Which model Zipfit?

[arildGFB]

I have the WCSW and the new Corsa. My WCSW is 25.5 and it fits perfect. When I ordered the new Corsa in the same size, however, it was really snug in the toebox. Too much. Placing the two liners side-by-side confirmed that there was a big difference in length.

I opted to go one size larger in the Corsa and now run a 26.5 in my 25.5 Raptor shell.

What will be interesting is whether I get the new gen Corsa or the liner I already own in a size bigger. Obvious bonus of the newest is the lack of metal eyelets over the forefoot.

That said, I won't be bummed about the old gen turning up, as the WCRs are that much bigger over the instep vs my Dobermanns, and while I haven't skied the Corsa/Raptor combo yet, circulation feels a bit better in this combo than in the Dobies.

For convection oven heating, how high do you gurus dare take your zips, and for how long? I know Zipfit has a highest temp recommendation(50°c??), but there are manufacturer's recommendations, and then there are "hold my beer, turned out great".

 

[Noodler]

Conservative is 150* F for 10 mins. Less conservative is 175* F. I've gone as high as 225* F with the older gen liners, but I don't believe going that high is more beneficial these days.

 

[arildGFB]

Thank you, Sir! I would imagine that at some point one would really mess up the glue in the soles. 175°F is slightly less than 80°C, so I might try 75 in my oven.

 

[Wade]

Thank you, Sir! I would imagine that at some point one would really mess up the glue in the soles. 175°F is slightly less than 80°C, so I might try 75 in my oven.

Yeah, you’re right to be careful. I baked a pair at 150* and the soles separated significantly from the upper on both liners. I reached out to ZipFit and they didn’t really have a solution other than telling me that the glue on some of their older liners was more susceptible to heat and to be careful. They also told me what glue I could use to repair them. I managed to salvage them, but the soles were never quite flush with the upper. Hopefully it’s not a problem with the newer liners.

 

[David]

The width shown in that old brochure is for the suggested width (last) of the boots that they would be paired with. Width is probably one of the easiest things to adjust on a boot shell for a fitter. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if you buy a boot that actually fits your width out of the box, that boot is most likely too big in most, if not all, of the critical fit areas.

After 40 years of bootfitters only 1 was able to widen a shell almost enough without it crushing my instep. Then I went to Daleboot and found pain free boots for the first time in my life. I'll never waste my time on any other boot. The good news is that they have a ZipFit liner option!

 

[Noodler]

Yeah, you’re right to be careful. I baked a pair at 150* and the soles separated significantly from the upper on both liners. I reached out to ZipFit and they didn’t really have a solution other than telling me that the glue on some of their older liners was more susceptible to heat and to be careful. They also told me what glue I could use to repair them. I managed to salvage them, but the soles were never quite flush with the upper. Hopefully it’s not a problem with the newer liners.

Hmmm, I have never had a sole separate due to heating (and I've done this with 9 sets starting in 2006).

 

[Noodler]

After 40 years of bootfitters only 1 was able to widen a shell almost enough without it crushing my instep. Then I went to Daleboot and found pain free boots for the first time in my life. I'll never waste my time on any other boot. The good news is that they have a ZipFit liner option!

Those aren't feet, they're flippers.
You're doing the wrong sport...

 

[Jeronimo]

Anyone aware of any deals/sales opportunities to snag a pair of Zipfits? That entry price is so damn steep...

 

[arildGFB]

Depends on your country, I guess. I have a valid 30% discount code for vpg in Norway, but can't imagine that'd be worth it when shipping is considered to the us or Canada.

 

[Noodler]

Anyone aware of any deals/sales opportunities to snag a pair of Zipfits? That entry price is so damn steep...

What is needed is "real" competition. Something that provides similar lifetime, performance, adjustability, comfort/warmth, etc. There really isn't anything out there that is a serious contender for your buying dollar (without making some major compromises). If ZipFit felt some market "heat", they might control the sale price more aggressively.

It wasn't all that long ago when these liners were easily available for $250. So they've doubled in price in about 10 years. That's crazy.

 

[Ogg]

What is needed is "real" competition. Something that provides similar lifetime, performance, adjustability, comfort/warmth, etc. There really isn't anything out there that is a serious contender for your buying dollar (without making some major compromises). If ZipFit felt some market "heat", they might control the sale price more aggressively.

It wasn't all that long ago when these liners were easily available for $250. So they've doubled in price in about 10 years. That's crazy.

I think that's about what I paid for mine 20 years ago and they weren't nearly as well made as the new ones my brother just bought. What seems to have changed the most is the market for used ones. You could sometimes find them pretty cheap($75-$100) but now even a pretty trashed pair goes for $200. I blame all you guys hoarding them.

 

[Vinnie]

What is needed is "real" competition. Something that provides similar lifetime, performance, adjustability, comfort/warmth, etc. There really isn't anything out there that is a serious contender for your buying dollar (without making some major compromises). If ZipFit felt some market "heat", they might control the sale price more aggressively.

It wasn't all that long ago when these liners were easily available for $250. So they've doubled in price in about 10 years. That's crazy.

I don’t think I agree with this. My sense is that Zipfit is a really small company and costs over the last 10 years have drastically increased. This is what they have to charge to remain viable and hopefully profitable.

 

[BMC]

I think that's about what I paid for mine 20 years ago and they weren't nearly as well made as the new ones my brother just bought. What seems to have changed the most is the market for used ones. You could sometimes find them pretty cheap($75-$100) but now even a pretty trashed pair goes for $200. I blame all you guys hoarding them.

I sold a pair of older but largely unused Grand Prix liners recently for $200 AUD. They‘re the plumper version, probably equivalent to the current Freeride model. I had earlier been asking for something like $350 with barely a nibble (and I think a very fair price). At $200 there was lots of interest and they sold with 48 hours.

 

[Noodler]

I don’t think I agree with this. My sense is that Zipfit is a really small company and costs over the last 10 years have drastically increased. This is what they have to charge to remain viable and hopefully profitable.

Whatever the reason, they are rapidly pricing themselves out of the market for most skiers. They make it a very difficult proposition now to buy the liner for $500 on top of the cost of a boot. Stock liners are vastly improving. They're still not at the level of a ZipFit, but they're getting good enough to sway the value proposition back toward the "why bother replacing my stock liner" side. ZipFit is kind of out of touch with what's happening in the market and with their competition. I would be really surprised if they couldn't actually get more competitive with their pricing if they wanted to. Their actual overhead, being a very small company, is probably quite low given their comparative global market reach.

What they have going for them currently is a grass roots marketing campaign. Between the changes to the web site, and Jeff really getting out there with video and podcast interviews, folks who had no idea what a ZipFit liner was, are now coming into the fold. The report from the latest Blister Summit is that ZipFit was literally the "talk of the town". Blister has been pushing hard for the past couple years on the benefits of the ZipFit liner and it definitely has gained traction.

 

[Wade]

Hmmm, I have never had a sole separate due to heating (and I've done this with 9 sets starting in 2006).

Maybe I just got a bad set of liners.

I would note though that Zipfit's website says: "Heating your ZipFits above 65º C or 150º F can cause damage to the liners and will void your warranty."

 

[Noodler]

Maybe I just got a bad set of liners.

I would note though that Zipfit's website says: "Heating your ZipFits above 65º C or 150º F can cause damage to the liners and will void your warranty."

ZipFit has changed their guidance on liner fitting at least 4 or 5 times since I've been using them. So the risk you take is your own, but I do find it very odd that you ran into this problem. Were you able to fix the soles? What was the result?

 

[Wade]

ZipFit has changed their guidance on liner fitting at least 4 or 5 times since I've been using them. So the risk you take is your own, but I do find it very odd that you ran into this problem. Were you able to fix the soles? What was the result?

I fixed them well enough to keep using the liners. I used Barge contact cement per Zipfit’s recommendations. The soles for the most part have stayed solidly glued to the uppers, but I was never able to get the edges of the soles as flush with the uppers as they come from the factory, so they look like crap but work well enough.

 

[TheArchitect]

Whatever the reason, they are rapidly pricing themselves out of the market for most skiers. They make it a very difficult proposition now to buy the liner for $500 on top of the cost of a boot. Stock liners are vastly improving. They're still not at the level of a ZipFit, but they're getting good enough to sway the value proposition back toward the "why bother replacing my stock liner" side. ZipFit is kind of out of touch with what's happening in the market and with their competition. I would be really surprised if they couldn't actually get more competitive with their pricing if they wanted to. Their actual overhead, being a very small company, is probably quite low given their comparative global market reach.

What they have going for them currently is a grass roots marketing campaign. Between the changes to the web site, and Jeff really getting out there with video and podcast interviews, folks who had no idea what a ZipFit liner was, are now coming into the fold. The report from the latest Blister Summit is that ZipFit was literally the "talk of the town". Blister has been pushing hard for the past couple years on the benefits of the ZipFit liner and it definitely has gained traction.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for most. If I hadn’t got a good price I may not have picked up my pair of Zipfits. That said, having experienced them now first hand I’d pay $500 for another pair should I need one.

I have 67 days on my current shells and 35 days in my leather Gara Stealths so I don’t expect to need new boots for some time (unless I get another case of ‘I want a new shiny toy’). When I do I’m going to be open to a rear-entry or BOA boot shell but whatever it is I’ll be pairing it with another Zipfit liner.

 

[arildGFB]

What will be interesting is whether I get the new gen Corsa or the liner I already own in a size bigger. Obvious bonus of the newest is the lack of metal eyelets over the forefoot.

I received the new ones, and after fiddling with (and wearing) them for a few hours, I'm finally home. I did some oven baking just to make the plastic panels conform a bit better to the shells, and they will definitely need some cork before skiing, mainly in the "upper back pocket" and down towards the heel, as well as just some in the tongue, but they are a different liner, definitely, from the "92" model. Much, much skinnier overall.

 

[locknload]

It’s a tough pill to swallow for most. If I hadn’t got a good price I may not have picked up my pair of Zipfits. That said, having experienced them now first hand I’d pay $500 for another pair should I need one.

I have 67 days on my current shells and 35 days in my leather Gara Stealths so I don’t expect to need new boots for some time (unless I get another case of ‘I want a new shiny toy’). When I do I’m going to be open to a rear-entry or BOA boot shell but whatever it is I’ll be pairing it with another Zipfit liner.

I feel the same. I expect to get somewhere over 500 days from my Zips anyway...for 1$ per day...its still a steal BUT I didn't know that until I finally tried them a few years ago.