I just bought new boots for my wife this past weekend. I was kind of surprised at how much it cost when all was said and done. We bought boots and some poles (poles a little fancier than the run of the mill black or white ones) and a few weeks back we got her some new skis. Part of the expense was in having the bindings adjusted for the boot, having the DIN settings dialed in and doing a release check. I get that part, I know exactly zero about setting up ski bindings, din settings, release checks etc, but what about fitting the boot itself? Is there typically a cost associated with the actual fitting process of a new boot?

Often, simple boot fitting is included when you purchase the new boots. If you purchase all the items together (skis, boots, poles), many shops will do the initial binding adjustments/safety check for free.

Standalone boot fitting can be expensive, but can also be well worth it, depending on how well the "stock" boot fits. A good bootfitter has an arsenal of tools available at his/her disposal to ensure a "perfect" fit. I've worked with Brian Deely before; he's one of the best (http://www.pro-fitski.com/). (Disclaimer: Pro-Fit Ski & Boot Service advertises on DCSki.) If the boot already fits pretty well, you might be OK, but if it's not quite right, someone like Brian can make it perfect. The cost probably varies depending on how much work is needed, but a full bootfitting session (which takes 1-2 hours) might cost over $100.

Comparing prices for a ski boot "fitting" is about as precise as comparing prices of car "tune-up"s: the name itself tells you _nothing_ about what was actually done.

"Fitting" is not only dependent on how 'special' your needs are, it is also dependent on which boot you chose in the first place.

With a low-end boot, few fitting adjustments are even possible and I would expect to be charged separately for everything done beyond adjustment of the boot cuff. I would budget around MSRP and maybe get an off-the-shelf footbed included with perhaps a tiny bit of foam under it. Total cost to me maybe, maybe MSRP + $50.

With a race-level boot, I would _expect_ to budget something like $200-$300 above the MSRP of the boot, and I would expect /FREE/ followup service on the boot and the footbed and the liner as needed. By followup service I mean 2x or 3x/week during the first weeks I own the boots, and whenever I need tweaks after that for at least the first season. About the only extra I would expect to pay for in addition to the above is highly specialized requests like toe or heel build-ups and re-routing to DIN norms.

Different boot makers have boots that accomodate feet of varying widths, arches of varying heights and toe boxes of varying widths. Getting the right length is most important. If they turn out to be too long, then they'll feel sloppy and make your skis harder to control. If they're too short, then you'll be facing the dredded "black toe," a fair amount of pain, and you'll need to visit a fitter for either ramps or to blow out the front of the boots. Hopefully the shop you bought the boots from put you in the right boots for your feet. If so, you might not need and additional "fitting." You'll know after a few days on snow.

If you didn't get them, you might want to get custom footbeds. They do make a difference in making your edging more precise.

If after a few days on snow, the boots feel sloppy or cause pain, then a trip to a fitter is probably in order.

I've been skiing since (I'm dating myself...) 1972 and with flat feet and bad arches, ski boot fitting has been an excruciating experience. I've thrown away thousands of dollars in ill-fitting boots.

I have two boots that finally fit me. One is a Solomon that the certified boot fitter at Snowshoe took two years to get well. I keep these at my DC home. Also, during my '08 visit to Whistler, I stopped at the SureFoot store and got a custom made pair, along with prescription orthotics. While expensive ($1.200), these fit like a glove from day one. I keep these at the Snowshoe condo.

I dread the day I have to replace these...