If you are eager to take up skiing for the first time, you will need… well, obviously, some skis. Perhaps surprisingly, however, ski boots are even more important — as it’s through them that you will transfer energy from your feet to the skis while on the slopes.

We would be delighted to welcome you at our ski equipment shop in Dry Drayton, near Cambridge. While under our roof, you will be able to physically pick up some boots, put them on and walk around in them — but you don’t want them to be too small.

One telltale sign that they are would be if the footwear makes it painful even just for you to walk. Besides, when you are skiing, those boots could hinder your circulation, numbing your feet and increasing your risk of injury. So, should you go pretty big “to be on the safe side”?

Why it’s not always easy to find the best fit of ski boot

Indeed, the task isn’t as simple as doing likewise with ordinary footwear like trainers and slippers. That’s because skiing can be a dangerous endeavour if you fail to equip yourself for it in various ways — and how well your boots do fit can have a major impact on your overall performance.

Hence, you could benefit immensely from the Ski Exchange boot fitting service. This is basically where, in our “boot lab”, we will undertake a series of measures, including assessing, modifying and aligning the boots, to make sure they are just the right size and shape for your specific feet.

Over the course of the session, which is unlikely to last more than three hours, we will regularly ask you for feedback on how the boots feel on your feet. So, are there particular warning signs that ski boots are “too big”? Yes — and here are some examples…

Why are overly loose-fitting ski boots so problematic anyway?

Your heel, if it doesn’t touch the inside of the boot when you are wearing it, can rise from the insole while you are skiing. The unsettling effect could distract you at the worst possible time.

Similarly, toes that aren’t in contact with the front of the boot won’t be “anchored” firmly enough in it to ensure you will be able to transfer energy smoothly between the foot and the ski. This disconnect, in turn, can hamper how reliably you are able to control where your skis go.

You should also be concerned if the boot’s sole is longer than the foot. This would lead the foot to shift backward or forward in the boot as you ski. One big risk here is that you could feel increasingly out of kilter — and end up stumbling or falling as a result.

It’s not hard to see, then, why a Ski Exchange boot fitting session can do wonders for your long-term peace of mind. It would be easy for you to book an appointment via our website, too.