How to size an alpine touring boot

Sizing an alpine touring boot can be a daunting process, especially when shopping online. Doug gives a quick run down of how to check the fit of a new boot and make sure it's the right size and choice for you. He also gives breaks down the different measurements we use to determine how a boot fits and some considerations for choosing your next touring boot.

[@theopinson3851]

This was super helpful. Thanks!

[@at1970]

This is well done. I’m currently in TLT6s in a 27.7/297. I’m considering the DYNAFIT rad pros. I put my foot in a couple of shells. The 26.5/297 seems a little small and the 27.5/307 seems a little big. Any thoughts? Thanks

[@miles9294]

Without knowing your foot and boot fit, two considerations are: with size comes volume, by increasing the shell size you also increase volume so it may be worth looking at a wider boot If you go 265 and a narrower boot in 275 (that is if the space you are talking about is width). If it is length you are worried about ensure that the boot you are in is tight on the sides of the forefoot, as long as there is less than 30mm of space on the front of the boot when doing a shell check it is ok for a boot that is used predominantly for touring, not as a hybrid resort touring combo. may be worth trying some other boots as well as different liners in the boots.

[@swagiermariusz]

Could you propose any touring boots for narrow heel feet with longest biggest toe? I now have Backlands 28.5, punched them in toe area. My foot size is about 288mm. 29/29.5 sizes give me more toe room but overall the boot is getting too lose for skiing

[@Mrdudezful]

Older im gettin more im convinced that i am going to get in the touring boots. What’s so bad when you can have ski boots all day and not hurt. I’m done with alpine boots.

[@Benzknees]

I changed to a more touring orientated boot last year, in a longer shell, and it's been a lot more comfortable without any of the ankle blistering I used to get whilst skinning. And yet it's still good on the downhill, without any noticeable slop. But then I am also using Intuition overlap liners, which I've found way better than any tongue liner.

[@mattdurette497]

Do you know of any modern touring boots which come with a cuff cant adjustment? Or do you know of any which can feasibly be modified to include the adjustment? I'm looking for something on the lighter side, with an above average last and punchable shell. Thanks!

[@uyang9325]

Beneficial suggestion. If the boots are tight, will it be cold at high altitudes?

[@cripplecreekbackcountry6800]

A tighter-fitting boot can feel colder since it will tend to reduce circulation. That's one of the reasons it can be beneficial to fit a touring boot slightly larger than you would fit an alpine boot. Generally, as long as you aren't noticing and loss of circulation, numbness, or tingling when you try on a boot you shouldn't notice that boot being too much colder.

[@QUincez]

Generally speaking, how do you guys determine if a heel pocket / instep in a boot is appropriate for a skier's foot via shell fit? Is there a similar space check you perform? I've seen a variety of approaches, but I'm not sure what's going to be an actual reliable indicator of compatibility.

[@cripplecreekbackcountry6800]

When we shell fit we generally don't look at the instep or heel pocket too much. You can look at the actual shell heel pocket and compare that to your heel but it's not always reliable. The best way to go about it is to see how those specific areas feel with the liner in the boot. Generally, you are looking for the boot to feel tight out of the box before it's broken in but not painful. When you try a boot focus on whether your heel has any movement and if there are any specific places that are painful. If your heel is locked down and you have some tightness but nothing that is super aggravating that's a good indication that with a liner mold/break in the boot will fit you well.

[@QUincez]

@@cripplecreekbackcountry6800 Another question I’ve mulled over.. how does one confirm that their heel is actually locked down? If I try to lift my heel in my race fit boots (standing up on my toes), I can still get a tiny bit of movement. In my touring boots there’s a fair bit more - it’s tough to know where the balance point is

[@cripplecreekbackcountry6800]

@@QUincez Yeah, it can certainly be hard to have the heel pocket totally dialed. Movement in the heel is alright if you aren't getting blisters. The biggest consideration with the heel when uphilling is comfort. As long as you aren't getting blisters you are generally in the clear! If you do find yourself getting hotspots there are a couple things you can try. Putting sticky foam on the liner can be a good solution but doesn't always last. You can use foam to fill up the space around your heel and create a more defined pocket or you can put some foam on your instep which might make a snugger fit. Sometimes we also try putting a small heel lift into the boot which can help press your foot up into the heel pocket.

[@enasaric610]

I ordered online boots for ski touring. They are 23-23.5. Otherwise, I wear number 37 1/2. In this new boots, only my big toe touches the shoe. I'm afraid it will cause a problem when climbing! Do you have any advice? The old boots for alpine skiing were 24-24.5 and they are too big for me. Thanks in advance!