How to choose ski boots?

If you love extreme sports and cannot imagine your life without snow-capped mountain peaks, then you definitely had to choose ski equipment. Every professional skier knows that in the mountains every little thing matters, and the right clothes and shoes can save you from injury.

With particular care, experts advise to look closely at ski boots. It is they who can provide maximum comfort even with many hours of being on the mountain peaks. True, it is incredibly difficult to choose really high-quality ski boots, especially if you don’t really know how they differ from each other and what function they perform.

By design, ski boots resemble a walnut. A plastic shell that provides protection and durability hides a soft and insulated boot underneath that keeps the foot warm even in the coldest conditions. Few people know that this type of boots is divided into categories.

First of all, you should decide on your own level of training and type of skating. If you are still at the stage of getting used to ski loads, then it is better to give preference to boots for beginners.They are softer in texture, light in weight and do not create additional load in the process of riding, therefore, they contribute to faster and better learning. In addition, they are quite simply regulated in the "walking" and "skating" modes.

Freeride boots are the best choice for those who prefer to ride on loose snow and unprepared snowy peaks.

This type of footwear is characterized by sufficient rigidity to withstand sudden changes in temperature and intense loads. Metal fasteners, one of which is turned inside out, prevent the penetration of snow into the boot during the descent.

For those who like to test their strength only on prepared slopes, carving boots are suitable. They perform well in situations where you need to make sharp and fairly accurate turns. They have good elasticity and excellent shock absorption, and this allows you to keep your balance well in the most unforeseen situations.

Freestyle boots are ideal for real extreme sportsmen and lovers of tricks. They are equipped with an additional shock-absorbing sole, which makes them stable and durable. Metal fasteners and plastic sheathing allow the boots to perfectly endure even the most extreme temperature changes.

The main function of ski boots is to provide maximum comfort when skiing and at the same time maneuverable, that is, capable of quickly and accurately transferring force to the skis.

At the same time, you need to understand that shoes from different categories perform this function in different ways. If the shoes for beginners are not designed for skiing at high speeds and are quite comfortable, then the main function of boots for professionals is to ensure the safety of the skier at the expense of his comfort.

That is why you should choose ski boots based on several indicators.

This indicator must be taken into account with a focus on its own weight - the higher it is, the stiffer the boot should be. A buttoned boot should not fold under you when you press down with your shin. If this happens, then you should choose shoes harder.

According to this indicator, special ski socks are usually chosen, which experts also advise wearing with shoes. Socks are made of a special elastic material, so in the process of putting on and walking, they do not form any folds at all. Wearing these socks with boots ensures greater durability of the shoe and contributes to increased comfort.

The first thing to consider when buying a boot of a suitable size is that the inner boot should completely repeat the shape of the skier's leg. The foot should be measured to the nearest millimeter before trying on, and the boot should sit tight, rigid and secure, like skates or roller skates. The width of the boot is selected already strictly individually, but keep in mind that a certain stiffness is always felt in new boots.

This is an indicator that corresponds to the distance between the walls of the shoe in its widest zone.It is important to remember that shoes from different manufacturers with the same last width can feel different, so you will have to measure shoes. Sometimes, the width of the boot is adjusted with elastic straps. You can also change the width of the shoe by thermoforming the plastic base.

Such models of shoes should be selected taking into account the structure of the female leg. Since the figure in the pelvis and hips in women is significantly different from the figure of men during the squat, their center shifts back more. That is why the cuffs of women's boots are more tilted forward. Models of ski boots for women are made more comfortable and lighter because they rarely engage in high-speed skiing.

For people who prefer to simply enjoy the snow-capped peaks and not really go into the hardships of skiing, boots are suitable, the type of construction of which the manufacturers have nicknamed the “convertible”. This is when the outer shell of the boot is not completely closed with a hard plastic "shell", and the boot itself is warm, soft and comfortable.

Experts unanimously argue that the best boots are those that are selected correctly in accordance with the level of training. This means that if you are new to skiing and want to get to the next level quickly, then stiffer boots should not be chosen.