The First Boot and The Fitting: Properly fitting quality Skis boots are probably the most important piece of equipment when you go skiing even more so when you are starting out skiing for the first time. A good fitting ski boot should hold your foot and leg in a set position to prevent really bad breaks and secondly restrict foot and ankle twisting inside the boot. Because of said limitations you can experience various symptoms such as pins and needles, deadening of feet or blisters. These ailments will be suffered to a much higher degree where the quality of material used to make the boot is sub-standard
Unless you are rich enough to replace £400.00 skis boots every twelve weeks or so, you'll need to buy your first boots from a ready to wear range, such as Salomon or Raichle etc. These boots are not foam moulded like the bespoke version,(see further down page) and are best fitted by a specialist ski shop as most fitters would recommend that you stand or walk in the boot for over 1/2 hour or so, to see what restrictions you may feel wearing them, and how they affect your feet and circulation. Bespoke Skis Boots: The best type of boots are the kind designed to the contours of your feet. These are fitted in two stages. The first is to create a base that moulds to the shape of your foot. You stand on a sort of foam material which is heated up and then moulds to the exact shape of your arch, ball and toes.
The second stage is to cut the base to the size of your foot, insert it into a generic inner boot, which you stand in as foam is forced into special tubes inside the boot, this then moulds to your unique foot shape.
The only problem with this type of fitting is the price as a moulded inner boot puts the cost up to around £400 or more, although you do gain from getting the best possible fit and it can really boost your skiing proficiency.
Boots, like skis are provided for the varying ability levels, so as you progress in skill you move up the range. The "off the shelf" boots. should match your ability level for a few weeks skiing. However when you become relatively expert you would probably be better with an expert boot which is designed to move in a different way than a beginner boot helping to perfect moves such as carving at high speed.
When buying your boots from a specialist ski shop the assistant should have the knowledge to help you to decide which boots match your budget, ability and feet.