The ski boot as we know it today was invented in the 1960s by Bob Lange. He created the first shoe with a plastic shell and launched the Lange brand. Here is the advice of Experts Valetmont to understand everything about ski boots.
The shoe then breaks down into three parts:
- The plastic shell
- The inner liner
- The sole
The liner
Most ski boot liners are thermoformable. It is therefore possible to adapt them to the morphology of the skier's foot by heating them in a suitable oven. By increasing the temperature of the foams, the liner has the ability to deform. By cooling around the foot, the foams conform to the shapes of the feet, ankles, malleoli and shins. The comfort is then maximized because the pressures are better distributed over the whole of the skier's foot.
Some manufacturers, such as the Italian brand Nordica, incorporate cork elements in their slippers to improve the comfort and precision of the shoe. The Sidas brand specializes in thermoformable liners and offers for sale liners adaptable to any ski boot shell.
Your Level and your Practice
It is important to clearly define your ski level before buying a pair of ski boots.
Your speed of evolution on the track, your technical level as well as your style of practice must be taken into account when making your purchase. If you are a beginner in skiing, a recreational ski boot will help you acquire the technical basics of skiing in excellent comfort. It will allow you to integrate well the learning of the technical movements essential to the progression.
Once the basics have been acquired, you will be able to access more difficult ski slopes and your speed of evolution will increase. A more technical and increasingly efficient shoe will be essential for good control of your skis. The choice of your shoes will therefore correspond to your level.
The Template
The flex of the ski boot or flexibility is an interesting clue when choosing your model of boot. It is indicative of the flexural hardness of the shoe and is therefore linked to the performance of the shoe.
It is important to choose a flex that matches the weight, level and height of the skier. Ski boot manufacturers are developing ranges where we find the same model of ski boot with different flex. For example, the Head brand offers its Edge model from flex 70 to flex 110.
Please note that all flexes are not comparable from one brand to another but are consistent in their range. The higher number being the higher flexural hardness.
Foot Length and Width
The widths of the ski boots vary from 95 to 106 mm at the level of the metatarsals and which make it possible to differentiate the shells. In recent years, it is now possible to find wide shoes with a high level of performance whereas before they were reserved for leisure and beginners ranges.
The easiest way to find your hull width is to experiment and test several pairs on the slopes so as not to make mistakes before buying ski boots. Then, you can call on an expert in 'Bootfitting' to correct the last points that could create discomfort.
Women's and men's ski boots are different and we recommend that you choose a suitable model. The sizes of ski boots are indicated in centimeters according to the mondopoint standard. To find its size, we advise you to measure your foot in cm and then add a maximum of a centimeter for comfort. You can print our pedometers here.
Gear Warranty
All items are guaranteed by the manufacturer. The warranty periods vary depending on the material. The warranty processing is carried out by us. In the event of a problem, use our After-Sales Service Form.
Sustainable Development by Valetmont
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In order to reduce the ecological impact of skiing, we can try to reduce the use of natural resources necessary for the manufacture of alpine ski equipment. For this it is necessary to make your equipment last as long as possible by maintaining it regularly. For your pair of ski boots, remember to dry them by removing the liner from the shell and then keeping it by closing the hooks so that the plastic does not deform. At the end of the season, you can take the slipper out to wash it, some slippers are machine washable. Replace the inner sole of the liner as soon as it seems damaged to regain comfort immediately. It is also possible to replace the heels of plastic shells which wear out when walking on hard surfaces. When your ski boots are at the end of their life, you can return them to us when purchasing new ski boots. We take care of recycling your ski equipment in partnership with the Tri-Vallées waste reprocessing company. |
Buying guides and advices
Valetmont expert give you the best advices for your outdoor equipment