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As one who trained in bootfitting late 70s in a shop that had a great tech supervisor, I can say that the vast majority of people who put folks in ski boots -- they are boot providers, not boot fitters. They stock the boots, they provide them for you to try on. They may even offer follow up "fitting". But most are not fitters who understand boots, human anatomy, and skiing activity. Consumers likely assume, if the store sells ski boots, the seller knows what's going on. In truth, all it takes to open a ski shop is money, and the ability to get retailer agreements from manufacturer representatives. People try to inform themselves with magazine articles (pre-internet) or internet "research" but they are mostly encountering sales fluff, marketing lingo. As a lifelong skier and someone who taught skiing for 2 yrs, about a decade back -- I would say most people buy boots too stiff for their abilities, and compound the problem by having poor technique where they swing the tails with their arse/hips while telling themselves they're skiing at a high level. If your technique runs contrary to how the ski is designed, you're always off the sweet spot and working against the ski. If your boot is too stiff, you can't find the sweet spot because it's holding you in your inefficient, improper posture relative to the ski's sweet spot. This is why so many end up swinging their skis with their hips/arse and telling themselves they are skiing high level. They're on "black diamond" runs, so they must be experts, eh? How little they realize.

Glad it was helpful!

Appreciate you following along @TheBeingReal

Thanks for watching

Glad you liked it and found it helpful. Let us know if you have any other questions. theskimonster.com/

Glad it was helpful!

@@TheSkiMonsterThe presenter’s confidence and tone of voice is really powerful in relaying this information.

Glad it was helpful! Let us know if you have any other questions.

Glad it was helped! Let us know if you have any other questions. theskimonster.com/

Thank you!

Thanks @cluelesssss appreciate you turning in.

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks!

Thanks! 🤙🏼

Chris what’s up man!? It’s been a while, hope you’re well

Not really, go to a ski shop with a good boot fitter, they pull the liners out to fit your foot to a shell, then put you in boots to flex in the shop, you will get the number that is right for you. Don't worry about the flex number, color or brand, just fit.

You cannot be in too stiff a boot if it is good skiing performance you seek. Everyone should get really stiff boots as they force you to ski correctly since they will punish every tiny mistake. However.... most skiers don't want hard, small, stiff boots as they want comfort and not be punished for mistakes. Well then your skiing will suffer because of it. It's one or the other. I personally get the hardest boot that I can semi-comfortably wear a whole day. I grind the outer shell, and thicken the inner boot where necessary, until it fits properly. All my boots have laced inner boots, and very hard, thin and dense lining.

Flex is always a result of material thickness and material hardness. When we have two different flexes of the same model, they come out of the same mold, which means the material thickness in the shell is the same. The main remaining option to change is material hardness. Basically the softer flexing boots are injected with softer material. Sometimes when you get into lower flexes the material isn’t just getting softer it’s getting cheaper, this would be evident when going from PU to PP, saves a lot of money to keep margins intact.

100% that is mentioned in video, the flex of the boot is dependent on the foot inside of it. Which is why boots feel softer to people with lower volume feet in a given boot as there is more dead space

The more uneven and variable terrain you encounter especially at speed, the higher the likelihood of being deflected. Stiffer boots help minimize that and keep you in a ready position

Omg, can we connect ?! I finally found someone with the same boots! I bought the LV Tecnica too, a couple years ago . and I’m a beginner, I bought them bc I liked the look of them & only to realize it may be too stiff for me ? I was told it’s 105 flex… it’s women’s . Are you sure it’s 140??!!! I removed the two bolts in the back and still feeling too stiff , not sure if i should suck up and learn with them or get a lower flex boots … after this video I do want to keep mine tho …

Heavier people put more strain on the shells and stiffer boots can handle those forces more effectively. There are light people that are very strong and can handle/flex a stiff boot properly, it’s not all weight, but weight does help you generate force. The zero G’s feel blockier than the Hawx boots, the zero gs kinda stop and bite the shin making them feel stiffer than they are.

Buckle up your boots tighter and you’ll notice they feel stiffer and vise versa. Less dead space gives feeling of being stiffer.

To be fair though, the boot was too big around my heel and ankle so there was that factor as well. Tks for the video. Good stuff.

@@crnitzsche whenever the terrain has more features that can knock you off balance, the more noticeable the lack of performance in a softer flex boot is.

Amazing! Glad you are stoked.

What boots do you have currently?

wait, what has the you went down the stiffness just a little bit and the problem with tightening the shoes went away? that seems odd, you're sure something else hasn't changed? maybe the fit between seasons?

Heels lifting remedies are widely misunderstood, glad we could help

Flex is always a result of material thickness and material hardness. When we have two different flexes of the same model, they come out of the same mold, which means the material thickness in the shell is the same. The main remaining option to change is material hardness. Basically the softer flexing boots are injected with softer material. Sometimes when you get into lower flexes the material isn’t just getting softer it’s getting cheaper, this would be evident when going from PU to PP, saves a lot of money to keep margins intact.

@@TheSkiMonster Super, thanks. I believe Cochise use PU on the clog and PP on the cuff.

A stiffer boot will keep you in ready position more effectively regardless of weight. Heavier people put more strain on the shells and stiffer boots can handle those forces more effectively. There are light people that are very strong and can handle/flex a stiff boot properly, it’s not all weight, but weight does help you generate force.

@@TheSkiMonster - Thank you - that makes sense to me. Great video - confirms what I suspected after trying on about 10 pairs of boots last season. They were all over the place with those stiffness numbers. Ultimately, I went with the boot that felt the most comfortable - and I could flex in the store.

Excellent! Enjoy your first day and the whole season in your new boots. Hit us up if you have any gear questions. theskimonster.com/

Thank you

Invest in seeing a boot fitter, if your blistering there’s too much play and maybe too much material in boot, material meaning more than a sock - base layer etc. all that should be in the boot is your sock

I also have sensitive shins - and what solved it for me are the socks with gel pads on the shins I never worry about them anymore. Previous generation of Sidas Protect socks (gel strip glued on the inside) were the best, current generation (gel pad glued on the outside) are terrible - the patch over the gel is much wider, making it very difficult tu put on without ungluing the patch - mine got unstuck after couple of days. There are couple of other brands too (found one in France where the gel insert is removable from the pouch inside the sock).

Race boots wouldn't be ideal as they feel dead at lower speeds. They need some real mph to come alive, harder for even some advanced skiers.

@@TheSkiMonster Good to know, thanks for the reply!

Assuming you are in the correct size, You may just need a little volume soaked up. See you’re favorite bootfitter to further assess

It is possible that some of those skiers are in race boots which don’t come alive until they’re really moving - meaning those instructors are correct. It is common for instructors to think a boot is too stiff when it is simply too upright for a given skier. When a boot is too upright for a skier they look more like a passenger than someone that is driving the skis. They look they could be more forward, it’s not a stiffness issue it’s a forward lean issue.

@@TheSkiMonster the 'too upright' problem is when the skier has the range of motion to flex, but not the physical strength? So they are in a boot that is too stiff?

@@stevendick1562 If a skier lacks ankle mobility we need to work within the parameters of what they are capable of, if a boot has too much forward lean they will be forced into a position they’re ankle can’t do while keeping their heel down. If the boots are too soft for those same ankles they need more support via stiffness to keep them stable and secure as they encounter forces on the hill. Skiers with good mobility have less red flags and can handle more forward lean if they so choose.

Agreed 100%@@TheSkiMonster

Monster discussed many options and missed the most obvious/effective: aftermarket liners...Intuition & Zip Fit. I've had both. Intuition Power Wrap is by far the best. Zip Fit are good but are VERY boot volume sensitive for no gain. Another variable, SELDOM discussed, is the 3-peice vs 2-peice shells. But that's a whole other rabbit whole to go down.

Yes, there could be couple other factors at play too. But in general you are in a more relaxed position being more upright and your skiing will be more relaxed too. More fair to say when you adjust forward lean on a given boot, truly being apples to apples. More forward lean, more direct and more in drivers seat - less like a passenger

Sidas has a measuring device which measures your feet called sidas-feetbox-3d - not sure if those are available in your area. There are much more factors than just foot length - you have foot width, instep height, but also heel size and angle and calf size. So buying online is not a practical way to find out. I'd suggest you go to the bootfitter first - they should be able to measure your foot and give you basic recomendation which brands should be suitable for your foot. Or you find a Tecnica or Atomic shor nearby and you try multiple boots. Tecnica have a variant of the same boot for various feet volumes (LV/MV/HV), Atomic also have Hawx Ultra/Prime/Magna line (not sure about others). That should give you at least basic info where are your feet on the spectrum. You can always try finding the good online price and talk to a local shop if they can match the price. Other way is also comparing the feel of existing models you already skied and compare those with online reviews. Good reviewers (e.g. blister) always mention which type of foot they have and how they felt in the boot. E.g. Scarba, Dynafit and Scoot used to be boots for people with wider foot and high instep. My narrow low instep fits rather wil into Tecnica Cochise or Atomic Hawx XTD Ultra. Its a difficult journey - but once you find a boot that fits you, its completely different feeling. Bootfiter might do some some adaptation, but proper fit is priceless.

As I mentioned in the video, the problem with asking what flex is best is the numbers don’t really mean anything, and they are NOT standardized

You might like this blog - theskimonster.com/blog/posts/shin-bang-explained/

Flex is more associated with ability marketing wise then it should be. But the stiffest boot you can flex properly that fits well. A ski boots job is to keep you in a ready position, stiffer boots do that more effectively

Finding a good bootfitter is tough because the qualifications or certifications just mean you showed up to a class, there is no test. You pay the fee to go, and you’re a “master bootfitter”. It’s reasonable to ask for that if it’s obviously the wrong boot and you didn’t ask for that boot. Some customers do not want what is recommended and they buy something else, that’s not cool to ask for the shop to take it back. Happy to help you out in Boston, we do have quite a few people fly in for bootfittings.

@@TheSkiMonster Thanks for that. No, wrong coast. Getting my vert at Alyeska, probably the best snow anywhere this season or so I've heard. Just fantastic today, sunny and fast and not yet slushy.

Ok. All that should live in the ski boot is your ski sock, no baselayers, pants or skis pants. Also make sure the ski sock is fitted not loose or wrinkled. Make sure the buckles are snug enough on leg (can be difficult to accomplish sometimes in rentals) Rental boots for the most part are very soft and your leg moves more than it should/would in a stiffer boot causing more rubbing. Could be 1 or a combination of those things

I wonder if putting Vaseline on my shin before putting ski socks on might help.

Best for me is the sock with gel pad. Never hurting since i got a pair (as i wrote above - unfortunately new Sidas Protect socks are too easy to get unglued). You can also buy gel pads alone (but might be trickier to keep them in place)

The screws in back doesn’t change the flex of the boot as much as marketing says. You can remove one screw on each boot and it’ll feel a little less direct.

@@TheSkiMonster Thank you for your quick answer! I'll try it for the next ski day 🙂

If your foot fills up the shell, it is possible for your foot to fill up the footbed and not the shell. You really want both for a proper fit.

Freeride world tour athletes are about as off piste as it gets and ski in race boots if sponsorship allows, they’re preference is to be in boots that stiff because of how much the terrain wants to knock them off balance. Maintaining a ready athletic position is key. Regardless of the type of terrain being skied.

Removing the screws in back isn’t going to change the flex as much as the marketing says. The screws don’t make the lower shell any stiffer or softer. What those screws are going to do is change how the boot feels at the top of the flex pattern, when you first flex into it. You always need at least 1 screw. 1 screw less direct or precise flexing, 2 more direct or aggressive. Not stiffer just a little more precise with more screws.

Yes. For most noticeable difference you would be swapping out the cuff softer or stiffer, that is really the only way to make the boot stiffer. The bolt being added in back just makes the boot feel more direct. It doesn’t do all that marketing says.

It is not about deception. It is about the lack of a standard way to measure. Listen to blister gear30 podcast deep dive on ski boots - episode about the boot stiffness. Atomic do measure all the competition and tune the stiffness so their 130 flex boot fits in the middle of the range. Yet - as also explained in this video - it is difficult to standardize as same design in different foot volume flexes differently. You should not care about the number - you need to find the flex that matches your weight and fitness/skill - so you can still flex the boot. And naturally the fit. Thats always the same with humans - you can never buy shoes or clothes blindly without trying as some models might fit you, and some might not.

People thought and brands marketed that stiff boots gave skiers shin bang, that isn’t true. More park skiers are realizing the benefits of stability and responsiveness.

If boot wasn’t a tool to help you balance on skis, we’d still ski in leather boots. What you’re witnessing on the hill and blaming on too much stiffness is skiers in boots that are too big and/or too upright. The worst possible combination is actually too big and too soft as there is nothing keeping the skier balanced. It’s not just the forces the skier puts into the boots there is all sort of variables the skier encounters that t try to knock them off balance. As I said buy the stiffest boot you can properly flex that fits uniform while keeping your heel secure.

@@TheSkiMonsterWe'll just have to agree to disagree.

As I mentioned, buy the stiffest boot you can flex properly that fits uniform, consistent while keeping heel secure. Skiers end up skiing in the backseat when they get tired, a softer flexing boot is less effective and is more demanding on the skier to maintain balance. Likelihood of skiing in backseat ends up being higher in a boot with less integrity aka a softer flexing boot. Because the skier gets tired from having to do more work then they would in a stiffer pair of boots.

@carterfan80, Several possiblities: 1. Too much volume in the boot 2. Poor foot strength 3. Poor ankle mobility 4. Take 130 flex with a grain of salt as explained in vid 5. You need footbeds 6. You need a punch It can be one of these or a combo.

@TheSkiMonster thanks. I probably can eliminate a few. Have a new 130 tenica boot. (Flex should be stiff enough) Ankle mobility (I've been told) is good. I think my volume is okay. I recently went from a full volume to a medium volume (104 mm to 100mm) The heel pocket feels pretty good. I don't have much movement within the boot.. I think i'm left with a problem with my footbed. Or need a punch.. I have an off the shelf footliner. (Merino sidas)

I had similar problems with my last but one set of ski boots, despite them being shop fitted with custom moulded footbeds, and later punched, ground and heel lifts being added. I concluded the shell just didn't work for my feet (altho' SkiMonster make a good point, in that they were only 100 flex & were relatively soft compared to my later boot choices, allowing for more foot movement). So I spent more time in the shop selecting my next sets of boots and switched to Intuition liners (which for me are a bit of a Holy Grail addition, aiding both comfort & performance).

@Benzknees Zip fit liner was my thinking for my next move. I didn't really want to spend four hundred dollars though.... I'm pretty happy with the quality of the liner on the tecnina 130. I'd like to get some usage out of it before I eventually switch to the zip fit. It's very frustrating when 1 day they feel really good. And the next they hurt!

@@carterfan80 - I felt the same about getting Intuitions straight after buying my last boots, but the instant improvement was definitely worth it. I'd go for it if I were you! Especially as the Zipfit will last a long time, whilst your stock liner will pack out pretty quickly.

For you only. That strongly depends on weight, strength, height and skill. If people cannot flex 130 boot, thats not a boot for them.

There are more flexes available than surefoot offers. What I said, buy the stiffest boot you can properly flex that feels uniform with your foot while keeping your heel secure.

Marketing teams at brands made those associations. It makes the sport seem more accessible price point wise, but it isn’t necessarily the best product for them if they are going to be committed to the sport or want to progress. It’s more appropriate to think of the abilities associated with boots as the cap on ability. If a boots job is to keep you in a ready athletic position; a beginner still needs help with that and a too soft flexing boot isn’t doing them any favors - balancing on skis is hard especially in the beginning. As I mentioned in the video, buy the stiffest boot you can properly flex, that feels uniform around the foot while keeping heel secure.

@@TheSkiMonster Fair enough, but in context, last Saturday I got back home from a week in Les Deux Alpes. Several weeks before I went I went to a boot fitter - Rivington Alpine - to get my own boots. As I have narrow feet even thou I'm more or less a total [mature] beginner he recommended Nordica Doberman GP 110 - flex. The flex I found out on the runs during lessons was way to stiff for me on the slope as I found out at Les Deux Alpes on my second day, as on the shallow blue run 'Diable' I thought I was leaning forward, and the instructor said I was standing up straight, and as a result I fell over a couple of times, with in one fall in the process sort of twisted my left leg, the resulting mild injury in which my left knee swelled up and didn't like weight on it, brought my learn to ski holiday to a dead stop for the rest of the week i.e. remaining 4 days. Now I'm back home and my left leg and knee is well on the mend, I'll be selling those almost brand new Nordica boots on e-bay if I can, otherwise they are going to Ellis Brigham in Chester, as that is a drop off point for boots going for recycling, and at a snow dome near here I'll be taking lessons starting in the spring, and after a few lessons to get used to skis again I will buy a pair of *proper beginner boots* from the Snow + Rock shop attached to the 'Chill Factore' slope depending of course on what they have in stock, maybe say Atomic Hawk Magna 80 or K2 BFC 80 or ..., we will see.

@@Puzzoozoo that’s a race boot, and as I mentioned in the video race boots don’t come alive unless they are being pushed really hard. That Doberman 110 is also stiffer than those Mach 130’s I had shown in video.

@@TheSkiMonster Yeah, I know it was a race boot, the fitter said so because of my small narrow feet those and similar Fisher narrow boots is what he got out for me to try. I had my misgivings about then as soon as I squeezed into them. But as a beginner skier vs a experienced boot fitter what could I say. I certainly will not be going back to him, and at my age I'm after boots that are designed more for comfort then performance. As once I can comfortable ski I'll be restricting my skiing to the mild and gentle runs i.e. green and easy blues before I even think of tackling a red. Peace.

1. I said buy the stiffest boot you can properly flex 2. It is more likely that skier is in too upright of a boot, not too stiff of a boot. When skiers are in boots that are too upright they tend to look like a passenger skiing in the backseat vs in a more athletic position. 3. The boots are too big, which causes foot to clench putting more weight on to the heels, putting the skier in the backseat.

What do you think the job of a ski boot is? And how would a softer boot help?

What model and size were you in and what did you move into

@@TheSkiMonster 27.5 QST 90 into a 27.5 Mindbender 120 Boa

@@erikhorn3884 The Mindbender 120 is very soft for a 120. It also has less integrity in the spine in part due to a shotty walk mode. Because of this it struggles to keep skiers forward in a ready stance since it can so easily flex back, which is part of the reason your feeling in the backseat. So not the opposite by any means, again flex numbers mean nothing.

I mention this in video, but it's too hit an array of price points.

but that's basically exactly what he said? If your boot doesn't fit correctly it will not provide the Flex you're looking for. If you have too much space you will ramp your foot/leg into the shell with more speed, it will be less controlled than in a correct fitting boot where there is immediate contact between foot and shell, and the boot will feel more sloppy and softer as a consequence.

Flex index is not standardized and Matt Manser would confirm that, I know that because the two of us talked about it when we were with Atomic in Austria this summer and over the phone 2 weeks ago prior to recording this video. All flex index does is tell you where a boot falls within a model line of boots, it is not comparable within brand -- so obviously not brand to brand. It's a lot of marketing man.