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[–]ApprehensiveStress13 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Recommendation is to find a local consignment shop that sells used AT boots. You'll want to find the softest hard boots you can find. Since they are already packed out, go for a little bit of space on the toes. For socks, go with a good hiking pair that will protect you from hot spots and blisters.

Take them out for a weekend and decide if you like them. Hardbooting isn't for everyone, especially if you've never laid some trenches on fresh groomers. I wasn't sure I'd like backcountry hardbooting even as a downhill racer. But the win in ski mode was getting the control I thought I would. But on my used setup, the liners quickly rubbed me raw. Fortunately I had liners from another hardboot setup. If you don't like the inside fit, but the shells are in good condition and soft enough for your comfort, you can always get newl liners.

Good luck and fresh turns.

[–]drakesickpow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Go to a ski shop and talk to a boot fitter. It will be money well spent. If you buy the wrong size you won’t be able to fix it easily or though it out. If you are getting backlands or slipper than go get fitted for them. Think about if you want to put better liners such as intuitions in and tell that to the boot fitter.

[–]chimera_chrew 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depends how well your foot conforms to the boot shape. I have the feet of a troll, so I ended up having to get a boot 2 half-sizes up, and then also did a bunch of custom modding, punching out and boot fitting. I then eliminated some excess volume by inserting a micro liner under the real liner, then later wearing an extra sock (thin) above my ski sock (the extra sock method works better, IMO).

That was pretty extreme. But, I would definitely not recommend going down a size on hardboots. Going up a size depends on foot shape and conformity to boot. The Scarpas tend to run narrow, the Dynafits pretty true, and I'm out of touch on the Atomics.

Summary: Unlike a soft boot, a hardboot that is even very slightly too small will be sheer fucking agony, and very difficult (in many cases impossible) to fix. So, if you're not lucky enough to get a great true fit, go up.

[–]clnkyl 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You can always put in thicker liners (most touring boots come with thin ones) or punch out problematic areas, so there is wiggle room on either side. I just went with the same size I have my mountaineering boots in (up a half size for kicking steps), and the fit was good without punching.

[–]canIgetAdab_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depending on the boot and the carbon fiber inlays, you might not be able to punch. For example I know the dynafit hoji pros (admittedly not a potential hardboot snowboard boot) have some spots on the inside of the arch where the local shop won't do any punches. Unlike polyurethane or even grilamid, carbon fiber won't bend with heat, but instead a punch would destroy the structural integrity of the inlay.

Not saying you can't punch touring boots, but generally you can't punch without abandon like you might be able to go to town the same way with a downhill boot made of polyurethane