heat-moldable boot liners

[Cindy Kleh]

I'm considering a pair of soft boots that have remoldable liners. I'm thinking these are similar to hard boot liners, and was wondering if a socked foot will slip around inside the liner. Also, when the liner is first heated and formed around the foot, does it conform to your foot in a shrinking fashion or does it just indent where your foot out-dents? Does it conform with enough power to keep your heel down on toe turns?

Thanks!

[SEJ]

I don't know about soft boots, but in hardboots if the shell is the right size the liner conforms to everything. When you heat them they sort of inflate into a big marshmellow. Lots of good info here if you look for Heat moldable liners.

[bobdea]

use a liner sock or some nylons for "race" fit and since you don't want heel lift I'd go that route.
with softboots your mileage seriously varies with the moldable liners between the actual liner and the shell it's in there are allot of variables.

[Joe D]

+1 SEJ

When the liner is first heated, the gas in the foam expands, and the liner becomes boggy and soft.

When it is fully cooled, it will have shrunk slightly from it's pre-molded size.

Usually on a good mold, your heel will be locked down, but this will be less because of the flexibility of the soft boot.

[skatha]

Cindy, Cindy, Cindy....

Do you not remember your toes being numb from cranking down on your toe straps?

You do?

Good! Now back away from the softies!

[Cindy Kleh]

Skatha! LOL! I know I need to get into hards but:

1. cost. I can only afford so many toys. I make do each season with such an incredibly low budget that I should write a book about how I make it work ... Adventures in Duct Tape or something.
2. I'll need to learn to ride all over again in the middle of racing season (which is every season) I can only ride a day or two a week for a few hours. Crappy knees. (I could also write a book about winning national alpine championships with no on-hill training.)
3. I have very delicate joints hanging on by threads and I don't want to give them any more torque than I already do. If I have so much control on my foot and ankle will the force move up to the knees?
4. I will be carrying alot of gear around if I have to have a SL, BX, GS and park board.

[stokeds]

ah lame excuses and that after I told you years ago to throw out that softboot gear :)

(sort of off topic cause about hardboot liners and in german but McFussel did a real nice "how to" video about this)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kimKAatRdgU