How to choose ski boots

Our skiing abilities and the overall feeling of a day on the slopes are fundamentally influenced by the boots we ski in. Ski boots are the link between us and the skis and therefore have a big influence on the handling of the skis. In this article, we will discuss how to choose the right ski boots. Then in the next article we'll give you tips on how to test your ski boots.

If you still don't know what to do, remember that we're not just an online shop. We will be happy to welcome you directly in our brick-and-mortar shop, where our ski specialists will help you choose the right ski boots. When you shop with us, you have a 60-day return period, so you don't have to worry if you choose the wrong size.

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Category of ski boots

When choosing your ski boots, you first need to decide what discipline or style of skiing is closest to your heart. You can then choose the appropriate category of ski boots accordingly.

The most common ski boots are pure downhill boots or all-mountain boots. More specific categories are freeride and freestyle boots, or skialp boots.

For casual skiing, downhill boots, which are mainly designed for skiing on groomed slopes, come into consideration. All-mountain boots, on the other hand, are designed not only for groomed slopes but also for off-piste use. Allmountain models can be just as well equipped, but tend to be a little softer and are suitable for the recreational sport concept of any skiing discipline.

The second step in the selection process is to assess your skiing skills and ambitions. According to these criteria, ski boots can be divided into:
- recreational,
- sport
- racing,
and in particular according to the hardness of the skeleton, which is measured by the flex index.

Recreational ski boots

Boots for recreational skiers have a flex up to approximately 80 and are characterized by a wide chimney and heel, wider in the ankles and in the instep area. Of course, they are also wider in the front part of the skeleton (104 mm or more in size 26.5 MP). Recreational ski boots also have a thicker and more comfortable inner boot.

Recreational ski boots

Sport-recreational ski boots

Boots for sport-recreational skiers are generally narrower in all dimensions mentioned and are among the more suitable candidates for most skiers. Their flex ranges from 80 to 95 (you will also find models with higher flex) and the width of the front part of the skeleton is 102 mm. You can see models in this category in the sports ski boots section.

Sports ski boots

Sports-performance and racing ski boots

Models designed for experienced skiers who spend more time on the slopes and need perfect support. The boots are already quite narrow in the heel and front, with a lower instep and higher chimney. The flex of these models reaches values of 100 to 130 and the skeleton width ranges from 97 to 100 mm. The inner bootie of the racing boot is thin and does not provide much comfort or insulation. Suitable models can be found in the racing ski boots section.

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Flex index of ski boots

The flex index, or just flex, indicates how much force is needed to bend the chimney of the boot forward. The higher the flex index, the harder the boot is and the more force is needed to bend the chimney.

A stiff boot with a high flex index provides an efficient and precise transfer of forces and all movements to the ski. It is therefore particularly suitable for racing and performance skiing.

Soft boots, on the other hand, provide more comfort and are more tolerant of potential skiing errors.

The Flex Index is not an exact value, each manufacturer determines it indicatively according to its own different criteria. Even a comparison of two models of the same brand with the same flex index value but from different model lines may be different for some brands.

A model designed for performance riders will be approximately 25% stiffer but also narrower in all critical skeletal areas (heel, ankle, instep) than a model for recreational skiing.

Indicative flex of ski boots:

Flex selection according to rider weight

It is not only the strength of the rider and the aggressiveness of his style that contributes to the flex of the ski boot chimney, but also his weight. This is why heavier riders may choose boots with a higher flex than would be appropriate for their skills.

Designation of ski boots (men's, women's and children's models)

There are significant differences between men's, women's and children's ski boots.

Children's ski boots in particular offer a softer flex, as children naturally weigh less, so do not need such hard boots. Read about their appropriate selection in the article how to choose children's ski boots.

Women's ski boots

The women's ski boot models respect the differences in female anatomy and therefore fit women better, offering them more comfort and a better skiing experience. The main differences from the men's models include a different skeleton shape in the foot area, a narrower heel, a lower and more recessed chimney at the back (due to the lower calf muscle involvement).

The flex of the boots for women skiers is usually slightly lower than for men's models, but even with women's models you can choose between recreational, sport and racing women's ski boots.

Ladies will certainly welcome the more insulated inner boots and last but not least they will appreciate the elegant typically feminine designs. If you are a truly winter-loving skier, we also have special heated ski socks or boot heaters for you.

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Number of buckles

Ski boots can have one to four buckles. One- and two-buckle boots are found only in the category of children's ski boots. Here, the lower number of buckles does not matter because children do not exert so much force when skiing that they need to fix their foot with more buckles.

Until recently, only a four-buckle standard was acceptable in higher quality adult ski boots. Today, however, in addition to four-buckle ski boots, there are also three-buckle boots on the market that meet the highest requirements for perfect fitting of the foot in the boot. These models use a new position of the middle buckle, which is placed across the instep at a 45-degree angle. This perfectly pushes the heel into the heel bed of the boot and prevents it from lifting, which is crucial when skiing.

Correct boot size

The last and probably the most important thing is choosing the right size of ski boots. Count on the fact that every ski boot will always come out a little bit. So never choose boots that are too big. This is the most common mistake that can ruin your skiing experience.

The ideal way to determine the appropriate ski boot size is to have your feet measured with the Sidas Feetbox 3D scanner, which will measure your feet in 3D to within 1 mm, but also determine the type of arch of your foot. Plus, it can virtually try on the ski boots it has in its database, leaving you with, say, 2-3 of the most suitable models to try on physically.

We go into detail about choosing the right size to match your skeleton shape and trying on ski boots properly in our article How to try on ski boots properly, and full details about the Sidas Feetbox 3D scanner here.

What else we can do

We are not just a shop, but we offer a comprehensive ski boot service. We make and modify sports boot liners. If your ski boots are giving you a hard time, we can pull or grind them out. Our bootfitters also build custom boots from the Sidas range. You can choose the skeleton, the boot and the inner liner and everything is customized directly to the shape of your feet and legs. We also have a full range of accessories and add-ons for the boots.

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