How to Buy Ski Boots That Fit Perfectly

Ski boots can make or break your day on the mountain, and they are even more important than your skis. If you only buy one piece of ski gear, it should be boots! 

To get the best, most comfortable fit, the first step on your boot buying journey should be to see an experienced bootfitter. At Outside we have world-class bootfitters in both our Queenstown and Wanaka stores who will work with you to ensure you best possible boot for the skiing you do. Whether you’re just starting out with your family, you’re an Olympic level racer or Freeride World Tour world champion we can fit you with the perfect boot. 

You’ll notice that we stock a huge selection of boots, with many different models and styles from a number of brands. Don’t let that overwhelm you. We have to stock such a huge array to make sure we have just the right boot for you, and we’re here to help you make the right choice. 

Make sure you give yourself at least an hour to find your new boots. It’s actually best to book an appointment, because our boot fitters are in high demand and get very busy.  

The first thing you’ll do with your bootfitter is to measure both of your feet using a Brannock gauge. This provides two measurements. The Mondo Point which is the length of your foot in centimetres, and the width of your forefoot in millimetres (know as the ‘last’). Your foot fitter will also evaluate your ‘foot volume.’ Some boots suit feet with low arches or ‘low volume’ and others will be better for high arches or ‘high volume.’  

Other things they'll consider are your height and how your weight is distributed, foot pronation or apronation, leg shape and alignment, your age, skiing ability, the kind of skiing you like to do, and any injuries you have had in the past - skiing or otherwise.

Next, with all this information on board, your bootfitter will bring out some options for you to try. The aim is to get the closest fit right out of the box. You might notice that they ask you to try boots that measure slightly smaller than your measured Mondo size. That’s because the best fit is sometimes created by expanding a half size smaller boot with a little persuasion in the workshop. On the other hand, a boot that’s too big can never be made to fit correctly. Never be tempted to size up because that feels more comfortable in the shop. These are ski boots not slippers 😁 

Note!!! The other very worst thing you can possibly do is to be dead set on wearing a particular boot brand. The important thing is the fit to your feet, not the name on the boot. 

Also don’t worry about colour, or buckles vs BOAs – it’s all about fit, fit, fit! 

Once you’ve found the boot with the best fit out of the box, your boot fitter will check where your toes and heels are sitting in the shell of the boot without the liner in place. This might seem weird, but they do this to check how much space there is between your foot and the hard plastic of the boot outer. They’re looking for potential compression points that could cause discomfort when you’re skiing. Often this can be fixed by grinding out some of the plastic and/or heat moulding the boot. 

Rarely will a customer leave the store with a pair of boots that fit perfectly right out of the box. Mostly we’ll need to do a bit of work to get them right, and it might even take a couple of visits back to the shop until you’re completely comfortable. As we mentioned above we can do quite a lot of things to ski boots to achieve perfect their fit – and we don’t stop until you’re completely satisfied.  

As part of that we might suggest you try an aftermarket insole to further optimise how your foot is held and aligned inside the boot. We have a big range of Sidas insoles. Sidas literally wrote the book on performance insoles, and customers report that Sidas insoles transform their skiing experience.  

Wearing ski socks like those by Icebreaker, Smartwool, Mons Royale Le Bent and Sidas also makes a huge difference to comfort and how your boot feels on your feet, especially after a full day on the slopes. These socks have strategically placed sections of higher density fabric to enhance cushioning and heel hold, and are designed to prevent sweaty feet by wicking away moisture.

Do what some of the very best skiers in the world do and make sure you get New Zealand’s finest service and advice when you’re buying new ski boots. We have specialist boot fitters at our Queenstown and Wanaka stores - call in to see them or call ahead to make an appointment.