It may sound obvious, but the first thing to remember when
it comes to ski boots is that you wear them on your feet!
So let your feet do the choosing, rather than your eyes or your head.
What they look like, and even what ski magazine reviews may have said
about them is irrelevant compared to one all-important question. "Do they fit well?" 
Answer "yes" and they will make your holiday, "no"
and you can be sure that you spend more time in the bar than on the piste, and
not by choice.
Because all feet are different, and different boots fit
different shapes of feet, the choice of boots which will be suitable for you is
to some extent predetermined. Unless
you're really lucky there will only be two or three makes of ski boot that will
fit you well.
Where to buy ?
The first important decision, often overlooked, is
not "Which boots?", but "Where to buy them from?"
Ask around for recommendations from instructors or knowledgeable friends.
Listen for people's bad experiences as well as their good ones.
You are not interested in what boots they bought - what fits your friend
may hurt you - but in how the shop went about helping them make that decision.
Why? Because - and not many
recreational skiers realise this - matching a pair of feet to the right boot
(and the left!) is a science not a guessing game.
Whilst a good boot-fitter can and will make
adjustments to ensure a proper fit, finding a boot which is the right basic
shape for your feet is an important starting point. So if you are looking for
boots and the shop staff start offering suggestions without looking at your feet
first, you will probably be better off making your excuses and looking
elsewhere!
Should you buy boots in the UK or in a ski resort? Buying
in a ski resort has certain advantages. Good rental shops will let you demo the
boots you want to buy. They will also work on your boots free should you bring
them back in agony a day or two after purchasing them. The downside is that you
might not have a lot of choice of rental shops in a smaller resort. They might
be too busy or disinclined to help you once they have made the sale. And if you
aren't happy or if a part breaks on your next holiday in another resort, you
cannot take them back.
Allow plenty of time
Remember that buying boots is a time-consuming process, so
beware of making your purchase at a busy period when your boot-fitter may not
have enough time to spend with you to ensure a correct fit, or when you are
pushed for time yourself. A good
shop will always make adjustments after you have bought your boots from them.
This is not always so easy if you make your purchase at a ski show, or in a
resort on the last day of your holiday, and all but impossible if you've fallen
for the dubious charms of mail-order.
And it is not just the fitting you should allow time
for - the longer you can spend with the boots on, the better your chances of
being sure that they really do fit. Minor
problems, which may be easily corrected by a good boot-fitter, often only become
apparent once you've been wearing the boots for a while.
Once the choice has been narrowed down to a few models, try putting one
model on each foot, and walking around for a few minutes until you can tell
which model feels better than the other. Continue
doing this with the different models which seem suited to your skiing style and
foot shape, until you come to a final decision.
As you can see, it is a good idea to set aside several hours for trying
on and buying boots, but there is little doubt that spending a few hours in the
shop getting it right is better than spending a few weeks in pain on the slopes.
Things to watch out for
Ski boots are intentionally snug fitting, so that
every time you move your foot, the movement is transferred to the ski.
But very often, people buy boots that are one size too large because they
don't want tight-fitting boots. A good shop will always measure your feet to
ensure that you are buying the right size - you never know, you might have been
wearing the wrong size shoes for years. If
the boot fits properly you will probably find that you can just feel the front
of the boot with your toes when the boot is buckled and you are standing up
straight. As soon as you flex into
the boot, your toes should pull away and you shouldn't be able to feel the front
of the boot any more.
Beware if the buckles have to be cranked up tightly
to make the boot feel tight around the foot.
It ought to be the shape of the boot and the liner which hold the foot in
place, not the buckles. Over-tightening
the buckles often causes isolated pressure points which can, in turn, lead to
poor circulation and hence to cold feet.
Another common mistake is to buy boots which are too
stiff. Just because they are billed as 'top-of-the-range' doesn't mean they're
necessarily the best boots for you. If
you cannot flex the boots in the shop - and remember that plastic is stiffer
when it is cold than when it is warm - they will not do your skiing any favours.
Remember that these days good technique means not just 'bend ze knees'
but 'flex ze ankles'.
And finally - do be honest and realistic with the boot
fitter about your level of experience and ability. Only by matching your needs and aspirations to the correct
level of product can they help you to select the boots which will let you get
the maximum fun from your skiing. After
all, that's what it's all about.
