Outside Sports 2025 Ski Boot Buying Tips and Advice
Why Having the Right Ski Boots Is So Important
The first piece of ski hardware anyone should buy is their ski boots. Nothing else makes such a big impact on how much you enjoy skiing and how quickly you can improve your skills.
It's All About Comfort and Fit
If your boots hurt, skiing quickly becomes miserable. And if they don’t fit properly, not only will your control on the slopes suffer—you could even risk injury.
Thankfully, finding boots that are both comfortable and correctly fitted is easy at Outside Sports. Our world-class professional boot fitters specialise in matching your feet to the perfect pair of ski boots.
Here’s what they’ll need to know about you...
What is Your Current Skiing Ability Level?
A clear understanding of your current skiing ability helps our boot fitters in Wanaka and Queenstown recommend the best boot for your needs.
The easiest way to gauge your level is to think back to your last time on the snow—what colour trail did you feel most confident on? Every ski field uses a colour-coded trail map, like this one from The Remarkables, near our Queenstown stores:
After finding out your skiing ability the next thing that our boot fitters will want to evaluate is your foot. One of the reasons we stock so many different brands of ski boots is that some brands fit some people’s feet better than others. For example the classic jandal wearing Kiwi paddlefooted skier often ends up in an Atomic Hawx boot, because that range features a model with very wide last and roomy toe box.
The volume of your foot has an influence too. If you have a high instep that means you have what boot fitters refer to as a high-volume foot and you’ll space to accommodate that.
And all of that means you shouldn’t go boot shopping with a specific boot or boot brand in mind. That’s irrelevant. It’s all about whichever boot fits your foot best.
Ski Boot Flex Ratings
You’ll often see numbers on ski boots—usually ranging from 60 to 130 or even 140. These refer to the boot’s flex, or how stiff it is. Lower numbers mean a softer, more forgiving boot, which is ideal for beginners. Higher numbers indicate stiffer boots, preferred by advanced and expert skiers who need more precision and responsiveness.
However, flex ratings aren’t standardised—a 90 flex in one brand might feel stiffer than a 100 in another. So, don’t worry too much about the number. Instead, trust your friendly boot fitter at Outside Sports to help you find the right flex for your foot and skill level.
Here’s a general guide to ski boot stiffness and who each range suits:
Snug vs Squishy
As you move into the intermediate level, you might need to trade a little comfort for added control. But don’t worry—properly fitted boots shouldn’t hurt, even if they feel a bit snugger around your heel. That closer fit makes a big difference when it comes to precision and ski control.
Expert Custom Boot Fitting at Outside Sports
Parts of a Ski Boot
The Difference Between Mens and Womens Ski Boots.
There is a difference in men's and women's boots due to the shape of the lower leg. Women’s calf muscles extend lower down than mens, which requires having a slightly different contour in the rear of the boot cuff to get a comfortable fit. Women’s feet also tend to be a bit narrower than men’s in any given size, which means using a narrower last (the mold used to shape the boot) for better support and fit.
Ski Boot Sizing
Ski boots aren’t sized like shoes. Ski boots use the Mondo Point System. A 26 Mondo boot is around a US men’s size 8 and a US women’s size 9. But again Mondo size isn’t strictly standardised across different brands – and foot width and volume come into the fit equation too. You’ll have to try on several pairs to see what’s closest to your actual foot size.
Boot Sole Length (BSL)
You see a three digit number moulded somewhere on the sole or lower part of ski boots. On most adult ski boots it will fall somewhere in the range between 275 and 325. That is the total length of the sole in millimetres and includes the binding lugs at the toe and heel. If you ever go to a ski demo like the ones Outside Sports has every year at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona, the BSL is the number the demo person will need to know to adjust the binding to fit your boot – not the Mondo size.
Why You Should Wear Genuine Ski Socks
Some people think snow’s cold so you should wear thick woolly socks. Bad idea. Thick socks just bunch up and create uncomfortable pressure points, and also impede blood circulation making your feet actually feel colder. Purpose designed ski socks are technical apparel designed to wear with ski boots. The best ones are made of merino with extra reinforced grippy material at the heel to help lock your foot into the correct position, and extra padding on the shin for more comfort. Outside Sports has a giant range of quality ski socks from Sidas, Icebreaker, Mons Royale, Smartwool, Lenz and other great brands.
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At Outside Sports We Guarantee a Great Fit
Our boot fitters are dedicated to making you as happy as you can be with your new ski boots. That’s why if your buy ski boots at Outside Sports we’ll work with you and your boots to adjust and tweak the fit until you’re completely satisfied with them.
Summary - Find Your Perfect Ski Boot with Us
The right ski boots make all the difference—not just in how much you enjoy your time on the slopes, but also in how quickly you improve. That’s why we believe the best way to buy ski boots is in person, with expert guidance from one of our professional boot fitters at our stores in Queenstown and Wanaka.
