Post by HighAngles on Dec 1, 2013 20:09:45 GMT -7
As I mentioned in the Intuition Pro Tongue liner thread, I decided to pick-up another pair of ZipFit liners; this time the World Cup SE model. My goal is to get my Head Raptor Overkill shells setup to ski as identically as possible to my Head Raptor 130 RS shells (the Overkill shells have Vibram soles for rock scrambling/hiking). After deciding that the Pro Tongue just wasn't skiing the same way as my ZipFits it was clear that the best solution was to just bite the bullet and buy another pair of ZipFits. Although you certainly can move ZipFits between shells, it's probably not a great idea to constantly swap them between different shells. Although the Raptor Overkill is built on the same last as the 130 RS, there are always slight differences between boot models so I decided not to go the swapping route; not moving the liner between the shells.
Intro
Upon receiving the World Cup SE I was seriously concerned that I had screwed up. It looked far more voluminous than my current ZipFit World Cup (non-SE model) that has probably 100+ days on it. It's interesting to note the small changes in the ZipFit liners each year. Sven keeps on tweaking the design; especially the tongue. This season's version now has eyelets on the lower portion of the instep to make the lacing starting point further toward the toe. Personally I don't care much for this tweak and it would lead to having the laces "intrude" on the fit since using those eyelets would press the laces against the roof of the shell. So I re-laced the liners without using these new eyelets. Sven has also changed the size of the tongue "window" and made it larger/longer. This is the area that starts at the "elbow" of the tongue and continues down across the instep. The idea of the window is to improve the comfort of the tongue over the instep. This tweak really works well. On my older ZipFits I had actually inserted a layer of neoprene within the old smaller tongue window. Sven must have read my mind because this new change improves upon the mod that I had come up with myself. He has also increased the size of the area in the toe that is lined with the shearling wool. There's a lot more wool now (much appreciated for the warmth factor). However, the biggest change that really concerned me was the increase in thickness and size of the tongue. The tongue is quite a bit more "cushy" now and I was worried that it was too much volume for my shells. Luckily this concern was unfounded once I completed the fitting process.
Fitting
It's been a few years since I've done a ZipFit fitting with a brand new liner. I had forgotten just how stiff the brand new leather is and how the OMFit material is so evenly distributed through the bladder channels. It takes work to get this liner ready to ski. Note that I do not use the prescribed fitting method as published on the ZipFit site. My primary reason is that I believe new ZipFit liners need to be "taught" how to fit into the shell and not have the shell accidentally modified to fit over the liner. That means that I do NOT heat the shells at all for the initial fitting steps (or three ). When I did a test fit (without heating the liners or the shells) the overlap of the lower shell was spread about an inch apart! So consider what would happen if you heated the shells and not the liners; that would result in some serious abuse for the shells. Please note that I do not take any responsibility for anyone who follows these instructions and ends up damaging their liners and/or shells. I provide this information solely for the core enthusiasts who may be interested in alternative methods for achieving a great fit with the ZipFit liner.
My method is as follows:
Once the liner has gone through the initial steps I feel more comfortable with warming the shell to finalize the fitting. Although the web site uses the steam method, I prefer to use a convection oven.
I like my oven method because it heats the stiff upper collar wrap of the liner so that it will mold to the shape of the shell throat. This better mates the liner to the shell and eliminates any gaps that may have normally occurred.
Using this method I was able to squeeze the ZipFit liner into my shell and get it fully closed so that it was ready to ski. Skiing the liner the first few times is what will really settle it in. I skied mine for the first time earlier today and was amazed at the comfort level I had already achieved through the fitting process.
I hope this information is of value for anyone heading down the ZipFit road. Even if you have a shop do the ZipFit fitting for you, this information should help you head into the process as an informed consumer.
Intro
Upon receiving the World Cup SE I was seriously concerned that I had screwed up. It looked far more voluminous than my current ZipFit World Cup (non-SE model) that has probably 100+ days on it. It's interesting to note the small changes in the ZipFit liners each year. Sven keeps on tweaking the design; especially the tongue. This season's version now has eyelets on the lower portion of the instep to make the lacing starting point further toward the toe. Personally I don't care much for this tweak and it would lead to having the laces "intrude" on the fit since using those eyelets would press the laces against the roof of the shell. So I re-laced the liners without using these new eyelets. Sven has also changed the size of the tongue "window" and made it larger/longer. This is the area that starts at the "elbow" of the tongue and continues down across the instep. The idea of the window is to improve the comfort of the tongue over the instep. This tweak really works well. On my older ZipFits I had actually inserted a layer of neoprene within the old smaller tongue window. Sven must have read my mind because this new change improves upon the mod that I had come up with myself. He has also increased the size of the area in the toe that is lined with the shearling wool. There's a lot more wool now (much appreciated for the warmth factor). However, the biggest change that really concerned me was the increase in thickness and size of the tongue. The tongue is quite a bit more "cushy" now and I was worried that it was too much volume for my shells. Luckily this concern was unfounded once I completed the fitting process.
Fitting
It's been a few years since I've done a ZipFit fitting with a brand new liner. I had forgotten just how stiff the brand new leather is and how the OMFit material is so evenly distributed through the bladder channels. It takes work to get this liner ready to ski. Note that I do not use the prescribed fitting method as published on the ZipFit site. My primary reason is that I believe new ZipFit liners need to be "taught" how to fit into the shell and not have the shell accidentally modified to fit over the liner. That means that I do NOT heat the shells at all for the initial fitting steps (or three ). When I did a test fit (without heating the liners or the shells) the overlap of the lower shell was spread about an inch apart! So consider what would happen if you heated the shells and not the liners; that would result in some serious abuse for the shells. Please note that I do not take any responsibility for anyone who follows these instructions and ends up damaging their liners and/or shells. I provide this information solely for the core enthusiasts who may be interested in alternative methods for achieving a great fit with the ZipFit liner.
My method is as follows:
- Remove the velcro straps that come with the liners (I never use these as I find they just add "bulk" at the top of the boot). The laces provide sufficient closure support in my opinion.
- Heat one liner in a microwave for 1 minute at 50% power.
- Remove the liner and begin working the OMFit material out of the heel area and into the locking channels in back of and above the ankles. I guess they have the channels extend into the heel area for people with really narrow heels, but that's not me. I've found that just putting the liner into the shell while on your foot doesn't provide enough movement to get the OMFit out of the heel area. It's far more effective to massage the OMFit through the channels using your fingers.
- Re-heat the liner for 1 minute at 50% power.
- Put the warm liner on your foot, lace up, and put into the cold shell. Yes, this may be very painful if you have a tight performance fit shell.
- Kick back and down with your heel to start getting the OMFit compound to match the contours of your heel and ankle.
- Buckle the shell - at least do your best to get most of the buckles closed. Initially I could not get the top 2 buckles closed so I concentrated on the lower buckles and making sure that the shell overlap was correct and pulled fully shut (don't want any chance of leaking when you're done!).
- The key to really getting a ZipFit liner prepped is lots of flexing. The warmed liner transfers heat to the shell and it will flex more readily. I flex the boots fairly hard, over and over. Note that this is NOT the way to fit an Intuition liner.
- Repeat the liner warming cycles; each time progressively buckling tighter and flexing more. The goal is to get the buckles back to their normal closure amounts. This may take a few iterations, but you're getting the liner to adapt to the shell and your foot.
Once the liner has gone through the initial steps I feel more comfortable with warming the shell to finalize the fitting. Although the web site uses the steam method, I prefer to use a convection oven.
- Place a thick layer of aluminum foil over the oven rack.
- Preheat the oven to 250* F for 10 minutes.
- Place one shell and one liner in the oven for 5 minutes (make sure you remove the footbed first).
- Remove the shell and liner from the oven.
- Replace the footbed and put the liner on your foot.
- Slip your liner-clad foot into the shell.
- Pull up on the back of the liner to make sure your foot is firmly seated at the bottom (note that Sven advocates using a swiping motion to prime the heel hold down lugs. I do use this method, but I'm careful to not push OMFit back down into the heel channels - so no vigorous swiping when the OMFit is fairly warmed - which it is when it comes out of the oven).
- Buckle to normal tightness.
- Start flexing the shell and keep flexing until the liner and shell have cooled.
I like my oven method because it heats the stiff upper collar wrap of the liner so that it will mold to the shape of the shell throat. This better mates the liner to the shell and eliminates any gaps that may have normally occurred.
Using this method I was able to squeeze the ZipFit liner into my shell and get it fully closed so that it was ready to ski. Skiing the liner the first few times is what will really settle it in. I skied mine for the first time earlier today and was amazed at the comfort level I had already achieved through the fitting process.
I hope this information is of value for anyone heading down the ZipFit road. Even if you have a shop do the ZipFit fitting for you, this information should help you head into the process as an informed consumer.