Alpine ski boots

Alpine ski boots on Ekosport

Skiing at high speed requires a purchase of high performance alpine ski boots. This allows you to channel your power while maintaining perfect control. The alpine ski boot category consists of Salomon ski boots, Rossignol ski boots for men and women and a range of children's ski boots. These boots offer the best performance on the snow.

The ski boot, a weak link in a skier's equipment

Buying alpine ski boots is often not taken seriously enough by skiers. By observing ski slopes, one can easily notice those who don’t have comfortable ski boots. This is far from being the skiers’ first concern. They prefer to have a nice helmet, an avalanche backpack or ski touring bindings. However, getting comfortable ski boots is an absolute must to spend enjoyable days on the snow.

The ski boot was invented by Bob Lange in the 60s. This first boot consisted of a plastic shell with an inner boot and a sole. These elements contribute to the comfort of the skier's foot. Over the years, Salomon ski boots, Rossignol ski boots, Lange ski boots and all the other ski boots from major brands have been perfected. Whether you are an amateur or an expert, the purchase of alpine ski boots must be meticulous.

How to choose your ski boots ?

The first element to take into consideration is the shell. Shells are of varied volumes and are defined by their rigidity called flex index. There are three types of shells : wallet, rear entry and front opening. The lower the flex, the more tolerant and fairly comfortable the shoe. The higher the flex, the more rigid and reactive the shoe will be. The shells with front opening offer the possibility of adapting the flex of the shoe to the interchangeable tongue. Wallet shells are very common.

The second criterion is the size of the ski boot. For maximum comfort, you should generally go for the next size up. The common rule is that you should not let the foot touch the end of the liner so that there is no point of compression. The third criterion is the liner of the ski boot. It is often made of foam in order to provide maximum comfort.

The foam is thermoformable so it adapts to the foot’s anatomy during practice. The density of the foam on the liner is decisive. A soft foam guarantees a high level of comfort whereas if it is dense, it is more precise. The last criterion is the type of buckles. There are boots with two or even up to 5 aluminium or plastic buckle hooks. The hooks can be simple, with micro-metric adjustment or with macro-metric adjustment. You can also find more technological or heated shoes.

A few last tips on choosing your ski boots

You should choose a type of a boot that is suitable for your practice. Footwear volume is a key factor to take into account. Once the shoe is put on, stand with your knees gently bent.

You should not overlook the socks either. They evacuate moisture, odors, bacteria and they relieve support areas.

The tightening of the shoe must be homogeneous and very firm so that the calf is held firmly.