Rossignol AllSpeed Pro 120 Boot

Most ski boots share a common construction—a durable outer shell made of hard plastic for stability and support and an inner liner for cushioning and comfort.

Most boots also feature a similar entry and front-overlap shell design with adjustable buckles to dial in your fit. (There are, however, a few alternative designs like rear-entry boots and the three-piece model originally popularized by the Raichle Flexon with its iconic ribbed tongue.
Kids’ boots sometimes feature rear-entry design for convenience, while three-piece models have experienced somewhat of a resurrection, especially in Full Tilt ’s lineup.)

Liner technology has evolved as boot technology and fit has improved. An entry-level liner will provide traditional fit and comfort for your feet and will compress or “pack out” over time, leaving more room in your boot. This is fine to the extent that it provides a more custom fit, but if it
becomes too packed out, you may lose performance.

Boots may also feature thermoformable liners which take advantage of your own body heat to mold quickly to your foot and offer a more precise fit. Some boot models feature custom moldable liners as well, which are heated using an external source before being fitted to your
feet. This can be done at home, but the best results are typically achieved with a qualified boot fitter.

A boot’s flex affects how efficiently it transfers power from you to your ski, so manufacturers rate ski boots according to a flex index. Stiffer boots transfer power more efficiently to your skis and rank higher on the flex index while softer boots aren’t as precise and rank lower.

Note: While the flex index is a general guideline, indices may vary between manufacturers. We recommend coming to U.S. Outdoor or calling us to talk to our qualified boot fitters to determine what flex is best for you.

Downhill Ski Boots are measured using Mondo Point sizing (typically known simply as Mondo sizing), which refers to the length of the inside of the boot’s shell (from heel to toe) in centimeters. The following chart provides a rough conversion to US street shoe sizing.

Last Width

Most ski boots indicate how wide the last, or the forefoot, is as well. This gives you an idea of the overall volume of the boot. Ski boots typically feature lasts ranging from around 97mm to 102mm or more. An average width last for a ski boot is generally closer to 100mm (and roughly corresponds to the street shoe width “D"). Skiers with narrower or lower-volume feet may need to find a boot on the narrower end of the spectrum, while skiers with wider or higher-volume feet may be better off with boots featuring a wider last.

Note: In the past, advanced skiers with wider feet would be forced to suffer the discomfort or pain of wearing narrower “high-performance” boots while beginner skiers would be sliding around in wider “comfort-fit” models. This is beginning to change and more and more high-performance models with a stiffer flex are available with wider lasts while softer-flexing models better-suited to skiers developing their skills are available in narrower widths.