SKI BOOT BUYING GUIDE
Your ski boots are an investment. They'll be your companions on the slopes for many years to come, and choosing the right ones will keep your performance at its peak and comfort to a maximum. We've put together our key things to look out for, but we always recommend visiting us in-store for a fitting with our experts. For ski boot fittings we strongly advise you book an in-store appointment in advance to avoid disappointment.
Ability
Skiers of different abilities will require different features from a boot, so your ability is the first thing to consider when choosing a ski boot. It’s important to be honest to make sure you can make the most of your time on the mountains.
Not sure what level you’re at? Below we’ve given a brief overview of different levels so you can be confident that you are pitching yourself at the right level.
BEGINNER
You're a new skier, or have skied a few times before. You've mastered your snowplough and use it to stop on the nursery slopes, possibly linking your turns together too.
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
Your skis are parallel most of the time and you're confident going at slightly higher speeds on different grades of slopes. You may even have ventured into off-piste, park or backcountry skiing.
EXPERT
A confident skier who's visited many resorts and taken on all terrains and conditions, you're ready to develop your freestyle or off-piste skiing in high-performance equipment.
Foot Profile
This is where our experts come in. They'll determine which ski boots are best for you by looking at your foot width, volume and heel and creating a 3D foot profile from which to select the best boots for you to try. If you already know your foot profile, look for boots which are suited to your measurements, or visit us in-store for our recommendations.
Below we take you through the things you need to consider:
SIZE AND FIT
Choosing the right size and fit ski boots requires you to consider various aspects of the boot, from its length and width to its volume. Taking the time to get this right will help ensure you stay comfortable on the slopes all day long.
Ski boots don’t come in conventional shoe sizes. Instead, they are measured on an international standard scale called Mondo Point. Your Mondo Point size is the length of your foot in centimetres. So, if your foot is 26.5cm long, your Mondo Point size is 26.5.
When choosing your ski boots, you also need to consider the last, which is the width of your ski boots. Generally speaking, the tighter the boot across the last, the more precisely you can control your skis. However, this does come at a cost to comfort. As a result, racers will aim to get the tightest fit they can, whereas those skiing for fun comfort may go for a wider and more comfortable fit.
Finally, you need to consider ski boot volume when choosing your boots. Ski boot volume is important to get right as too much space above your instep can cause your foot to slide around in the boot, making it hard for you to control your skis. Whereas too little space can make your foot feel incredibly constrained.
The primary indication of the ski boot volume you need to measure the height of your instep. To do this measure from one side of your heel over and around your ankle to the other side of your heel. If this distance is around the same length as your Mondo size, you have an average height instep.
FLEX
A ski boot's flex is its ability to bend at the ankle. In ski boots, flex is given a numerical designation between 60 and 150. Different manufacturers use different indexes. But generally, the higher the flex number, the more rigid the boot.
Your boots should be stiff enough to provide support and control but flexible enough to absorb pressure and help you to balance. More experienced skiers are likely to prefer more rigid boots as they transfer power transmission from your legs to skis. Whereas beginners are often better in boots with a lower flex rating.
The great thing about coming into a store to get your boots fitted is that our experts can advise on the right flex for you once they know more about your skiing ability and preferences.
Should I size up?
One of the most common mistakes people make when choosing their ski boots is to choose boots that are too big for them because they have compared the feel of ski boots with regular shoes.
If your ski boots are too big, you're likely to overtighten them once out on the slopes, and this can flatten your arch and reduce the blood supply leading to cramping and cold toes.
To prevent this, we recommend fastening the boot on the middle level when trying them on in-store. The boot should fit like a glove without pinching or putting pressure on your foot. Unlike regular shoes, in your ski boots, your toes should lightly touch the front when you stand upright, but when you move into a ski position, your toes should move back a few millimetres.
Get the right fit first time
To ensure you get the right fit first time we recommend visiting one of our stores and getting your boots professionally fitted by one of our experts. The service is completely free and allows you to get a much more tailored fit for your level and type of skiing.
We will evaluate how well your boots fit and can even spot-stretch them to relieve any points of pressure for ultimate comfort on the mountains. We can create custom moulded footbeds to go inside your brand new boots for the perfect fit and superior support, especially if you've experienced issues with your feet previously. We can then make specific adjustments to the boot from heat moulding it to replacing the lining, to help get a fully customised fit.
We recommend allowing at least two hours for your boot fitting session, to give our experts enough time to match you with your perfect boot and get the fit just right.
Socks
Socks are really important to getting the best fit. If you've got a favourite pair of ski socks, make sure you wear them to your boot fitting so you get the best possible representation of how the boots will feel on the slopes. If you don't already own ski socks, our experts will help you choose the right pair.
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