Bootfitting

Here is how to properly select the right size boot:
1. Remove the liner
2. Step into the shell with a thin ski sock on
3. Slide your foot to the front so your toes just barely touch
4. Measure the space behind your heel

1cm = high performance race fit. I do not suggest going down this road unless you are 100% sure of what you need. This fit is higher performance but will come at the cost of some warmth and will most likely need some stretching & grinding to feel comfortable.

2cm = normal fit. I suggest this size if you do no know what you need. It will be snug for most people (provided the shape & volume of the shell is also the right thing for you).

3cm = too big. Never buy a boot with this shell fit.

And no matter what size you end up going with, always get an aftermarket footbed. A footbed creates the proper interface between your flexible foot and the rigid shell so that your foot is held in a comfortable, efficient position. Without a footbed, your foot will slide around causing fit issues, discomfort, and inefficient skiing. Without a footbed, you are wasting your time worrying about what boot to get.

Thanks for the quick reply. So the measured length of your foot is not important but rather the distance between your heel and the back of the boot?

DowsesWaxThanks for the quick reply. So the measured length of your foot is not important but rather the distance between your heel and the back of the boot?

A measurement on a foot sizer is important, but it is only a starting point. It should never be the deciding factor of what boot you take. Each brand has to interpret what constitutes a size 26, so they are all going to be a little different. Some will be bigger, some will be smaller. The only way to know if a specific boot is the right size for your specific foot is to do a shell check and compare that space to your ideas of comfort, foot hold, warmth, and how many days you will be in the boot.

A 1cm fit should only be for aggressive skiers who know they will sacrifice a little bit of comfort & warmth for more performance. They have been in a 2cm fit before and were not happy with the amount of foot hold that such a fit provided. If you are skiing less than 15 days per year, this is definitely not the solution for you.

The other thing people should remember is that cuffs are shared between 2 shell sizes (shell 26 uses a cuff that is for 26 and 27, shell 25 uses a cuff that is for 24 and 25). So when you aggressively downsize, there is a good chance that now the cuff will be lower on your leg and this might not be as comfortable. This is especially true when going from size 26 to size 25. Size 25 (while it is a taller shell than size 24) basically uses a 24 cuff. This may be fine for people, but maybe not- it just depends on your leg length.

I told the fitter they I ski very aggressively so this could be his reasoning. I'm going to be skiing around 100 days next season at Jackson Hole which has some pretty intense terrain. Do you think I would be wise to follow his recommendation and size down? I do want to be comfortable but I also want to have a high performing fit, but not at the cost of foot pain going down.

DowsesWaxI told the fitter they I ski very aggressively so this could be his reasoning. I'm going to be skiing around 100 days next season at Jackson Hole which has some pretty intense terrain. Do you think I would be wise to follow his recommendation and size down? I do want to be comfortable but I also want to have a high performing fit, but not at the cost of foot pain going down.

Go back to the bootfitter, and buy the boot that he puts on your foot. Don't ask to try a certain brand or model, just get the one he says will work for you.

I never said that I asked to try a specific brand or model. When I got my foot measured by a bootfitter a couple months ago (ended up just buying liners) she told me that she would fit me in a 26.5. That is why I am wondering why another bootfitter wants me in a 25.5.

DowsesWaxI never said that I asked to try a specific brand or model. When I got my foot measured by a bootfitter a couple months ago (ended up just buying liners) she told me that she would fit me in a 26.5. That is why I am wondering why another bootfitter wants me in a 25.5.

Go back to the boot fitter and do a shell check in the 25.5 and see how much space you've got like how onenerdykid said.

I'd probably guess that you'd want to be in the smaller size if you're skiing aggressively (skiing fast, dropping cliffs, hitting jumps, etc) you get a tighter higher performance fit in a smaller boot however it is impossible to tell whether you should be in 25 or 26 with the information provided.

NegromancerGo back to the boot fitter and do a shell check in the 25.5 and see how much space you've got like how onenerdykid said.

I'd probably guess that you'd want to be in the smaller size if you're skiing aggressively (skiing fast, dropping cliffs, hitting jumps, etc) you get a tighter higher performance fit in a smaller boot however it is impossible to tell whether you should be in 25 or 26 with the information provided.

this might be a dumb question but how are you supposed to measure the space in the shell? i can't imagine how you'd fit a measuring device in there. i don't think i could eyeball the difference between 1 or 2 cm.

DowsesWaxthis might be a dumb question but how are you supposed to measure the space in the shell? i can't imagine how you'd fit a measuring device in there. i don't think i could eyeball the difference between 1 or 2 cm.

Doing a shell check by yourself is honestly not that easy. Someone who is trained to do this will either have a good feel for it (based on how many fingers can fit behind your heel) or they have special dowels to check the space.

onenerdykidDoing a shell check by yourself is honestly not that easy. Someone who is trained to do this will either have a good feel for it (based on how many fingers can fit behind your heel) or they have special dowels to check the space.

I went to a reputable bootfitter today and tried on a couple of boots and I think I'm gonna go back this week and pull the trigger on a pair of Salomon X Max 130 boots. The only thing I'm curious about is that its described by Salomon as a frontside on-piste racing boot. Does the fact that its called a frontside or piste boot mean that it will have lesser performance in soft snow and powder skiing? I'm inclined to think that its just a marketing term and the only thing that would categorize a sidecountry resort boot would be a walk mode/rubber soles for bootpacking. I'm going to be doing very little groomer hard snow skiing with the boot and it will be a boot that I will be skiing in lift-serviced terrain with short bootpacks (

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not sure why its getting cut off. Finishing sentence was that ill be usign it for

short boot backs under 30m and looking for backcountry like terrain in bounds like cliffs, chutes, powder stashes etc. are these terms just for marketing?

No just because they call it a frontside piste race boot doesn't mean it won't be good in soft snow. I ski race boots and normal all mountain boots everywhere and hike in race boots often with no problem. If they fit you well the will be fine.

Here is a review for Xmax 130: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2015-2016-salomon-x-max-130 he went heli skiing in them.

DowsesWaxThe only thing I'm curious about is that its described by Salomon as a frontside on-piste racing boot. Does the fact that its called a frontside or piste boot mean that it will have lesser performance in soft snow and powder skiing?

No- it's mostly marketing. If the boot works for you, it will ski all types of terrain that you can ski.

However, you should ask yourself: does this boot have the right features for me? For example, the 130 does not have replaceable grip pads- it has a solid sole. So, if you are looking for traction or long term durability, this will cause a problem because if the sole wears down, it will not fit properly into bindings. It's also a bit slippery.

To solve this, you can diligently wear things called "cat tracks" to protect the bottoms of your boots. Or you can have 3mm lifters installed (which is basically like adding a 3mm grip pad to the sole) but this will add more costs to your boot and not all boot-fitters can perform this work. You could switch to the X-Max 120 which uses replaceable 4mm grip pads. This won't really improve traction/grip, but it will more easily solve the wear & tear problem associated with the 130.