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How Should New Ski Boots Feel?

1 January 2021 No comments
How Should New Ski Boots Feel?

Buying your first ski boots can be difficult, especially when you're not sure how to expect a brand pair to feel. We asked our Ski Equipment Buyer, Steve, to offer some expert advice on what to expect and how to ensure they feel as they should.

How Should Ski Boots Fell When First Put On?

A correctly fitting pair of ski boots will feel tight and a bit short at first, but don't panic, this is normal. The inner boot is designed to fit in length and volume, initially with no excess space.

Fastening ski boot buckles

How To Fasten Ski Boots

Fasten the buckles round the leg first, this will pull the foot back. A few ankle-flexes will push the heel further into the heel pocket, producing more toe room. You can then fasten the rest of the buckles, ensuring none are over-tightened, they should be done finger tight. Remember that they are there to close the boot, and not hold your foot still.

How To Tell If Ski Boots Fit You?

Keep the boots on for at least 15 minutes. During this time your body heat will soften the inner boot foam, compressing it a little and creating more volume around your foot. You’ll be aware of your toes just touching the end of the boot, alongside the fit being snug and close in general – as if someone has hold of your feet with both hands.

New Ski boots

What To Look For In New Ski Boots

Flex into a skiing position a number of times. There should be very little or ideally no movement at the heel and ankle when replicating skiing movements. Remember that ski boots will increase in volume by about 15% with use, so don't be tempted into oversizing. Also, after wearing the boots for 15+ minutes, feel for any hot or pressure points – if the fit of the boot is otherwise good, our fitters will be able to take a look into fixing this for you.

If you have issues with the fit, or it just doesn’t feel right, try a different boot in the same size. Remember that well-made custom-moulded footbeds will support and stabilize your feet in the correct alignment, dramatically improving the fit.


You can book a ski boot fitting appointment at a number of our stores here, or you can also speak to one of our ski experts online for any further advice. 


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