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Doc's Ski Haus - Ski Store Los Angeles | Snowboard Store Los Angeles > Snowboard Boot Fitting
Choosing Snowboard Boots
When looking to purchase a new pair of snowboard boots, sizing is the most crucial element to making sure you make the correct investment for your feet!
There are many things to consider when choosing what boot will best suit your riding style and ability. Please consider the following:
How do you want to lace your boots?
- Conventional Laces
- Speed Zone Lacing System from Burton
- Independently lace your upper and lower zones
- Tighten laces with the ease to two pull tabs and easy / functional locking device.
- FAST
- Boa Technology
- Micro Adjustablecable lace
- Single Boa and Double Boa (Upper and Lower Zone)
Do you want a soft of stiff boot?
- A softer boot allows for more lateral and horizontal movement for the rider. Commonly better for Beginners/Intermediate Riders, Park/Rail Riders, Powder Riders, etc.
- A stiffer boot provides added rigidity to the boot to enhance edge to edge response, edge drive and leverage. Commonly Intermediate/Advanced Riders, All Mountain Free Riders, Half Pipe/ Super Park, etc.
After determining which type of boot you might want, it is important to make sure you are properly sized and fitted to assure you get into the correct boot and especially the correct size! Please note that we recommend not wearing a skirt when coming in for a boot fitting. While you may elicit some smiles, we really do want you to be comfortable and unhindered in your movements, to make sure the fit is right.
To begin, there is only one correct way to determine what size boots you should try on and that is, of course, to measure BOTH feet. It is important to measure both feet because in some cases people might have one slightly larger foot and it is ALWAYS important for the customer and boot fitter to know if that is the case.
Thanks to the progression of snowboard boot technology, most snowboard companies (all big brands) build their boots using separate lasts for each individual size. This means that every boot size (including half sizes) has a specifically designed liner and shell to allow for the most precise boot fitting possible. With that in mind, when deciding which size to choose, we suggest that you choose the closest size in reference to the measurements taken at the beginning of the boot fit. Boots are designed to fit “True-to-Size,” not a half size small or a half size big . . . TRUE TO SIZE!
Whichever boot type you choose, it is important to try on two or three different boots that are similar, to establish which brand and/or model might fit your foot the best. After establishing the correct boot measurement it is important to use a non-cotton snowboard sock. Now that you are ready to try some boots on, it is important that you completely un-lace the boots’ outer shell as well as the inner liner. This will allow for your foot to slide in easily and comfortably. Keep in mind, when you initially put your foot in the boot, it might feel a little sung, THAT IS OK, you haven’t laced the boot yet.
Before pulling all the laces tight, make sure the tongue of the inner liner is straight and that your foot is comfortably sitting in the heal pocket of the boot. Tighten your inner boot lace, but remember that you do not need to make this particular set of laces too tight. Once your liner is properly
tightened, there are a couple of things that you can choose to do with the leftover laces:
- 1) Flex your leg forward and wrap the excess lace around the back of the liner,
- 2) Leave excess lace out and tuck behind tongue after the boot is completely laced.
Now it’s time to lace your boots. Some boots, however, don’t have conventional laces at all. The use of alternate lacing systems simply adds ease and adjustability, without the labor of having to physically tie your laces. Alternate lacing systems such as “Speed-Zone” allow the user to “independently lace the upper and lower zones” using the ease of two independent pull tabs, which allows for a completely customizable fit, flex and feel. The Boa System is a similar system where the user is able to micro adjust the tightness of the boots by simply twisting the Boa wheel located on the tongue of the boot. Regardless of what type of lacing system you might have, it is important to make sure that your boots are tight enough to provide you the necessary ankle support they were designed for.
Now that your boots are properly laced, it is time to make sure the boot actually does fit your foot perfectly.
For an easy way to test for correct sizing, follow the three step “Quick Fit Test:”
- Stand up tall with your feet spread slightly wider than shoulder width.
- When standing tall, you should be able to feel your toes in contact with the front of the boot.
- IMPORTANT
- You do not want your toes to be curling due to too much contact with the front of the boot. Consider sizing up (1/2) size.
- There should be absolutely no gap between the tip of your toe and the front of the boot. Any extra space will cause added discomfort and movement of your foot inside the boot. Consider sizing down (1/2) size.
Now with your feet flat on the floor and keeping your back straight, bend your knees either together or one at a time, whichever is easier for you (simulating your riding stance). As you do this, you will feel your toes slightly recede from the front of the boot, and your toes should go from touching the front of the boot to just slightly brushing the front of the boot.
If you are trying on multiple boots from different manufacturers, you cannot assume that the sizing is universal across all brands. Try on the different boots, repeating the “Quick Fit Test” above for each, and decide on the boot which fits your foot the best and is ultimately the most comfortable.
Your boot fit is now complete.
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