How to choose the size of your ski boots?

You might think that choosing a ski is a skier's biggest challenge. Yet, without appearing to be, the ski boot is one of the most important parts of your equipment. It is the link between your movements and the skis. Model, material, comfort: to each his criteria. But if there is one thing you can't compromise with, it's the size. Too big, your foot floats: impossible to control the skis. Too small and you'll be out of the slopes in the first half hour with great pain. So, to choose the right size of ski boots, follow our pieces of advice.

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Mondopoint, the size of alpine ski boots

24, 26, 28... ski boots seem a little small? Nothing surprising, because their size is given in mondopoint. This has nothing to do with your usual size in sneakers.

The mondopoint, what's that? It is a standardized unit of measurement that corresponds to the length of your foot in cm. So no need to look for a correspondence with your everyday shoes. It is preferable to measure your foot. To do this, you can use a pedometer. Otherwise, you can simply put your foot on a sheet of paper, mark the heel and the longest toe, and measure the space between the two marks on the sheet of paper.

In order to take into account the thickness of the ski boot, it is recommended to add 0.5 cm to your measurement.

Once the foot is measured, you need to estimate its width. Remember to look carefully at both feet, as one foot is usually wider than the other. Depending on the width of your foot, you'll choose:

• A 97 to 100 mm shell for thin feet;
• Between 100 and 102 mm for so-called "medium" or "standard" feet;
• Up to 102 or 104 mm for wide to very wide feet.

Other than your anatomy, you may opt for one width over another to improve your performance or comfort. Indeed, confirmed skiers who rush down the slopes all day long, one after another, may be looking for precision, even if it means losing a little comfort. With this in mind, you can try boots designed for feet that are thinner than yours. At the other end of the line, there are skiers who are looking for comfort above all. In this case, you may want to choose boots that are a little wider so you don't feel too squeezed. A few millimeters can make a real difference!

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The insole

All commercially available ski boots come with an insole. The opposite would be surprising. Yet, did you know that this sole is removable and can be replaced with a sole more suited to your body shape?

For example, you can re-equip your shoes with so-called "volume" insoles that are available in different thicknesses. By changing the sole to a thicker one, you'll be able to shave off the few missing millimeters for a perfect fit. In addition, a thicker sole will provide better comfort, more warmth and more comfortable support.

Other insoles will give you a better fit for your foot arch with three options: low, medium or high.

To take it a step further, you can also opt for custom molded insoles, which is part of bootfitting. Bootfitting is a molding technique designed to transform a "standard" ski boot into a custom boot. The insole, the liner and the shell are modified to remove any pressure points or discomfort. This operation is performed in a specialized store, in your city as well as in the ski resort.

Finally, the quality of the liner plays on the comfort but also on the durability of your ski boot. The lower end boots, usually made of foam, tend to settle after a few years of use. A boot that fits you in the store may become too big after a few ski vacations. This is why it is necessary to take into account the evolution of the boot and anticipate its behavior over time.

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Ski boot sizing: secondary criteria

Measuring your foot in mondopoint and estimating your width will allow you to select the most suitable boots for your foot shape. Unfortunately, the work doesn't end there, as this doesn't take into consideration other criteria such as your volume (at the ankles and calves), protruding parts (the malleolus in particular) and the length of your shin.

First, there are two categories: men boots and women boots. The difference? The consideration of variations based on body type. Women would have a lower calf and thinner heel, as well as generally narrower feet. The women's ski boots incorporate these nuances to offer a wider boot top and a tighter heel part. Also, because women are generally smaller, the boot shaft is lower.

Men, on the other hand, have stronger feet, are usually taller and heavier. So the men range takes these generalities into consideration to offer wider and stiffer shoes. The upper is longer to accommodate their height so that the top of the boot reaches the mid-shin.

However, all of its modifications categorized by gender are only morphological modifications. If you are a woman, tall, hearty and with a wider foot, you will more easily find your happiness in the men's range. In the same way, the small size men with thin feet will go to the women's category, regardless of their gender.

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Trying on your ski boots properly

Trying is the essential step in choosing the right ski boots. Be patient, because a wrong choice can turn your next ski weekend into a real nightmare.

To try on ski boots, you must indeed take your time. Some boots will hurt as soon as you put them on, others will only trigger a subtle pain after several minutes, and others will seem perfect before declaring discomfort when flexing your knees. To make sure you don't get it wrong, wear each boot for at least ten minutes, more if you have the time.

The more rigorous you are in your selection (length, width, range), the faster the fitting will be. Only try on the pairs that best fit your anatomical criteria and are within your budget.

Put on the boot. To do this, you need to open the shell, pulling the tongue to the side and spreading the side parts as much as possible. Close the buckles halfway. If you have to tighten your hooks as much as possible to hold your foot, then the boot is too big. Note that the liner will get squeezed over the seasons, so you need to keep some notches in the boot's tightening for in a few years. Also, a buckle that is too tight will deform the shell and thus weaken the plastic over the long term.

At this point, if you're standing up straight, your toes should touch the tip of the boot. If they are curled up, it's too small! If they don't touch, stretch them out to see how far the tip is. Remember, if comfort is the goal above all else, then you can afford the thickness of the socks + 0.5 cm.

Now bend your knees and assume the skier's stance. This should move your foot back so that the heel is stuck to the back of the boot and the toes are no longer touching the tip. Try to lift the heel off the boot. If it does not move, it is good. All you have to do is wait and see if any pain or discomfort appears. Nothing? You've found your alpine ski boot pair!

While the mondopoint allows for greater standardization of sizes, choosing a ski boot in your size is not as easy as it seems. You will also have to take into account the width and volume of the foot as well as the general morphology (ankle, calf ...) to find the perfect pair.