How To Use A Ski Boot Fitter

Buying boots for skiing or snowboarding is an expensive undertaking, so you should know how to use a ski boot fitter to your advantage. An experienced ski boot fitter is not some kid filling in for the boss man during lunch. An experienced ski boot fitter is almost like a doctor who can look at your feet and ask the right questions to steer you towards the right pair of boots.

1. Research. To find the right ski boot fitter, you will have to ask the right questions. Your friends might all swear by different boots but who sold them the boots? Yelp is a good place for random reviews but a guy with a pair of boots he has used without complaint for more than three seasons is a great start. Sporting good stores sell boots but you are usually better off going to a place that specializes in ski equipment for the expert advice.
2. Salesman. Ski boot fitters are usually patient because it is not uncommon for people to try on a dozen boots, hang around for an hour and then walk away five minutes after the store closes. If the ski boot fitter seems rushed or is steering you towards high end products even though you are a beginner, remember, you are certainly not obligated to buy anything. Check out a few shops to feel out the ski boot fitters and ask them about their experience. Are they new? Been doing this for years? Do they even ski? The last one sounds lame but there are more than a few places that will confidently sell you anything without a lick of experience.
3. Knowledge. A good ski boot fitter knows feet and your body’s mechanics in relation to skiing. After you tell them your shoe size, they will probably ignore you and start measuring your feet themselves. It is good if they ask how tall you are, your weight, age and skiing experience. It is even better if they ask where you ski and what sort of conditions you will be expecting.
4. Looking smart. After the ski boot fitter starts giving you recommendations, try and narrow down your selection by asking what his or her opinions are on certain boots in regards to your feet. One smart thing do when selecting boots is to try them for ten minutes and then take them off and walk around. This allows your feet to return to their normal, non-swollen size. Now put the boots on again for another ten minutes and feel free to strike some ski poses if you are not easily embarrassed. This actually helps size the boots correctly because it makes it easier to find the hard spots the boot fitter can help you with.
5. Afterwards. A good boot fitter will not make any drastic changes to the boot until after you have tried them out on the slopes. Their job is to make sure the boots fit properly so you can have a safe time skiing. When you have had your fun, go back and talk to the boot fitter about any discomfort or problems you have noticed.