What To Look For
Salomon has long been one of the leaders in the alpine ski world, and the company offers a wide variety of boots for alpine skiing. Its lineup totals 44 boots, many of which offer advanced shell technology so the outer shell molds to your foot and gives you the best performance. Racers and experts will enjoy the performance of stiffer boots such as the Falcon CS Pro and Impact 9 CS. Freestyle skiers will like the Ghost. Women will find the Divine RS10 offers a great level of performance. The Instinct CS is perfect for hard-charging skiers. And the Charm 7 is a warm boot for intermediates. Kids can choose from boots such as the X3 Jr Pro and Kaid T2.
Common Pitfalls
Beginners and intermediates often have problems sizing ski boots. While sizing them tightly can be uncomfortable at first, the liner packs out and breaks in, and if you size them too loosely at first, the fit will be too sloppy to get good performance. Try on the boots with thinner socks. Properly sized ski boots have liners that will keep your foot warm.
Where To Buy
Online stores offer great deals on ski boots. But to get the best fit, it is a good idea to shop a local ski specialty shop.
Cost
Salomon boots range in price from $300 to $900 as of September 2009.
Accessories
If you don't already have them, get a pair of custom footbeds. These will align your foot properly in the boot and help ensure correct alignment of the knee and lower leg. Your foot also will be warmer.
