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Ski Boot Buyers Guide

When buying ski boots the most important thing is to try them on. Just like buying a ski you need to ask yourself what type of skier you are, what type of boot best suits your style of skiing, and most importantly how a ski boot should fit.

Skier Ability

Choosing the correct ski boot has much to do with your ability. Manufacturers make boot for all levels from never skied to world cup racers.

Beginner Boots
Most entry level boots are wider and made to be more comfortable. They have soft cushy liners for extra warmth.
Beginner boots are typically softer in flex. This makes it easier for the skier to drive the boot forward to transfer energy to the ski.
Although most beginner boots are soft that does not mean every novice skier needs a soft boot. In fact heavier skiers should use a little bit stiffer boot.

Intermediate boots
These boots are a little stiffer in flex. They often have more of a performance fit as well meaning the liner is less cushy.
They are better for higher speeds and more aggressive carving.
They are usually good for freestyle and moguls due to there mid stiffness.

Expert Boots
These are stiff boots for maximum responsiveness. Built with thinner liners to increase the boots responsiveness.
They are designed for skiers who ski fast and hard.
High-performance boots are often lower volume and do not feel like slippers.

Skier Style

How you are skiing is also a key factor in choosing the correct ski boot

1. If you are skiing at slower speeds and like more control a softer boot is going to suit you better.
2. For skiers who like to ski faster and more aggressive, but still like to be on the cautious side a mid-stiff boot would be best.
3. Now for skiers who like to ski aggressively at high speeds, a stiff boot is the way to go.

Skier Terrian

The type of terrain you ski on is very important. Companies make boots for all parts of the hill from race courses to terrain parks and you want to buy a boot that fits your style of skiing.

All Mountain Boots
Most people are skiing all over the hill on groomed trails and in fresh snow. So, manufacturers make a variety of boots for all mountain skiing. These boots are designed to be skied any where on the mountain. They are made in different stiffness’s to accommodate skiers of all abilities, shapes, and sizes. Most boots fall under this category. Atomic’s: Hawx series, M-tech series, and B-tech series, Tecnica’s: Mega series, Phoenix series, and Dragon series, Lange’s: Fluid series, Concept/Venus series, Blaster series, and Banshee series, and Dalbello’s: Aerro series, Proton series, and Axion series.

Race Boots
These boots are extremely stiff to provide maximum response to the skier. Often, race boots are narrow in width and are not the most comfortable things to wear. Some good race boots include Atomic’s RT series, Tecnica’s Diablo series, Lange’s Comp series, and Dalbello’s Krypton series.

Freestyle boots
Tend to be mildly stiff so they flex on hard landings. This also makes the boot more agile for jibbing and freestyle maneuvers. Many companies put a shock absorbing foot board in the boot to dampen landings. Some manufactures even put soft material on the tongue of the boot to reduce shin bang. Freestyle boots come in a variety of lasts and stiffness’ to fit any skier’s needs. These are some great park boots to check out Dalbello’s El Moro, Voodoo, Rampage, and for women the Lotus; Atomic’s Nuke series and Hawx FS; Lange’s Banshee series; and Tecnica’s Agent series.

Big Mountain Boots
If you like skiing out of bounds on long wide open runs or even heli-skiing; well, you’re in luck cause there is a boot for that. These boots are usually stiff, so when you are in deep powder and really hauling tail your boots will have quick response. These boots are often modeled after race boots. Some boots to scope out are Dalbello’s Krypton Pro; Atomic’s Nuke 1-Thirty; Lange’s Super Banshee; and Tecnica’s Agent 130.

Parts of a ski boot

A - the liner. It sits in the shell; this is where your foot goes.
B - a grab loop you can latch on to. To wrestle your boot on.
C - the tongue of the boot.
D - the Power Strap it acts as a sort of fifth buckle.
E - a microadjustable buckle. This allows the skier to make the buckle the buckle longer or shorter at the twist of a buckle. Not all boots have this feature.
F - a buckle. Most boots have four buckles, but some have three.
G - the toe box of the boot. This is the area for your toes.
H - the foot board it runs the length of the boot. You can see it in black.
I - the spoiler. It takes up room around the calf you can remove it to make more room and keep it in to take up space. Not all boots have this feature.
J - the heel cup that is the area where your heel sits in the boot.
K - the where the footbed or sole of the boot is.
L - the shell which is the outside plastic of the part of the boot this makes the boot stiff or soft.

How to fit a ski boot

1. First of all it is recommended that you try on boots before you purchase them.
2. To start you want to get your foot measured. Measure your foot with a special ski boot Brannock Device (Foot measuring scale). It is important to know that ski boots do not fit like a normal shoe. They should be snug like a firm hand shake.

Most ski boots are sized using mondo sizing this chart will give you some insight in the size comparison.

Mondo	21	21.5	22	22.5	23	23.5	24	24.5	25	25.5	26	26.5	27	27.5	28	28.5	29	29.5	30
US Women's	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9	9.5	10	10.5	11	11.5	12
US Men's	3	3.5	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9	9.5	10	10.5	11	11.5	12

3. After measuring the length also measure the width. They make wide ski boots for people with those E widths. Some wide boots include Dalbello’s Axion series and Aerro series; Atomic’s B-Tech Series, and Tecnica’s HVL (High Volume Last) boots.
4. Before you try a boot on you should always do what’s called shell sizing. This is where you pull the liner out of the boot and stick your foot in the shell. Put your foot all the way to the end of the shell, so your toes touch the front. Now, you should have two finger widths between your heel and the back of the boot. If you have more the boot is to big, if you have less you will have a very tight fitting boot. You do this because the average ski boot liner takes up about two finger widths in the boot. So, it gives you an idea if the boot is the right size.
5. As soon as, you’re all measured up, now, you can start trying on boots. When you step into the boot pull out and up on the tongue. This helps open up the boot so you can get your foot in.
6. Once your foot is in the boot your toes should just touch the front of the boot, but they should not be curled.
7. At this time, with your foot in the boot kick your heel against the ground. This will knock your heel into the heel pocket of the boot.
8. Finally, you’re ready to buckle the boot. Buckle the boot as illustrated in the image below.

9. After you have both boots on and buckled. Stand up and flex them by driving your knees forward. When you do this your toes should move away from the front of the boot a little bit. Also, while doing this make sure your heel does not lift up off the footbed of the boot. If it does the boot maybe to big or need to be altered.
10. If the boot feels good get it, if not try something else. However, you don’t want to try on to many boots limit your self to three if possible.
11. One more thing to note, if there is just one part of the boot that hurts or is tight. Talk to someone at a ski shop because they can make many altercations to a boot.
VI. When you purchase ski boots make sure they feel comfortable, but fit correctly. The boots are probably the most important piece of ski equipment so make sure to get some thing you like and that will work well.