What do I look for when I am buying ski boots
and searching for the best and Master Bootfitter?Read on........
More than any other piece of equipment, a properly sized and
fitted ski boot can improve one's comfort, control and ability on the mountain. You
can always rent high performance skis, it is nearly impossible to rent a properly fitted
pair of high quality boots. Technology and new innovations over the past few years
have drastically improved the comfort and performance of ski boots. If you haven't
treated yourself to a new pair of boots recently, or if you are just getting into (or back
into) the sport, this is a great time to be shopping for a new pair. However, being
properly fitted is not a quick or always easy task. Plan on spending 1-2 hours with
a professional fitter and make sure to take the entire process one step at a time.
Listed below are some good guidelines to follow:
- The bootfitter should carefully examine and measure both feet and lower legs, as well as ask you many questions concerning your skiing habits. From
the information gained, they should make recommendations and be able to suggest
appropriate steps in obtaining the best fit and most appropriate gear.
- In about 95% of the cases, the fitter will recommend making a
custom footbed to support the foot correctly in the ski boot. If you do nothing
else, even if you decide to keep your old boots for another year, buy some. Similar
to an orthotic made by a podiatrist or doctor, the custom footbed will align and stabilize
the foot and leg correctly in the boot, helping to eliminate potential hot spots in the
boot while balancing the skier in a more optimal position on their skis. Have the
orthotics made before you even try on any boots (it can drastically alter the way the boot fits). Expect to pay between $90 and $180 for a good footbed made by an experienced
fitter. For more information on the benefits of footbeds ask a bootfitter.
- Once you have a good pair of custom footbeds, you are ready
to try on new boots. by discussing the options with your fitter and then combining
that information with past experience, your ability and body type, you will determine what
category of boots will work best. If you are a strong skier, expect to pay a bit
more to obtain the performance that you need from a stiffer quality boot. If you are
less aggressive, or just starting out, make sure that you purchase a boot that is still
full-featured and adjustable (micro-adjustable metal buckles and cuff alignment devices
are crucial for proper leg alignment, fit and durability), but softer flexing. Good
entry level boots start around $250 and top of the line boots top out over $600.
This may sound pricey at first, however, if you ski an average of 10 days a year, you
should get up to fifteen years of use out of your boots before you wear your liners
out. That is as little as $15 a year--well under what you would pay to even rent boots for those ten days of skiing. Not much of a price to pay for something that effects your
enjoyment of the sport as much as a good fitting ski boot does.
- Ask your fitter for advice and spend some time trying on
boots. A good fitter will have years of knowledge about how different brands fit and
perform and can save you a lot of trouble down the road. Some simple fitting rules
to follow are:
Shell fitting is a good way to guarantee you buy the correct
size. Remove the liner from the shell of the boot; place your foot inside the shell
and move it forward until the tips of your toes just rub the end of the shell's
toe-box. Drive your knee forward and see how many fingers you can squeeze between
your hell and the back of the boot shell. You want only 1/2 to 1 inch
(under two average adult male fingers) of space behind the heel. The more
performance oriented the fit, the less space you want inside. Do not upsize
to gain more volume or get a wider fit. Ski boots are only made in full sizes and
the length is measured by an international standard called mondo-sizing; once you have
your size, that is your size in all ski boots. If something feels way too narrow or
low volume, it may be the wrong boot for you or it may require modifications by a
technician.
Remove the stock insole from the liner and place your custom
footbed inside.. Always try the boot on with all personal fit devices inside. Also,
make sure that you are using a thin, ski specific sock made of wicking and drying
materials. Make sure the sock does not have any ribbing and that all wrinkles are
removed before putting a boot on. A good pair of clean ski specific socks at the
start of the day can go a long way towards making a boot more comfortable and warmer.
A boot should feel very snug when you first put it on, often
to the point where many people think that they need a larger size. Before passing
any judgements, buckle the the boot up securely, but not restrictively, and make sure your
heel has settled into the heel pocket of the boot. The foam in boots is designed to
conform to the foot over time an needs to be broken in. You will feel the process begin to
take place during the first ten minutes, but the boot really needs to be skied on for a
week or two before the process occurs fully. In a correctly sized boot, you should
feel the end of the liner with your toes and the rest of the boot should wrap around the
foot firmly and consistently, much like a good custom made leather driving glove would fit
the hand.
Ski boots were made for skiing---not walking.
Imitating skiing motions is a better way to get a realistic idea of how the boot will feel
when on the slopes than just walking in them. If you have not purchased new boots in
a long time, or have never owned a pair of correctly sized and fitted boots, the
sensation you get can be quite alien. Be patient and listen to how your fitter
describes the proper fit. The key at this point is to to give the boot time to get
used to you while giving yourself time to get used to the boot.
After spending a reasonable amount of time in the boots,
pull the boots off and then remove your socks. Look at your feel for any unusually red
areas (potential "hot spots") and tell your fitter if you are feeling any pain
or distinct discomfort anywhere on the foot or leg. Do not worry if you go through
the process and you still haven;t found a boot that feels perfect right out of the box.
This is where a good fitter can save the day. Boot modification techniques
are ubiquitous and a good fitter armed with the correct tools can solve virtually any
problem.
Another thing to consider is the amount of dorsiflexion you ankle joint has. Dorsiflexion is the amount of upward flexibility the foot has within
the ankle joint. It determines to what degree the skier can flex the boot and how far the
skier can drive the tip of the ski, both are very crucial elements in successful and strong
skiing. Optimally, a skier will have around 20 degrees of upward flex in the ankle.
Have a technician measure your flexibility and make any internal adjustments necessary to
your boots to help guarantee that you are positioned correctly in the boot for the amount
of flexibility you have in your ankle.
Cuff alignment is the process of placing the curvature and
stance of the lower leg in to a centralized and aligned position in the upper cuff of the
ski boot. Most high quality performance boots offer between 2 and 7 degrees
of cuff alignment. The procedure is done with the liner out of the shell, but with
all other devices, like footbeds, in the shell. If the cuff has not been aligned to
your leg yet, ask your fitter if it should be done. This is a procedure that can
benefit many people, it is integral in the boot's design and only takes minutes.
It is likely that you will have to adjust or even remount
your binding depending upon the sole length of your new boots. Because the bindings
need to be worked on anyhow, this is a perfect time to spend another few minutes with a
technician an have your stance aligned. This procedure is the final step in the
fitting process and should only be done once all other steps listed above have been
completed. Stance alignment is the act of making a precision measurement of skeletal
structure in relationship to the plane below it, in this case, a pair of skis.
Optimally, most skiers want to have the angle on their lower leg be 1-1.5 degrees inside
of center form the ski's perpendicular plane. This position gives the skier excellent
balance capability, while also allowing them to initiate turns and set an edge with greater
precision and power. For many people, more so than buying the latest and greatest
new shaped ski, stance alignment can be the most beneficial performance enhancing
technology has to offer. The footbed is a huge step towards proper alignment,
however, using cant strips under the binding or integrated into the boot sole is often the
only way to fully align the skeletal structure and place the body into its optimal skiing
position. The results often include more efficient use of energy (less effort needed
to control the skis), less strain on joints and muscles, as well as potentially drastic
improvements in edging, carving and turning ability. Expect to pay anywhere from $60
to $150 for the analysis and parts.
CONGRATULATIONS! If you followed these steps, you should
have an excellent fitting and performing pair of boots. Remember to always store your
boots buckled (so the liners and shells maintain their shape) in an air conditioned room, and consider buying a boot dryer that circulates sub-100 degree air into the boot to keep them dry and warm day in and day out. Now that you are fully equipped, go skiing and have fun! Isn't that what it's all about? If you develop discomfort or other problems while skiing in your
new boots, a good shop is going to stand behinds its work by guarranteeing your fit.
Boot fitting is part art and part science, neither of which are exact. If you think
of any questions or have any problems, set up a refit appointment with your fitter and let
them work their magic.
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