Guide On: How to Buy Ski Boots

hey guys, ive read through most of this thread and maybe this has already been talked about but i couldnt find it.

so basically my 3 or 4 year old boots are very packed out, too loose around the foot and when i tighten the buckles it only tightens the wrong areas and it makes the arch of my foot kill. now i know most people would suggest new boots but i have no money for that, are there insoles i could put in to fill some of the space? i was thinking of talking to my bootfitter and seeing what he could do but do you guys have any other suggestions?
 
footbeds might help you out a bit but new boots are definately the right way to go. go see your bootfitter and maybe he'll be able to add some material here and there to improve your heel hold and take down some volume
 
Definitely get Booster Straps! They are amazing!

Now my one addition to this thread:

If your feet are killing you in your boots and you have tried all sorts of boots give up on standard boots and get custom ones. There is a company call SureFoot (http://www.surefoot.com/). You have to go to the shop and they will recommend a shell (the shells are made by major companies like Lange and Rossignal). You will have to go through a fitting process that will take an hour to an hour and a half. They will morph the shell of the boot to fit your foot perfectly. Then they put your feet in an empty liner and fill it with this goo that is more durrably than normal lining padding. This will make it so that the liner fits your foot exactly. They also make you custom footbeds and will put Booster Straps on the boot if you want them.

THESE BOOTS ARE PRICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have to be expecting to spend 1000 to 1500! This mostly depends on the shell that you choose.

I spent 1400 CAN on mine with Lange Banshee Shells

If you have the money it is worth it. They will last you a lot longer than a standard boot and they will be the highest performing boot possible.
 
I wear a 10.5 shoe (they are definitley a little on the roomy side) and I'm properly fitted into a 26 boot. So your size isn't too far off. It depends on how you wear your shoes, and what the shape of your foot is though.
 
all surefoot really does is sell you a foam liner. any good shop can do this but most don't want to because technology in stock liners have come a long way in the last 5 years. the only time i make foam liners is when a customer's foot is too narrow for anything out there and that doesn't happen often. foam liners will run you about $350-$400CAD on top of your usual boots. foam liners don't really last much longer than a regular factory liner.

i would not recomend their footbeds for park skiers since they are made from a solid block of plastic whereas other bands are moulded and stabilized providing a kind of suspension system for your feet deadening the impact of landings.

$1000-$1500 on boots is a little bit rediculous especially considering a Lange Banshee retails for about $499CAD. did you really get an additional $1000 value?
 
I bought them when the Banshees were the newest lange boot at the time. Plus I bought them in Whistler so I'm sure that doesn't help the price. And ya maybe the liner material isn't much better, but you don't leave any room for your shins to bash the liners. And Idk about the footbeds. I had the salomon 1080 foils and they were fitted by a good shop and had custom footbeds and I have felt no difference in park landings.

I'm not saying that it is worth it for everyone, but I know it was for me. I would ski for just two days in my old boots and my feet and shins killed me. I skied for 8 days straight on custom boots and never had a foot problem. (And no my 1080 foils were not super old or packed out)

That is just my experience. I'm not a boot expert, but I've been racing since I was five and have had a lot of boots over the past 16 years and these have been the best I've had
 
i've scanned through the thread i didn't really find anything, but i was wondering how do you all/how are you meant to wear you boots? as in how tight are you buckles? do you really pull down on your power straps?
the reason i ask is that i love having snug fitting boots but i have a tendency to get pins and needles. currently have lange freeride 120s with footbeds (shop fitted etc..) so it's already a snug boot and i use proper ski socks so i wouldn't think that the normal wrong fitting boots is the problem. any ideas?
 
I went to a boot fitter a few years back spending a solid two hours in the store looking for the right fitting boot for me, the fitter seemed pretty knowlegeable and after trying a wide selection of boots told me that i would choices were basically reduced to skiing in pain or giving it up. So now i'm looking for any insight or suggestions anywhere of boots to check out and try or any insight into looking for the right kind of boot. Ended up compromising on some salomon foil boots (suggestions by fitter, that or dalbellos- too narrow), went a size or two too small to make up for wideness (i know stupid but was in a hurry for the season) and now have been dealing with losing toenails every season, bruises on toes, and leaving the second to bottom buckle loose to relieve some of the pain. Foot specs: narrow/med. more narrow, high arch, and high instep
 
Hey so I got a question about this years salomon SPK pros. I am 6'4" and about 195 lbs agressive all mountain skier.More pow riding than park.Will the SPKs be alright for me considering I like a bit more flex in my boot or will I end up snapping my ankle dropping cliffs this year?
 
Thanks dude.

Just so happens buy new boots tmrw.

SPK Kreations. ^^

any difference with the pro model you think?'

would you think it would be wise in investing in them?
 
Agree with Pipe-Monkey, you can also go to a running shop and get a heel support that will take up some room. That would be your cheapest bet, but definitely take in your boots and make sure they are comfortable.
 
I had the same problem and I ended up getting custom boots (you can read my earlier posts if you want). You have to get someone that will re-shape the shell of the boot to accommodate for your arches and everything else. That or pop some rowdy painkillers everyday that you ski (I do not condone this). Hope you have some $$$ though. Customizing the shell and getting custom footbeds isn't cheap.
 
i have some big troubles...i was doing the same at the video of "teach talk-episode boots"

but if i get one and half finger between the ankle and the plastic, the boots is too small for me, and if i stay more than 10 minutes with the boots on, I start to feel that i lose the circulation, what can i do to fix this? i don't know how to find the corect size of boots.
 
yo dudes im prob goin right against what this thread says but i need some ideas for boots, i basically know of NO boots other than head mojo's (the ones i own right now, getting too small) and spk's. i want to expand my options

anybody have suggestions on boots that fit these categories:

-pretty soft, i ride basically all park. somethin def softer than my mojos (with a 100 flex index)

-less buckles and straps. i hate having 4 buckles. any boots other than spks that have less?

i'm 5'11 and weigh 150, i do medium jumps (for where i live) like 10-30 ft, and lots of rails/boxes/etc. just looking for a broader perspective on what to look at.

thanks errbody
 
Putting the power strap directly in contact with the tongue is so much better for me. It's right against my shin and feels much better. Try it! Been doing it for nearly this whole season so far. I also had an old insole from some shoes that had really nice shock absorption properties and I put it under my liner. May not sound like a good idea but I've ridden with it twice so far and I like it. Slightly more forward lean and definitely absorbs some impact.
 
Does anyone put there power strap directly on the liner of there boots (on the inside of the front plastic cuff, just like booster straps)? I wunder if it would help with shin bang.
 
Have a look at the Salomon Shogun...its like the Ghost only softer. It has 3 buckles and is park orientated. Look at Fulltilt boots as well....they look pretty 80's , but are very good (tend to be narrowish fit)

If you can stomach something with a little more bite look at the Nordica Jah Love which is a freerider orietated boot (happy in the park too)....its a classic 4 buckle affair mind. Essentially its the Nordica Dobermann pro 130 only with a softer flex, shock absorbing foot plate and liner. (I use the pro 130 and its incredibly good).

Another thing, dont worry about the flex too much, the reason being all boots can be softened by removing the spine bolts and if you need even more softening you can 'V' cut the lower shell (inside). A good ski tech can do this with a dremmel tool or stanley (which is not so fun!).

When it comes to boot choice go for fit first and then look to get the boot softened if needed.. Oh yeah and dont be distracted by fancy grpahics either, half the time you cant see boots for the baggies.

 
Sounds like you need a trip to a good boot fitter!

Shin bang can be caused by several things including ill fitting boots i.e. when you dont get enough support from the upper cuff, when the tongue and liners are packed out, or if you are using a shitty static power strap that come as standard on most boots (or any combo of these), poor alignment can make this worse!

Canting adjusts the boot laterally which will help adjust the way you flex 'fore and aft' in the boot, helping reduce being 'knock kneed', however in bad cases of alignment custom foots beds and possibly shims are required in additon to making the canting adjustments.

>Custom foot beds are a must for anybody as they improve weight and pressure distribution over the foot, help circulation and also orientate the foot better in the boot
 
Circulation could be a problem!

Assuming you have a properly fitted boot, most of the buckling action is on the upper cuff (top and bottom buckle). You need enough pressure in the sytem to close the boot off snugly....depending on your calf size somewhere in the middle of the rails give or take. Move the rails if you need to,

The fore foot buckles only need enough pressure to close the boot off, first or second rail in most cases (use the micro adjusters)...On a good fitting boot the fore foot buckles do not need to be tight....over tightening these buckles deforms the shell pushing it downwards, cutting off the blood vessels across the top of the foot.

Powerstrap!!! > put it round the liner and not over the shell as most would think, youwill get a better feel, flex and support...better still buy a Booster strap, they are outstanding and well worth the investment (remove the old strap if you replace it with one of these). The extra support also helps to reduce the tendancy to over tighten the upper cuff buckles too.

Foots beeds, pins and needles can be caused by poor weight distribution and support, consider getting some custom foot beds in those suckers and check your alingment in the boot, the canting may also need to be adjusted.

And last off all......if your skiing in the back seat (as many freestylers do!!!) this will restrict the circulation in your legs because the pressure from leaning back on your calf's simply will cut off the blood flow. Get centred and flex those ankles!

Hope that helps.

 
Conform'able custom moulded foot beds! Worth the money.

Generic footbeds never work as each and every foot is different. I've fitted hundreds of these and I use them myself...I've also tried everything else too and noting tops em'. They work for everybody from begginers to pros and material can be added to them depending on your needs. If your a freestyler you should be fine to go with the standard version as you will want the footbed to flex with your foot naturally. A racer would add material to stiffen it up, but with that you lose the comfort.

Make sure you get em made but a tech who knows what they are doing...I've seen some hash jobs of these!...but when done right they arre sweeeet!!

 
ok so i have some technica boots. i bought them at the beginning of this season. whenever i ski the tongue of the liner on the right foot slips down and gives me horrible shinbang. i currently have a 5 inch bruise on my shin. i have no clue what to do since there is basically no good bootfitters in my area.
 
Technica's tend to have a high in step....if you have a low instep then this maybe why the tongue slips... It sounds though, as with so many people, your boots are just too big.

To bodge it, put your power strap around the liners (inside of the cuff plastic, instead of the outside) this will give you more support and help stop the tounge drop.

In the long term though go find a good ski shop and get a proper fit.
 
go try them on? i have some dalbello kryptons and they fit my foot, which is narrow, but go get fitted and see.
 
Thank you for this great thread- it's the only helpful thread I've found online about boots.
I've got a question that I don't think has been covered here. I'm a relatively new skier, but have taken to it quickly, and am skiing blue slopes just fine. I'm 6'2" and 180 lbs, and my one problem has been painful rental boots, so I've decided to purchase.
I finally found a boot that fits and it has a flex of 120, which is scaring me off a bit. It is the Atomic B-Tech 120.
I know flex numbers are arbitrary and variable, but because atomic has so many more flexible boots in the same series I'm wondering about whether this is the right boot for me. (no local ski shop has other atomic b-series).
So here's my question: aside from comfort, is there any reason why an intermediate skier should not get a very stiff boot? I mean, can it be dangerous for some reason? is there something I'm missing? And it's warm in boston right now, so should I worry about an unrealistic sense of flex in the boot I"m trying on in the store?
thanks in advance for any advice--
 
The Atomic B 120 is a rather wide, 120 flex boot with a short (low) upper cuff. Ski boots, unlike skis, have no idea what your skier type is. Boots only know three things- your foot shape, your flexibility, and how much you weigh. If the B 120 matches those three things, then you have a winner.

You'll know when the boot matches your foot shape if it fits snugly but comfortably, like a firm handshake. Not too tight, but not slipper comfy either- this is the tightest the boot is ever going to feel, it will only get looser. Your flexibility + how much you weigh deal with the flex of the boot. You'll know if you are in the right flex if you can move the upper cuff enough to let your knee get over your toes but not flex it so much that you bellow and distort the lower shell, this being too soft for you. A good boot-fitter can always soften a boot that is too stiff for you and find the exact flex that you need.

So, in short, just make sure the boot matches those three criteria- your foot shape, your flexibility, and how much you weigh and you will have a boot that fits you very well. And always get a nice set of footbeds with your new boot. They will help position your foot correctly in the shell and improve your comfort and performance. They are super awesome.
 
many 'stiff' boots are increadebly responsive and unforgiving in the sense that they will transfer any motion/energy that you the skier make into the skis. For intermedeate and beginner skiers this can result in small mistakes they make in technique or stance resulting in unwanted motion from the skis. Basically in boots like a Lange Super Comp you can not get away with as many mistakes as you can in say a edge sx.
 
Okay so I know everyone says "bootfitter," but this is not possible for me in this case. I have a size 8.5-9 shoe, and I can get a very good deal on 26 hot doggers. Does this sound like a good approx. boot size for me? BSL is 301
 
Possibly. Unfortunately man, no one on here is able to say with 100% certainty because we can't see your foot and/or do a shell fit, which is the only way to know what size boot your should be in.

In the roughest sense possible, that is probably the right size for you. But you might be a 25 shell at the same time. That's the best we can do on the interweb.
 
cheers for the help, i've come to the conclusion after the season and then returning to skiing months later in a snowdome that it's an issue of flexibility. since genetically my dads side of the family have very very tight achilles areas they tend to cramp up and this is compounded by poor circulation, heart value issues, yes my genetics are awesome! it comes together to produce pins and needles and calf pain. did get a booster strap also, i loves it.

just thought i'd make this reply just in case anyone else is suffering. the solution, stretching. everytime before and after skiing and after every shower (so you're nice a warm)
 
i apologize if this is a stupid question and has been answered already but, what exactly is a foot bed?
 
i thought it went into the bottom of the shell. is it just like what you put in your shoes? like dr. scholls?
 
A footbed is a type of insole that has more support to it than your standard, stock insole (the floppy thing in your sneaker or ski boot). It lives in your ski boot liner directly under your foot and replaces the stock insole. With some liners (such as Intuition) you can put certain footbeds under the liner and mold the liner over the footbed.

The job or goal of the footbed is to support the many arches of your foot so that your foot does not move around inside the boot, which is one of the main causes of foot pain associated with ski boots. You've got a flexible structure (your foot) stuffed into a rigid one (your ski boot), and the footbed creates the interface for the two to work together. Companies do not put them into their boots because it is usually a custom process, or at the very least using a size footbed that does not correlate to the size of your foot/boot. Once you get fit for some, you'll see what I mean.
 
yes i understand what you mean now, would you have to get a bigger shell or liner to allow space for a footbed to fit?
 
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