Top 5 tips for buying Ski Boots | Val d'Isère Chalets

There comes a time in every skier’s life, when it’s necessary to buy a new pair of ski boots. Whether you’ve been skiing twenty years, and you’re only just getting around to replacing those old rear entry ski boots or you’ve been skiing three weeks, and you think you’re keen enough to make a long term investment, ski boots are an important thing to get right.

We’ve all been in the position of coping with an uncomfortable pair of ski boots. You spend every afternoon in the ski shop, pestering the staff to the point where they begin to pretend not to see you when you walk in the door, while the rest of your party is off enjoying the powder. With one pair of badly fitting boots, your holiday is ruined. So without further ado, here are our top tips for boot buying.

Surefoot Ski Boots - Copyright: Surefoot

Get your boots fitted. It’s tempting to grab a cheaper pair of boots off the shelf and assume that they’ll do the job just as well as a well fitted pair. The truth is though, generic boots won’t be as responsive as fitted boots and they can seriously inhibit your skiing. A good fitted insole can solve all your skiing woes. It’s worth noting, if you have problem feet, fully moulded boots can be your best friend and they’re well worth the extra time and money they cost you.
Don’t rush it. Fitted boots take time; you’re not going to be in and out in half an hour, so allocate a full afternoon for your fitting. Trust us, you’ll thank us when you’re on the mountain. A rushed boot fitter is likely to sell you boots that are a little too roomy. They might be the comfiest things in the world whilst you’re standing in the shop, but the moment you get onto the piste, they’ll be agony.
Don’t wait until you’re in resort. It’s a common misconception that it’s better to buy ski boots in the mountains; actually, the expert fitters close to home are likely to have just as much experience as the guys who work in the resorts, and you have the benefit of being able to take as much time as you like making sure your boots fit properly. You’ll almost definitely need to revisit the shop a few times to get your boots perfect; it’s very difficult for even the best boot fitter to get you the perfect fit first time, so it’ll be useful to have the shop on hand.
Be honest about your skiing ability. How well you ski will affect which boots work best for you. A weak intermediate skier will struggle with a pair of super stiff race boots, so when you go to buy boots, leave your ego at home. Likewise, you’ll need to tell your boot fitter the sort of terrain and conditions you enjoy. You’ll need different boots if you intend to haunt the terrain parks to the boots you need for carving up perfectly groomed piste.
Different brands suit different feet. If you’re a fan of Salomon equipment but you have thin feet, a Salomon ski boot is unlikely to fit. Making choices based on trusted brands is an ingrained habit, but the brand you like isn’t necessarily going to be the boot for you. Go into the ski shop with an open mind, and you’ll be fine.