Just like with any other footwear, when you buy new ski boots, they need to be broken in. If you don’t break in ski boots properly and somewhat quickly, you’ll likely end up in a good deal of pain throughout your skiing adventure. Trust me, ski boots can be uncomfortable, and breaking them in relieves some pain at the end of a ski day.
Luckily for you, there are some relatively fast and easy ways to break in your new ski boots, and that’s what you’ll learn today. I will also discuss some telltale signs that your ski boots are properly broken in, as well as some issues to be concerned about if prolonged discomfort persists.
Do Ski Boots Need to Get Broken in?
Yes, ski boots need to be broken in, and before they are fully broken in, you’ll likely experience a bit of discomfort or even minor pain. Ski boots are made with rigid outer shells and soft interior liners. The outer shell is not the issue here, as this really can’t be broken in.
That shell is designed to provide your feet and ankles with adequate protection. They stop hard hits and heavy impacts from injuring you, and they help keep your ankles stable as well. If you had no extra ankle support, you would quickly break your ankle skiing.
These outer shells need to stay hard, rigid, and solid to continue offering you the best protection possible. However, it is the inner liner that needs to be broken in to help increase your comfort.
The inner liner will usually come quite rigid and stiff as well, but there is something you can do to make this a little more comfortable.
Through regular use and other breaking-in methods, you can get that inner liner to pack down a little bit, soften up, and mold to the shape of your foot. This will happen naturally over time the more you ski, but there are also some good ways to speed up the process.
How Do You Break in Ski Boots?
Although there are some good ways to speed up the breaking-in process for ski boots, the only real way to break them is to ski in them. This is no different than any other pair of shoes you might wear at home.
By consistently using the ski boots, you’ll cause that inner liner to soften up and mold to your foot much faster than it otherwise would. Furthermore, it’s not just how much you ski that will determine how long it takes for your ski boots to break in, but how hard you ski as well.
The faster you ski and the rougher the terrain is, the heavier of an impact your weight will have on the liner, thus speeding up the break-in period. The only real way to break them in is to use them.
You can always wear them at home and walk around in them, but this is little compared to actually skiing in them.
How Long Does It Take to Break in Ski Boots?
How long it takes to break in ski boots depends on various factors.
It typically takes 3-5 days of skiing to fully break in a pair of ski boots. The exact time can vary based on skiing intensity and daily duration, ranging from 2 days for intense skiing to over a week for shorter ski sessions.
How long this will take also depends on your body weight and size, and the ski boot itself.
The bigger and heavier you are, the more of an impact you’ll have on that inner liner in the ski boots, therefore speeding up the break-in process. You can expect it to take significantly longer for a small and light person to break in their ski boots than for a large and heavy person.
3 Signs Your Ski Boots Are Properly Broken In
If you’re wondering how to tell if your ski boots are broken in, there are some telltale signs to look out for.
1. Improved Comfort Over Time
At first, ski boots will likely hurt a bit because the movement is restricted due to the stiff lining. They’ll squeeze your feet tightly, and this might cause a slight loss of circulation or just general pain.
If your ski boots start hurting less over time, and you feel more comfortable in them as the days go on, chances are they’re starting to break in.
2. Less Pressure in Previously Tight Areas
Ski boots can be very tight, especially before they are broken in. At first, you’ll notice a lot of pressure on your ankles and lower legs. You may also notice a lot of pressure being applied to the sides of your feet, but I find it in my lower legs the most.
As the inner liner softens and starts to mold to the shape of your feet, you should notice less pressure on areas that were previously very tight.
The ski boot should start molding to the shape of your feet and expanding in those places where your feet are placing pressure on the inner liner.
3. Better Control and Responsiveness When Skiing
As the ski boots start to mold to the shape of your feet, they should become more responsive when you move. This should, therefore, translate to better responsiveness and control when you are skiing.
You should notice a clear difference between the amount of control and responsiveness on the first day compared to the third or fourth day, especially if you’re doing a lot of skiing.
How Can You Speed up the Break-In Process?
If waiting several days is too long for you, there are some great ways to speed up the break-in process for your ski boots.
Wearing Them at Home
You could always just wear the ski boots at home, just like any other pair of shoes. The more you use them, the faster they’ll break in, and this doesn’t just apply to skiing. Strap them on and walk around the house with them.
Just make sure you don’t damage the flooring in your home; the backyard may be a safer spot.
Heat Molding
I played ice hockey, and I would always get my new ice hockey skates heat molded, so I wondered if you could do the same to skis, and you can!
Some ski boots allow for heat molding. This process is where you put the ski boots in a convection oven at around 176 degrees Fahrenheit or 80 degrees Celsius for roughly 10 minutes. Exactly how hot and how long this process needs to be depends on the exact boots in question.
If your ski boots allow for heat molding, the label will likely say as much. If the label on your ski boots doesn’t say that this is a possibility, you might want to avoid it, because you might cause structural boot damage.
Here, you would put the ski boots in the oven for the prescribed amount of time, and then put your feet inside of them. This should cause the liner to mold to the shape of your feet quickly.
Just be careful, as the ski boots will be fairly hot. Take caution to prevent yourself from suffering burns, mainly by wearing a thick pair of socks.
Ski shops offer ski boot heat molding, and in my opinion, you should only use a ski shop to heat mold to prevent damaging your equipment. Typically, this molding is only done to your liners to mold to the shape of your feet, ankles, and lower legs.
Watch this video of how ski boots are heat molded at a ski shop below by Level Nine Sports:
Using Aftermarket Footbeds or Liners
If your ski boots just aren’t breaking in the way you’d like, you can always use some aftermarket ski boot liners or foot beds. These are really no different than the insoles that you would get for your running shoes.
They’re designed to offer you an increased level of comfort by providing you with some padding and impact absorption. Some aftermarket footbeds may even be designed to keep warmth in, which can be a big bonus for people who always have cold feet when skiing.
You can see the best aftermarket ski boot liners here on Evo.
Skiing with Them as Often as Possible
Really just the best way to break in your ski boots is to ski with them as often as humanly possible.
When to Be Concerned About Your Ski Boot Fit
There are some signs to be concerned about when it comes to your ski boot fit, especially if you’ve been skiing for several days and they just don’t seem to be breaking in.
Persistent Pain or Discomfort After Several Full Ski Days
If you’ve been skiing for three or four full days, and you’ve been going at it hard, and the boots still hurt, then there is likely a problem.
It means that the boots aren’t breaking in properly, or more likely that they just don’t fit you. If you still have extreme discomfort after several days, it might be time to look into some different ski boots.
I think it is important to note that after a full day of skiing, it is normal to be sore around your feet and ankles just due to the extreme nature of skiing. My ski boots are 5 years old, and they are broken in, but my lower legs are still sore after a day of skiing around where my boots are. This is just because of all the leaning and pressure I put on my boots.
Loss of Circulation or Numbness
One sign that the ski boots are far too tight and not an ideal fit for you is if you are experiencing loss of circulation, even to the point of numbness.
If you can’t feel your feet anymore, you’ve got a serious problem. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it makes it really dangerous to ski. You can’t stay upright and control your motions down the mountain if you can’t even feel your feet.
This is extreme, and if you begin to lose feeling, take off your boots and try a larger size.
Impacting Your Skiing Experience
If you’ve been skiing for several days and your feet still hurt, your toes are tingling, you can’t control yourself as well as you would, and you just aren’t having fun, then it’s probably time to reconsider your choice. If you can’t enjoy yourself, then there’s no point in continuing on with the same ski boots.
Test a different pair and determine if the ski boots are the issue at play.
Signs That the Boots Might be the Wrong Size or Shape
If you notice that there is a great deal of pressure being put on a certain part of your foot, that you have great pain, a loss of circulation, or any other such symptoms, then your ski boots are probably just the wrong shape or size. What it all comes down to is being able to choose the right size of ski boot in the first place.
How to Choose the Right Ski Boots
Choosing the right ski boots for you comes down to two main factors. They should fit your feet properly, and the boots must fit your skis correctly. When you first spot a pair of ski boots, make sure that they fit properly into the pair of skis you are looking to buy or already own.
Not all ski boots are compatible with all skis, although most should be compatible with each other. It doesn’t hurt to double-check. A ski shop will adjust and ensure they will fit correctly anyway, so ask them prior or during the purchase.
When it comes to choosing the right ski boots, the best method is to go to a professional shop and try on a variety of models to see what is most comfortable. If you’re having trouble on your own, getting a professional boot fitting from a qualified expert is the very best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Return Ski Boots if They Don’t Break in Well?
Whether or not you can return ski boots that don’t break in well depends on the individual brand and company, and what their return policies are. Many return policies allow returns, but only if the ski boots have not been used skiing. Also, custom molded ski boots will also not be allowed to be returned.
However, if there is a defect with the ski boot due to the manufacturer, you should not have a problem reaching out and getting a replacement pair.
Just contact the location you purchased them, or directly contact the ski boot manufacturer to ask any questions you have about returning or defects.
How Often Should Ski Boots be Replaced?
Ski boots can often last a long time, the more used they are the more likely they will need replacing. In terms of use, a ski boots should last up to 200 full days of skiing. In terms of time, ski boots should last between 5 to 8 years.
No matter how many times you use them, after anywhere between 5 to 8 years it is possible the plastic is getting brittle and worn. This increases the chances of them breaking during use, which means you should consider upgrading to a new pair of ski boots.
Read my related post “How Long Do Ski Bindings Last? (& When To Get New Ones)” here.
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!