HOW TO BUY SKI BOOTS
HOW TO BUY SKI BOOTS©
“Ski boots can be a PAIN! What can you do about it? Find a ski specialty shop and a good boot fitter. Dr. Bob is the premier boot fitter.” ~
Rick Pasturczak, Owner, Alpine Accessories
The Boot Fitter
He/she must have an understanding of anatomy and biomechanics (movement of joints) to recognize your specific foot type and match it to the correct boot last (shape). You should be asked you your height, weight, age, athletic ability, how much you ski, and where do you ski. These questions help in the evaluation of your aggressiveness, ability, and approach to skiing. This information is critical for matching your interest and ability to your equipment selection. Boots come generic in shape and need to be modified to your unique foot. It’s best to start with a boot that most closely matches your foot’s shape.
The Right Boot
You want a boot that will be comfortable, of course, and that will help you improve your skiing. The boot should be adequate for now, and work well as you improve. Beginners, low intermediates, and non-aggressive skiers need a fairly soft forward flexing boot. These will be more “forgiving” by not transmitting all your mistakes to your skis. An aggressive or advanced skier needs a stiffer boot that will provide “sensitivity” to movement changes. From the information you provide, your fitter will be able to choose the best performance model.
The Sizing
Your boot fitter will use a few different sizing devices to determine your approximate boot size. This will give him/her a place to start. The next step is important; the liner should be remove from the shell and your foot placed into the shell. With your toes touching the front end of the shell, a visual check will be made to verify how much room you have behind your heel (Shell length). There should be just less than one inch, for recreational skiers, even less, for more aggressive, accomplished skiers. Next, side to side room in the forefoot, will be checked (Shell width). If you buy your boots too big, the liner will not take a mold of your foot, and your foot will not be held in place without having to over-buckle. Over buckling creates a new problem; a boot that is too narrow and one the press down hard, on the top of your foot. Presto! Your feet are ice cold, and are painfully cramped. If your boots are the correct size, there is one other reason they would feel loose; collapsing arches. This is caused by excessive pronation. Usually your boot fitter will recognize this when he first inspects your foot, but sometimes it is not that obvious. If this is your problem, custom insoles, or sports medicine ski orthotic is the answer.
CUSTOM BOOT FITTING STARTS WITH CUSTOM INSOLES OR SKI BOOT ORTHOTICS
Most boot fitting problems can be traced to an excessively pronating (collapsing) arch. Whats the difference between a custom insole and a sportsmedince ski boot orthotic? A custom insole will give your foot, ankle and leg additional supported, in the boot. A sports medicine ski boot orthotic will provide a more precise support to the foot, and will also correct most abnormal foot, leg and knee alignment problems. This in turn can prevent sore cold feet, ankles and shins, and helps to prevent excessive knee strain. Skiing biomechanics are completely different from running and walking (gait cycle) biomechanics. For this reason, never put your running or walking orthotics (if you have them), in your ski boots. They are balanced for gait cycle biomechanics.
THE “TRY ON”
Be sure to put on a pair of medium weight SKI socks – they are not made with cotton. (Thick socks will crush the foot.) A properly fitted boot will go a long way in keeping your feet warm. If your feet are cold no matter what you do, then there are some very good boot heaters that can be installed with little difficulty.
Your boot fitter will place the custom insoles or orthotics into the liners, and put your feet into the boots.At first, your toes will most likely touch the front end. If the boots are the correct size, this is to be expected! As the boots are buckled, and you press your knees forward, you will feel your toes pull back from the end. Be patient. Your toes will have a lot more room in 10-15 minutes.
THE “Pre-BREAK-IN”
Most ski boots today come with heat moldable liners. At this point in the fit process (with the custom insoles or orthotics removed), your boots will be placed on a warmer for 15 minutes. With the insoles or orthotics re-inserted, you’ll put on your boots. As you flex, the buckles will be progressively tighten to a point that may be somewhat uncomfortable, but it must be tight so the liner takes a precise imprint of your foot, ankle and lower leg. The boots will cool over the next 15 minutes and will then be taken off. After another 15 minutes, you will put your boots back on. You will be amazed at how they feel. The last step will be for the fitter to adjust the cuff alignment. This allows the boot cuff to match your leg angle, as it meets the ankle. If your fitter determines that your legs are fairly straight, you might not need anything further, but if you have a more pronounced problem, further cuff alignment and orthotic adjustment, can be done.
CANTING
A word of caution: Canting of skis, or boots, can be tricky. There has been renewed interest in canting. A recently published article suggests canting can be a “cure” for most performance problems. This is just not so, and has been causing more problems than it has solved. A very careful assessment is required in the ski shop and on the snow, before further canting is determined. On snow alignment assessment should only be done by an experienced, certified ski instructor.
Now, go skiing. Return to your boot fitter as necessary. He/she would be surprised if you did not need a few adjustments! Good luck!
For more information, e-mail, doc@footsportsdoc.com or call (847) 885-8806!