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Downhill Ski Boots: Types And Variations
Whenever I put my downhill ski boots on, I have to laugh at myself. There is simply no even remotely graceful way to walk around in them. And because mine are black, I always feel like a bad guy in some B-movie: I call them my Darth Vader boots. Yes, as far as ski gear has come over the years, especially the past few decades, we have yet to figure out a way to make down downhill ski boots easy to deal with when out of skis.
In skis, of course, they're wonderful. Quality ski boots are absolutely essential in skiing, and such boots will help the skier to maintain the control so essential to the sport. The key, of course, is to make sure that the boots fit properly. If they don't, not only will the skier have less control, but the boots are likely to end up causing him or her severe pain and possibly even injury. Skiing, it must be remembered, is a dangerous sport, and one of the ways to mitigate that danger is to ensure that all equipment is as it should be.
The reason, of course, that downhill ski boots are so impossible to walk around in is that they are almost totally inflexible. This includes the sole of the boot, which on a normal shoe, will bend as the wearer walks. Not so with a downhill boot. When walking, the wearer must essentially balance from toe to heel, toe to heel. It can be quite amusing to watch, although less so to do. Naturally, this inflexibility serves a very important purpose, namely, protecting the foot while skiing and allowing the boot to be bound to the ski. Downhill ski boots are specially designed to fit into the bindings of downhill skis.
All downhill ski boots adhere to the same basic formula: a hard plastic shell with a softer foam liner. There is, however, some variation to both components. Liners come in a variety of thicknesses. Thicker, softer liners are more comfortable are often favored by beginners for this characteristic, but such liner sacrifice some precision control. Thinner, harder liners are less comfortable, but they are generally preferred by seasoned and professional skiers for the high level of control they afford.
As to ski boot shells, these actually vary in degree of stiffness. As in the case of liners, a harder, stiffer shell provides the skier with more control and is usually preferred by more advanced skiers. Softer boot shells flex easier under less pressure, making for a more forgiving ride for novice skiers. It should be noted that smaller, lighter skiers sometimes prefer boots with softer shells. This is because such skiers have less weight to utilize in making their boots flex.
Downhill ski boots fall into three primary categories based on style of binding: front-entry, rear-entry and mid-entry. The first, front-entry, are the boots usually preferred by performance-oriented skiers. The buckles fasten across the top of the foot and the shin, and such boots feature a rigid cuff, which creates a high level of stiffness. Rear-entry boots are comparatively inexpensive and are thus often used for beginners. The buckles of these boots fasten across the calf, an approach that fails to tighten the boot around the foot. This means that these boots often fit poorly in this area. Finally, mid-entry boots are a combination of the other two types and have buckles across the forefoot and shin, but the back of the boot hinges open to allow for easy access.
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