6 EASY STEPS TO BUYING YOUR SKI BOOTS

Step 1 - Initial Discussion
This is very important. Your boot fitter needs to know as much about your skiing history and ambitions as possible. Be prepared to give detailed answers to questions about your ability. “I’m an Intermediate” doesn’t give us enough information about how you ski.
Think about your preferred terrain, the speed you ski at, and the type of turns. Above all, be honest!
Tell your fitter about your past experiences with ski boots, especially any recurring problems. Discuss what type of fit would be best for you. If you expect ski boots to fit like a slipper or trainer you will be disappointed!
Finally, have in mind a realistic price bracket for your ability. This should allow for the addition of a supportive footbed. They will be recommended to you, as good footbeds are an essential part of a well-fitted boot.

Step 2 - Foot and Stance Analysis
We need to see your feet to assess their shape and match it to a boot. Your fitter will need to get hands on with your bare feet, and nice clean tootsies are better for everyone. What’s more, if your toenails are trimmed short you will achieve a better fit.
While inspecting your feet, we will point out any areas that may cause problems. An assessment of your alignment and foot-stability enables the correct footbed solution to be recommended for your needs.
Finally, you are measured. This is a guide, a starting point and is nothing to do with your shoe size. Don’t be surprised if it comes up smaller than you were expecting!

Step 3 - The Shell Check
Ski boots are comprised of 2 basic components: the innerboot, for comfort and control; and the shell, for transmission, performance and fit.
The shell governs how a boot fits, so a shell-check is needed with every boot you try - this will ensure it’s the correct size, shape, and volume for your foot. We check 4 points: length, ankle width, forefoot width, and instep height.
With your foot in the shell only and your big toe lightly touching the end, there should be approximately 10 – 20mm space behind your heel. We use about 10mm for a performance fit, and up to 20mm is our recreational fit. We do not recommend more than 20mm as this would lead to a loose-fitting boot after just a little skiing.
The rest of the check is done with the foot positioned centrally in the shell, a guide would be, 3 to 5mm space at each side of the forefoot, 5-10mm at each ankle bone, and 10mm above the instep, allows enough room to replace the innerboot and maintain a close and snug fit without over-tightening the buckles.

Step 4 - Trying On
To achieve a good fit you need quality thin ski socks with a proper heel and strategic padding. Please don’t arrive at the store armed with 10 year old, thick, baggy tube socks with penguins on.
Ski boots feel tight and a bit short at first, don’t panic, this is normal. The innerboot is designed to fit in length and volume, initially with no excess space. Fasten the buckles round the leg first, this will pull the foot back. A few ankle-flexes will push the heel further into the heel pocket producing a little more toe room. Keep the boots on for at least 15 minutes. During this time your body heat will soften the innerboot foam, allowing it to compress a little, creating more volume around your foot. You should always be aware that your toes are at the end of the boot, and that it’s a close and snug fit - as if someone has hold of your feet with both hands. There should be very little or no movement at the heel and ankle when replicating skiing movements, like flexing and rolling your feet. Remember that ski boots will increase in volume by about 15% with use, so don’t oversize.
Don’t over-tighten the buckles; they are there to close the boot, not to hold your foot still.
If you have issues with the fit, or it just doesn’t feel right, try a different boot in the same size. Remember that a well made custom-moulded footbed will support and stabilize your feet in the correct alignment, dramatically improving the fit. You should be trying 2 or 3 models of boot only. Don’t attempt to try every boot on display, you will only confuse yourself.
Ski boots are not sold on shoe size, colour or what a friend says is good. Talk to your boot-fitter and listen to their advice.

Step 5 - Boot Customisation
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of a well-made custom footbed to a successful boot fitting. In most cases it is the key to a successful fitting.
Heat-mouldable innerboots are standard with all our ski boots, and should be done to ensure an accurate fit. Moulding starts the bedding-in process. You need to ski for about 15 hours to bed a boot in properly.
Ski boots are designed to be adapted. This can take the form of shell stretching; internal shell grinding; and cutting, stretching and removing foam padding from innerboots. These options are available to customise the boot to your individual foot shape.

Step 6 - At Home
Wear your new boots and footbeds as much as possible before you go skiing. Wear them at home first, standing - not sitting. Once you have got more used to the fit, go and ski in them at your local dry slope or indoor snow slope. Sensations like tingling, numbness or some hot spots are to be expected to start with. If they don’t ease with use, take the boots into a store for some alterations. Even if you have a more painful problem, please don’t panic, in most cases it only takes a small change to fix it.

There is one thing you must remember, to have time – on the day of the fitting you should allow at least 11/2 hours in the shop. It is advisable to purchase your boots well in advance of going away.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Shell: Polyurethane (PU) shells are firm and responsive, suiting better skiers. PU Ether shells are slightly more performance orientated than PU Esther. Skiers using these types of boots are confident with their turns and want the boot to be precise and responsive.
Polyolefin shells (PE or PP) are softer and more forgiving, better suited to novice skiers who do not want their ski boot to react to every single move they make. Skiers using these types of boots will still not be perfectly balanced on skis, or entirely confident in all their turns.
Liner: All adult boots that Ellis Brigham stock use custom-moulding foams. This means they can be heated in store to help the inner boot mould better to individual foot shapes. It should be noted that this is not a replacement for ‘wearing a boot in’.
More performance-orientated liners have denser, firmer foams that take longer to mould to individual foot shapes. They last longer, give a positive foot hold, and feel precise. They are closer fitting and feature more exact pre-moulded shaping.
Comfort-orientated liners have softer foams and extra space in them. This results in a more immediate sense of moulding, though the liner won’t hold the foot as closely or tightly.
Flex: This relates to how much effort it takes to bend (flex) the boot forward. Boots with high flex numbers are much stiffer, meaning they are suited to skiers with all or some of these characteristics: fast and aggressive style, better skilled, or heavier weight. They feel very precise, driving skis extremely efficiently.
Softer flexing boots perform very well at slower and medium speeds, they make it easy to control skis, and are very comfortable to use.
Velcro strap: Also known as power strap. They help close the boot and keep the shin in good contact with the tongue of the liner. Generally, the bigger the strap the better it is at retaining the leg. Therefore, it takes more effort to use the boot, which will suit advanced skiers better.
Canting: This is really cuff alignment. It is a way of adjusting the cuff (the leg) of the boot in relation to the lower shell (the foot) of the boot. It allows the cuff to better match the angle of the skier’s leg in relation to their foot. Usually double canting enables more movement than a boot with single canting. Adjustment is not always necessary.

ELLIS BRIGHAM SUREFIT GUARANTEE
As we recognise that every foot is unique, we also recognise the need for unique ski boots. To achieve this, we provide free labour for customisation; whether it’s the day you buy the boots, after you have skied them the first time, or three years down the line. This free service includes stretching, grinding, and modifications such as softening or stiffening.

We want you to be happy with your ski boots, so we will always try to remedy any problems you may encounter. Very often, this will be resolved by a simple stretch or grind to the ski boot to slightly alter the shape; in all cases we will expect good quality ski socks and supportive footbeds to be used. Should we not be able to provide a satisfactory fit, then, providing the ski boots have been worn for less than two weeks (wear and tear will be taken into account), correct socks and supportive footbeds have been used, and there is a proof of purchase (to show the boots were bought from Ellis Brigham in the preceding 18 months), we will issue a credit note for 70% of the value paid. This guarantee is offered in addition to your statutory rights, and it is dependent on our advice being accepted during fitting. For further information, terms and conditions contact customer.services@ellis-brigham.com.

ELLIS BRIGHAM SUREFIT PROGRAMME
All the staff in our ski hardware departments are passionate about wintersports. This means they have a desire to see you with the correct products, and the enthusiasm for what they are doing will make your time spent in the shop more enjoyable. This interest in skiing is not enough on its own though. That’s why Ellis Brigham provide what we strongly believe is the most comprehensive training programme in the UK for ski hardware technicians. This involves seminars, coursework, practicals, and one-to-one coaching; focusing on all aspects of boot fitting. As a result, we have a team of committed and knowledgeable staff. They will ensure that the service and care you receive, in any Ellis Brigham store, is of the highest quality.