Apres ski bootssnow boots for family ski vacationsApres ski boots are great for keeping feet warm in the snow and we wouldn't be without them. They're not just for ski vacations, though. Our children happily wear their pairs during the winter at home, too.Apres ski boots are specially designed to keep children’s feet warm and snug when they're out and about in the snow but not skiing. Here are some tips to find the best pair for your child. Do I really need to buy a pair for family ski holidays? You might be wondering why your child will need another variation of footwear and why he can’t wear something he’s has already – like wellies or sturdy walking shoes. Well, there are several reasons that set this specialist footwear apart from anything else. They are well insulated so that your child’s feet will stay toasty warm. It’s not much fun to be out in the snow with feet so cold that they’re numb!
The year before last, our daughter had to make do without a pair of snow boots. We’d booked a ski trip right at the end of the season. Her pair from our previous trip was too small and by the time we’d thought about buying some more in resort, we were half way through the holiday. Of course, the snow fell heavily one afternoon. Guess who wanted to go sledging? The only outdoor footwear we had for her, apart from her ski boots, was her wellingtons. She wore two pairs of ski socks, and was happy playing – but she did complain that her feet got cold! The next year, we made sure that we bought proper snow boots. So whilst you don’t absolutely need apres ski boots, they’ll certainly let your child be more comfortable. Why are they so practical for ski resorts? You’ll notice that snow boots have deeper treads on the soles than regular footwear. This will give your child better grip in the snow or slush. Apart from the fact that sturdy walking shoes only come up to ankle height at best, another reason why they’re not really suitable footwear in resort is that the treads seem to fill up with snow. In no time at all your child will be sliding over - he should have done plenty of that whilst out on the slopes! In terms of design, you really can’t go too far wrong with a simple style that is easy for your child to put on and take off. Snow boots tend to be wide at the top with some means to tighten them to fit snugly around the calf. Some styles might have a zip up the side. Footwear more along the lines of ‘moon boots’ will usually have a drawstring at the top as you can see in the picture below. These styles are popular and easy for small children to take on and off by themselves.
Your child should wear his usual ski socks inside the boots, so don’t get caught out like we did a few years ago and buy the footwear without trying it on with the socks he’ll actually wear. Worse than that, we bought the same size as our child’s everyday shoe size. Well of course there was no way those snow boots were going to fit properly. Needless to say, we won't be making either of those mistakes again! So it is really worth buying a size bigger than usual shoe size. So how much should you expect to spend on a decent pair of apres ski boots? We have assorted pairs that have cost between £10 and £30. Ironically it was the smallest pair that cost the most! Never mind, that particular pair has been well used by each of our children both during ski vacations and at home as sturdy, warm winter footwear. You can wash them in a washing machine and they’ll still retain their waterproofing. Remember, apres ski boots aren’t just for your children. You can find quite a selection of styles in adult sizes – so your feet will be warm for sledging and snowman making too! Return from the apres ski boots to ski accessories. Return to the family ski vacations home page. |
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Thanks for the great website - very handy. We are planning our first ski trip for us and our 5 kids!Chrisna
Skiing tips for families. Written by an English couple who love to ski and play in the snow with their children.
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