Tips for buying your first pair of Ski Boots
Recently a friend asked me if I had any tips on purchasing Ski Boots. As an avid skier who has done plenty of gear shopping, I wrote an essay in return. In an effort to write more, I’ve decided to publish my thoughts publicly, with a few edits.
Ski boots are one of the most important but difficult items to buy. They’ll last you 5-10 years (or more!), are the first ski-related item individuals should purchase when getting more into the sport, but unlike other items, must be customized to each individual’s foot. As a result, there is no answer for “the best” item—it’s all about picking the one that fits you the best. Here are the tips I’ve gathered from my ski boot buying experience:
1. Absolutely try boots in person
Make sure you go in person and try on every single boot to see which fits your foot the best. Buying a ski boot without trying it on is a recipe for disaster and while it works for some people, most people have unique feet which will fit different boot shapes. So make sure you're physically trying boots out to find the fit that's right for you.
Make sure to wear the socks you use while skiing—they affect the fit. If you don’t have any, buy a pair! I recommend the Smartwool PhD Ski Ultra Light socks; the thinner the better.
The ski boot should fit tightly around your entire foot, ankle, and calf. There should be no pinching or pressure points, and it should not be painful to walk around. As you improve, you might gravitate towards a stiffer boot in exchange for less comfort, but regardlessly, your foot should never be painful when you put on the boot.
2. Mondo size and Flex
The two numbers you really need to worry about are Mondo size and flex. Mondo is analogous to shoe size; flex is the stiffness of the boot. There will be other numbers as well (last, degrees, etc); I recommend ignoring them.
You'll find your Mondo size by starting with your shoe size and trying boots in that range. Lean towards a smaller Mondo size because the boot lining will pack out over the first year. A ski boot will only ever become looser, so it’s in your best interest to buy a tighter boot when starting off (though it should never be painful!).
Flex is more a personal choice—it’s a tradeoff between comfort and stiffness. If you plan on investing more into skiing, I'd recommend a higher flex (M ~100 - 120, W ~90 - 100). As you improve, you’ll naturally grow into and want a stiffer boot. However, if you plan on only skiing easy runs and heavily prioritize comfort, feel free to choose a lower flex. Remember, you’re not only buying a ski boot for today, but also five years from now.
3. Different brands fit differently
Different manufacturers use different molds for their boots, so the biggest difference in fit will come from switching brands. For example, my foot fits well into a K2 boot, but terribly in a Lange boot (K2 uses larger molds whereas Lange uses a narrow mold). Even comparing the last (width of the boot), a Lange boot with a higher last number might surprisingly feel narrower than a K2 boot with a smaller last number. So try on different brands and different models until you find one that fits perfectly.
4. Backcountry…?
If you're at all interested in trying backcountry skiing in the next 5-10 years, I'd recommend jumping straight to a hybrid alpine/alpine touring boot. These are ski boot with metal pin attachment holes at the tip of the toe, also called tech fittings. These make the boots compatible for backcountry bindings and slightly increase the price, but saves you the effort of purchasing or renting new boots in the future if you ever decide to explore. Almost all alpine touring boots also support standard alpine skiing bindings, so you won’t need to worry about compatibility.
5. Customization
After you pick your perfect boot using the tips above, you can customize it further! If you have high arches, try an insole (I recommend Superfeet Redhot/Hotpink) for comfort. And all ski shops should offer boot liner heatmolding for free with purchase, which customizes the liner to your specific foot shape. Even more advanced shops may recommend punching or grinding the boot shell, but these often aren’t worth it.
These customizations make the boot more comfortable, but they cannot replace starting with the right boot. Do not rely on customizations to make the boot fit your foot!
Ski boot fitting is often considered an art more than a science, and I agree! Online tips are are no substitute for trying on boots in person and using your own judgment. Hopefully these tips are helpful for your first pair of boots. I’ll see you on the slopes!