Helpful Hints - How To Try On New Ski Boots

This week on Chairlift Chat we address the common problems skiers encounter when trying on new ski boots for the first time. Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to a proper fitting ski boot.
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[@HardwareG33k]

Good info! Somehow in 15 years of skiing nobody has ever told me the "correct" sequence of buckling the boot, nor which buckle should be how tight. Very good to know.

[@chancealfredo6129]

i know im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a method to log back into an instagram account?? I stupidly lost the login password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me.

[@chancealfredo6129]

@Ramon Jack thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm trying it out now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@chancealfredo6129]

@Ramon Jack It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thanks so much, you really help me out :D

[@ramonjack6784]

@Chance Alfredo No problem :D

[@iguanaamphibioustruck7352]

For 10 years in the 70's and 80's my two friends and I skied every Friday night at Snoqualmie pass WA. Weather was never an issue. If the lifts were running, we skied. After a couple of years we all had Rosemont boots and 210 skies. We had season passes and our families typically skied weekends The women (did not work) had a free day at Chrystal Mountain. We often did the torchlite parade on xmas and New Year. Skiing as a family with friends has a premium time when riding up the chair lift. Hank an Laurie Kaufman owned the Ski Rack in down town Seattle. We got almost new equipment and clothes in Sept every years. Thanks for your valuable lesson in fitting boots. We had lessons on the carpet in the living room where we practiced falling and breaking out of bindings, then putting skis on while laying on the floor. None of us ever had broken bones but we sure had a lot of great fun. Iguana

[@slesinski57]

Such a great, informative video. Thank you

[@LuciTulcea]

Very important tips! Thank you!

[@missmary6444]

Excellent guidance and coaching in what to expect in ski boot fitting. Thanks 😊

[@MrKetio]

Great video,helped me a lot. Thank you!

[@p3trinho]

Really helpful analysis!

[@edz4041]

Very informative. Thank you very much!

[@robertkerner4833]

Excellent suggestion about 80% of the way thru to ski the boots before fine tuning the fit with heating/ molding and other adjustments.

[@dianamincher6479]

Super video-many thanks!

[@SkiEssentials]

Glad you found it useful, Diana!

[@goldgeezer2370]

I been skiing over 40 years & he is using my boot comfort & buckling system LOL.62 years young on 140 flex

[@pcrisu]

Such a great tutorial, helped me a lot! Thanks

[@AndrewSzekely]

excellent info ...looking fwd to breaking in my new boots!

[@SkiEssentials]

Good luck!

[@n-da-bunka2650]

Good solid video. I have HUGE calves. The VERY first thing I ALWAYS have to do BEFORE trying them on is to move that "macro" adjustment ALL THE WAY OUT and even then I can't even buckle specific brands.

[@corygreene4280]

great video. very helpful!

[@SkiEssentials]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brettneuberger6466]

This is a great tutorial.

[@SkiEssentials]

Thanks!

[@daylorneal3480]

Thank you

[@tayloranderson456]

This is a great vid! Could you do a follow up talking about boot flex? I've been skiing a 130 for ages which seems fine, but it recently occurred to be maybe a more flexible boot can be better but I have no reference point of what it would feel like.

[@SkiEssentials]

Sure! We'll add it to the list. I think a lot of skiers would find that beneficial. Talk about the differences between ski boot flex and what's right for different skiers.

[@peterrennie5396]

Nice 24.5 stickers 👍👍

[@Music_is_MyBestFriend]

Very helpful video, as I'm not living in a ski area and I've got my boots online. Now I'll know how to try them when they arrive 😎 And not running to the boot fitter (which is not close either) sounds like a great idea 🙂 Trying them when skiing rather than standing in a shop, definitely makes way more sense to my engineer logical thinking 👍🏻 🙂 Thanks for the video!

[@SkiEssentials]

Thanks! Have a great winter!

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

The important point of @13:50: "go skiing". And I got a practical reminder that it is the actual measure of boot fit, just as I am in the pain of getting new boots in my 5 year iteration round. I never realized the quite drastic effect of my foot temperature vs. boot fit, as I have lately been going out with a certain brand 50/50 boot. And when fitting them at home at the livingroom temperature, one boot definitely feels like the "weird handshake"-tight, the other even more, like it could use a punch at the pinkie toe. After an hour drive to my home resort and putting the boots on, I have now twice realized that the first boot is very fitting, not as tight. And the other has a definite feeling of not needing the pinkie punch at all. And the shell material being Grilamid (PA), it apparently is more temperature-stable, hence the cooler foot is not counteracted by the shell getting that much smaller. And as those are 130 flex boots, the liner is not too cushy to fill the volume too much. My previous boot was with a full PU shell, and you actually could feel the shell getting progressively tighter in freezing temperatures, especially on longer lift rides, where you might have over +0 Celcius temperatures at the bottom, but going well below zero while ascending. But also, they were bit of work in the spring time slush, when the feet got still a bit cool, but the boots were warmed up by sunlight.

[@nevillecapper6529]

Excellent and engaging video, well presented. Do you walk about with clips cranked up or loosened off?

[@SkiEssentials]

Like you mean when walking around the base area and lodge and stuff like that? I actually personally prefer keeping them fully buckled, then it feels like my boot is more a part of my body and my foot doesn't slide around while walking.

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

To get into my boots I have to put the boot in walk mode and best if the shell is warm. Secondly, why aren't the first two buckles straps? for the reasons you pointed out.

[@AntonSostaric]

great advice. would you recommend going a size or half a size down from regular shoe size if buying online?

[@SkiEssentials]

Depends on what kind of fit you're looking for, but if you want a tight, performance fit, yes, I would recommend going about a full size down from shoe size and converting that to Mondo. If you want more of a comfort oriented fit, I wouldn't size down more than a half size.

[@dontcallmetravis]

Man, you’re seriously dropping those boots!

[@SkiEssentials]

That's how you do it!

[@MeAMuse]

Going to have to play with that 2nd buckle. After watching this I am convinced mine may be too tight. My boots for the longest time hurt for the initial couple of runs - but then become fine once they have warmed up. They also will end up hurting if I am struggling skiing (if I am skiing icy, steep, ungroomed/bumpy slopes where I have not relaxed - I think I end up clenching my toes, trying to turn with them, or just not fully committing to putting my weight on the front of my boots). While I know its most likely my position... my 2nd buckle definitely does not snap as easy as yours... and I usually buckle up from 1-4. Might try mixing it up. BTW... do you unbuckle/unsnap your boots at the end of each run?

[@SkiEssentials]

What do you have in your boots for a footbed? You're correct, that cramping is coming from your foot trying to grip the bottom of your boot in a subconscious attempt to increase control. A footbed can work wonders if you don't already have one, and I'd recommend investing in a full custom footbed, rather than an over the counter trim to fit. I unbuckle both of my front buckles at the bottom of each run. Some skiers unbuckle all 4, but I never have boots that are that unforgiving (by choice!).

[@francogadoury1742]

Very good video. I have a very narrow foot. I am a good skier. Which boots do you recommend?

[@SkiEssentials]

I'd start with low volume (LV) 98 mm boots in the 110 to 130 flex range depending on your weight. At that point, any company makes that boot, it's all about putting your foot inside and seeing which one works best!

[@mathiasandersson8897]

Best and most instructive boot try on / buckling video ever. No real news to me but very well explained. Speaking of explanations. When will you make a video of how to clean the boots from snow underneath without destroying the bindings? People spends a fortune on state of the art bindings for safe protection (which is good), but they do not spend 30 secs to clean the boots from packed snow with a glove or stick. Kicking the binding front piece randomly assuming it will remove ice/packed snow underneath the boot is like driving without seat belt. Might work…

[@SkiEssentials]

Thanks Mathias! That would be good info to work into another Helpful Hints video, we'll think about how it would best fit.

[@jimlow6824]

I've always hit the bottom of the boot with the handgrip of my ski pole. (I've seen some people use the tip of the ski pole but there's no mass to effectively do anything.) After that, I'm guilty of scraping the boot sole against the front binding! Might stop doing this after reading your comment.

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

@@jimlow6824 I've gotten the advice of using the front binding from several semi-professional skiers. And seen a bunch of race skiers do the same. And: I do feel a bit bad when ever I see anyone beating his soles with a carbon pole :)

[@dendee]

That underwear out of the boots are critical!!! I had cramps after 5h and had to take off the boots in the middle of the piste.. because i had the socks over my long underwear...

[@m.behan6]

Viet Nguyen same, but I didn't have to take my boots off in the middle of the piste😂 I was sore for 2 weeks afterwards which sucked.

[@dendee]

@@m.behan6 it was somehow akward hahaha all the people where looking... even pist patrol that went by with snowmobile asked me if i need a lift :))

[@retobaumann5604]

Great video, thx... I have a rather slim ankle and sometimes feel that I could be more snug in the boots esp around my ankle. How right should a good fitting boot be in this regard? How would you tell if it fits properly?

[@SkiEssentials]

That can be challenging, especially if you need a wider boot in the forefoot/toe box. A proper fitting boot should really feel quite snug around the ankle. Any looseness in that spot can take away a lot of control, give you sore spots, and cause numerous other issues. It should basically feel like the boot is giving your ankle a strong hug, almost too strong. Nordica has a new version of their Speedmachine boot for 2022 that's designed to address this issue. It's forgiving in the toe box, but nice and tight around the ankle.

[@retobaumann5604]

@@SkiEssentials Thanks for the hint. Any recommendation for an AT boot for a narrow ankle?

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

@@retobaumann5604 depending on how narrow we are talking about? I used to think I am a medium-volume guy, until this winter going for new(AT) boots and it seems I might indeed be a LV type. So far a pretty decent fit with Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130. The 120 flex version had even more cushier liner, which might offer a bit more fit options.

[@QUincez]

What’s your opinion on folks saying high performance necessitates a super snug fit (sizing down a full shell size, for example). I’ve gone with bootfitter advice for years, ski 50+ days a season (I’d personally say at an expert level) and have always wound up in a boot that measures my mondopoint. Should I be pushing for a smaller shell fit? I’ve normally just let my fitter do his thing - but I wonder if I’m missing out!

[@SkiEssentials]

I think there's a balance there for sure. The tighter the fit, the more precise your movements are going to be and the better your connection to the snow will be. The thing is, I don't think it's a linear curve. A boot that fits well (let's say yours for example) is still going to transmit power very efficiently. Are you gaining some with a tighter boot? Sure, but just a little bit. That's as long as you're in a proper fitting boot at least. It would change if your boots were, say, a size too big. Then it comes down to the balancing part. How much comfort are you willing to give up for more precision? For the vast majority of us, skiing is intended to be fun. So, where is your personal balance point? At what point do your feet hurt so much that it's not as much fun anymore? That's where I draw the line personally. Does that make sense? From what you've said, I would continue to trust your boot-fitter, especially if you're having fun out there and don't feel like you're losing out on any precision.

[@terencetcf]

Tried a pair ski boot for an hour in a ski shop and felt snug and okay. But it felt completely on the snow mountains especially after first two runs, foots were feeling pain, not sure it was because of the space of the boots or the custom insoles. Then only felt better after a bit of rest...

[@SkiEssentials]

Could be a number of things... Sometimes it's hard to tell if a boot is tight enough in the shop. If it felt snug and comfy, it's probably too big. A brand new boot should feel tight and borderline claustrophobic. Were the insoles brand new? They may need to be tweaked. I had new insoles made this year and had to take the arch height down a little bit two different times before they were comfortable. Was it your first time on snow this season? Sometimes you can just get sore muscles in your feet that aren't used to being in ski boots. Hope that helps!

[@terencetcf]

Yeah. It was first time since last May. But I still feel pain every time in the morning even after 10th times of skiing since December. Some days one of the foot can’t bare walk after a full day of skiing...

[@SkiEssentials]

@@terencetcf I'd have your insoles looked at. Sounds like they could be causing that pain.

[@vladiinsky]

Good video :) Have you tried (skied?) Nordica's SpeedMachine previously, and if you did, have you found ProMachine much more narrow, like a big difference? I have a SpeedMachine, want to try ProMachine 120 but in the local shops it's still not available.

[@SkiEssentials]

I (Jeff) actually skied in the Speedmachine last year and am now in the ProMachine. It is a noticeably narrower fit, but it fits me really well. The Speedmachine felt a little sloppy by the end of a full season, but my Pro Machines still fit great after ~60 days. Really nice fit through the heel too, I don't feel like I ever come out of the heel pocket, while in the Speedmachine I could feel my foot sliding forward and back a little bit every once in a while.

[@wesleyguan2370]

What a wonderful vid. Any recommendations for wider foot skiers? I am currently looking for Tecnica Mach HV 120. Thank you

[@SkiEssentials]

Mach HV is a good one, Nordica Sportmachine is another. Most boot brands offer a wider fit version of their boots, usually up to around a 120 flex. Best thing to do is visit a boot fitter if you can.

[@davisbyer4791]

​@@SkiEssentialshi! Similar question. I have wide and very flat feet. Advanced but not expert skier in Western Canada currently wearing Rossignol Alltrack 110s, but the 3rd buckles are both warping where they attach to the boot so I'm going to be in the market for something new (and maybe a custom fit). What can you recommend? Thanks! I'm 5'9" 250lb

[@SkiEssentials]

@@davisbyer4791 Similar answer! I think there are great options in the MV and HV models these days. Tecnica and Nordica make two of the best in their Mach 1 and Speedmachine. The Tecnica may fit a bit lower for flatter feet.

[@davisbyer4791]

@@SkiEssentials thanks! What do you think of the K2 BOA boots? Claiming to have a multi-fit last 97-104mm

[@SkiEssentials]

@@davisbyer4791 Check our video on the Recon 130--I really like them. I'm not sure about the range all the way to 104, but you can definitely snug it up! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmexq6Wif7qrg68

[@ryno7437]

Awesome video. How can I tell whether it not I have too much flex?

[@SkiEssentials]

One way is if you are flexing forward and your heel drastically lifts off the bottom of the boot. This could be a sizing issue as well, but if you're sized properly and it still happens, that could be a mismatch of ankle flexion and boot stiffness.

[@ryno7437]

@@SkiEssentials thanks for the reply!

[@hwdparkside]

Any advice for someone with 1+ size difference between right and left foot? Thanks for advice.

[@x78340]

Buy two pairs!

[@iwasamistake1]

I know it's a while on but I ended up buying a pair of Head Raptor 125 in size 27, one foot is 26 and the other is 27. As a slalom skier it's hard as my boots need to be kept tight, I had custom insoles made which made the smaller foot feel like it was the right size and as for the bigger foot, the boot dealership grinder out the front of the boot to allow for more space.

[@berkerkiran]

Is that flexing sounds normal? doesnt it bother when skiing? will it reduce by time or temperature?

[@SkiEssentials]

Yup, especially on a new boot. It does reduce a little over time, and it's almost certainly not something you'll notice while skiing. It's amazing how much just your boots dampen the sound.

[@szymek96k40]

Hi :) Do you have that small feet or you are buying few sizes smaller boots? I just bought atomic hawx 110, could you please recommend any skis(including flex) for this model? I like to go resort skiing and do frequent turns.

[@SkiEssentials]

Small feet! If you're on the resort most of the time, I'd look at something like Volkl Kanjo or Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt. Have fun!

[@DarkBiCin]

Me and my wife were trying new boots and found ones that fit beautifully around the feet and felt good. However our calves felt like they were being pressed against and felt painful. Whats the best way to go about getting a boot that fits the foot but isnt painful on the calf?

[@SkiEssentials]

Some boots, like a Salomon S/Pro HV 80 has a calf adjuster, which opens the top of the cuff of the boot to accommodate pain in the calf. Other boots that don't have a feature like this can have the liners heated and manually "smooshed" to open them up a bit. I used to do this process a lot in my bootfitter days, and it worked quite well--basically you're speeding up the break-in process. Mostly, if you're newer to the sport, it usually takes a few days for your legs and feet to adjust to your new boots and vice-versa. Hope that helps! SE

[@mikaelvellmun7228]

Should your boot liner be snug with your big toe brushing against the end when standing straight and falling slightly back into he heel and off the toes when flexed standing?

[@SkiEssentials]

Do you only have the liner on, no shell? If so, the toe will/should touch the end of the liner. If the liner is in the shell, and you're standing up straight, you should still feel the front of the boot. When you flex forward, this should bring your toe off the front just a bit.

[@phrides]

Nice of KZbin to drop this in my feed after ordering a pair of boots from you yesterday. Good info, pretty consistent with my general approach (some of which I unfortunately learned the hard way). I'd be interested in how you approach fit for dedicated touring boots.

[@SkiEssentials]

Patrick, Pretty similar approach to the touring boots. If you can find something with a heat-moldable liner, and mold it, that'll reduce the packing-out process that is found in normal liners. Shell size should be consistent as long as you're in the similar volume of boot. Hope that helps!

[@DG-bq2yg]

When I have a ski boot on and tightened, should I be able to lift my heel off the bottom of the boot, or does this mean that the boot is too lose?

[@SkiEssentials]

You shouldn't be able to lift your heel easily, but you'll likely be able to a little bit. I can pretty much always contort my foot and get my heel to lift a little bit, even in a really tight fitting boot, but not much. The best way to assess this is to stand up with a flat foot and flex the boot, or drop your knee forward. If it feels like your heel is lifting when you're doing that, it might be too loose.

[@choski76]

Could you Guys(Skiessentials) produce a digital version of a printable boot sizer I could stand on and it would have outlines of length and width. So I could see I am a 27.5 with a 102 forefoot. The other thing is the discrepancy boot manufacturers have in sizing and their stated sizes. Aybe each company has its own digital paper sizer. But does standing on a flat floor distort and spread out my feet more than being in a boot? So maybe it isn't as wide. I have always had boot problems since I was young.

[@SkiEssentials]

Hello! We've talked about this and it's something we'd love to do, we just want to make sure we do it right. It's a tough scenario as it would work best as a 3 dimensional tool that could measure things like instep height too, but obviously there are some challenges to producing something that could do that. The concept of whether your foot is spreading out as much mostly comes down to what you're using for a footbed. If you have a custom footbed, or even a trim to fit, you're going to have a lot more arch support that will stop your foot from spreading out or flattening as much. I know that's probably not exactly the answer you're looking for, but we hear you, we'd love to produce something like that, and hopefully some day we can!

[@StevenHartono]

i noticed you're using a size 24.5... what is your US shoe size normally? Like do you wear size 7.5 solomons?

[@SkiEssentials]

Hey Steven, Yeah, I typically wear a US 7.5 for running shoes and stuff like that.

[@shelbymay3036]

I have always rented boots, last year my boots really hurt my shins bad. I adjusted them as much as I could but it didn’t help. I had proper socks. Any recommendations on how I can help this from happening?

[@SkiEssentials]

Going to a boot shop and getting properly fit is the best way to go.

[@MadelnMachines]

I've seen people recommend flexing tests or rules such as you should be able to flex your knee over the toes and if you can flex the knee too far over the toes then it's too soft. I'm not sure if this applies to room/store temperature what temperature should that be achieved at? Is it the case that if you have your knees far past your toes in the shop they will be good once the boot gets cold or not? Should you be able to flex your knees over your toes in -20 Celsius or -10, -5 etc? I managed to get boots that were too stiff twice in a row. First 130 Lange RS wide (1 size too small) and then 120 Atomic Hawx Prime which they cut some of the back out of to make it less stiff. Need to be 3rd time lucky!

[@SkiEssentials]

That's an interesting way to think about it, and I think it would be a good recommendation or a good way to think about it for a lot of skiers, but there are definitely exceptions to that. I would be a pretty good example. I ski in a 130 flex boot, but at 150 lbs, I don't think there's any way I can get my knee past my toes standing in a ski shop. Clicked into a pair of skis is a different story as there's way more leverage... if that makes sense. So, I guess all I could really say is that it's going to be dependent on skiing style, not just size and strength.

[@MadelnMachines]

@@SkiEssentials Yes I see what you mean. Can your knee get near the tips of your toes in the shop? Apparently if you get past the toes the boot is too soft. Putting the boot on a ski could make for a good flex test in a shop perhaps. I guess also the more advanced the skier the less the advice applies as the forces generated skiing are much greater and might help bend the boot. It's a very tricky one to get right.

[@SkiEssentials]

@@MadelnMachines No, I don't think it does. Forward lean also plays into it and there's a fairly significant range of preferred forward lean angles.

[@ecbadger9661]

I see you, like me, have a 24.5 boot size sadly. Where are places you have been able to find this size to try on or even order? It’s very hard to find our size :(

[@SkiEssentials]

It's tough for me too. Manufacturers don't make many 24.5 boots and a lot of the time they're reserved for athletes, etc. In the past I've pre-ordered boots to make sure it's on a shop's preseason order, thus a manufacturer kind of has to make it. I do, however, find that I can try on a 25.5 and get a really good sense of whether a boot will fit me or not. Too much room in the toe lengthwise, but I find the fit around the ankle and the rest of your foot is relatively similar, at least similar enough to warrant trying on a 25.5, which are much easier to find.

[@brycewilliams98]

Jeff -- what is your standard shoe size? I am a size 9 and considering a 25.5 boot (will be snug to start). I have a pair of older 26.0 - 26.5's. Started good but packed out to be loose over time.

[@user-zj6uy4hs8e]

Хороший обзор) Спасибо за инфу об том как правильно застегивать ботинок)

[@leszekpietrzak2673]

Like your pants what’s the brand.

[@SkiEssentials]

That's the Volkl Off-Piste Shell Pant!

[@powderskier5547]

Spyder have similar pants as well

[@pearluck01251]

What about all the settings in page 2 to 4 of the manual. I don't understand anything.

[@yanni2737]

Never make my mistake of buying boots through the web. Find a good fitter to measure you. I've tried to save 50 pounds and I ended up paying £350 for an additional pair. A good fitter not only will make sure the boots fit the shape of your feet, but also will modify them to make sure any pain is gone.

[@ninapesner3434]

Absolutely! Never buy boots off the web! Never!

[@mtcycleman1261]

Surprised no mention of consider the use of basic footbeds or orthotics for variations in foot arch types.

[@SkiEssentials]

Just trying to keep it simple, but you are certainly correct--there is a huge need for support in ski boots!

[@greggchristensen8524]

how does that boot size compare to your street shoes size?

[@SkiEssentials]

Generally we advise to go down a size from street shoe to ski boot. There's other factors at play, but that's a decent starting point at least.

[@stephenmulligan3670]

I have been skiing for years and every year i loose my toenails after they always turn black, can you make any suggestions

[@jameskatz3747]

It could be ur buckles are uneven maybe ur lower buckles are too tight whilst ur top buckled and strap are too loos, or u have a wide foot in a skinny boot

[@SkiEssentials]

"Toe bang" usually happens when a boot is a little too big, likely one full size too big. When the boot is too big, it allows your foot to slide forward and backwards in the boot. Land a little backseat, or just have your weight get into the backseat, and your toes are going to jam into the front of the boot. So, I would double check that you're in the right size boot. It could also be that your liners are packed out and you need to replace your boots, that would essentially cause the same problem.

[@ktkl68]

Told a guy to put pressure in his boots and if he can wiggle his big toe a little bit...then he is good to go. But he said Nah man I'm a back seater so I want to make sure my toes do not jam against the front of the boot when I stand straight up

[@SkiEssentials]

I suppose it's somewhat commendable that he was honest and knows what he wants? You gave the same advice I would have. I wonder how his knees feel about that decision ;)

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

@@SkiEssentials or what used to be the knees...

[@victordanila7866]

My streetwears are 44 (EU). I got a 45 boot. is that ok?

[@SkiEssentials]

Ideally ski boots fit equal to or one size smaller than streetwear shoes. The fear is that the bigger size will only get bigger and you'll be floating around the boot a bit. Hopefully this does not happen to you.

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

Just based on a single number, I would say it's not looking good. Just by my personal numbers (in Nordic standards), I wear: - A winter shoe: 44 (to allow a thin extra sock for freezing temps) - Summer shoe: 43 (to still be wearable with a thin summer sock) - Running shoe: 45 (based on some Far East numbering logic. This is more like 44, as the stated mondo is 28.5..) My ski boot has been 27.5 (smaller end of 43 shoe size) for ten years. Previously medium volume, but just recently went to 27.5 low volume. And for me they are somewhere in between comfort/performance fit. For me, the actual performance size would be around 27.0 (42), but no such thing exists in the ski boot world, due to shell sizing logic. (Note, that for street shoes you fit them with 5-10mm of "gait margin", which you should NOT do with ski boots, but you should fit the "real size".)

[@ericlorenzen4795]

If it feels too tight it probably is. I've seen people destroyed listening to "boot fitters" that ignored everything the customer said. My wife didn't even make it half way down the run before she was bawling in tears as her boots filled with literal blood from boots being too small and tearing up her doot. 3 punch outs later barely got them big enough. My favorite boots are two sizes bigger than what the expert suggested. They fit like a glove imo. Boot fitter told me my toes should be entirely curled under and it was fine based on his measurements. Dislocated my toe listening to him. There is no reason to have ultra tight boots.

[@SkiEssentials]

I've been leaning that way for a while now as well--the liners do pack out, but they are a lot better than they used to be, so many skiers, especially those who aren't putting 200+ days on a pair of boots, will be just fine in a shell size up.

[@bogdanmarkovic]

Trying ski boot inside where its probably 25C is actually counter intuitive since you want to feel the reap flex and its more realistic when boots are near 0C in which condition they are actually going to be used in. Plastic does not have the same flex at 25 and 0C. For example try putting some extension cord in cold and see how harder it gets (unless its silicone or rubber).

[@SkiEssentials]

Trying on a boot and testing the performance of a boot are two very different things.

[@jemand8462]

but I think he has a point, maybe the colder, harder plastic will feel much worse than the one at room temp?@@SkiEssentials

[@SkiEssentials]

@@jemand8462 it changes the flex, not the fit.

[@powderskier5547]

@@SkiEssentials 100 % correct

[@Tim15175]

I was lucky enough to have a sports rental shop not too far from my house. They had boots,helmets,skis,goggles it was perfect. the guy tried to give my mom skis covered with cup cakes and sprinkles but then the owner got mad at the guy. : o

[@timhood438]

Never thought about pulling my long underwear above the boot. I'm going to try that next time.

[@SkiEssentials]

100% useful information.

[@davidbeazer9799]

Can be a good idea to have a boot fitter analyze your feet before you order on line. They can tell you what boots will fit you best.

[@hamburgerbuns9752]

Don't waste a boot fitters time if you are just going to turn around and buy online. Dick move

[@x78340]

@@hamburgerbuns9752 Yea but you'll save a lot of money. Online has the best prices!

[@hamburgerbuns9752]

@@x78340 but dont go into a store and waste a bootfitters time if you are gonna buy online

[@x78340]

@@hamburgerbuns9752 if it's your first time then you should definitely go to a store. they can tell you if you have low/med/high volume feet, high/low instep, narrow/wide feet, if you need insoles, etc. you just cannot find that out by yourself online

[@hamburgerbuns9752]

@@x78340 then don't buy online if you need professional assistance

[@rishellefedrick1743]

VICQUE BEST FRIEND'S

[@MadelnMachines]

They feel great until they shrink in the cold and then the pressure points start!

[@x78340]

ouch. lol

[@macauleyroman2311]

Do certain brands run more narrow vs other brands running more wide?

[@SkiEssentials]

Even within brands, the same last width can feel different due to the liner, so that same theory carries from brand to brand as well.

[@kocsisal]

A good rule of thumb, size all "footwear" in the late afternoon, as your foot swells during the day. This will give you the most accurate fitting.

[@boahgeil465]

True!

[@nibm3]

Wrong. Boots are not footwear. Going in with swollen feet will give you the illusion of a snug fit that is not at all representative of how your feet will act while wearing snug boots during the day. If you only ski at the end of long day on your feet go ahead

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

Like said, that will actually give you nice and snug feeling when fitting the boot at home for the first time. But when you finally go skiing and the liner packs out after a few days, you'll have plenty of room. Not to mention when you end up going on a several days ski trip and after a couple of days your legs will have lost some liquids, creating even more room in the boot. And if you had a roomy boot to begin with, you might not be able to salvage this by buckling up.

[@brook61]

Fit the shell without the liner, sorry guys

[@SkiEssentials]

Shell fitting is great, but this video is more about the correct way to actually put on your ski boots. Bob (who's on our channel a lot) and I both worked a long time as boot fitters and certainly would start with a shell fit in most scenarios.

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

Yep, that's a good starting point for serious boot fitting, but still not the whole truth, as the liner could make the boot very snug. Been there. But in my opinion this video in overall is good enough ski boot try on method for 75% skiers out there.

[@CarlosVasquezmdq]

24.5 dude i think that boots are too small for you ..

[@SkiEssentials]

Boy I wish they were! Being a 24.5 has its limitations, mostly in how challenging it can be for me to actually find boots in my size. I'm swimming in a 25, unfortunately :(

[@jusgibs]

Very informative, but your website totally lacks. As I'm sure you know, there is more to fitting than just foot length/width. Your website has no way of getting down to what boots best match your length, width, calf size, flex level, instep, etc. You must scroll through every boot and only narrow it down by brand, cost, size and gender. If I'm going to risk buying something such as ski boots online, I need to feel confident I chose the best fitting option. See "skis.com" for a fantastic method of allowing one to narrow down their search. Great information here though. Thanks!

[@markh4xnoob]

I just recently had some boots fitted for me but the 2nd buckle across the top of my foot always cuts off the blood supply to my foot. It's already on the last tooth of the buckle. Are my boots the wrong size? Or is there something I can do to relieve it? Thanks!

[@SkiEssentials]

Is the buckle loosened all the way? Turn it to the left to see if there's any micro-adjustment left. If it's still cutting off circulation, you may need to have a boot fitter lower your boot board, which is a plastic platform underneath your liner. Dropping that down just a couple mm can go a long way, and most boot fitters are pretty comfortable doing that work. It's not technically challenging to do.

[@markh4xnoob]

@@SkiEssentials thanks for the reply. Yeah the micro adjusters are all the way to the left. I'm back at the boot fitters on Thursday so I'll see what they say then. Thanks for your help and the great videos!

[@powderskier5547]

It does not sound like there is a problem with your boots. I think the problem is with your foot. I strongly suggest removing your faulty foot, yes chopping it off. There are many 1 legged skiers these days

[@edfox1334]

Powder Skier not funny. Man asked reasonable question

[@kathryndougherty412]

Thin socks make me cold

[@SkiEssentials]

How old are your boots? You should be getting more insulation from your boot liners than your sock.

[@kathryndougherty412]

Skiessentials.com brand new

[@SkiEssentials]

@@kathryndougherty412 that's surprising. Generally, for most people, a thinner sock will keep your feet warmer as it allows for better circulation.

[@abood911eld]

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