When it comes to getting the most out of your time on the slopes, even the skis that you grab for your latest trip will not be the most important factor in how you experience and challenge yourself on a particular course.
Yes, that’s right; as part of the expert advice on ski boots that we give to those who arrange a boot fitting appointment with us here at Ski Exchange, we consistently emphasise that it is your ski boots that will provide a direct connection between your feet and your skis.
However, with the ski boot fitting process being an art as much as it is a science, it can be very easy to fall into line with certain longstanding myths about how ski boots “should” feel, or to miss opportunities to carry out in-depth research.
Below, then, we have set out three things you shouldn’t do when you are trying to achieve an optimal fit for your own ski footwear.
- Presuming that ski boots are “supposed” to be tight and uncomfortable
When talking to friends, family, and colleagues about your adventures at the leading ski resorts, they might recite certain beliefs that always seem to circulate when it comes to ski boot fitting.
You may have heard, for instance, that ski boots have to be exceedingly tight and even downright painful, or that you need to avoid your toes touching the end of the boot, in order to prevent the loss of toenails.
Both the aforementioned beliefs – while widespread – are untrue. The ski boot fitting experience shouldn’t be painful, but nor should you aim for “slipper” levels of comfort. Instead, it is a good idea to seek the feel of a snug-fitting glove with your ski boots, with the boot liner covering the entire foot.
- Settling for ski boots that are too big… or too small
Of course, this might seem like obvious “advice” to give. But what we’re really getting at here, is the importance of knowing what to look for when you are attempting to determine whether you have gone for too small or too large a size.
It is a no-no, for instance, to opt for ski boots that offer so much room in the toe, the toes are able to curl. Another indicator of your ski boot being too large, is the amount of space between the top of the midfoot and the “ceiling” of the boot, being sufficient for your entire foot to be able to lift inside.
So, what are some of the clues of your ski boot being too small for your foot? Examples of this would include your toes being significantly jammed up against the end of the boot, the boot cutting into the top of your midfoot/instep, and/or uncomfortable pressure being felt on the outside ankle bone and/or the back of your heel.
Having said all the above, it is better to have ski boots that feel a bit too small when you first try them on, than boots that feel slightly too big. This is because boots will pack out later, increasing in size.
- Being overly concerned with how your ski boots look
If there’s one thing that can definitely be said about the ski boot experience “in the real world”, it is that you will have a lot more fun on the slopes with boots that are comfortable but don’t look very interesting, than you will with boots that are sharp in appearance but don’t fit well.
There is a lot involved in the thorough and comprehensive ski boot fitting services that we offer here at Ski Exchange. Through processes like the initial assessment, the creation of custom footbeds, custom fitting, shell modification, and alignment, you can benefit from the direct help and expert advice on ski boots that will enable you to achieve a truly satisfying fit.
Why not, then, click through to our ski boot fitting appointments page today, so that you can extract the very best value from your skiing over the months and years ahead?