If you’re thinking about buying new ski boots this season, when you shop matters more than you might think.
In our opinion, the best time to buy ski boots is in the fall, especially early fall.
Why? Selection.
A properly fitted ski boot isn’t simply about finding your shoe size and picking a boot you like. A good boot fitter considers your foot length, width, arch, arch length, volume, ankle and heel shape, skiing ability, and more before recommending the right boot.
That process works best when there’s a full selection of boots available.
Don’t Buy a Boot Based on What’s Left
As the ski season progresses, certain models and popular sizes naturally begin to sell out.
That doesn’t mean you can’t buy ski boots in December, January or February. But with a smaller selection, there’s a greater chance you’ll be choosing from what’s available instead of what actually fits you best.
Early in the fall, ski shops typically have their best inventory of the season. That gives your boot fitter more options to compare different brands, models, widths and flexes to find the boot that works best for your foot and your skiing.
When it comes to ski boots, having more choices is a very good thing.
Give Yourself Time to Ski in Them
There’s another big advantage to buying boots in the fall: you have time to test them.
Even a properly fitted ski boot can require some fine-tuning after you’ve skied in it. Your first few days on snow can reveal pressure points or other small issues that weren’t obvious when you were standing in the shop.
Buying early allows you to get a few days on your new boots at the beginning of the season and then return to your boot fitter for any necessary adjustments.
That’s much better than discovering an issue on the first morning of a week-long ski trip.
New Boots Shouldn’t Be a Last-Minute Purchase
If you have a big ski vacation planned, we especially recommend buying your boots well before the trip.
Ideally, you want to have a few days of skiing in them beforehand. That gives the liners a chance to begin settling around your feet and gives you and your boot fitter an opportunity to make adjustments if necessary.
Think of your first few early-season ski days as a shakedown period for your new boots.
The Bottom Line
You can buy ski boots anytime during the season, but early fall gives you the best combination of selection and time.
You’ll have more boots available to find the right match for your feet, and you’ll have plenty of time to ski in them and make adjustments before the heart of winter.
At Potter Bros., we believe the best ski boot isn’t the most expensive boot or the most popular boot.
It’s the boot that fits your foot.
And the best time to find it is when you have the most options.