How to choose ski boots?

Active leisure is hard, hard, but very exciting and emotional work. Experienced tourists know exactly what is necessary in order for it to take place and succeed: the desire to "conquer" new heights (sports), basic knowledge and a good teacher, the right equipment. After all, equipment can bring an extremal at the most inappropriate moment, which, in turn, can lead to unpredictable consequences.

Speaking of skiing, I want to pay special attention to the shoes. Properly selected, they will achieve the best results and maximum pleasure in amateur runs.

For any tourist comfortable shoes - this is the key to a comfortable and healthy outdoor activities. And when to choose this accessory from a professional point of view, any troubles or problems will seem just a trifle.

Ski boots are a whole art. Their model variety is not limited to men, women and children.

There is a distinction between ski boots depending on their purpose:

1. For walking and easy trips. Ideal for beginner athletes, for lovers of skiing in the park or the forest. Usually, this is one of the most simple and inexpensive models, their price may increase due to internal insulation and external material.

2. For the classic move. Low, provide easy freedom of the ankle joint, without restricting its movement, equipped with soft soles.

3. For skating. High boots with a cuff, firmly fix the lower leg, have a hard sole and are designed for professional ski training.

4. Combined models have a removable upper cuff, so they are suitable for the second and third type of skiing. Sole - medium hardness. Surely used by beginners and amateurs.

Women's, children's and men's models differ not only in color and additional decorations, but also in their device, depending on the physiological characteristics of the feet of a particular group. Ski boots should not only be beautiful and fit well, but also correspond to certain parameters.

Even if you have the best skis in the world gathering dust in your closet, they will not be useful to you without special wonder shoes designed specifically for this sports equipment. With proper selection, skillful operation and quality care, your ski boots (not even the most expensive) will last at least 10 years, experts say.

In order to make the right choice, professionals advise to adhere to the principles and recommendations, even if you are just an amateur and do not intend to go skiing until the end of your days.

Ski boots must meet the physiological characteristics of the foot and fit you. If at least for a moment you doubt the convenience, immediately refuse to purchase.

If the shoes are large, the risk of leg injuries increases, as it will not be securely and firmly fixed. Too small will bring a lot of discomfort and, as a result, “poor-quality” skating.

Especially professionals insist on the rejection of grandmother's knitted woolen socks. The maximum that you can afford - thin knitted or cotton. Accordingly, when fitting, you should be exactly in those socks (or similar), in which you will plow the expanses of snowy hills.

Just like when choosing casual shoes, it’s best to test your ski boots right in the store. Shoot them and walk literally 1-2 minutes. This time is enough to feel discomfort or to assess the exact hit on the target.

For skating, boots should be as hard as possible in the lower leg. This is necessary for a snug fit to the leg and secure fixation. Their top is usually made of hard frost-resistant material with a polyurethane coating.

Determine the necessary rigidity in the store is not difficult. To do this, you need to bend the upper part of the boot forward as much as possible. If she did not succumb to your provocations, then rigidity is just for the skating course.

The most common ski shoe mounts are four types:

1. NN 75 - used less frequently lately. Metal horseshoe case with three rods, on which a shoe is installed with a sole protruding forward. Then this part is fixed with a metal bracket and snaps into place. This type of attachment is practically not used in the ridge course, since the shoes are very unreliable fixed on the ski.

2. NNN - mount, which is mounted on the ski. It is a rectangular metal plate with two transverse guides. The boot is fixed tightly, the front part of it rests against the rubber stop.

3. NIS - this type of attachment is almost the same as the previous one. Since this view is attached to skis using a special NIS platform, screws or rods are not used here.

4. SNS is a special mount made for cross-country skiing. Boots fasten by means of a longitudinal guide, the toe fits snugly to the rubber stop.

Depending on how you are going to ski, depends on the type of shoes, mount, and even their size.

Riding is considered a semi-professional and professional type of ski run. If you have just embarked on a ski, then most likely your first steps will be of a classical nature. Hence, the types of ski boots differ in their main characteristics:

• Higher - for skating, with ankle fixation, and lower shoes for the classic style (there is no need to fix the joint);

• The boot for professional skis sits more closely on the foot and has a packed sole. The classic is not so demanding and is content with a softer sole and has a lighter weight;

• For both types of skiing, the most popular and used fixtures, SNS and NNN, are equally suitable. But here it is necessary to build on the type of attachment on the skis themselves.

The principles for the selection of this category of ski boots are not much different from the above. Some manufacturers make a small correction in ski shoes for women and children. For example, boots for lovely ladies are made slightly lower than men's and slightly less rigid. Due to the anatomical features of female legs, injuries do not increase.

When choosing children's ski boots should be as careful and attentive. Due to active growth, the size of the feet in children may increase by leaps and bounds. Therefore, the main thing - to make sure that in time to pick up sports ski shoes on the leg of your baby. Just like female models, children's shoes have lower stiffness and are not as high as adults. It is necessary to choose shoes with the child so that he can take a few steps in it and make sure that it really suits him.

There are some valuable tips from skiing professionals who warn parents of future athletes against an unfavorable purchase.After all, the wrong shoes can not only discourage the start or continue classes, but also lead to injuries:

1. To buy ski boots, even for the smallest skiers, you only need the size to size. No options for "growth" should not be present. These are not boots or dutiki that can be worn for several seasons in a row. The size of your ski boots directly affects the health of your baby's feet.

2. Be sure to take into account the appointment of shoes: for classic or ridge.

3. If the parents have a desire to kill two birds with one stone (what if he rolls on a classic and then wants to go on horseback?), It is recommended to purchase special combined models with a removable cuff.

4. Acquisition of ski boots along with fittings suitable for them is highly recommended.

Of course, prices for models of ski boots from popular brands may seem out of reach for buyers of the economy category. However, their quality, convenience and reliability are worth the money. For example, such sports brands as Alpina, Solomon and Madshus offer at least 4,500 rubles for a pair of shoes. Spine and Nordway set the lower bar at 2500-3000 rubles.

The difference of expensive ski shoes from cheap is the use of better, natural materials, an individual approach to each individual model, more pronounced frost and moisture resistance.