Ski boots are a big investment. So how do you know if you are getting the right ones?
- Go to a shop that actually fits you for boots. A good fitter will remove the liner, you’ll step into the empty plastic shell, and the fitter will check the size by giving it the “two finger test.” When the boot is reassembled, the correct size will be firm and not fit like a shoe.
- Be sure to get boots made from high-end plastics. All plastics are not the same. Good quality plastics can be “punched or ground” – that’s ski tech lingo for ways to ease a tight spot and make the boot conform perfectly. So ask: “Can this boot be punched and ground?” Low-end plastic boots cannot be adjusted and you’ll be stuck with them the way they are.
- Trust the boot fitter. Sometimes people come in and say: “I want the best boot on the market,” but a good boot fitter will examine your feet and ask about your skiing – then they’ll recommend the boot that’s right for you.
- A good shop will take care of you after the sale. So ask, “What will you do for me after I ski in the boots?” A good shop will work with you and tweak the boots.
- Manufacturers expect you to throw away the generic foot bed that comes in your boots and replace it with an orthotic that suits your needs, such as Super Feet or something that’s customized. It’s not a sales pitch. Everyone’s arches are so different.
- If you buy boots on your own without being properly fitted, those boots might be too big for you – and no shop can shrink the boots to fit you.
