ARO SKI Guide to Ski Boot fitting

In order to ensure we provide you with the right ski boots, we have to undertake a number of steps. At first it may seem onerous and lengthy, but this is potentially one of the most important purchases you are likely to make and can impact both positively and negatively upon your skiing. 

There is one thing you must remember, to have time – on the day of the fitting you should allow at least 1 to 2 hours in the shop. It is advisable to purchase your boots well in advance of going away.

To begin with there is an in initial discussion; 

We need to know as much as possible about your how you ski, where you ski - types of resorts - what runs, on/off piste, your level,- this important, so please be as detailed as possible and above all be honest! We will also ask about your past experiences with ski boots,whether owned or hired, especially any common problems. As part of this we need to know realistically whether you are a dawn to dusk skier or will be spending as much time standing and walking as skiing. Finally, have in mind a realistic price bracket for your ability. This should allow for the addition of a supportive footbed. They will be recommended to you, as good footbeds are an essential part of a well-fitted boot. 

We then move on to assess your foot shape and stance; This will involve a detailed look at your feet - we will be looking at their shape including any obvious areas that may cause problems. we can then begin to match you to a boot.  Please can you ensure your toenails are trimmed short as this will enable a better fit.  While inspecting your feet, we will also look at your arches on our podoscope and ask you to stand barefoot in ski position - not only does this help us match the boot, but as importantly we can assess your alignment and foot-stability, which will help us determine you likelihood of overpronating (see computerised gait analysis and running shoe buyers guide) which in turn enables the correct footbed solution to be recommended for your needs. Finally, you are measured. This is a guide, a starting point and is nothing to do with your shoe size. Don’t be surprised if it is different than you were expecting! 

Now we can finally introduce you to a pair of ski boots by way of the Shell Check:  Ski boots are made up of 2 basic components: the innerboot, for comfort and control; and the shell, for transmission, performance and fit. The shell governs how a boot fits, so a shell-check is needed with every boot you try - this will ensure it’s the correct size, shape, and volume for your foot. We check 4 points: length, ankle width, forefoot width, and instep height.  With your foot in the shell only and your big toe "feather" touching the end, there should be approximately 10 – 20mm space behind your heel. We use about 10mm for a performance fit, and up to 20mm is our recreational fit

We do not recommend more than 20mm as this would lead to a loose-fitting boot after just a little skiing. This is essentially the same as checking the front of a running shoe for the required "thumbs width", but a bit difficult with the rigidity of a ski boot!  The rest of the check is done with the foot positioned centrally in the shell, a guide would be, 3 to 5mm space at each side of the forefoot, 5-10mm at each ankle bone, and 10mm above the instep, allows enough room to replace the innerboot and maintain a close and snug fit without over-tightening the buckles. A point to note is that the boot should fit without over tightening or "clamping" the foot in - we are off for an enjoyable days skiing, not entering the downhill cup! 

Now finally the part you have been waiting for - Trying On!  First please make sure you have some quality thin ski socks with a proper heel and the correct padding, unfortunately your old, thick, baggy tube socks, won't help the fitting. Don't worry we will always have some available for you if you need them.  Don't worry if the boot feels tight and a bit short at first, this is normal. There are a few steps we need to go through before we can determine whether they are the right fit or not.  With you still sitting we will fasten the buckles round the leg first, this will pull the foot back, a few light taps on the heel to help push the heel back , and then you can stand, a few ankle-flexes will push the heel further into the heel pocket producing a little more toe room. At this point you need to stand in ski mode, and should find a dramatic amount of difference in the fit and feel from the initial feeling. Keep the boots on for at least 15 minutes. During this time your body heat will soften the innerboot foam, allowing it to compress a little, creating more volume around your foot. You should always be aware that your toes are at the end of the boot, however you need to be able to wriggle your toes, but still have a close and snug fit.  There should be very little or no movement at the heel and ankle when replicating skiing movements, like flexing and rolling your feet. Remember that ski boots will increase in volume by about 15% with use, so don’t oversize.  This where our previous discussions play an important part, especially as to your level of skiing. Continue to give us as much detailed feedback as is possible, as this will allow us to determine how well the boot fits - we will be asking a lot of questions- try and answer as well a possible. 
Don’t over-tighten the buckles; they are there to close the boot, not to hold your foot still.  If you have issues with the fit, or it just doesn't feel right, try a different boot in the same size. Remember that a well made custom-molded footbed will support and stabilize your feet in the correct alignment, dramatically improving the fit.  It is worth noting though - that we may not have a boot that suits you foot shape and ability, if this is the case - we will advise you and tell you why - hopefully recommending where else you may find the correct boot. 

We are now near the end of the process, with the final part being customisation; We cannot emphasize enough the importance of a well-made custom footbed to a successful boot fitting. In most cases it is the key to a successful fitting, depending upon the fit, your ability and arch type will determine the type of footbed we recommend.  The inners of all our ski boots are Heat-moldable, and this will be done as the final part to ensure an accurate fit, this begins the bedding-in process. Once heated you will need to stand in the boots for another 5 minutes or so for the molding to take effect, however you need to ski for about 15 hours to bed a boot in properly. Ski boots are designed to be adapted. This can take the form of shell stretching; internal shell grinding; and cutting, stretching and removing foam padding from innerboots. These options are available to customise the boot to your individual foot shape.

CONGRATULATIONS!! you have now purchased you new Ski boots and taken them home:  It is advisable to wear your new boots and footbeds as much as possible before you go skiing. Wear them at home first, standing - not sitting. Once you have got more used to the fit, go and ski in them at your local dry slope or indoor snow slope. Sensations like tingling, numbness or some hot spots are to be expected to start with. If they don’t ease with use, bring the boots back to us for some alterations. Even if you have a more painful problem, don't worry, in most cases it only takes a small change to fix it.