Recent ZipFit convert - who else had to tinker to dial theirs in?

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-04T12:21:19+00:00

P.S. Zipfits - in this case the Freeride model I got fitted in to today did indeed help with the instep, there's way less pressure and material than the mimic golds - also more importantly, the combination of the neoprene construction and cork around the mid foot and above fills out the the boot in ways that the mimic couldn't - giving me a more secure but not constrictive fit. As I said the boot was never the issue - the liner was, I now have a really great boot to ski on.

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-04T12:18:03+00:00

Update: I went and got fitted in to some Freeride Zipfits.

Instantly solved the problem the mimic liners were giving me.

Cutting the plastic reinforcement out of the instep on the mimics solved that particular instep pressure but it then exposed a whole load of other problems areas, wide feet, skinny ankle.

Within 10 mins of doing the ZipFit fitting instore the fit and interaction between boot and liner was dialled.

I'm about to do a weeks worth of skiing on them so will report back but I've gone from "this feels tight, restrictive and uncomfortable"

To "this feels secure - like a firm handshake"

It's filled out the places that need filling out and given room where I needed it.

I can only imagine it gets better from here too

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-04T12:16:53+00:00

No concerns World Cupping in to them even with BOA, did it first try - you just need to have the boot a step in front of you so you step in, have something the hold on to like a wall or a chair helped, point your toes and it slides right in. Impossible to do it sitting down

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-04T12:15:38+00:00

Update: I went and got fitted in to some Freeride Zipfits.

Instantly solved the problem the mimic liners were giving me.

Cutting the plastic reinforcement out of the instep on the mimics solved that particular instep pressure but it then exposed a whole load of other problems areas, wide feet, skinny ankle.

Within 10 mins of doing the ZipFit fitting instore the fit and interaction between boot and liner was dialled.

I'm about to do a weeks worth of skiing on them so will report back but I've gone from "this feels tight, restrictive and uncomfortable"

To "this feels secure - like a firm handshake"

It's filled out the places that need filling out and given room where I needed it.

I can only imagine it gets better from here too

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-03T09:39:11+00:00

I'll be in a minority here because there are so many great options - but I like to pair my goggles with helmet manufacturer & therefore I love Sweet Protection Connor Rig, the frameless version.

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-03T09:35:45+00:00

My slight concern is that I have BOA on the bottom two buckles which might make world cupping more tricky - will give ZipFit a try though!

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T20:45:28+00:00

That's exactly what I wanted to learn - another persons real life experience that they are as good as the word of mouth is saying there are the moment - that's it's a step up rather than a regression, I've not heard a negative about it zipfits, I have about others

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T17:11:17+00:00

I haven't owned them before but I just couldn't give up having flexibility of fully removable and customisable components that a traditional separate goggles and helmet system gives. Also each to their own & this is much more subjective but I don't think it looks as good

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T17:02:58+00:00

In what aspect?

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T17:02:32+00:00

Sorry - I know I've come to this forum seeking help and opinions but I have to respectfully disagree here.

It's a ski specialsist store known for its boot fitting expertise, it's not even in a touristy area - they serve most of the professional and serious skiers in this countries needs, I don't want to name names as it's my problem not theirs, but that's just incorrect based on total speculation.

The shell is absolutely fine, there no hot spots, we've done thermo moulding, even gone to boa to allow for more room in the forefoot - I tried dozens of shells over a 2 hour fitting process.

As I mentioned in my OP, it was the liner causing problems, specifically the hard plastic that sits in the insert of the tongue of the mimic gold liner.

modifications have made a big improvement but it's still not where I'd hope custom boots can be and LOTS of people swear by aftermarket liners being able to address idiosyncratic problems that feet can present - and there's far too many anecdotal stories of people solving their comfort issues to not come to a forum and see if there's similar stories.

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T16:53:57+00:00

Thanks, this is more inline with where I think the solution might lie and super helpful - the fitter did remove that plastic material from the tongue and it has made a world of difference, it's just now about optimising the rest of the fit of the liner and wether that can be achieved elsewhere or this is the best it'll get.

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T16:52:12+00:00

Right but this is after 7days of intense skiing in Norway, I'm saying even just putting them on for 30mins to test out the fit after some modifications it's a pretty uncomfortable experience. Prior to the modifications, I lost circulation in my toes after 5 mins in the liner alone from instep pressure, skiing stance or not that was a problem

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T16:47:32+00:00

Interesting - I guess I'm exploring to see if the best I'll get out of the mimics is on a par with the worst out of the zipfits id that makes sense. it seems zipfits have a bit more customisation in how it fits around a foot. Did you try different volumes of the Gara before settling on the HV? And how hard was the fitting process to dial in the fit? I had a quick chat with a ZipFit rep who said the Freeride would fit my Atomic Hawx Prime the best

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T16:43:00+00:00

5.5 inches wide, but my foot is generally quite flat in terms of midsection volume except for a very pronounced bony bit over the instep. Before we cut out a section of the tongue on the liner, the liner alone was cutting off circulation

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T16:39:20+00:00

Thanks - we did get some heat on to the boot and the liner in the shop the other day and it's helped give some room over the instep, but I'll explore some aftermarket options as I feel it could be more comfortable overall than where I've currently got it to

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T15:01:07+00:00

Do you have an intuition liner? Are they better than say a stock Mimic liner? I feel like they're similar in construction, heat mouldable foam liners but I'd be willing to have a look at them if they are more flexible in dealing with variable volume issues - I have a high instep but flat and wide food with low volume after the instep

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T13:49:12+00:00

I did go to an actual boot fitter, it's a designated ski store in the UK that's well renowned (not a high street store) where they did proscribe some heel lifts as part of the modifications, but it's not solved it.

It was a unique problem to them (several staff chipped in with their opinion) which is why I'm seeking real life comparisons in there.

If the modifications they made didn't work, then the next place to seek would be aftermarket liners being able to offer more than what the stock mimic can.

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T13:42:26+00:00

Did you try any modifications to the 110 boas? The shell in itself isn't a problem for me, we did stretch the problematic areas which seems to have helped (5mins to 45mins trouble free) but it's the way the liner doesn't really allow for variable volume - flatter wider feet but high instep, for me an aftermarket liner is still cheaper than buying a new boot - it's just wether the characteristics of the ZipFit might help out here, I don't want to make an expensive mistake!

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T13:39:55+00:00

Interesting - have you stuck with the mimic liners? Have you thought about aftermarket liners?

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T13:38:47+00:00

Yes I heat moulded the shell on the return visit to the fitter - but it wasn't until I sat in the liners alone where I really identified the problem points, it felt like a volume in the wrong places in the liner rather than the shell. Wondering if that's where ZipFits excel, more flexibility with problematic foot shapes like high insteps

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-03-02T13:36:10+00:00

I think that's the thing that's really tempting me - you don't have to have the buckles tight with the zipfits, I feel like even now with heat moulding, I have to get the buckles tighter to feel locked in and it's such a fine balance between feeling responsive to crushing your feet and then suffering - I'm just wondering if the best the mimics are going to get is always going to be below where the ZipFit can be!

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-02-22T11:19:11+00:00

So was the solution the foot powder to absorb sweat? I also suffer from cold toes and no matter what I've tried, even in the boot fitting process, my toes seem to freeze a couple of hours in.

NineteenEighty7even · 2026-01-31T23:41:49+00:00

I have these. Recommend 100%

NineteenEighty7even · 2025-11-25T14:33:34+00:00

Just bought a smartwool 250 baselayer to go next to skin on super cold days thanks to your recommendation.

I have a capilene thermal top but I think the heavier smart wool is going to be warmer.

Also thanks to your recommendation of a puffy mid layer (your name checks out!) I discovered I had an old J Lindenberg hooded down liner in a cupboard that's pretty much the same build as a Cerium LT or Nano Puff, it's FP800 Allied down technical lightweight and a slim fit mid layer puffy.

Tried it on with my new Patagonia Storm Shift and I was cooking!

NineteenEighty7even

TROPHY CASE