Choosing ski boots

HOW TO CHOOSE THE IDEAL SKI BOOT

Ski boots are the most important component of your equipment.

They are the link between your support and your body and translate your intentions to the skis, so it is important to have a precise fit to promote control and performance.

To find the size and shape that will best suit your feet and your technique, you need to find your balance between comfort and performance.

The size, shape and flex of boots will vary depending on the skier's ability, aspirations, height and weight, frequency of skiing and other factors. 

Expert and elite skiers often choose a narrower foot width to achieve the most precise fit.

The width of the foot varies according to the size and is measured in mm.

Keep in mind that ski boots will never be as comfortable as street shoes. 

Here are the things you should consider when choosing your alpine ski boots:

- Type of skier

- Size

- Shell fit/foot width/metatarsus

- Flex

- Shaft shape

- Features

TYPE OF SKIER

Start by placing yourself in the table. This will give you an idea of what kind of fit, flexibility and programme you should look for in a ski boot:

Level	Beginner - Intermediate		Advanced Intermediate		Advanced - Expert
Style	Cautious	Average		Confident	Aggressive
Skiing rhythm	Slow		Medium - Fast		Very fast
Terrain	Leisure/piste		All-Mountain / Park and Pipe / off-piste		All-Mountain / Park and Pipe / off-piste / carving/performance
Choice of size	Size shown or size 1/2 larger		Size shown or 1/2 size smaller		1/2 to 1 size smaller than indicated
Index Flex	Men 60-80, Women 50-70		Men 85-100, Women 65-90		Men 105-130, Women 85-110

BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE

You prefer the green and blue runs for a pleasant promenade. You are still working on your technique, but are making steady progress.

The best option for beginners/intermediates is a soft, medium flex and a foot width that promotes comfort, so it is wide. 

(NOTE : a sport skier who spends many days on the snow can easily progress beyond this category in a season or less)

 

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED

You are comfortable with a wide range of speeds and conditions - bumps, steep terrain - and keep precise control of your boots. You ski blue, red and sometimes black runs with confidence and you don't hesitate to go off-piste. 

For intermediate/advanced skiers who have been skiing for several years, a medium flex with a fairly precise fit.

ADVANCED/EXPERT

You can ski all terrains with confidence, deep powder, piste, ice and moguls. 

You need a stiff to very stiff flex and a very precise fit. 

Expert skiers sometimes intentionally reduce size and volume for better control.

(NOTE: Some expert skiers prefer a wider fit and softer flex than "traditional" experts)

SIZE

Ski boots are measured in Mondopoint, which is the length of your foot in centimetres. 

To determine your Mondopoint size: place your heel against a vertical surface like a wall with your toes pointing away and measure the distance from the wall to your longest toe in centimetres. (if you do not have a metric ruler, multiply the length in inches by 2.54 to get the equivalent in centimetres). 

E.g.: if your foot length is 26.5 cm (10.23"), your Mondo size is 26.5. 

TIP : Wear a thin or very thin ski sock. Because the shell and foam of ski boots are made of highly insulating materials, socks that are too thick will reduce the control and transfer of your support. In addition, being too compressed in the shoes reduces the blood circulation and increases the feeling of cold.

BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE:

Choose a shoe close to or slightly longer than the Mondopoint length indicated. 

(NOTE: the lining of the shoe will compress after a few uses and you will generate more space quite quickly)

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED:

Choose a shoe that is close to or slightly shorter than the size indicated, in a stiffer flex, and opt for a comfortable metatarsal/foot width fit.

ADVANCED/EXPERT: 

Choose a smaller size or half size for a very precise and responsive fit, and rigid or very rigid flexibility. 

SHAPE

Like feet, every ski boot interior has a unique shape. Most alpine boot manufacturers now make two or three separate models to suit different foot types. Generally, narrow, medium and wide, and are based on the width of the forefoot measured on a slight diagonal across the metatarsal heads. 

NARROW:

Narrow boots are generally 97mm to 98mm wide in the forefoot and narrow through the mid foot. These boots are ideal for people with thin feet.

AVERAGE:

The average shoe has a forefoot width of about 100mm. These boots fit well in the box and have a more relaxed fit through the mid foot and heel than narrow boots.

WIDE:

Wide boots are best suited to skiers with wider feet and generally have a forefoot width of between 102mm and 106mm.

If you know the width you normally take in a street shoe, you can take this into account. A foot width of "A" or "B", for example, corresponds to a narrow width, while a width of "C" or "D" corresponds to an average width of about 100 mm. Skiers with an "E" or higher should look for a wide boot, 102 mm or more.

FLEX

The flex of a ski boot is the amount of flex you have when skiing. Indicated by a numerical "flexibility index" which is usually a number from 50 (soft) to 130 (very stiff). Often this number is written on the outside of the shoe. We characterise the flex as soft, medium, stiff or very stiff and give a number rating. Some expert skiers prefer boots with a flex of over 130.

MEN

Level	Beginner - Intermediate	Advanced Intermediate	Advanced - Expert	Expert - Race
Flex - Men	60-80	85-100	110-120	130+
Feel	Soft	Medium	Rigid	Very rigid

 

Terrain, speed and snow type also play a role in your choice of Flex. Pro and Big-Mountain Freeride skiers often choose a slightly softer start than the top World Cup racers. Variable snow and very steep terrain often require a soft flex, whereas a hard, evenly smooth surface (such as a race course) requires techniques that demand a stiffer Flex shoe. Personal preferences are equally important. (An athletic beginner can do very well in a medium to stiff boot, and some expert skiers prefer a moderate flex boot to a very stiff one)

Someone who is small and light does not put as much leverage on a ski boot and a very stiff boot will limit the natural movement of the body, while someone who is taller may need a stiffer boot, even if they are a beginner. (Keep this in mind if you are shorter or taller than average)

WOMEN

Level	Beginner - Intermediate	Advanced Intermediate	Advanced - Expert	Expert - Race
Flex - Women	50-60	65-80	85-100	110+
Feel	Soft	Medium	Rigid	Very rigid

ADJUSTABLE FLEX

Some boots allow you to adjust the side wall towards the front of your boots with a cuff. Some also allow you to adjust the level of stiffness to fine-tune the flex to your liking or conditions.

 

SHAFT SHAPE

The shape and height of the shell upper and lining can be a major consideration for women (whose calves are proportionately wider than men's) (whose calves are proportionally wider than men's) or those with very wide calves. If the upper buckles on a boot are extremely tight out of the shell, most boots have upper buckle scales that can be moved to several different positions, sometimes (with a screwdriver or spanner, to give you more adjustment options).

Women's specific shoes are designed to fit wider and lower calves, and many women's models offer an adjustable upper.

INCLINATION OF THE SHOE:

Alpine ski boots normally have a forward slope of the shaft between 11 degrees and 18 degrees from the vertical. 

For skiers who are more sensitive to ramp angle than others, there are models that offer the ability to change the slope by adding or removing a spoiler in the shaft.

FEATURES

LINER:

The lining is a soft, removable inner liner that protects and insulates the foot from the hard outer shell. All coverings will be take the shape of the skier's foot. But some shoes are thermoformable and offer a fully customisable thermal lining that can be heated in a convection oven or with heat stacks and shaped to the owner's foot, retaining the exact shape of the foot as it cools. This process is carried out by a qualified ski shop.

THERMOFORMING SHOE:

Some models allow the shape of the outer shell to be changed by heat. This process is carried out in a convection oven and custom-moulded to your foot as it cools. This process works very well for changing the shape of a starter shell that is just too tight. The thermal moulding process must be carried out by a qualified shop.

NUMBER OF BUCKLES:

For a long time, four buckles were considered the only serious choice for adult skiers, and most boots still have four. If you have a good fit in any boot and can stabilise your foot in the boot with fewer buckles, you will have a smoother profile, less weight, and find them easier to put on. A four-buckle design can give you more options for fit, but the buckle closest to the foot is often decorative. 

Base your decision on the fit rather than the number of loops.

MICRO-ADJUSTABLE BUCKLES:

These features are essential to achieve an accurate fit. The micro-adjustment shortens or lengthens the buckle and allows you to fine-tune the tension between two adjustments. Turning the buckle clockwise shortens its and tightens the fit; turning it counter-clockwise lengthens the buckle and makes the fit smoother.

MOBILE BUCKLES:

Most adult ski boots have movable buckle scales (the part with the notches to which the buckle wire attaches). These can normally be moved with a hex key to allow the user to tighten as they choose.

SHAFT ANGLE:

Many boots offer the skier the ability to adjust the angle of the upper shaft to match the angle of your leg. Alignment of the cuff is normally done by adjusting the rivets on the back of the shaft with a hexagonal key.

SPOILER:

This is a removable wedge that sits between the lining and the shell directly behind the calf. It increases forward a few degrees and fills the space in the upper cuff to reduce the gap between your leg and the shell.

A more forward sloping shaft provides support, stability and reduces muscle fatigue.

INSOLE:

The insole sits inside the lining, it is the platform on which the skier's foot rests. Most insoles provide little support for the sides of the foot. We offer a replacement insole. Some insoles are pre-moulded and simply cut to length, while others are fully custom-moulded to your feet. 

CANTING:

Most models allow for canting adjustment (lateral inclination of the shaft) to compensate for a certain morphology (bow legs!) to optimise edge grip.

It can only be adjusted by a professional.

TOURING / WALKING MODE:

It is located between the lining and the shell directly behind the calf. 

This is a 'walking' option that makes it easier to get around. Often used for alpine hikes.

ANTI-SLIP SOLE:

The rubber soles help with walking and hiking on rocks and ice and provide grip. 

Often used by experienced touring skiers in rough and difficult terrain, especially off-piste.

(Many alpine hiking boots have a rocker/curved sole "drop" in front of the forefoot for a more natural walking motion) 

Not all traction soles work with all links, so ask your shop if you are unsure of compatibility.

INTERCHANGEABLE HEEL PAD:

Some shoes offer the user the possibility of exchanging heel lifts, usually from an alpine heel lift to an alpine hiking heel lift or vice versa. The modification of the heels may limit your choice of binding, so ask your shop about compatibility if you are unsure.

WTR:

Some ski boots have a WTR sole, which can be used with touring bindings.

This allows you to have one pair of boots for two different purposes that you can attach to both your alpine and touring skis.