Snow Skills

One of the simplest things you can do to encourage a great day of skiing is right at your fingertips. It’s an important moment when you’re sitting in the base lodge ready to put your downhill or telemark ski boots on: you’re in charge of setting the buckle adjustments. You need to set the hook in one of the slotted positions on the boot and then close the handle, possibly fine-tuning the hook length by twisting it (some manufacturers call that a ‘micro-adjust’). Husbands are especially prone to over-tightening their wives’ ski boots in an honest attempt to help out: “Here, honey, let me just crank those buckles down for you….SNAP!” Leave her alone, guys; the wearer of the boot needs to close their buckles themselves to get the proper fit. Ski boot buckles should be set to close with no more effort than moving your fingers. If you have to use your wrist or arm to close a buckle, that’s too much effort. And the buckle closing should sound gentle, not like a thunderclap.

Use care by adjusting every buckle individually. The best arrangement is to have the bale settings identical from left to right, as that will mold the boot to your foot in the most even way. Your feet may not be identical, however, and that’s where the micro-adjusts are helpful. By fine-tuning each buckle adjustment, you can get a boot fit that will be comfortable, warm, and set you up for an awesome day on the slopes.