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. 

Mistake #1: Tucking in your baselayers

The most common mistake I see is people leaving their baselayers down in their boots. It seems innocent enough, but that's a hard no from us. Baselayers should stay out of your boots to avoid irritating pressure points. 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.

Mistake #2: Sloppy Socks

A word on ski socks- size matters! Borrowing your husband's socks (unless you happen to have the same size feet) is never a good solution. Socks that are too big or stretched out from years of wear, will bag and bunch in the heel, causing hot spots and chafing. When you find a ski sock you like, we recommend buying a few pairs that you can rotate out. Remember to match you ski sock to the fit of your boots, if you are in a super tight racefit those fluffy padded socks are going to make you miserable. Thinner socks are warmer than thick socks anyway and if you really struggle with the cold invest in electronic boot heaters. 

Mistake #3: Poor Heater Placement

If you absolutely MUST use the charcoal heat packs (excuse us while we cringe). Make sure you are using them properly. They go on top of your socks over your toes, not underneath. Also, remember to make sure they have been removed at the end of your ski day. 

Bottom Line:

Simple is best. One comfortable wicking ski sock will have you comfortably carving from first chair to last.