Ski Boots

It can turn you from an average into a red-hot rider, and make or break your day on the piste. If there's one thing you need to get right before you start, it's selecting the right pair of ski or snowboard boots.

You're a European size 39, a UK 6, a US 8? Forget all that. When it comes to ski and snowboard boots, manufacturers have developed their own sizing scales, so it pays to seek out proper advice when looking for the perfect pair.

A few years ago, fitting ski or snowboard boots was as simple as selecting a slightly bigger shoe size and then padding out the gaps with a chunky pair of ski socks. No wonder that ski boots came to be seen as private torture chambers.

Thankfully, things have moved on and there are more scientific ways of making sure your feet stay happy in the snow. Nowadays, boot fitting ranges from basic heat moulding to expensive sessions with more technical gear than you'd find in a forensic laboratory. Whatever you opt for, it's worth investing some time. Your boots are the point at which your body interfaces with the rest of your equipment, so comfortable boots are vital.

Get them fitted by a specialist boot fitter and allow plenty of time. Buying a pair of boots can take anything from one to three hours. Both ski and snowboard boots should fit snugly but not feel too tight. Make sure you have no heel lift, since this will affect your riding.

FOR SNOWBOARDING.

.look for boots with an internal lace to tighten the boot, or a custom-fit liner that can be heat-moulded to your foot. Sloppy boots make for excess heel lift that ultimately means less response, while too tight a boot means pain. If you're choosing boots for use with conventional strap-in bindings, step into the bindings because the feel can be very different once strapped in. Some people prefer a softer boot with plenty of flexibility and sensitivity, while others prefer a stiffer boot that gives their ankles more protection and their riding more stability.

Unlike snowboards, the quality of boots on the market varies hugely, especially in terms of anatomical support. It definitely pays to shop around and try on a few different pairs, even if you don't like the look of them.

Women-specific boots are definitely worth buying for the girls, as they generally have a lower cut around the calf and will feel much more comfortable.

SKIERS.

. should see a competent technician or boot fitter, who will examine both feet and both ankles, looking at how they bear weight and how flexible they are. Along with information about whether you are short, tall, long-legged, bow-legged or knockkneed, a trained specialist should have a good idea about the kind of boot that will fit you like Cinderella's slipper.

Tell the fitter as much as you can about your feet and your posture. For example, if you spend all day chained to an office desk, you're more likely to have lower back and calf problems that affect stance, gait and balance. You also need to be upfront about your skill level. Don't exaggerate and don't underestimate your skills. The way you ride will affect the flexibility of the boots you need.

It's also worth letting the boot fitter know about your other equipment, such as skis, snowboards and bindings, just in case any compatibility problems are lurking.

The key things to look at in your ski boot are forward lean and lateral support. Boots with more forward lean position your knee more forward over the ball of your foot and will help with balance if you're a fast, aggressive skier.

You can work out how much lateral support a boot has by squeezing the sides of the upper part of the boot. The more you can squeeze, the softer the lateral support. If you're a beginner, you'll probably need soft lateral support to allow for errors, while more advanced skiers will want more lateral support to help control their edges.

Buy your boots early in the season so you have plenty of time to wear them in - and spend much as you can afford. Forget about hype, colour and cost. It's the fit that counts.


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