A BEACH BUM’S GUIDE TO SKIING
So many skiers out there are faced with classic questions such as: Is it worth buying my own ski boots? Is there an actual difference between buying and renting? Should I purchase ski boots at the ski resort or should I buy a highly rated pair online, currently on sale? What if I started skiing recently?
I only started skiing a few years ago and before even starting to debate the necessity of owning ski boots, I found myself buying a pair. Wondering why? Well, after spending days struggling with my rental boots during a ski trip, I realised that leaving the most important piece of gear to chance was not a risk worth taking…
In this blog post, I’ll talk about my experiences from renting ski boots, buying and using my own first pair of ski boots and the distilled knowledge I gathered along the way.
WHY I DIDN’T WANT TO RENT SKI BOOTS ANYMORE
As I mentioned previously, I started learning how to ski as an adult. During my first three ski trips, I rented ski boots and had no significant problems with it. Or even if I did, I was so inexperienced that I did not realise that I had. Then, on my fourth trip, I got unlucky. While in Alpe d’ Huez, a large French ski resort, my first day on the slopes was spent in agony. So, that evening, I went back to the reputable equipment store where I was renting my ski boots from. I tried two more pairs and switched my original pair for one of those. Annoying but no biggy, right?
Alas, next day, more pain. Going back to the store, I was now dealt with a there-is-nothing-we-can-do attitude. I decided to return the boots and try my luck somewhere else. Before I even put my après ski boots on to leave the store, the ski boots I had were now being offered to someone else to try. Great, so, I would get a refund for the rest of the days that I would not use them, right? I left the store with no ski boots, no refund and supremely pissed off.
IF CINDERELLA COULD SKI…
Still frustrated, we headed for our hotel which had its own brand new ski store; one we didn’t realise existed at the time of booking. Chatting to the staff, it was evident that they were knowledgeable, polite and really enthusiastic about skiing. The manager there, realising my problem, started the same process that boot fitters do when you are buying ski boots. We had a discussion about my ski experience and he took measurements of my foot. He, then, gave me two pairs to try out. Both of them fitted great.
To make a long story short, the manager explained to me that my initial rental ski boots were alright in terms of length but they were too wide. So, my feet were moving too much inside the boot and hitting the hard shell, hence the pain. When it comes to ski boots, the whole anatomy of the foot matters, along with ski style and competency, to enable the desired level of control of the skis and a reasonable level of comfort. If I were a more experienced skier at the time I would probably have noticed the difference in my ability to control my skis as well.
In essence, rental ski shops often do not have, either generally or just available at the time, the whole range of sizes. This limited range of ski boots combined with the lack of proper ski boot fitting means that you may end up with the wrong (for you) pair of ski boots…
A FIRST WORLD PROBLEM, YET A PAINFUL ONE
I should mention that the employees at the first ski shop appeared surprised that the three pairs of boots they offered me did not fit well. However, speaking to other skiers and gear shop sales assistants, I have come to understand that this is not a rare occurrence at all. There are quite a lot of people out there who spend their days on the slopes in agony because of their ski boots. Some of them try to remedy the problem; they go back to the rental store and may or may not find a suitable pair. Others think that ski boots are supposed to hurt; just ‘man up’ and deal with it. That is not true, you guys, and don’t let anyone tell you that it is.
SKI BOOT MYTH: Ski boots are supposed to be excruciatingly tight and uncomfortable!
THE TRUTH: A proper fitting boot should not be painful. Ski boots should not destroy your feet after a day on the slopes. The idea that ski boots have to be painful in order to perform belongs in the past. It is only a remnant of the hardcore ski racing roots that most boot companies can be traced back to. However, ski boots should not feel loose either. Opt for a âsnugâ fit.
WHY SHOULD YOU BUY YOUR OWN SKI BOOTS?
Our skis may be the ones in direct contact with the snow, but it is our feet and ski boots guiding them. Therefore, good turns come down to our ski boots, and our technique, of course. The boots connect our bodies to the skis, directing our performance and affecting our comfort. Ski boots are the most important piece of one’s ski equipment.
Wearing ski boots that fit one’s skiing style and foot enables a synergy between body and skis. The movement generated by flexing the knees and ankles is seamlessly transferred to the skis via the boots. Unfortunately, many skiers are skiing in boots that donât match their ability or donât fit properly, so they are missing out on a seamless and efficient skiing experience and lacking in comfort.
WAS IT WORTH BUYING MY OWN SKI BOOTS?
So, after that ski trip in Alpe dâ Huez, I bought my own pair of ski boots which I have now used in a few ski trips. Here are my thoughts so far.
First of all, I have definitely noticed the increase in comfort compared to all the ski boots I have ever rented. Towards the end of the day, I donât feel the urgency to take my boots off anymore nor do I have sore feet (unless I have accidentally over-tightened them, but that is a user error).
I can also definitely say that not having to queue and try on boots at busy rental gear shops is life changing. Even if you havenât had the unfortunate experience that I had and were always able to find boots that felt good enough, you must admit that it is quite the chore to have to go through the process of trying on boots every time. Naturally, since I donât own skis, I still have to visit the shop to rent them, but that is a much easier and quicker process.
As for the enhanced performance, I cannot unfortunately comment on that. I bought my boots at a time where I was still progressing as a skier, and, frankly I still am. So, my performance is getting better anyways (I hope!). This actually brings me to my next point.
In my opinion, this whole discussion should not be about whether you should buy your own ski boots. It is a question of when.
WHEN SHOULD YOU BUY YOUR OWN SKI BOOTS?
I hope that it’s been pretty obvious so far that in this blog post we are talking about adults, rather than children skiers who will outgrow their expensive ski boots in no time. Having said that, in my opinion, you should buy your own ski boots the moment you realise that you love skiing and you are able to invest the time and money to go skiing. Buying ski boots is an investment, so, it is best to start getting that return on, functionally and financially, as soon as possible.
However, if you have started learning to ski as an adult and immediately realise that skiing is for you, keep one thing in mind. You will need to future-proof your ski boots for your changing competency level. Remember how I mentioned previously that ski boot fitting is a function of your foot anatomy and skiing style / level? This is definitely something that a professional ski boot fitter should advise you on. This also brings me to my next and final point.
If you do decide to buy your own ski boots, arrange for a professional ski boot fitting session. I cannot stress this enough.
BUYING YOUR OWN SKI BOOTS: WHAT HAPPENS AT A SKI BOOT FITTING & WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?
A LAYMAN’S INTERPRETATION OF SKI BOOT BASICS
As I briefly touched upon previously, ski boot sizing is not just about the length of the foot. Normal shoe sizing mostly relies on that because most shoes are really flexible and soft. However, when it comes to ski boots, the whole anatomy of your foot matters, amongst other factors such as ski style and competency, in order to enable the desired level of control of the skis and a reasonable level of comfort. Three or thirteen pairs of boots can easily be wrong for you. That is not because you are a princess (or a prince). Not all feet are the same, and that is why there are so many different types of ski boots; they don’t make that many just to change up the colours!
WHAT HAPPENS AT A SKI BOOT FITTING SESSION?
I will not go into too much detail about the ski boot fitting process because I am not an expert and could easily get something wrong. In summary, though, when I had my ski boot fitting appointment in a specialised mountain gear store in London, it involved the following steps:
- Quick chat about previous experiences with ski boots as well as my skiing level and aspirations.
- An assessment of anatomy and biomechanics of the foot and lower leg.
- Trying on the external shell to assess the amount of space required in terms of: length, ankle width, forefoot width, instep height and calf.
- Trying on two or three pairs of boots and choosing the best fit.
- Checks relating to having a custom footbed made.
- Customisation of the inner boot which was heated and custom moulded to my feet.
- Customisation of the external shell.
Regarding the last step, I actually did not do this at the store in London, as at the time I was not sure whether I needed it. However, after my first day on the slopes with my new boots on, I realised that I could benefit from it (for added comfort). I didn’t want to wait to get back to London, so I had it done at a gear shop at the ski resort. Interestingly, tiny changes in the shell (through heating) can increase comfort significantly! So, be prepared that your brand new ski boots may need small adjustments once you have actually skied in them. This is part of the process and even though it is a bit of a drag, it’s worth it.
TOP TIPS -PREPARING FOR YOUR SKI BOOT FITTING SESSION
- Do some research beforehand as to which stores near you offer this service and what exactly it entails. Check if you need to book a slot in advance.
- Allow for enough time for your ski boot fitting, mine took about 1,5h.
- Make sure you wear trousers that can easily be lifted up to your knee. Your ski trousers (if you are already at the ski resort) or shorts / skirt (without thick tights) would work perfectly. This way, you can try on boots comfortably.
- Bring with you a pair of thin ski socks, though they should be able to loan you a pair there.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As you can see, there is quite a lot going on during a ski boot fitting session. There is so much customisation to be done since there are so many variables in play when it comes to buying the perfect pair of ski boots for you. You may even need some small adjustments after you buy and use the ski boots.
Therefore, there is no reason why you would buy a very expensive pair of ski boots on the fly. I cannot stress this enough, go to a ski boot fitter before buying your ski boots. From my experience, specialised mountain gear shops offer this service for free or a very low fee, whether in the city or the resort. If that means that you need to allow time to do it on your next ski trip or make a weekend trip out of visiting the nearest specialised store, then I would strongly recommend that you do so. If you are going with the latter option, remember that this is not another chore! Buying your ski boots will be one of the fun ways to prepare and get excited for the upcoming ski season!
Last thing before you go. There are many who will tell you that buying your own pair of ski boots is a luxury and as such, unnecessary. I, however, believe that a hefty price tag, luxury and necessity are notions that correlate differently depending on the value they ultimately add to your life. If you are keen on continuing skiing for a while, buying your own ski boots is a small piece in the grand scheme of time and money that you will need to invest, but one that will make a significant difference.
SOME USEFUL INFORMATION FROM THE EXPERTS
Interested in getting some more information about ski boot buying and fitting? I found the following articles quite helpful.
- How To Choose The Right Ski Boots -Ellis Bringham Mountain Store
- Go to a Damn Boot Fitter -Powder Magazine
- If the Boot Fits⌠-Ski Magazine
- How Tight Should New Ski Boots Be? -Ski Magazine
- Ski Boot Fitting: How To Get The Correct Fit | The Ski Workshop -Mpora.com
FINAL THOUGHTS
That’s all from me folks. Hope this was useful to all you mindful consumers who don’t just buy gear for the sake of it but because it adds value to your life. I should point out that I have written a follow up blog post with extra tips for ensuring that your ski boots are comfortable as well as advice for rental boots. Cannot get enough of content relating to ski gear? Check out my ski packing list as well as my tips and things for a perfect après ski. Furthermore, if you have been introduced into the skiing world later in life, as I have, make sure to browse the rest of A Beach Bum’s Guide to Skiing.
See you on the slopes!
This is not a sponsored post & I am not affiliated with any of the hotels, restaurants or organisations mentioned.
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