Whether you've just received your new ski boots in the mail, are heading to your local shop to check some out some options, or you’re at the hill ready to ride you’re going to need to know how to get your ski boots on and to make sure they fit. Here we’re going to cover how to put on ski boots and how to try on ski boots to make sure they fit. If you’re looking for more information about picking a pair of boots, check out our guide to choosing the right ski boots. With that said, however, we always encourage you to explore a professional assessment/fitting to get the best blend of both performance AND comfort.
We recommend wearing a single pair of thin ski socks. One pair is enough, really. Multiple socks or too thick a sock puts pressure on the tops of your feet, reducing circulation and resulting in cold and numb feet. Thick socks also give you less control over your skis – top racers often ski only in nylons or no socks at all! Choose socks made of wool or a wicking synthetic material, and avoid cotton socks - cotton absorbs sweat but keeps it close to your skin rather than moving it away. For more information, read our guide on ski socks.
To make sure you’re in the right size boot, do a “shell fit.” Liners will compress with use and the overall fit will get looser, but the shell size won’t change.
After determining that you’re in the right size shell, spend some time wearing the boots around your house. Standing in the boots and going through the motions of skiing while watching a movie is a good way to start the process of making the liner foam conform to your foot, as well as acclimating your feet to the feel of ski boots. If you’re new to skiing, remember that no ski boot will feel as comfortable as your street shoes, but stick with it – your street shoes won’t cut it for sliding down the mountain.
As you wear the boots, they’ll begin to conform to your feet. You can fine tune the fit in a number of ways using adjustments that most buckle systems have – twisting the wire bale of most buckles clockwise will shorten the length and increase the tightness slightly, so you can achieve a tension in between notches on the strap. If the cuff of the boot is too tight around your ankles or shins, most buckle ladders (the notched metal plates the buckles fit in) have two or three available positions. Some ladder tracks can be moved simply by twisting or unfastening a latch, others require a screwdriver or allen wrench. Rarely, you may have to drill a new hole in the plastic strap of the boot.
Many boots have a removable spoiler attached to the shell in between the liner and rear of the boot – if the boot hits you in the calf, you can try removing this piece, which is normally attached with Velcro or a screw.
One more thing - make sure your boots stay warm on the way to the mountain by keeping them in the passenger compartment of your car or using a heated boot bag - boots that travel in the trunk of your car start the day cold and are hard to put on when you get to the ski area.
This is evo. We are a ski, snowboard, wake, skate, bike, surf, camp, and clothing online retailer with physical stores in Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, Whistler, and Snoqualmie Pass. Our goal is to provide you with great information to make both your purchase and upkeep easy.
evo also likes to travel to remote places across the globe in search of world-class powder turns, epic waves, or legendary mountain biking locations through evoTrip Adventure Travel Trips. Or, if you prefer to travel on your own, check out our ski & snowboard resort travel guides and mountain bike trail guides.
Still have questions? Please call our customer care team at 1.866.386.1590 during Customer Care Hours. They can help you find the right setup to fit your needs.