What (NOT) to Wear in your Ski Boots

What should I wear in my ski boots?

 As a bootfitter of over 15 years, I have seen it all. Jeans, pantyhose, multiple pairs of cotton socks, stirrup ski pants with zippers - you name it, were jammed into people's ski boots. Believe it or not, none of those things are appropriate to be inside your ski boots. To optimize your ski boot fit, the only thing you need in your ski boots is a pair of good-quality ski socks. 

The most common follow-up question after that is “What about my baselayers?”. Nope. Those should also stay out of your boots. The best thing to do is buy one of the many ¾ length baselayers on the market. These baselayers will come just below the knee, and if you are wearing proper ski socks, there will be no gap. If you just can’t find a ¾ length option, the next best choice is to pull up the leggings and fold them over, above the top of the boot. 

Any wrinkle or seam inside your boot, especially against the tender shin area, can be a recipe for a ski day disaster. What might seem like a minor seam can cause blisters and bruising after just a few runs. This problem can be easily avoided by just keeping everything out of your boot except the sock.

A word on ski socks, too - size matters! Borrowing your husband's socks (unless you happen to have the same size feet) is not a good solution. Socks that are too big or stretched out from years of wear, bag and bunch in the heel, causing hot spots and chafing.