Boots. They’re more important than skis. In fact they’re the most important component of your setup. Think of it this way: If you’re wearing decent-fitting boots appropriate to your skill level, even crappy skis will turn for you. But if your boots make you feel like a geisha doing a walkathon, you’ll be in the base-lodge bar by 10 a.m.
Unfortunately, boots can be one of the most confusing pieces of gear for skiers to understand. Relax. It’s not rocket science. Fit is personal. Different boots fit different feet. All you have to do is find a knowledgeable salesperson at a good boot shop. They’ll get you in the right boot and be able to make the necessary tweaks to your boots to get your feet in their comfort zone. “Without properly fitting boots, you can’t ski with good technique. They should fit like a firm handshake. Your toes should touch the front while you’re sitting, but then pull back a bit when you stand up. When a boot is too big, the foot shifts and you’ll get toe and shin bang. Go to a specialty ski shop, because they often invest in special training for their bootfitters” says Galena Gleason of Telluride Bootdoctors.
In the next 10 slides we look at some common bootfitting issues and their solutions.

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