How to Choose Comfortable Ski Boots for Women?

When we think about ski boots, the word comfortable is not one that usually comes to mind. Oftentimes we find that the cuff is too tight and cutting off our circulation. Other times our arch feels like it’s getting crushed without the boot feeling tight.

Definition of Comfortable Ski Boots for Women

When choosing ski boots, comfort is an important factor of course.

There are many reasons why a ski boot might not feel comfortable, and sometimes that’s just how it is. However, there are some things you can do to make your ski boots more comfortable.

There are many ways in which a women’s ski boot differs from a men’s. For starters, the top of the cuff height is shorter on a women’s boot. This shorter cuff height is designed because women typically have larger calves than men. The shorter cuff height allows the boot to be properly tightened down below the calf.

Why Women Shouldn’t Use Unisex Ski Boots?

In a men’s or unisex boot, many women find that the top cuff of the boot is too tight around their calf and too loose around their ankle. Ultimately this leads to poor performance or cutting off circulation to the foot. This adjusted height allows the boot to fit properly and snugly without cutting off circulation below.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the boot should feel tight when you try it on in the shop. Too often people end up sizing up when they’re in the shop because the initial fit on the boot feels tight. The boot should feel tight the first time you put it on because you haven’t broken it in yet. Buy your boots from a ski shop to support local business and have your new boot liners heat molded. Heat molding begins the process of breaking the boot into your foot. Next, you need to give your boots a few days to break in on the slopes as well.

When you choose a larger size ski boot in the shop, you’ll end up breaking your boot in so that it is too big. What I mean by this is as you break in the boot, you’ll start tightening the buckles more and crushing your foot. Once the boot is broken in, there is only so much you can tighten to get the boot to feel snug again. This will lead to your foot cramping up, your toes feel like they’re curling as if to hold on, and an uncomfortable pair of ski boots.

A Great Solution: Footbed

Something else to consider when buying a new pair of ski boots is having custom footbeds put in. A custom footbed, or at least a footbed better suited for your foot than the stock footbed, will give your foot better support.

It may take time for your footbeds to break in since your foot will not be used to the full contact support. Give the custom footbed time to break-in. Even though custom footbeds are more expensive, they last a long time; I’ve used the same pair for over 10 years in a few pairs of boots.