The Best Ski Boots for Big & Wide Feet

Properly fitted ski boots are the most important component of efficient skiing. Most ski boots are built on different lasts, and some work better for narrow feet, and some work better for wide feet. A good boot fitter can help you narrow the selections down and customize the fit if needed by building custom insoles, heat molding the liners, and punching out any pressure points in the shells. However, starting with a boot that works for your foot is the best way to go. Several boots work well for skiers with wide feet, and some companies, like Tecnica, are now offering boots in higher volume styles in different widths to further get the best fit.

Tecnica Mega Series

The Tecnica Mega Series of boots represents Tecnica's offerings to skiers with high-volume feet and is available in four models. Experts seeking a lot of performance are well-served by the Mega 14 UltraFit ($399, 2010 prices), which has a flex index of 80 and is available in different widths of C-EE. Recreational skiers can look at the Mega 10 UltraFit ($299, 2010 prices), which has a flex index of 70 and is available in C-EE widths.

Salomon Impact 8 CS

The Salomon Impact 8 CS ($500, 2010 prices) features Salomon's proprietary custom shell technology, a heat-moldable shell to help dial in the fit of the boots. The Impact 8 is built on a wider last than some of Salomon's other boots. To further customize the fit, the inner foam boot is also heat moldable. The flex index is 100, making the Impact 8 a boot that can handle all but the most demanding, hard-charging skiers.

Nordica Speedmachine

The Nordica Speedmachine series ($700, 2010 prices) is ideal for experts and advanced skiers looking for a wider boot. Nordica offers the Speedmachine in flex indexes of 130, 120, and 110. The Speedmachine maximizes the comfort/performance ratio by making the forefoot a little wider, and offering a thermomoldable liner boot. The buckles have a microadjustment to further fine-tune the fit on the slopes.

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Article Written By Candace Horgan

Candace Horgan has worked as a freelance journalist for more than 12 years. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including the "Denver Post" and "Mix." Horgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and history.

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