What are some of the signs it could be time to replace your ski boots?
It isn’t always obvious – especially to relatively inexperienced skiers – what the difference is between an old pair of ski boots, and a pair of boots that is simply too old.
If you ask ski boot manufacturers directly for information about the “shelf life” of their ski boots, or carry out a quick online search, you are likely to be told that the typical ski-boot lifespan is around 75 days to 200 days.
The age of your ski boots is just a number… or is it?
The above figure refers to “skier days”, rather than the overall number of days you can expect your ski boots to last. In any case, your ski boots’ exact usable lifespan will likely depend heavily on such factors as their build quality and how often you ski.
Of course, you might struggle to keep track of how many ski days you have spent wearing your beloved ski boots. So, it may be better to judge on the basis of the boots’ overall age, with about six to eight years being a good “rule of thumb” for many skiers.
But in addition to keeping track of the period of time you have owned and used your ski boots, it will also be useful for you to know of some classic signs your ski boots might show of reaching the end of their lifespan. Below, we have listed a few of them.
- The foam liners of your boots are deteriorating
The condition of the liners of your ski boots will likely be a useful thing to keep an eye on as an “early warning system”; they often need to be replaced even while the hard shells of the boots might still be in good shape.
At some point, you may start to feel like you have too much room in your ski boots, with your feet no longer feeling quite so firmly “locked in” – a situation that will make it harder for you to “communicate” with your skis as effectively as you once did. If so, this is a sure sign that at least the liners need to be replaced, if not the entire boot.
- There is visible damage or deterioration to your ski boots
It isn’t always super obvious whether your ski boot liners are nearing replacement time – at least if you depend on sight alone, as opposed to feel. However, the situation might be slightly different with other aspects of your boots.
Such obvious indicators of degradation as broken buckles, cracks having formed in the shell, or the sole toes and heels having worn away, should be your cue to check out the latest sophisticated ski boot models at Ski Exchange (or of course, wherever else you purchase your ski boots).
- You have become a better skier over time
Not every reason to upgrade your ski boots will necessarily have much – or anything – to do with the condition of the boots.
Even if, for instance, you purchased your ski boots six years ago and they still seem to be in very good condition, you might have done enough skiing in the intervening time to have effectively “outgrown” your boots.
Certain ski boot models at Ski Exchange and other stores lend themselves better to more advanced or aggressive techniques than others might do. So, if you suspect you might get more enjoyment out of a new pair of more precisely fitting ski boots that also better reflect the skier you are now (rather than the skier you were quite a few years ago), it could be time to treat yourself to some new footwear for the slopes.
With our custom ski boot fitting service here at Ski Exchange arguably being one of the best in the world – and coming with our unparalleled Comfort Guarantee – you can have the utmost confidence of benefiting from the best ski boots, and the best-fitting ski boots, when you place your faith in us. So, why wait any longer to book your appointment with us?