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Child ski boots – let’s make getting the right size as easy as possible!

You’ll need to find child ski boots that fit well and are comfortable. But how do you get a three-year-old to tell you whether this unfamiliar footwear is comfortable?

Ski boots can be tricky to fit at the best of times. Add a tired three-year-old who’s more interested in what everyone else is doing in an warm, crowded equipment shop and you have a potential recipe for disaster – yes, we have been there and bought the t-shirt!

Having said that, we really can’t emphasise enough just how important it is to ensure that child ski boots fit properly – that applies whether you rent or buy. A poorly fitting pair will at best lead to clumsy skiing and painful feet which could completely put your child off skiing. At worst, they could lead to accidents, definitely not what you want.

So how do I know whether they’re comfortable for my child?
Ski boots are likely to be the strangest footwear that your child has ever worn! The most important piece of advice we can offer is to take note and be guided by an experienced boot fitter in a winter sports shop. Small children can be notoriously uncommunicative when being asked if something fits or not, but do persevere – you really don’t want them to be uncomfortable. We find it best for our sanity if we go to the shop the evening before our first morning’s skiing. That way we avoid the morning rush, the children don’t have to wait in a warm shop for ages before their turn and the whole process runs smoothly.

When trying on ski boots, your child’s foot should not feel pinched. He should be able to wriggle his toes and will probably be able to feel them touching the end of the boot whilst standing upright. This is completely usual. When the boot is properly done up and he is skiing, his foot will move backwards slightly in the boot so that the heel is snug and the toes don’t touch the end. Again, an experienced fitter will guide you.

They’re quite large compared to other footwear - what are they made from?
Yes, they’re large when you stand them next to everyday shoes. But child ski boots have a very specific purpose, and they’re the size they need to be. If you think about it, child ski boots have two distinct functions. One is to be strong enough to protect your child’s feet and to withstand and respond to the forces exerted on them. But the other is that they need to be warm and comfortable.

The outer shell is made of plastic that is strong enough to flex under your child’s weight, and which remains strong in low temperatures. There will be clips to do it up, and when done up, the boot will lean your child forward. The toe and heel are specially shaped to clip into the bindings on his skis.

There is also a removable inner shell that gives insulation from the cold and provides the comfort factor. It is usually made of fabric and foam.

I’ve seen several different styles – which do I choose?
Often it’s a case of what is in stock that also fits! But yes, there are different designs available for your child. Ski boots which are done up with only one clip are usual for beginners aged under five. These are often called rear-entry boots because as you can see in this picture – the back opens so that your child can slip his foot inside.

He’ll then advance to a front-entry pair which has three or four clips to keep it done up, and look like a smaller version of an adult pair.

Isn’t it going to be difficult to get them on?
Difficult, no – but your child will find it tricky at first. You can help yourself (and your child) by getting him to practice taking the boots on and off before his first ski lesson. This will help you in the long run by encouraging him to get ready and know his equipment. Small children will not have the strength in their fingers to do up the clips, but getting them to do as much as they can by themselves is good for their independence.

We sit our children side by side on a bench, and work along the line making sure that all clips are done up properly. Last season our eldest insisted on doing her own clips. She was old enough to do it herself, she informed us. Except that she didn’t do them up tight enough and when she inevitably fell over, she hurt herself. From then on it was back to the boot line-up!

We’d also recommend you teach your child how to carry his boots. Many front-entry boots have a strap incorporated within the design. You can simply loop the strap from each boot together to form a rough handle to carry both together. Child ski boots with no strap can be carried using a plastic toggle which you can buy from a winter sports shop. This will enable then to be carried together. Or you could improvise and take a short length of cord or similar.

Is it best to buy or hire?
Let’s look at this practically. If you plan to ski for several weeks a year, then buying new child ski boots will become cost-effective. If they can be worn by younger siblings then you’ll get even more value for your money. Having said that, children’s feet do grow incredibly quickly, so you’re unlikely to get more than one season’s use per child – unless of course your child’s foot growth has slowed down.

For our last family ski holiday we opted to hire boots for all the children. That meant we saved quite a bit of space in our luggage. These practical savings are always going to be useful on a family ski holiday!

Won’t it be difficult to walk around the resort?
Not difficult as such, just different. It’ll be easier for your child if you undo the clips. Remember to keep a hold of small children if they’re walking on smooth surfaces with their ski boots on – it only takes a little ice on the sole for them to slip over.

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