Ski Boots For Wide Feet buying guide

Whether you are an expert or a newbie to the skiing world, having a comfy pair of ski shoes allow you to have a fun experience while skiing.

If you have unusually broad feet, don't worry, you can still own a great pair and enjoy the activity. Don't think it is possible? Wait a second. Ski boots for wide feet are here to prove you wrong.

These shoes are fabricated to provide sung fit to people having broader feet. They provide adequate support and comfort during skiing.

However, you have to look into certain factors that define the product's usability and performance while selecting the best fit. You have to look into the design, style, size, last, and other additional properties.

A comprehensive buying guide saves you the hassle of looking up the information in different sources. You can quickly analyze them and pin down the best model that matches your requirements.

Before all this, let us give a quick look at a brief introduction to have a clear understanding of the product and then move further into this detailed guide.

What do you mean by Ski Boots For Wide Feet? Why do you need them?

Not all the people have the same foot shapes, so the manufacturers come up with ski boots having different widths. As the name suggests, ski boots for larger feet are specifically designed for people with wider feet.

These boots ensure a snug fit for your wide feet to perform efficiently on the snowy trails. If your feet are wider in shape, these ski boots will provide maximum comfort during skiing.

It does not matter whether you are an experienced skier or a beginner. The task of choosing the right pair of ski boots that can match your feet perfectly can be difficult.

So, you must get comfortable ski boots which are not narrow for your feet. Otherwise, it will have bad impacts on your performance and ruin your skiing experience.

Types of Ski Boots For Wide Feet

1. Alpine Ski Boots

Alpine ski boots or downhill ski boots are mainly made for alpine skis. They provide maximum security to the heel and toe.

The best thing about the Alpine ski boots is that they always keep your heels properly locked down. The boot liners can prevent the cold and vibrations from increasing the comfort of your feet.

Thermoplastic or a durable polymer like polyurethane, Pebax®, etc. is used to design these boots' outer shell.

Because of the pivot point located close to the ankle area, the upper shell can flex forward easily.

2. Telemark Ski Boots

Telemark ski boots are almost the same as the downhill ski boots, but the forefoot makes a big difference. These boots have a unique forefoot design known as bellows.

With this specially designed flex point, the skiers are allowed to perform the famous telemark turn.

Usually, boots are compatible with two types of bindings - either NN (Nordic Norm) or NTN (New Telemark Norm). You will find a "duckbill" style toe in NN boots. NTN boots are quite similar to the Alpine ski boots.

3. Alpine Touring Boots

Alpine touring includes both alpine skiing and telemark skiing. So, alpine touring boots come with both the walk mode and the tour mode to change according to your convenience.

You can flexibly flex the boots for ascents while touring is used for flat terrains with walk modes. The outsole of the shoes is made up of rubber for better traction.

Alpine touring bindings will help you to unlock your heels when traversing or ascending. Your heels will be locked down during descending.

4. Cross Country Ski Boots

Typically, cross country ski boots do not have much weight like the other types of ski boots. They are more lightweight and less bulky.

Traditional laces are used in many cross country ski boots, and they are designed with waterproof outer covers.

You will find five types of Nordic bindings, including NN, NNN, NNN-BC, SNS Profil, and SNS Pilot. The design of soles also depends on the style of bindings.

Things to deem while selecting ski boots for wide feet

Size

The size of ski boots for wide feet is one of the most critical factors that you must consider in the first place while choosing the shoes. Usually, people having wider feet get it challenging to find the right size of the boots for their feet. So, you must be careful before buying yours.

Usually, the ski boots' size is measured according to the feet' length, but the size will not be the same as your regular boots.

If you are buying these boots for the first time, it will be better to choose a size that is closer to your regular size, or you can go for a little bigger because the boots will compress when you start using them.

For the advanced skiers, ski boots with a smaller size can be a good option as they have stiffer flex. Also, they offer better control to perform conveniently on the trail.

Last

Last of the ski boots determines the width, so you must take this feature into consideration when you are about to buy the ski boots for wide feet. It is incredibly essential to look for the right fit that matches the shape of your foot perfectly.

Generally, last is measured by millimeters, and you will find a wide range of last that can accommodate wide, average, and narrow feet.

Therefore, if you want to have more comfort and better performance, you must select the footbed width carefully.

1. Narrow last

It ranges between 97-98 mm. It is appropriate for narrow feet with low volume. It will be narrow from the front to the middle of your foot.

2. Average last

It ranges between 100-102 mm. It provides a relaxed fit for the average feet.

3. Wide last

The range is more than 103 mm. It will be the right choice for people having large, wide volume feet.

Flex

The flex rating of the ski boots indicates the level of ease or difficulty when it comes to flexing the shoes in the forward's motion.

It will determine the stiffness of the ski boots for wide feet. So, you must check the flex of the shoes before making your purchase.

Boot flex can vary in a wide range from extremely stiff to extremely soft. For beginners, it will be better to have a softer feel that supports low speed. On the other hand, experienced skiers will need stiffer boots.

With a higher flex rating, the boots feel stiffer. There are several factors that are crucial to determining the appropriate boot flex for you. Your skill, weight, skiing style, etc. matter to choose the right flex.

The standard range of stiffness varies from 60 to 130. However, the flex rating is different for men and women.

Cuff Shape

The Cuff shape of ski boots plays a vital role in increasing the comfort of your feet.

It is needless to mention that choosing the right cuff shape of the ski boots for wide feet has paramount importance for the skiers having larger feet.

Usually, most of the manufacturers offer a wide range of options, especially for lower and larger calves.

You can also get adjustable cuffs, which can be expanded according to your needs so that you can have more room for better comfort.

Features

1. Liners

Ski boots for wide feet are designed with removable and soft liners, which are very useful to protect your feet from the toughness of the outer shell. They also work as insulators to keep your feet warm properly.

2. Heat-Moldable Shells

Some ski boots are available with heat-moldable outer shells. You can use a convection oven to mold the outer shell and customize the boot shell effectively.

3. Power Strap

You will find a velcro strap at the end of the cuffs. They are able to increase control and energy transmission when tightened. It can work as an extra buckle as well to reduce the gap between the boots and your legs.

4. Number of buckles

Typically, four buckle ski boots are considered as the standard choice for the adult skiers. But you should always check the fit in your shoes.

A good fit means you can get more stability even with fewer buckles. There are also ski boots designed with three and two buckles that are suitable for light touring.

5. Micro-Adjustable Buckles

If you consider this feature, you will not need to worry about a precise fit. It will help you to lengthen and shorten the buckles. Turn the buckle clockwise and anti-clockwise to have a tight and loose fit, respectively.

6. Cuff Alignment

There are some ski boots that come with adjustable upper cuffs. You simply need to adjust the rivets with the help of a wrench to attach the cuffs to the boot shell.

7. Rear Spoiler

It is placed between the shell and the liner. It helps to improve the forward lean. Also, it works effectively to decrease the gap between the shell and your legs. If you have thin legs, this feature will come in handy for you.

8. Ski Boot Footbeds

You will find the footbeds underneath the liners. You will rest your feet on the footbeds and then also provide support to contour your feet as well. Footbeds are useful to reduce different problems related to fit.

9. Ski Boot Canting

Changing determines the boot's adjusting alignments that will help you to improve your performance with advanced skills. Without having a perfect stance assessment and specific tools, you can not get a proper canton.

10. Walk Mode

It will be wise to look for a boot that is equipped with the walk mode so that you can transfer the default ski node to walk mode for better motion. This feature is mainly found in crossover boots because they are appropriate for both alpine and touring and ski areas.

11. Traction Soles

With the rubber soles, you will have a better grip to walk on ice, rock, and pavements. Grippy soles offer more reactions for additional security while you are hiking on the rocks. You should check whether the traction sole you are choosing is compatible with the boot bindings or not.

12. Interchangeable Soles

By having interchangeable soles, you are allowed to swap the soles. You can change the alpine soles to alpine touring soles or vice versa.

13. Adjustable Flex

Some ski boots are engineered with cuffs hardware so that you can accommodate the forward flex easily. Also, you are able to swap the tongue for more stiffness.

14. Shock Absorbers

You can see these padded features in the park-specific boots. If the ski boots are designed with padded spoilers, tongues, toes, and heels, they can reduce the shock in an effective way.

Design

The design of your wide ski boots is not supposed to be overlooked, but you should not give it more priority when you are selecting your ski boots.

There are several other crucial factors, including comfort, warmth, durability, performance, which are more important than the design and style when it comes to choosing the ski boots for larger feet.

It is highly recommended to consider the specific features even though you are looking for style and design. You should look for the buckles along with strap systems.

The buckle system that comes with a boot design will have a significant impact on your performance, so you should check it properly before buying your ski boots.

Budget

You must fix a budget before you buy the ski boots for wide feet. These boots come up with a wide range of prices, so if you do not decide your budget in advance, it will be challenging to narrow down your choices.

The cost of the wide ski boots differs from one manufacturer to others, which means you should remember how much money you want to invest in buying your ski boots.

Also, you should consider your skill level when you are going to choose your boots. It is no brainer that having an expensive model will help you to achieve better performance.

Expensive ski boots are designed with high-quality materials and advanced technologies, but you can also find durable boots at a cheaper price rate.

Skier Types

1. Beginner/Intermediate

Usually, beginner or intermediate skiers are more likely to prefer green and blue ski runs. They are also more comfortable on bunny slopes or groomed terrains.

As they are new in this field, they are in the process of learning new skills to get better every day. If you are a beginner skier, you should choose ski boots for wide feet very wisely.

It is crucial for them to look for softer to medium flex so that the boot can fit the wide feet comfortably for a day-long journey.

2. Intermediate/ Advanced

Intermediate skiers can run with more confidence than beginners. They enjoy medium-fast speed in different conditions such as moguls, steeper terrain, etc.

This is why you will need more control as well as precise steering of the ski boots. Intermediate/advanced skiers have blue and back diamond runs.

They can cruise both groomed terrain and off-trail terrain. It means they will need a medium flex so that the boots can provide them with better control in different situations.

3. Advanced/Experts

Advanced or expert skiers have more experience than other types of skiers. They are more aggressive in style and have the confidence to ski the mountains entirely in any conditions.

They are skilled enough to change their trails from the designated one to off-piste in different snow conditions such as deep powder, ice, moguls, crud, etc. So, it will be essential to find the boots with an incredibly stiff flex and snug fit.

Also, you can get aided by a boot fitter to downsize the volume and length of the boots so that it can increase the comfort of your feet.

Shell fit

Shell fit refers to how long the boot interior is, and with this measurement, you can quickly figure out whether your ski boots for wide feet are closer to the correct size or not.

What you will need to do is to remove the liners from the boot shell and then put in the boots without any shell. The best way to get the right size is to slide the foot forward to make sure that the longest toe has reached the end of the boot shell.

Now you just need to measure the distance from the heel to the rear of the boot shell. You can do this simply with your hands, or you can use a piece of wood. In the case of wood, you should make sure that you know the thickness of the wood.

If you take help from boot fitters, you will see them using a term, "fingers" to measure the length. However, it may not be perfect because everyone has a different finger size.

Generally, the standard size of a man's finger is 15 mm. According to this measurement, a "one finger" or "one-and-half-a-finger" can be a good fit for a good performance.

On the flip side, over two fingers fit is considered as too big and smaller fit than one finger comes in the "race fit" range. They can be ideal for elite skiers.

Ski Boot Volume

In general, the volume of the ski boots for wide feet depends on the footbed width. A boot with a narrow footbed comes with less volume through the midfoot as well as the heel.

On the contrary, ski boots having wider footbed provide more room, and thus they ensure a comfortable fit for the skiers.

You will not get any specific numbers for the volume, so you just need to try the boots to check if the volume is perfect for you or not.

Besides the volume, checking the instep height is also equally important because it is another fit area. Typically, your feet are very sensitive under pressure when they are on the instep, so if you wear the boots for a while, you will understand the issues clearly.

A boot with a tighter instep can be more challenging to adjust, so you must check it beforehand to avoid any hassles.

Ski Boot Liners

1. Heat-Moldable

Usually, most of the ski boots for wide feet are designed with heat-moldable liners. If you go with a higher price tag, you will see more heat-moldable material present in the liners. Moreover, there are some liners built with down-filled toe boxes to provide extra warmth.

2. Non-Moldable

You can have generic padding made of non-moldable liners. They also provide more stability for the wider feet. After you start using the liner will take the shape of your foot because of your body weight.

3. Thermoformable

With the thermoformable foam liners, it will be easy to get a custom fit by using the heat of your feet. They have a short break-in time so you can use them conveniently.

4. Custom-Moldable

There is an artificial source of heat that helps the custom-moldable liners to get a custom fit. You can also mold the liners on your own at home.

FAQs

1. How to adjust ski boots?

Always go for super-comfy boots. These impart the right amount of arch support and custom footbed that doesn't require any sort of adjustment. Thus, if your shoes are not quite comfortable, you can look for a proper footbed to add a layer of even weight all over the foot and eliminate any stress on feet or other areas like knees, etc.

2. How to fix a damaged ski boot base?

A ski boot's base gets worn out due to the clippings to the bindings. You can use traction pads or cat traction to shield your base more perfectly! Also, you can invest in new plates to help your ski boots get much support as they get easily mounted using screws.

3. How To wear your ski boots perfectly?

Ski boots can be worn easily by wearing thinner socks that help in providing a shield against the cold and easy movement. Also, you have to prepare the liner and shell for a hassle-free foot insertion. Along with this, you must check the buckles and fix them as per your comfort.

4. How do I sense that the shoes are narrow?

If you feel that the feet feel discomfort while wearing the boots, it is time to change them as they are causing you pain. You may feel a constant burning sensation or the ache in your ankle, toes, or whole feet. Sometimes, there may be skin cutting, as well. You should measure your feet and compare them with your boots before wearing them.

Final Verdict

With all the information under your possession, what are you waiting for? All you need is to select the best pair for your feet.

The shoes will provide full support and comfort to your feet while you enjoy the experience safely. Look into the pointers and strike down an elite model.