evo Seattle — Local services in Seattle

Avoid boot fitting here unless you want to deal with associates who doesn't care (not all of them, depends on whom you get assigned to), sales pitch instead of fixing the issue, terrible parking situation and likely the job not getting done. Here's why:

Last summer I purchased a new set of skis, bindings, ski boots (specifically with Salomon's Custom Shell HD heat molding liner) and helmet (altogether close to $1100 worth of equipment) from Evo, and took it to Evo Seattle location and got the bindings + boot's Custom Shell HD heat molding done. The person who fitted me showed me the Evo promise: "Happy Feet. Guaranteed. We stand by our fit guarantee and will work to make your boots the most comfortable they can be, which may involve modifications and further sessions with our experts. If after working with our experts it is determined we did not recommend the right boot, we’ll exchange your boots for a new pair or a gift card in the amount of your purchase"

I skied with the new ski + fittings for 4 days in Jan, and everything was great except the right foot had way too much of a pressure point and paining. So I took it back to evo Seattle on Monday to get it punched since the 'custom Shell HD heat molding' promised a better fit than my old boots.

What I came in to was to get the custom liner punched but the associate Bradely seemed disinterested (and borderline rude in conversing). Without even listening to the problem fully, Bradley started selling me custom footbed as the solution. I didn't quite understand how a footbed would help decrease the pressure point across the liner. I understand the footbed has its place (if my foot was arching), so I insisted on getting the liner punched at the toe area so that my toes won't get squeezed when inside the boot. Bradley eventually agreed to get this done, and I was told that I will have to pay $25 for it. This didn't make much sense to me, honestly. Now, I don't mind paying $25 when I have already spent $1100 for the new ski gear, but it didn't feel right. For one - the molding was done by evo and obviously it was not working and needed to be fixed. I can understand if it was a completely new job or new boot. What is the incentive in getting the job done right the first time if customer has to pay again and again to get it molded to the right fit? So happy feet, guaranteed promise was only when you are spending $$! Now the second issue - my appointment was at 11:30am. I reached evo Seattle right at 11:30am, however there was no parking. The backside parking which used to be open was also closed off today. I drove around and had to wait 5-6 minutes before I could find a spot. After parking, I went into the services building (since servicing the equipment bought was on that building) - there was no sign redirecting boot fitting/molding to go to the main building. There were three people in front of me, so I waited another 7-8 minutes before I reached the check-in desk, and then the person at the desk told me that I have to take it to the main building. I took the boots to the 2nd floor, main building . By now it was past 11:30and Bradely said the boot cannot be fixed today and it will be 3-4 days since "you were late". While I understand that by the time I met Bradley was well after 11:30am - I am pretty sure I am not the one to blame here here. Nevertheless, zero accommodation was made.

Four days later, I came in to pick the boot up - and of course, the 15 minute punching job was still not done! I picked it up without the job done, and is now taking it to a local ski shop near...

It makes sad to write this post but it feels important to share my experience with Evo's boot fitting. Two years ago, I was a brand new skier, and went to Evo for a boot fitting. I explained to whoever fit me that I was new to skiing, but was naturally athletic and had aspirations to tour within a year and wanted a boot that continue to serve me as I became a more advance skier. I was fit for Atomic touring boots. I purchased Evofit with the understanding that I was a new skier and that I would learn more about fit as I skied and maybe need to adjust.

By the middle of last season, I had completely blown through the insoles of my boots. I brought them to my local ski shop (I have since moved from Seattle to Bend), where they explained to me that my boots were an entire size too large. My heels lift significantly even when I am locked in; I did not know this was wrong when I was first fitted.

I called Evo explaining that I was fit incorrectly when I bought my boots - and that whoever fit me seemed to have known that, because they had added foam padding to the outside heels of my insoles when I was fit. Evo said there was nothing they could do because it had been over a year, even though I had paid for the evofit package.

I no longer trust Evo to guide me correctly for new sports, and I would not recommend them for boot fitting. It makes sense that a new skier may not realize they were fit incorrectly until after a year in - It wasn't until I started skiing more advanced lines and touring that my heel lift made itself evident as a major problem.

My local ski shop in Bend - who I didn't even buy anything from - went out of their way to get me a new insole so I atleast wouldn't have a gapping hole rubbing against hard plastic on my heel. They offered to add foam for free, as well. Evo - who I had spent $800 with and had paid for their protection program - said if I came back to Seattle they would add more foam, but otherwise offered me nothing. No discount, no replacement.

I am extremely disappointed and will unfortunately be warning my community not to go to Evo for new sports and especially not go their boot fitting. I was conflicted in writing this, because I do think Evo does a good amount for the women's mtbing community, but I don't want someone else to be in my position. The correct thing for Evo to have done was to take ownership for their mistake and replace my boot, or at least give me a significant discount of purchasing a new boot through them.

I will not be returning to your ski shop. I no longer trust Evo.

EDIT: Evo contacted me after posting this and refunded me for my skiboots, including some complimentary items. I appreciated the way the responded and have edited my review...

Not impressed with their staff.

My husband and I bought boots and skis from them when we were new to skiing in 2019. Since we were so new, we relied on their recommendations for both boots and skis as we thought they should be professional. He ended up feeling fatigued and uncomfortable from skiing all the time, so we went to a professional boot fitter to fix his boots. The pros there pointed out the boots were just wrong fits for his feet, and shouldn’t have been recommended by evo in first place. They said they could try to modify the boots to make them slightly more comfortable, but that won’t solve my husband’s problem. He ended up buying new boots recommended by the boot fitter and have been much happier skiing since then.

As for me - my boots have been mostly fine, but the sole on one boot has worn off after a few years of use, making it very difficult to clip in my bindings. I called evo to check if they have the parts, and after transferring me to 3 different departments, the staff on the phone confirmed they have the part I need. My husband went there with my boots the first time as I was busy with work, and the staff there refused to believe him. He said it’s probably something else with the binding making the binding hard to clip in, and I need to come back myself with my skis for them to check on the bindings. So I went back with everything, and they finally believed it’s the sole that’s causing the problem. But then they said they don’t have the parts (even though they claim to have the parts over the phone) and asked me to contact the manufacturer directly. I contacted the manufacturer and they were surprised by the fact that evo didn’t just place a sole replacement order for me, which is very simple to do according to the manufacturer. The manufacturer suggested contacting other local ski authorized resellers. I did that and managed to get my problem solved within 5minutes, and the local ski shop was also surprised by the fact that evo couldn’t fix it for me.

I am really not impressed with evo’s service and I don’t think I will be going back there for any of my equipment needs...