Lifetime Fit Guarantee
We have learned over the 25 years of offering custom ski boot fitting in Whistler, B.C. is that every foot is different.
Our approach to ski boot fitting is to find the best balance between total comfort and absolute performance.
We know that finding that perfect fit can take time and also change over time. When you book a custom fitting and buy ski boots at Fanatykco. take comfort in knowing that free fitting service is offered for the lifetime of the ski boots.
Step 01: Foot Inspection
Our ski boot fitting specialist will sit down with you and discuss the fitting process and take the time to examine your foot shape, ankle mobility, and other fitting considerations.
Step 02: Shell Assessment
Your fitter will then talk with you to learn more about your skiing experience to help identify appropriate ski boot models. Ultimately the best fitting ski boot shell will be chosen by your fitter.
Step 03: Custom Fitting
The custom fitting process will allow for alteration to the shape of the ski boot shell to provide the best possible fit for your foot. A follow up appointment is recommended for additional adjustments.
For appointments this week, click the button below.
For appointments after this week, fill out this request form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best boot for me?
The best boot is different for each skier. It starts with the brand and model that best matches the shape of your foot and needs of the skier. When trying to select the perfect boot for you, we consider many factors. Some of these factors are, shape of the foot, length of specific of the toes, foot flexibility, arch and instep height, leg length and shape, medical issues, skier type and average ski days per season. We may even consider the type of plastic each boot is made of if we predict substantial boot punching or modifications are needed.
Often the perfect fit is also dependent on punches or modifications to compensate for all the unique characteristics of each foot. Most skiers would benefit from an experienced boot fitter helping select the right brand and model as well as fine tune the fit. We guarantee the fit for the lifetime of the boot. Any additional fitting needed is free for the lifetime of the boot.
What is “Boot Fitting”?
Boot fitting is just that, fitting the boots to your feet. Ski boots come in many different shapes so we can usually find a model that closely matches your feet. But almost nobody's feet are perfect so most ski boots need to be modified in some way to make them fit better. By heating, punching, stretching, cutting, grinding and padding the boots we can accomplish just that.
*All ski boots purchased at Fanatyk Co. include no charge fitting services for as long as you own your boots.
*Excludes online purchases.
If I know what I want, can I just buy a boot without a fitting?
You can purchase a boot without a fitting but we don’t recommend it as a proper fitting is free. Any boot purchased online or without a fitting will not come with our guaranteed fit and all sales in this case are final and therefore cannot be returned at any time even if it is unused.
What is your Guaranteed Fit Policy – Does not apply to boots purchased online or without a proper fitting.
The “Guaranteed Fit” is to ensure that as you break in your boot, any pressure points or comfort issues you have can be taken care of without additional cost. Boot shell punching and liner modifications take care of the majority of fitting issues that skiers have while skiing. For the life of the boot you have our boot fitting services at no charge to make sure you are happy with your boots. This does not include additional items like foot beds or liners that may be needed in the future. In rare cases your boot fitter may decide to exchange or refund a boot if specific issues are unsolvable.
Do you sell beginner boots?
We sell boots to every level of skier including beginners. The boot performance is dictated more by the fit than the type of boot. A beginner skier usually will benefit from a slightly more relaxed or bigger fit than a more advanced skier. Although the boots “Flex” is a factor in performance, weight, height and stature of the skier will usually determine the flex and not the skier's ability. All of the boots we sell are “upper end” boots from a quality standpoint. The price point is higher than some other shops because the quality level of the boots we sell are also higher. This standard of high quality boots ensures the ability to do proper boot punches and fitting that we require to make each boot perfect for you. All of our boots have high quality “punchable” plastic shells, metal buckles instead of plastic ones and quality liners.
If I have bunions or other odd shapes with my foot what can be done? What is a boot punch?
No problem. That's where boot fitting comes in and that's where we do our best work. By heating then stretching we can change the physical shape of the plastic shells of ski boots. Those bunions, large ankles or long big toes will all experience comfortable relief after a visit with one of our expert boot fitters. The ideal boot shell should look very similar to your feet. For example, If your feet have bunions, your boot shells should too.
Do you work on boots that were purchased somewhere else?
At this time our fitters are only available to work on boots, liners and footbeds purchased at FanatykCo
What is a custom foot bed? Is it different to an Orthotic.
Everyone's feet are unique. Some are flat like a pancake and others are rigid and tall over the instep. The goal of any foot bed is to offer support to your unique foot. In skiing the optimal foot position to be supported in is called "neutral". Neutral alignment is when the foot is in its strongest position. In this position, the foot is strong yet relaxed and transfers energy more efficiently to the ski.
An orthotic is a “corrective insole” usually made with a prescription. – An orthotic is usually made for walking and running and therefore is not normally recommended in a ski boot.
A custom foot bed is a “supportive insole” and does not require a prescription. It is made specifically for ski boots and should not be used in regular shoes.
Can I choose the colour of boot?
Most quality boots only have one colour choice. Unfortunately the colour of the boot is always less important than the fit and therefore is very rarely an option in the fitting process.
What is the best boot for a wide foot?
This is one of the most common questions we are asked but does not have a simple answer. There are many boots that are considered “Wide”, but that is only one of many factors of a boot that we need to consider. We have to consider where the foot is wide and also the height of the instep. Is the foot flat or does it have a high arch? Is the toe box square or pointed? What shape is the ankle and calf? All of these factors help determine which of the many “wide” boots on the wall are suitable for your foot. We also have to recognize that creating width in a shell is typically one of the easiest modifications for a boot fitter to do and therefore we may focus on the other more difficult traits of your foot. Examples of Wide boots are: Head Edge, Head Vector, Tecnica Mach 1 MV, Nordica Sport Machine, Lange SX.
What boot is good for Wide calves?
Most women’s boots have more calf room than men’s as the typical women’s calf is longer than men’s. We have selected several models of boots to accommodate larger calves as well as we have several boot fitting techniques to create more leg and calf space.
What is the best boot for a narrow foot?
This is another common question we are asked but does not have a simple answer. There are many boots that are considered “narrow” but that is only one of many factors of a boot that we need to consider. We have to consider where the foot is narrow and also the height of the instep. Is the foot flat or does it have a high arch? Is the toe box square or pointed? What shape is the ankle and calf? All of these factors help determine which of the many “narrow” boots on the wall are suitable for your foot. Some boots in this category are: Dalbello KR series, Nordica Pro Machine, Lange LV, Technica Mach 1 LV.
I want a lightweight boot. What boot is the lightest?
The weight difference between boots is almost the same unless a light weight plastic is used. Generally speaking the lightweight plastics are only used for backcountry and touring boots. This is because there is a significant sacrifice in a boots performance when lightweight plastics are used instead of P.U. plastic that is found in most performance boots. If you are not hiking with your boots the weight is not a factor that should be significantly important as it rarely affects skier performance or comfort. One exception to this is the intuition liner which adds warmth, comfort, and will make a boot significantly lighter.
What’s the difference between women’s and men’s boot?
Usually the only difference between a men’s and women’s boots are the cuff/calf height of the boot, a softer flex, and some differences in liner material. The exception to this is Head boots have specific women’s Last (shape).
Do half sizes exist in ski boots
Half sizes do NOT exist in ski boots despite what the box labels indicate. If a boot does indicate a half size it may simply be a slightly thinner insole, but the liner and shell will be exactly the same as the whole size.
Do you do custom liners
The custom liners we do are “Intuition Liners ($250)” and “Zipfit liners ($600)”. We have found that Intuition liners work best for the majority of skiers as they add warmth, comfort and performance to almost any boot. They are re-moldable and great to work with for additional fitting. Zipfit liners work best for skiers looking for a performance upgrade and a long term liner investment.
What do the flex numbers mean?
Flex numbers on boots are not a measured value. They are an estimate at best of how the boot will flex. Flex numbers are not comparable between brands and not accurately comparable even within a brand. If ten boots with the flex of 110 are measured for flex they would most likely all be different. The flex number can however be used as an indication of were the Boot Company suggests it’s flex is within that boots model line-up.
When deciding on the proper flex of a boot, the skiers height, weight, and stature are often the most important factors.
What can I do about cold feet? In my existing boots?
There are 2 common causes of cold feet, lack circulation or lack of insulation.
If your feet get cold even on days that the temperature is reasonable than it is likely loss of circulation. Often cold feet come from improper fitting boots. Boots with pressure points, boots that are buckled too tight because of a large size, socks that are too thick, or other shape issues often cause circulation loss. Our boot fitters can determine this by inspecting your fit. Another common cause is improper buckle management such as not adjusting the buckle micro adjusts properly or not releasing toe and instep buckles during the chairlift rides. Boot punching, or a Custom intuition liner may help.
If the feet are cold only on the colder days than it may be lack of insulation. An electric boot heater or Custom Intuition liner would be great options.
We do not recommend chemical heat packs or thicker socks to solve cold feet issues as both tend to take up toe the toe space necessary for warm toes and can often cause more circulation loss.
What is the best ski sock?
Generally speaking a base layer sock with a similar thickness to base layer underwear will work best as it is the first layer and in contact with the skin. Similar to when properly layering your body, it is important to understand the correct layers to stay warm and dry. The sock is the base layer and not the insulation layer, your boot liner is the insulation layer and the boot shell it obviously the shell. The sock material should be Hydrophobic to “Wick” moisture away from the foot. This may be a thin sock in a new or performance fit boot or a light medium thickness in a packed down liner or more recreational fit boot.
What is the difference between 3 or 4 buckle boots?
The 3 buckle boot is referred to as a “Cabrio” design. It is a slightly different design not because of the number buckles, but because of its 3 piece shell design. This design combats the distortion that can happen with an overlap boot. The flexing tongue allows for a flex that is independent from the rest of the boot. This style boot will ski slightly differently from an overlap boot and typically fits a specific leg and foot shape. In our models this is typically a low instep with a narrow leg.
What is Canting or Alignment?
This is a multi step process to achieve proper lateral ski position for optimal performance. "Cuff alignment" is an adjustment to your boot’s upper cuff to match your specific leg angle creating a flat ski regardless of your leg stance (“Knock-kneed” or “Bow-Legged”).
Alignment (true canting) is and adjustment made below the boot on the boot sole or under the binding to allow the centre of knee mass to be equal and correctly positioned over the ski. Typically $150 - $200. The Skier must already have a proper custom foot bed to book this appointment.