If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy A lineup of alpine ski boots clicked into skis on snow. ( eet often need a high-volume ski boot, meaning a last of 102 millimeters or wider, though some wide-footed skiers do fine in medium-volume boots with lasts of 100- to 101 millimeters. We highlighted seven boots with lasts from 100 millimeters to 103.5 millimeters, including men’s and women’s options and one backcountry touring boot.
Wide feet are a problem for skiers. Take it from someone whose bootfitter once called hers “platypus feet.” My forefoot is wide, I have basically no arch, and my heel, ankle, and calf are skinny. That wide forefoot points me toward a wider last and “high volume” boots, but my flat foot swims in them, with way too much room between my instep and the boot ceiling and around my ankle and calf.
I stuff my platypus feet into low-volume boots that keep them snug, then work with a bootfitter to stretch and grind out the toebox. For skiers with more typical wide feet (a wide forefoot, a higher instep, and proportionally bigger ankles and calves), the fix is usually far simpler: try on a few boots with a last of 100 millimeters or more, either a generous mid-volume or a high-volume model, and see what fits. Why do so many of these boots all have BOA dials, you ask?
Because whether you like them or not, you can’t argue that BOA makes it easier to fine-tune the fit and wrap above the instep. Here are our testers’ favorite boots for skiers with wide feet, high insteps, and thicker calves, all available in multiple flexes for men and women. And remember: boot fit is highly specific to your foot shape.
To find the best boot for you, visit your local ski shop and work with a professional bootfitter. Sizes: 24.5-29.5 Last: 102 mm Flexes: 120, 100 Pros and Cons + Convenient entry and BOA lower closure + Performance on par with stiffer boots + 100-flex version offers big value – Fit out-of-box was more snug than expected One tester called it the best 102-millimeter-lasted boot ever made, and the fit balance explains why: secure and pinch-free through the rearfoot, roomy up front without going bucket-wide. A new lower-shell BOA dial lets you fine-tune the wrap across your forefoot and instep, and entry is among the easiest around.
The reworked R-Go Fit liner grips just enough to hold your heel, snug at first but relaxing after a couple of runs. The 120 flex skied like several 130s, so if you like a softer boot, look at the Rossignol Hi-Speed HV BOA 100. Sizes: 23.5-30.5 Last: 102 mm Flexes: 85-130 Pros and Cons + Lots of room, everywhere + Very square toebox shape + Foot feels planted for good edge control – Potential for quickness requires high volume foot and leg Plenty of wide boots drift toward medium width or ski like the box they came in.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
