All Images: Courtesy of Surefoot
All winter, bootfitters have a steady stream of skiers flooding their benches to get custom boots, where their soles are heat molded to their feet, shells are tweaked and insoles are milled. I’d go as far to say bootfitters are some of the most technical footwear specialists in the world. There are countless factors that go into fitting a ski boot, a product that isn’t made to be comfortable per se, but rather made to perform. Yet somehow, Surefoot’s bootfitters are able to make them both.Â
But technically, this is a seasonal job. While bootfitting does trickle into the summer months, the meticulous process–and the people behind it–really come alive when winter rolls around. It has always made me wonder, though: Why don’t we put this much thought into our everyday shoes? After all, those are the shoes we wear year-round. I mean, imagine how comfortable we’d be.Â
That question is at the heart of Surefoot’s new footwear collection , which brings the company’s decades of experience in ski bootfitting into a category it has never ventured into before. The collection is engineered around the same orthotic technology used in its ski boots, bringing a bootfitter’s approach to footwear that you can wear long after the lifts stop spinning.
“In ski boots, we control the entire process, so the foot is fully aligned from the ground up. That precision has always been our standard,” said Bob Shay, Founder and President of Surefoot in a press release. “Now, we are bringing that same philosophy to everyday footwear. By scanning the foot and engineering the shoe around the orthotic, we are delivering alignment you can feel the moment you step in.”
Continuing the philosophy
Bob and Russ Shay, the brothers that founded Surefoot in 1982, made it their mission to find a way to make ski boots comfortable without sacrificing performance. Ski boots are mass designed and comfort really isn’t at the forefront of a ski producer's mind, especially back then. After decades of perfecting their craft, Surefoot now has one of the most advanced 3D foot scanners in the bootfitting industry.Â
Compared to traditional pressure plates or foam boxes, which sometimes struggle to capture the full 3D scan of a foot, Surefoot’s scanner uses over 500 pressure-sensitive pins to create a precise read of the foot's biomechanics. From there, bootfitters take two EVA blank insoles and put them into a CNC machine that has your foot scan information stored in it.​​ The bootfitters can then make adjustments on a mill, creating insoles that strike the perfect balance between support and a pillow for your foot.Â
The whole process takes a little over an hour, but once it is done, your information is saved in Surefoot’s system forever. That means you can make other purchases without having to go through the scanning process again. But, if you do need to get a new scan, that is not a worry as Surefoot has 29 locations across the U.S. and internationally. All scans can be accessed from any location, so if you need help at a shop on the mountain, they can pull up your information even if that wasn’t where you got your foot scanned. When it comes to the new footwear collection, that same scan can be used to insert your custom soles into the shoes, meaning you can order them without having to make another trip to a Surefoot location. If you’ve never been scanned or are not ready to commit to the custom soles, the shoes are also available with Conforma, Surefoot's over-the-counter insoles. The four arch shapes are based on the most common arch profiles across more than 3.5 million Surefoot foot scans, so you still get the benefit of all that data without a trip to the shop.
From Ski Boots to Everyday Life
That same attention to detail and commitment to custom orthotics now extends beyond ski boots, with Surefoot’s new footwear line. Let’s be honest, while skiing definitely isn’t friendly to your feet, there are plenty of days when you could use that same expertise. Whether you're running errands, traveling or going on a run, having that same level of custom orthotic support in your everyday shoe could be a game changer.
Plus, why should we be giving all the love to ski boots when we only wear them for a couple months out of the year anyway? The new footwear line includes a sneaker, sandal and two different pairs of clogs, all of which are equipped with a grippy, rubber outsole to keep you grounded wherever your off mountain pursuits lead. It doesn’t stop there, Surefoot is adding more styles this fall and winter, including puffy winter boots and cozy slip-ons built for après and everything after.
Made from 100-percent vegan materials, this is the most versatile shoe in the line. It can handle long runs around the neighborhood, exploring a new city or even just doing chores around the house. The upper part of the shoe is made from a durable mesh material that helps your foot breathe during high-output activities or hot days. A lightweight EVA midsole provides extra cushioning when paired with Surefoot’s custom insoles, while a rubber multidirectional tread provides traction and stability. The sneakers are offered in seven different colors and patterns, giving you plenty of options to choose from.Â
Following a simple closed-toe mule design, the Classic Clog is made from waterproof premium upper leather. It’s an easy slip-on on for running errands or even a comfortable yet appropriate option for work, if your work allows it. A front buckle lets you secure your foot so it isn’t swimming around inside the shoe. Brown leather, suede khaki and black colorways give the clog a subtle yet timeless look.Â
There’s no better feeling for a skier than taking off their ski boots after a bell-to-bell ski day and putting on something more comfortable. The Après Clog levels up that post ski day comfort with a shearling insert that makes your feet feel like the’yre slipping under a blanket. The outside is made from premium full-grain leather and comes in brown leather or a waterproof suede khaki and black.Â
Best for summer activities or chill weekends around town, the Park Sandal is an open toe, double-strap sandal with adjustable buckles to keep your foot from sliding around. The buckles are modeled after a ski boot buckle, a nod to Surefoot's roots in ski boot fitting. The sandal is offered in taupe and brown waterproof premium suede, making it perfect for water activities that require a shoe that can slide on and off easily.
After shoving your toes in ski boots all season long, it’s time to give your feet the extra care they deserve during the off-season. With Surefoot's new footwear collection, whether it's built around your own 3D scan or a Conforma insole, you can give your feet the same level of support year-round between ski seasons. If we’re going to spend so much time thinking about how our feet perform on the mountain, they deserve a little love when they’re on break as well.
