 CHOOSING SKI BOOTS |
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The importance of choosing the right ski boots |
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| A lot of skiers, especially beginners, often tend to underestimate the importance of choosing the right ski boots. And yet, ski boots are the link between your feet and your skis, and, as such, it is essential that you choose a pair of ski boots adapted to your body type and your skiing technique. |
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The ski boots’ principal characteristics |
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| The importance each of the following characteristics will have, depends on your skiing style and the discipline practised (on-piste, off-piste, carving, moguls, etc…). |
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 Rigidity
The boot’s rigidity allows the supports to be transmitted. Sufficient lateral rigidity is essential because the edging depends on it. |
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Holding the foot and the leg in place
The boot must perfectly hold the foot and leg in place. As such, two aspects are particularly important : you shouldn’t be able to lift your heel and the front of the foot should be able to very precisely steer.
The foot and leg should be firmly held in place in a homogeneous way, i.e there should be no hard spots or single pressure points on a certain part of the foot or the leg. |
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Forward flex
Certain skiing techniques require a pronounced forward flex (moguls, carving, and sometimes, powder). |
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Elasticity
Thanks to its elasticity, the boot, when under directional constraints, should make the skier’s muscular effort easier. |
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Comfort |
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A boot should be easy to put on
The first thing to see is if the boot is easy to put on or not. If it’s hard to put on in the store, remember it’ll be even harder to put on outside, as the materials harden in the cold. |
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Comfort/performance
The more a boot is made of soft and compressible materials, the more comfortable it is… and the less it is able to transfer your leg and feet movements to the Skis. Be wary therefore of the « slipper » type boots, that feel very nice when tried on in the store but won’t perform well when out skiing. |
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The different types of ski boots |
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Front-entry or Overlap Ski Boots
These are the classic type that open in the front. These have replaced rear-entry boots as the most common type of boot you’ll find on the market.
Qualities :
- Good forward flex
- Lateral rigidity
- Precise fitting
Its main drawback is that it’s hard to put on.
This type of boots are a good choice for hight-level skiers or for those who practise disciplines requiring a good forward flex. They are now the most common type of boots, making the two next types boots fairly hard to find. |
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Rear-entry boots
These boots offer a good overall rigidity and are extremely easy to put on, however they lack forward flexibility and precise fitting.
These boots are a good choice for beginners and intermediate skiers. |
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Mid-entry boots
These boots are made to merge the strengths of the two previous types. While they combine a good rigidity and an easy fitting, they often lack sufficient forward flex.
The boots will suit intermediate to good skiers. |
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Adjusting the boots |
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Canting
Canting allows the top cuff’s angle to be adjusted to lean to one side or another to optimise the edging or to compensate for a specific body type..
If you’re not a runner, and if you weren’t born on a horse or in a fish tank, chances are canting won’t be of much use to you. |
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Forward lean adjustment
In contrast, the shank's forward lean adjustment is an adjustment that really matters...
The more the shank will be leaning forward, the more the knees will be able to flex more and the easier it will to initiate turns.
The muscular effort is (sadly) directly proportional to this knee flex. The more the shank is leaning forward, the more tiresome the effort will be. Each skier must therefore work on finding the correct balance between comfort and performance for him.
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How does one try on a pair of boots in a ski shop ? |
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Try on brands adapted to your body size. Some brands are known to make wider or narrower boots.
Ask a salesperson for advice.
Try your boots on while standing with your knees bent.
Try lifting your heel : if you can lift it inside your boot, change models or size.
Block the boot and turn the front of your foot laterally. If it can move, change models.
The foot and leg must be held in place without any single pressure points.
The foot and leg must be firmly held, without the boot being overly tight.
The boot shouldn’t be overly tight and should let the blood flow.
Check the firmness and elasticity of the supports by leaning on the tongue (front elasticity), on the inside of the shank( support when edging), and on the back of the shank (back edging). |
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