Ski Boots - Page 101

Choosing the right ski boots depends on your skiing style, skill level, and comfort preferences. Here are the main types of ski boots to consider:

1. Alpine Ski Boots (Downhill Boots):

• Best For: Traditional downhill skiing.
• Features: Designed for use with alpine skis and bindings. They have a stiff construction to provide support and control, especially at higher speeds and on steeper terrain.
• Flex: Varies depending on skill level (softer flex for beginners, stiffer for experts).
• Fit: They typically have a snug, supportive fit for stability and control.

2. All-Mountain Ski Boots:

• Best For: Skiers who enjoy a variety of terrain (groomed runs, powder, etc.).
• Features: Designed to handle various skiing styles and conditions.
• Flex: Generally mid-range, making them suitable for most skill levels.
• Fit: Comfortable yet performance-oriented.

3. Freestyle/Freeride Ski Boots:

• Best For: Skiers focusing on terrain parks, off-piste, or backcountry skiing.
• Features: More flexible and lighter than traditional alpine boots, allowing for better maneuverability in the air and when skiing in the backcountry.
• Flex: Softer or medium flex for more freedom of movement.
• Fit: Often a bit looser to allow for more flexibility, but still providing support where needed.

4. Touring Ski Boots (AT Boots):

• Best For: Skiers who want to explore the backcountry or enjoy ski touring (climbing uphill and skiing downhill).
• Features: A walk mode for uphill travel allows for more ankle flexion and climbing comfort. They also have a stiff mode for downhill performance.
• Flex: Varies, but many offer a good balance between climbing comfort and downhill performance.
• Fit: Typically a bit more comfortable for long ascents, with a fit supporting uphill and downhill movement.

5. Backcountry Ski Boots:

• Best For: Skiers who primarily ski off-piste and in deep powder.
• Features: Designed for backcountry conditions, often featuring a lighter design and more flexibility for climbing and hiking. They also often have a removable liner and more breathable materials.
• Flex: Typically softer or adjustable to help with climbing and skiing down steep, deep terrain.
• Fit: More comfortable and lighter than traditional alpine boots but supportive enough for skiing downhill.

Ski boot sizing is important to get right. There’s nothing worse than having boots that are too tight, painful, and hard to put on and take off. You also don’t want your ski boots to be too big. Having too much wiggle room in your ski boots will decrease the amount of control you have when you’re on the slopes.

Based on your skiing ability - beginner, intermediate, or expert - the type of boot you need varies. The flex of a ski boot refers to how easy or hard it is to “flex” the boot forward. The higher the flex of a ski boot, the stiffer it is. Ski racers, for example, need very stiff ski boots to provide them maximum control at high speeds. It’s important to note that flex ratings aren’t always universal between different brands of ski boots. An 85 flex may feel differently in a pair of Lange ski boots versus Atomic boots.

As a general rule of thumb, beginner skiers will typically use a lower flex, and advanced skiers- taking on more intense terrain- will need a higher flex. 

Ski boots are measured on a Mondopoint scale. The idea behind the Mondopoint sizing system is to create a universal boot sizing system for skiers worldwide.

To find your Mondopoint size, measure the length of your foot in centimeters. Be sure to measure each foot and then size to your smaller foot. Ski boot fitters can always stretch a boot if you have one foot that’s bigger than the other, but it’s virtually impossible to “shrink” ski boots down to size.