| t difficult ski challenge you'll probably ever face is not | | | | mistakes transferring to your skis. |
| the toughest black run in resort, but finding a | | | | Talk to your boot fitter about your experience, your |
| comfortable fitting boot that also performs well. | | | | needs, future expectations, plus any previous |
| Remember before you buy your skis, it is important | | | | problems. Be honest about your ability; if you buy a |
| to get the right boots. Ski boots are the first piece | | | | boot above your ski level, it will slow down your |
| of ski equipment that you should buy. It is crucial that | | | | learning and hold you back from your next skiing |
| your boots are comfortable, warm, and suited to | | | | breakthrough. If you are a beginner the last thing you |
| your style of skiing. Unsuitable, ill fitting boots, will | | | | want is a stiff boot that you can't even walk in let |
| severely affect your comfort and ultimately dictate | | | | alone ski in. |
| whether you have a great day on the slopes or one | | | | Your weight and strength also determine how stiff a |
| spent pining for the chalet. If you're going to spend | | | | boot should be. When you buckle a boot you should |
| serious money on any piece of equipment, spend it | | | | be able to bend your knees without having to lift |
| on your boots. | | | | your heels off the ground. Remember that it's going |
| Here is a check list to help make sure your next ski | | | | to be colder on the hill, and the boot will be even |
| boots are the best ever! | | | | stiffer. If you can't make the boot flex in the shop |
| ELEVEN STEPS FOR A COMFORTABLE FIT | | | | you need a softer boot. |
| 1. AVOID BARGAINS - GET THE RIGHT BOOT, NOT | | | | 8. SHELL FIT IS VITAL |
| THE RIGHT DEAL | | | | Ski boots are comprised of 2 basic components: the |
| Uncomfortable ski boots can ruin your expensive ski | | | | inner boot, for comfort and control and the shell, for |
| holiday so don't be persuaded by a bargain. Beginners | | | | transmission, performance and fit. |
| and intermediates complain more about badly fitting | | | | Good boot technicians can shim, trim or stretch |
| boots than anything else. If you are buying your own | | | | boots but shell alterations are best avoided or kept |
| boots get professional advice. You can find boots | | | | to a minimum. To check shell fit, remove the liner and |
| cheaply at discount stores, but it is unlikely that the | | | | put your longest foot in the shell. Slide the foot |
| sales people will have the knowledge required to | | | | forward until your big toe touches the front. The gap |
| assist you properly. | | | | between your heel and the back of the boot should |
| 2. TAKE ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT - NOT A | | | | be between three quarters of an inch (10mm) and an |
| FRIEND! | | | | inch (20mm or about 2 finger tips). This will give a |
| Don't be taken in by the latest well-marketed | | | | good snug fit when the liner is reinserted, assuming |
| product that may not be suitable for your actual ski | | | | no other parts of your foot are touching the shell. |
| needs and goals. Do not take advice from a friend. | | | | Remember to repeat this process on your other foot |
| What suits your best friend may not suit you. You | | | | as one foot may be longer and narrower. If you feel |
| will be skiing in your boot - not your friend! | | | | contact with the shell, these are potential "hot spots" |
| Boots should match your skill level, as well as | | | | and your boot fitter may suggest another model or |
| complimenting your foot and leg shape. Find a | | | | customization options. |
| specialist shop where you can take your boots back | | | | If a boot passes the above test, you should try the |
| for minor but critical adjustments. Find a ski shop that | | | | boot with the lining, and buckle it up. Your toes |
| offers as many different brands as possible. | | | | should touch the tip of the boot when you're |
| 3. TAKE YOUR TIME-LOT'S OF IT | | | | standing straight up but move back when you squat |
| Buying ski boots is a time consuming process that | | | | into a skiing or riding stance. |
| too many skiers rush through. You probably spent an | | | | If the boot is fine everywhere except for one place, |
| hour selecting your last pair of shoes -and they're | | | | on bunions for example, a fitter can tweak the fit by |
| made from pliable materials! A plastic boot shell will | | | | grinding or stretching the shell. |
| not mould to your foot's subtle nuances, even if you | | | | 9. MAKE IT AN ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT |
| wear it all day, every day, for 25 years, so take your | | | | Every brand of boot is likely to fit your foot |
| time to make the right choice. Expect the process to | | | | differently. Nordica, for example, typically makes its |
| take hours, not minutes. You should plan to try a | | | | boots wider, while Lange has a reputation for an |
| variety of different brands, models and sizes. | | | | extremely snug fit. Experiment with several brands of |
| 4. SHOP WHEN NOBODY'S AROUND | | | | boots before you buy. Try different models and |
| If buying at home, it is advisable to test the boots | | | | different sizes of the same model on your left and |
| out as much as possible before leaving for the slopes. | | | | right feet. Keep the "winner" on and pit it against |
| Go to your local dry ski slope or Snowdome, so that | | | | newcomers. Remember, though, your feet are |
| if needed you can have them adjusted before | | | | probably not identical and may vary in size, so when |
| leaving. | | | | you find "winners," try on both boots. |
| If buying in resort, research your shop before you | | | | When you find a pair you like, carry out the following |
| buy. Some resort shops use casual/seasonal labour | | | | checks: |
| who may not have sufficient expertise. Ask for | | | | Are your toes pinched? Try flexing forward (bend |
| advice on internet forums, from your ski instructor or | | | | your knees). As you flex, your heels should stay |
| the chalet ski hosts. During the ski season resort | | | | down and your toes should be pulled away from the |
| shops are busiest early in the morning and when the | | | | front of the boot. The important thing is that your |
| lifts close. Trade skiing time for personal attention | | | | toes touch the front of your boots when standing |
| and go when everyone else is out skiing. Remember, | | | | straight up, and your toes move back when you flex |
| your feet can swell up to a half-size during skiing, so | | | | forward. |
| do not buy a boot that is already too tight fitting. For | | | | Is your foot (heel) moving up and down in the boot |
| the best fit, shop in the afternoon or evening, or | | | | after everything is buckled up? This should not |
| after physical activity. This is when your feet will be | | | | happen. The boot should hold your foot snugly. |
| at their maximum size! | | | | Walk around the shop for 10 or 15 minutes and let |
| 5. GOOD BOOTS NEED GOOD SOCKS | | | | your feet decide. Flex repeatedly to seat the foot |
| Remember a pair of thin sports socks should be | | | | and start the foams compressing. The boots should |
| worn when buying and wearing your boots. The days | | | | feel better after this time, not worse. Does your |
| of needing thick ski socks has long gone as boots | | | | foot go numb? Sometimes the foot feels the foot |
| now offer very good insulation. Don't forget to trim | | | | bed and not the shell of the boot when trying a boot |
| your toe nails. | | | | on. Numbness can be caused by high arches, buckles |
| The feet can perspire up to one pint in a day! A | | | | being too tight, and boots that are really too narrow |
| good thin ski sock is advisable to move moisture | | | | for your foot. |
| away from the foot and to aid the foot to slide into | | | | What is the honest difference in men's and women's |
| the boot (avoid friction). The best sock contains the | | | | boots? Try both on. Many makers out there have |
| right blend of fine synthetic fibres and high quality | | | | both models available. The women's model usually has |
| merino wool, as well as being very thin around the | | | | more room in the calf area. Everything else is the |
| top of the foot, with a light padding across the rear | | | | same. |
| heel and shin. | | | | Do you have micro adjusters on all the buckles? |
| Do not wear two pairs of socks. Two pairs of socks | | | | These are a really great feature on many upper level |
| are more likely to reduce the foot's warmth by | | | | boots. If you ski extensively during the season, your |
| increasing perspiration and creating bunching, thus | | | | calf muscles will get larger. The micro adjusters are |
| restricting circulation, whilst thin socks allow a good fit | | | | there to let you give a little more room to the buckle |
| letting your blood flow, and helping to keep your feet | | | | before going down to the next buckle snap. |
| warm. For every two degrees that the foot drops in | | | | 10. BUY SKI SPECIFIC FOOTBEDS |
| temperature, around twenty percent of control and | | | | Almost everyone can benefit from custom footbeds. |
| function is lost - just try writing when your hands are | | | | They will support and stabilize your feet in the |
| cold! | | | | correct alignment, dramatically improving the fit. If |
| 6. TOO BIG IS A BIG PROBLEM | | | | you already have your own, remember to take them |
| Ski boots that are too large should not be bought. A | | | | with you so you can try the boots on with them. If |
| good fitting boot feels a little tight out of the box | | | | you don't have any, consider buying them at the |
| and may remain very snug during the first few days | | | | same time as your boots - they will make your feet |
| of skiing. There's a lot of padding in the boot and it is | | | | more efficient in the ski boot and aid in bone |
| designed to take on the shape of your foot as you | | | | alignment. This will translate to better edging |
| break it in. Relax. Your liner will. A new ski boot liner | | | | movements, and keep your feet from becoming |
| will compress to as much as 20% over its life, so it is | | | | tired throughout the day helping you to improve |
| important that a new boot starts off snug and firm. | | | | faster and conserve energy, especially if you have |
| A boot that is too large will result in the foot banging | | | | high arches. |
| about inside the shell as the liner breaks in. Most | | | | Custom footbeds will ensure an equal distribution of |
| boots initially feel short and a little tight but compress | | | | pressure under and around the foot - no more |
| to comfortable levels after being skied for only a | | | | hot-spots! They will also help towards proper and |
| couple of runs. | | | | effective positioning of the 'steering wheel' (ankle |
| Buying a boot that is too big can be painful and cause | | | | joint) within the ski boot, for more precise pressure, |
| injuries. In extreme cases, oversized boots can cause | | | | energy transfer and better circulation through the |
| ankle sprains and bone breaks. Oversized boots also | | | | foot. |
| hinder skiing and promote fatigue. You'll find yourself | | | | 11. BEWARE OF MARKED SIZES |
| in the "backseat," clawing your toes and tightening | | | | Use the manufacturer's marked size only as a |
| your thigh muscles and hamstrings to maintain | | | | guideline. The sole length and inner cavities of |
| stability and control. | | | | supposedly similarly sized models can vary |
| 7. BOOT FLEXIBILITY | | | | significantly. Boots marked 27.5 can vary from |
| Another common mistake is to buy a boot that is | | | | 305mm to 314mm. It's easy to check the sole length; |
| too advanced for your skill level. | | | | it's embossed into the outside heel sidewall of nearly |
| A boot's stiffness or "flex" is a key consideration. | | | | every boot. Liner construction and materials also |
| How stiff your boots should be depends largely on | | | | affect size and fit. A manufacturer's Race model liner |
| your skiing ability. Expert skiers have traditionally | | | | can feel too tight while the Freeride model in the |
| favoured stiffer boots because they respond to the | | | | same collection will feel just right because of the |
| slightest movement. Beginners, on the other hand, | | | | softer foams that are employed. |
| need a softer boot to help prevent movement | | | | |