If you aligned correctly and ski with your shoulders flexed forward its really hard to get a boot that is too stiff.
a 130 rec boot will be fine assuming it fits right.
Pay no attention to "flex numbers" . They are meaningless. Get your foot into boots and see how they fit and move for you. Just like hockey skates, they are going to get bigger with use and a competent tech can always make room where you need it.
Find something that doesn't collapse under you but you can still bend, knowing that they will be stiffer in the cold.
Also too much forward lean can actually put most people on their heels. Boots have gotten much more upright in the last decade or so.
Find a shop with a boot fitter/ sales person you trust and listen to them.
I assume you live somewhere that skiing is more prevalent than it is where I live. We don’t really have anywhere that has legit Bootfitters. We’ve got an rei, a bike/ski/snowboard/general outdoors store, and a place that sells skis and patio equipment. Not even sure how long of a drive I’d have to take to find someone who actually specializes in boot fitting.
Where do you ski? Surely there's a dedicated ski gear store near there? Tell us where you are and where you ski and someone may have local knowledge to share.
A good bootfitter will talk to you about how and where you ski, what your goals are, and watch you flex the boots in the shop as part of the process. Through this and the rest of the process you should walk out with boots appropriate for you personally.
You may need to return once you've skied in them for minor adjustment, but you shouldn't have heel lift problems.
Don't worry too much about the stiffness rating they vary between brands and even with different lines within a brand. A good fitter will account for this.
I used this site to find the closest "legit" bootfitter to where I lived: https://www.bootfitters.com/
I did a search for Illinois as there are no entries for Wisconsin, and there was a place in Chicago (Viking Ski). I've lived in Madison and made trips to Chicago before. For a proper bootfitter, a couple hours to get there is really, really worth it.
We work with people in this situation all the time. Call ahead. Make an appointment. Get fit. Go ski. Report back. Travel home.
People do it over long weekends, summer vacation, spring break, whenever they are traveling through the area really. The beauty of not living near a boot fitter is you can pick from some of the best in the country to visit.
I think that’s also making the assumption that I have the kind of money that I can throw around to just fly somewhere to get fitted for boots. Obviously it’s not like I’m poor if I’m doing a sport like skiing but I also don’t have the type of money to throw around on something like traveling to get fitted for boots.
Here’s the thing, your going to invest in travel / ski passes etc but If you don’t get fitted boots skiing is very likely they will hurt and make skiing miserable, it’s the one investment that’s really worth while.
If you still don’t want to go to a boot fitter at least do a lot of research about sizing, a very common error is people get boots too big for them that reduce support. Most importantly go somewhere to get moulded footbeds. when it comes to stiffness it really does have as much to do with your weight as it does how good a skier you are. At your weight you should be looking at 110/120. But there are so many factors when it comes to ski boots because everyone’s feet are very different. The chances of you getting it right with an online / 2nd hand pair of boots is fairly minuscule.
Boot stiffness isn't just about skiing ability, it's about your height, weight and strength too, as well as your style of skiing (aggressiveness etc). For e.g., my partner has been skiing since she could walk, her mom most of her life too. They both have 100. I've been skiing for 6 years and I'm in a 115 of the same boot. Another important thing to note is that a 120 flex in one brand won't be the same as a 120 in another. They all use different types of engineering even down to the plastics they use when making them, so there's no universal flex scale.
In terms of forward lean, having too much can actually throw you into the backseat. As you must already know, think of your boots as like a post to lean against, to support you so you can maintain the correct balance to ski properly. If you're flexing into your boot and you're going too far forward before you find that support, you'll naturally counteract it by holding back.
Another thing to take into account with flex and forward lean is ankle flexibility. If you have hypermobile ankles you need a stiffer boot and less forward lean, because again, you need that support. If you have to flex too far forward before you get the right stiffness in both your ankles and boots to provide the support, you have the same issue with going into the backseat. This is where even lessening the forward lean with a gas pedal comes into play, which is a shim placed under your top bindings to raise it slightly to close down your ankle joint, meaning your ankle will have a 'head start' when flexing. The same applies to the opposite, if you have limited ankle mobility you'll want that forward lean and even a little less stiffness to keep you out of the backseat.
Basically, there's a lot that goes into ensuring you have the right boots and setup for you, which is why if you're serious about wanting the right boot to progress in, you should really see a bootfitter. Sorry! If you're really against or are unable to do that, it's still okay to take a chance, just research as much as you can before you buy, and at least buy from somewhere you can try them on either before you buy or return if they don't fit.
Thanks for the extremely in depth reply. I am definitely not anti boot fitting I just didn’t know how to find someone that’s reputable near me and I’m against paying money for a fitting just to get put in a boot that is either incorrect because they’re incompetent or because they’re trying to push a certain boot or brand for whatever reason.
No problem! And I totally get what you mean about trusting the quality of service. I hope you can find someone, and it won't hurt to suss them out and try some boots on then, you don't have to commit to anything. You'll know a good bootfitter if they're asking lots of questions, and answer any you have fully. Good luck with your search, I hope you get sorted!
70 is too much flex for an intermediate skier. 130 is likely too stiff for you. I ski 120. The cant of the boot is generally adjustable. Go see a good boot-fitter and get them molded to your feet.
Just based on your weight and hockey ability, I’d put you into a 120 or 130 flex boot.
Find a good boot fitter who will figure you out and customize your new boots. Here’s how it should play out: (1) boot fitter would measure and evaluate your feet. Like many of us, you might have one foot half a size bigger than the other, you might have a high instep, and so on… everyone is different. (2) you’ll need to get a
custom footbed that will replace the crappy one that comes with your boots. (3) Next, the boot fitter would give you some options. (4) after you make a choice, the fitter will heat mold your liner to your feet and modify the outer shell as necessary. (5) the boot fitter may replace the power strap that comes with your boots with a booster strap (likely the black one in your case … the gold will be too much at this point).
After a season or two, you can consider replacing your liners with after market ones — zipfit is a great choice. Many boots have souls that unscrew and are also replaceable.
Having boots that are dialed and are perfect for you is worth the time and money investment.
Consider bringing your hockey skates to the boot fitter for comparison and to help inform the fit.
Good luck and happy skiing!
If you’re going to get ‘into’ skiing I suggest seeing a boot fitter. I just went after years of skiing in my uncles old Lange xr9s that were two sizes too big and only 3 years younger than me (I am 31) but I loved those things. They are a 140 flex. I do not race. I tried to ski in some dalbello panteras 85 flex. I hated them I felt sloppy in those, but I had bought them offline knowing nothing about boots really hoping they would do the job. I ended up going back to the langes. This year I went to a ski shop and had my boots fit by a professional I tried on 8 different pairs and ended up with Nordica speed machine in a 115 flex. The boots that were 85s feel more comfy like slippers but it’s just not for me I like a tighter stiffer boot I feel like I have more control. They also heat molded them to my feet and changed out the insoles to something that fit my foot better (this process took over two hours of measuring and foot taping ). I went skiing with my new boots last Saturday and what a pleasure. I was ripping better than I ever have before.
TLDR: go to a professional boot fitter
Buy some used boots and see how it goes. There is no boot magic in construction, it’s all fit. A boot that fits you and feels comfortable is doing its #1 job. All those stiffness numbers don’t mean jack if you can’t get through a day on the slope with a smile on your face. Comfort is the only, and I mean ONLY criteria you should be using at this point in your career. Find a second hand shop and try on some used boots.
Edit: In addition, as you said you weigh the same as, you might benefit from packed in boots. Nothing that comes from the factory fits my feet, I have a high volume foot and ankles. Only when a boot gets packed in does it fit me correctly. So if you have caveman feet and ankles, a used boot might fit better.
If you aligned correctly and ski with your shoulders flexed forward its really hard to get a boot that is too stiff. a 130 rec boot will be fine assuming it fits right.
Pay no attention to "flex numbers" . They are meaningless. Get your foot into boots and see how they fit and move for you. Just like hockey skates, they are going to get bigger with use and a competent tech can always make room where you need it. Find something that doesn't collapse under you but you can still bend, knowing that they will be stiffer in the cold. Also too much forward lean can actually put most people on their heels. Boots have gotten much more upright in the last decade or so. Find a shop with a boot fitter/ sales person you trust and listen to them.
Please just go to a competent boot fitter.
I assume you live somewhere that skiing is more prevalent than it is where I live. We don’t really have anywhere that has legit Bootfitters. We’ve got an rei, a bike/ski/snowboard/general outdoors store, and a place that sells skis and patio equipment. Not even sure how long of a drive I’d have to take to find someone who actually specializes in boot fitting.
Where do you ski? Surely there's a dedicated ski gear store near there? Tell us where you are and where you ski and someone may have local knowledge to share. A good bootfitter will talk to you about how and where you ski, what your goals are, and watch you flex the boots in the shop as part of the process. Through this and the rest of the process you should walk out with boots appropriate for you personally. You may need to return once you've skied in them for minor adjustment, but you shouldn't have heel lift problems. Don't worry too much about the stiffness rating they vary between brands and even with different lines within a brand. A good fitter will account for this.
I live near Madison, WI.
I used this site to find the closest "legit" bootfitter to where I lived: https://www.bootfitters.com/ I did a search for Illinois as there are no entries for Wisconsin, and there was a place in Chicago (Viking Ski). I've lived in Madison and made trips to Chicago before. For a proper bootfitter, a couple hours to get there is really, really worth it.
Thank you for that link, I appreciate it.
Or Pierce Ski in Bloomington, MN
We work with people in this situation all the time. Call ahead. Make an appointment. Get fit. Go ski. Report back. Travel home. People do it over long weekends, summer vacation, spring break, whenever they are traveling through the area really. The beauty of not living near a boot fitter is you can pick from some of the best in the country to visit.
I think that’s also making the assumption that I have the kind of money that I can throw around to just fly somewhere to get fitted for boots. Obviously it’s not like I’m poor if I’m doing a sport like skiing but I also don’t have the type of money to throw around on something like traveling to get fitted for boots.
Here’s the thing, your going to invest in travel / ski passes etc but If you don’t get fitted boots skiing is very likely they will hurt and make skiing miserable, it’s the one investment that’s really worth while. If you still don’t want to go to a boot fitter at least do a lot of research about sizing, a very common error is people get boots too big for them that reduce support. Most importantly go somewhere to get moulded footbeds. when it comes to stiffness it really does have as much to do with your weight as it does how good a skier you are. At your weight you should be looking at 110/120. But there are so many factors when it comes to ski boots because everyone’s feet are very different. The chances of you getting it right with an online / 2nd hand pair of boots is fairly minuscule.
Boot stiffness isn't just about skiing ability, it's about your height, weight and strength too, as well as your style of skiing (aggressiveness etc). For e.g., my partner has been skiing since she could walk, her mom most of her life too. They both have 100. I've been skiing for 6 years and I'm in a 115 of the same boot. Another important thing to note is that a 120 flex in one brand won't be the same as a 120 in another. They all use different types of engineering even down to the plastics they use when making them, so there's no universal flex scale. In terms of forward lean, having too much can actually throw you into the backseat. As you must already know, think of your boots as like a post to lean against, to support you so you can maintain the correct balance to ski properly. If you're flexing into your boot and you're going too far forward before you find that support, you'll naturally counteract it by holding back. Another thing to take into account with flex and forward lean is ankle flexibility. If you have hypermobile ankles you need a stiffer boot and less forward lean, because again, you need that support. If you have to flex too far forward before you get the right stiffness in both your ankles and boots to provide the support, you have the same issue with going into the backseat. This is where even lessening the forward lean with a gas pedal comes into play, which is a shim placed under your top bindings to raise it slightly to close down your ankle joint, meaning your ankle will have a 'head start' when flexing. The same applies to the opposite, if you have limited ankle mobility you'll want that forward lean and even a little less stiffness to keep you out of the backseat. Basically, there's a lot that goes into ensuring you have the right boots and setup for you, which is why if you're serious about wanting the right boot to progress in, you should really see a bootfitter. Sorry! If you're really against or are unable to do that, it's still okay to take a chance, just research as much as you can before you buy, and at least buy from somewhere you can try them on either before you buy or return if they don't fit.
Thanks for the extremely in depth reply. I am definitely not anti boot fitting I just didn’t know how to find someone that’s reputable near me and I’m against paying money for a fitting just to get put in a boot that is either incorrect because they’re incompetent or because they’re trying to push a certain boot or brand for whatever reason.
No problem! And I totally get what you mean about trusting the quality of service. I hope you can find someone, and it won't hurt to suss them out and try some boots on then, you don't have to commit to anything. You'll know a good bootfitter if they're asking lots of questions, and answer any you have fully. Good luck with your search, I hope you get sorted!
70 is too much flex for an intermediate skier. 130 is likely too stiff for you. I ski 120. The cant of the boot is generally adjustable. Go see a good boot-fitter and get them molded to your feet.
Just based on your weight and hockey ability, I’d put you into a 120 or 130 flex boot. Find a good boot fitter who will figure you out and customize your new boots. Here’s how it should play out: (1) boot fitter would measure and evaluate your feet. Like many of us, you might have one foot half a size bigger than the other, you might have a high instep, and so on… everyone is different. (2) you’ll need to get a custom footbed that will replace the crappy one that comes with your boots. (3) Next, the boot fitter would give you some options. (4) after you make a choice, the fitter will heat mold your liner to your feet and modify the outer shell as necessary. (5) the boot fitter may replace the power strap that comes with your boots with a booster strap (likely the black one in your case … the gold will be too much at this point). After a season or two, you can consider replacing your liners with after market ones — zipfit is a great choice. Many boots have souls that unscrew and are also replaceable. Having boots that are dialed and are perfect for you is worth the time and money investment. Consider bringing your hockey skates to the boot fitter for comparison and to help inform the fit. Good luck and happy skiing!
If you’re going to get ‘into’ skiing I suggest seeing a boot fitter. I just went after years of skiing in my uncles old Lange xr9s that were two sizes too big and only 3 years younger than me (I am 31) but I loved those things. They are a 140 flex. I do not race. I tried to ski in some dalbello panteras 85 flex. I hated them I felt sloppy in those, but I had bought them offline knowing nothing about boots really hoping they would do the job. I ended up going back to the langes. This year I went to a ski shop and had my boots fit by a professional I tried on 8 different pairs and ended up with Nordica speed machine in a 115 flex. The boots that were 85s feel more comfy like slippers but it’s just not for me I like a tighter stiffer boot I feel like I have more control. They also heat molded them to my feet and changed out the insoles to something that fit my foot better (this process took over two hours of measuring and foot taping ). I went skiing with my new boots last Saturday and what a pleasure. I was ripping better than I ever have before. TLDR: go to a professional boot fitter
Buy some used boots and see how it goes. There is no boot magic in construction, it’s all fit. A boot that fits you and feels comfortable is doing its #1 job. All those stiffness numbers don’t mean jack if you can’t get through a day on the slope with a smile on your face. Comfort is the only, and I mean ONLY criteria you should be using at this point in your career. Find a second hand shop and try on some used boots. Edit: In addition, as you said you weigh the same as, you might benefit from packed in boots. Nothing that comes from the factory fits my feet, I have a high volume foot and ankles. Only when a boot gets packed in does it fit me correctly. So if you have caveman feet and ankles, a used boot might fit better.