’ – which not only looks cool, it’s the vanguard of boot technology. They only came in one colour way, a sort of cream shell with cool retro orange tongue and liners. Fortunately, I liked the style. That said, if you’re hugely fashion conscious and want to match your salopettes with your boots, this limited choice might cause some issues.
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Salomon S/Pro Dual Boa 120s
Finding your perfect width: normal, race or performance
Next step in the custom ski boot fitting is an old school round wooden contraption to slide behind your heel to give you some movement. Three options of width: 20ml for you and me, 15ml for race fit and a no room to move at all 10ml, for ‘performance’.
Judging your natural foot movement and getting the ‘feel’ right
Now we adopt the ski position and sway back and forth whilst Toby judges my pronation: natural foot movement. He seemed happy and set me off on a walk around the store to judge the feel. Frankly, there was nothing to feel, which is an amazing sensation, like you don’t even have any boots on at all. This is a new world from my old favourite boots of the last 10 years, and we’re not even halfway through the custom ski boot fitting.
Andrew’s custom-made footbed, Ellis Brigham
The all-important footbed part of your custom ski boot fitting
Next we are onto the Footbeds, essentially custom moulded insoles. These cost an extra £70, but are highly recommended.
You stand on a contraption and put your bare feet into a hot mould which shapes around your foot and arch. I was amazed by the shape of my custom insoles, particularly the huge high arch under the foot (see picture). How could I have possibly skied the last 40 years without these? Once Toby sanded the insoles into even more exacting millimetres of perfection, they were ready to go back into the liner and shell. Another walk around the store, turned into a float. I’m going to be a world beater next ski season.
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The finished result
Why a custom ski boot fitting is a great investment
As mentioned, I have yet to make it to the slopes, but I am convinced this custom ski boot fitting is going to be a game changer. Especially for us more mature skiers, as good fitting boots directly correspond to less fatigue and better bounce back the next day of skiing.
The retail cost for the boots is £570, the foot beds an extra £70 and the custom ski boot fitting and advice is free. It has to be the best investment you will make when considering all your other ski expenses over the next five or more seasons.
It is worth noting that a custom ski boot fitting it is not suitable for kids because their feet are still growing. The top advice for when you’re getting them ready at a rental store is make sure the store takes time on the correct fit, nice and tight, cushioned, and just one pair of socks, a little thicker than an adult sock.
Book a custom ski boot fitting now at your nearest Ellis Brigham store