Guest Crosbie Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 When doing a shell test (big toe just touching/missing front of boot) what is the maximum and minimum size of gap that should exist at the heel? This is with thinly socked foot in hard shell with no liners (or footbeds). And this is assuming moldable liners will be used. I don't think finger thicknesses/widths are a good enough guide. Are they squeezed fingers? Widthways/sideways? Middle fingers? Little fingers? Big fingers? Fat fingers? Thin fingers? Let's use drill bits, rods, or pens of a specific diameter rather than squidgy fingers eh? Feel free to give ranges, e.g. Boots too big: >25mm Boots slightly loose: 21mm-25mm Boots roomy: 18mm-20mm Boots ok: 15-17mm Boots snug: 11-14mm Boots compact: 8-10mm Boots tight: 4mm-7mm Boots too tight: 0mm-3mm Boots too small: <0mm Or is there no exact science? My gap's 8mm, and I understand Thermoflex doesn't squeeze to less than 6mm each end, so I'm naturally worried as to where the 4mm is going to come from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwings Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 http://www.bomberonline.com/store/boots/shell_test.cfm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crosbie Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Thanks Bullwings, I know about the fingers. It just seems that rods would be a more precise measuring device - less prone to misinterpretation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crosbie Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 The thing is, I reckon I could get a finger behind my heel, but I find it difficult to get a finger there without my hand pushing my foot forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshack Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Will you run into problems using a liner (that fits) a half-size smaller than the lower assembly size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrobb Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Thanks Bullwings, I know about the fingers.It just seems that rods would be a more precise measuring device - less prone to misinterpretation. A bootfitter local to me used a few rods they had on hand. They looked like honeydippers...slender stick with a ball on the end. They had various size balls on the end...better than cramming a fat hand down there. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crosbie Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Jrobb, that's interesting. Seems to me that someone could make some cheap plastic versions: Tiny = Tight, but fit still possible Small = Just right - low end Medium = Just right - top end Large = Fit possible, but thick socks needed Ex. Large = Too big Can't fit Tiny = too small Can fit Ex.Large = too big Then they could supply a set with each pair of boots, and suggest that they are returned if the Tiny won't fit, or the Ex.Large does fit. Unfortunately, they'd sell fewer boots this way. :-\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrobb Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 ...or your local hardware store should have various dowel sizes. Many are fairly cheap but then you'd be stuck with a bunch of dowels. I guess that's why bootfitter's are such a highly praised bunch of professionals. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crosbie Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 If only I had a professional bootfitter within 500 miles... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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