CUSTOM BOOT FITTING GUIDE

A Skier’s boots are the most important piece of equipment. They are the gateway to happiness or misery. People’s feet are as unique as they are, which means proper Boot Fitting takes time and expertise to do right. We want our skiers to enjoy their day in the most comfortable boots available without sacrificing performance. 

In addition to finding the right fit to maximize comfort, each skier will need different specifications in their boots to ensure they get the performance they want out of it. Your ability level, terrain preferences, physique, and personal preferences are all very important factors that we account for as we find you your perfect boot. 

There are several key aspects in ski boot technology that we hone in on and fine-tune for your particular needs during your boot fitting. By doing so, we are able to culminate a comprehensive boot profile and pick out the best fitting boots for you. A skilled boot fitter will be able to harmonize these various aspects to find a boot that caters to your desired experience, whereas a less knowledgeable Boot Fitter may hinder you from it. 

Whether you are a beginner skier- seeking maximum comfort to get you through the learning curve, or an expert looking to upgrade their gear to expand their ability on different terrains, a custom boot fitting is a necessary first step. The right boots will act as a helpful and responsive liaison between your body and your skis, and keep you more in tune with your skiing groove. 

Explore some aspects of boot fitting below!

BOOT SHELL DESIGN

There are three main types of boot design:

Rear- Entry
Typically for Beginners, Rear- Entry boots are easy to take on and off, and provide plenty of comfort for the skier. However, they may not provide the support that a higher ability skier may need, particularly if they are an aggressive skier.

Front- Entry
Most ski boots are Front- Entry, or Overlap boots, where the front of the boot pulls all the way out to allow the foot to slide in. Front- Entry boots often have three or four buckles securing the structure of the boot once your foot is inside.

3-piece Cabrio

  1. These boots are comprised of a (1) Lower Shell, (2) Upper Cuff, and (3) External Shell Tongue.
  2. The structure of these boots allows them to alleviate pressure points that other boots may not be able to- while maintaining flex and without sacrificing performance.
  3. Cabrio boots take the pressure off the top of your foot, so typically these boots will fit feet with higher arches, narrow heels, and/or wide calves better than most other boots.

BOOT FLEX

There are several factors that affect the flex of the boot that is right for the skier. Flex means how far your leg is able to push forward while in the boot.

Skiing Level

  1. Beginner: Beginner to Lower- Intermediate skiers are going to want a soft flex. Much of this has to do with comfort- walking around in an overly rigid boot is uncomfortable, and can leave a bad impression for new skiers. 
  2. Intermediate: Many Intermediate riders will move up in stiffness to help in linking turns.
  3. Advanced: More advanced level boots will typically have a greater flex. Non- racing boot flexes top out for men around 130, and 110 for women. In general, upper-intermediate and advanced skiers are going to need a stiff flex in their boots. Many advanced skiers enjoy flying down runs at full speed and laying into their turns. Having a good deal of rigidity helps to maintain control through the entire carve. 

Riding Style | Terrain

  1. Too Soft of a Flex
    A flex too soft can be overly fatiguing on your legs if you’ve outgrown your boot in terms of performance. This is because a boot with a flex too soft will make it harder to control your skis at higher speeds and aggressive riding styles, so your legs will be working harder to compensate. If this sounds like you, it may be time to upgrade to a higher flex!
  2. Too Rigid of a Flex
    A flex too high can cause unnecessary discomfort and difficulty for a skier who doesn’t need a boot so rigid. Skiers who don’t ride very fast or aggressively won’t need the performance that a high flex boot will provide, and will actually be hindered by it. This is because a high flex boot will actually make it harder to turn at slower speeds. On the other hand, a softer boot will provide the flexibility a beginner skier needs to be able to develop the muscle memory and skills to turn with ease. If you’re experiencing great discomfort in your ski boots and feel like you’re fighting against the stiffness of the boot, consider switching to a softer flex boot- it’ll give you greater comfort and a smoother skiing experience. 

Height | Weight

  1. The heavier the skier, the stiffer a flex you are going to want. The stiffer boots will help provide support for taller/ heavier skiers.
    Someone who is short and light doesn’t put as much leverage on a ski boot, and very stiff boot may limit their natural body movement too much. 

Personal Preference

  1. There is no wrong way to want your boot, as long as all issues are addressed. Personal preference, skill level, and physical makeup are all equally important. 
  2. Since women tend to have less body mass for their height and foot size than men, flex ratings are generally going to be lower.  

Flex Guideline Chart (Skill Level x Weight): 

MOLDABLE LINERS

Moldable Liners
A large majority of boots have moldable linings which allows us to ride a stiffer boot with the added comfort of the molded liner that takes up the space between your foot and the boot to provide support that caters to the exact shape of your foot.

HEEL POCKETS

What are Heel Pockets?
They are exactly what they sound like: a pocket at the back of your boot to secure and hold your heel. To properly fit your foot in a boot, you should bend your knees and rock back and forth to encourage your heels all the way into the heel pocket at the back of your boot. It should feel like a neck pillow around your ankle!

Lack of knowledge of Heel Pockets can present pitfalls of boot fitting that cause issues:

  1. Thick Socks
    1. There is a common notion that wearing thicker socks will keep your foot warmer on the mountain, when in reality, many experienced skiers find the opposite to be true. Thick socks can initially warm your foot and cause it to sweat, and the dampness can become an obstacle to your foot’s warmth and comfort. We recommend wearing a thin 98% polyester sock. A thinner sock means greater heat dispersion into the liner of the boot, which is what will keep your foot consistently warm.  
  2. Cranking down on the boot
    1. When a boot is mis-fit, or simply too large, the skier will attempt to secure a better fit by cranking down on the boot buckles/ straps. This is an improper way of using the boot, and will result in reduced blood circulation to the foot, which will, in turn, cause decreased comfort and performance.

 

Gear Fitting Form

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Address*
We will ship your products to the address you input below. Please ensure your address is correct before submitting this form as incorrect addresses may incur an additional shipping fee.
Category*
Please select all that apply to the product you're looking for.
Please enter a number from 40 to 400.
Please enter a number greater than or equal to 1.
Skier/Boarder Ability Level
Beginner: Still learning balance, speed and turn control. Intermediate: Good balance, speed, and turn control established. Advanced: Full balance, speed, and turn control
Skill Satisfaction
Are you happy with your current ability level OR are you wanting to improve?
What kind of Skier/ Rider are you (if you've never skied / rode before, what kind of skier do you think you'll be?)
What type of terrain do you prefer to ski/ride?
Desired Ski/Board Type:
Measure the bottom of your foot, from tip of the longest toe to the back of the heel. Measure both feet and use the larger measurement.
Please enter a number from 4 to 17.
Measure the bottom of your feet- the widest part of your toe box.
Please enter a number from 2 to 8.
Please let us know of any known issues you have with prior boots and shoes. This will help us find you the most comfortable boots for you!
Only needed if you already have boots. We will need to adjust your bindings to your boots. The boot Shell length can be found on the bottom side of your boots, indicated in "mm".
Please enter a number from 5 to 400.
Let us know here if you have a preferred product size. Otherwise, we will use the industry standard to determine a correct size for you.
Please enter a number from 5 to 400.
Let us know here if you have a preferred product size. Otherwise, we will use the industry standard to determine a correct size for you. To measure: While standing, bend elbow to 90°, and measure from top of forearm at elbow to the floor.
Please enter a number from 5 to 400.
Equipment Condition*
Equipment Condition: Are you interested in New or Used Equipment?
Budget: Here at Ski Trucks, we know winter gear can quickly add up. If you have a budget in mind, let us know here and we can try to go out of our way to help get you into gear under your specified budget.
Please type below any other details you would like to include. Feel free to include any preferences, issues, or questions that may be helpful for us in picking out the perfect gear for you!
About
Community
My Account
Customer Service

© 2021 Copyright Ski Trucks LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1-800-595-0919