5 quick tips for fitting ski boots

A comfortable pair of ski boots is important to enjoy your time on the hill – whether that be 1 week or a whole season of skiing. The right boot will allow for greater performance, prevent foot pain, reduce cold feet, and generally keep you a happy camper on the hill.

Talk to a boot expert

Like feet, ski boots come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. By default some are wider or narrower than others and have slightly different shells. Before trying on a boot because you like the color or style, talk to a shop assistant about the type of skier you are and the type of feet you have. An assistant worth their pay will point you in the right direction and will take much of the guess out of which brand or style to try.

One pair of socks

More socks don’t equal more comfort or even warmth. Find a good pair of relatively thin, wickable socks to move sweat away from your foot and allow your feet to breath. This will allow greater warmth on the hill and prevent unnecessary rubbing in your ski boots.

Tighten the boots up, including the power strap

Ski boots aren’t a pair of flip-flops. You’ll need to do up every clip, including the power strap to get a good idea of the fit. Pull the buckles and the power strap to a tight fit, making sure there isn’t too much or too little room to move.

Check the fit

Once you’ve adjusted the clips tight make sure you’re comfortable. Are the boots too tight or too loose? Make sure you have room to move your toes. When you move into a skiing position by bending your knees, does your heel stay put or move up? If the heel feels like it is slipping, try tightening the buckles further or you may need a smaller size.

If you buy, get them fitted

If you buy your boots from a reputable shop, chances are they have a boot fitter on staff. If not, take your boots to the fitter and get them molded to your feet. A good fitter will be able to help you break in the boots quicker and keep you on the hill longer.

Posted by Brendon on July 25th, 2009 in Ski Tips

Brendon @cherrypow

Hi, I'm Brendon, editor and one of the co-founders of CherryPow. When work isn't calling I'm planning the next snow adventure and writing about it.