@onenerdykid seeking your advice about frankenboot scenarios- Magna cuff on a Prime lower or something. I'm finding the Magna lower clogs a little big but the cuff is best I've had in 20 years so I'm searching for a compromise .
Background: 8.5E foot with high instep (bannock measurement is 26cm with 28.5cm ankle/instep measurement) and large, low-muscle calves. Narrow-ish heel.
Current Boots: Hawx Magna 25 shell
Other than a set of 24 shell San Marcos in my racing days (which hurt a lot despite extensive boot fitting) I've never had the ideal skiing boot- my high instep and large, low muscle calves have always required compromises. Prior to my new Magnas, my last two boots were medium volume (Nordica Speedmachines and Salomon X-Pros) where I cooked the boots to accommodate my forefoot width and calves, and did a bit of bootboard work to create instep room- which worked ok, except for I found that the way the cuff got distorted when they were cooked it tended to water down the flex and make them a bit nonlinear- which I had to then do some rivets, Booster straps, etc to get a skiable cuff. Still not that great, but skiable.
This time I decided to change it up with the Magnas based on the lower cuff design and found them fantastic at first. After the liner (heat molded mimic) was skied in though, I had basically a little too much volume in the whole lower clog. Heel lift issues, a bit of imprecision in the mid foot, etc. So, not ideal, but skiable. The cuff fit was and is the best cuff fit I've had in a very long time- the last time I had one fit like this it was my race boot days and we put a race stock ladies' SL cuff on my lowers. Hurt- but skied well. However, I don't race anymore and I like to put on my boots without assistance...so...
To fix that clog volume, first thing I tried was a Mimic Pro foam liner from a trusted shop (Bestfit boots). This helped with heel pocket- not as well as I have had in my prior MV boots, but passable, and took up the forefoot volume. Still a little too much room on the inside edge heel and mid foot. So, still not sure where to go.
To me, I have 3 options:
1) Buy a new set of Primes and see if we could frankenboot the magna cuffs I love so much on there- your thoughts appreciated. I think if I just go back to a MV boot I'll be trading the clog issues for cuff issues unless there is a MV boot with a Magna like cuff.
2) Keep working with the Mimic Pro liners- either add extra high density padding on the outside, or get new ones made and push in more foam than the recommended amount for my 25 shell
3) Firmer liner like a Zipfit where I can keep adding firm fill until we get it right.
#1 makes sense in my head, but no idea if it will work.