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Female ski boots vs. Male ski boots

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gvski13
Posts: 195 - Karma: 874
Last season I purchased my first pair of Full Tilt DropKicks. I bought them in a 24.5. This season I know I will be downsizing to a 23.5 for performance because I have wayy too much movement in my boots. For example, when I try to nose butter, my liner basically comes out of my ski boot. I also get quite a fair amount of toe bang.

The only difference between female and male ski boots is the cuff length which I really did not notice. So, should I continue to stick with Full Tilt? Is the all the hype true, and do you really think it matters if I buy a mens or a womens boot? Do men's boots even go to a 23.5?

I am considering the Salomon 110 for women but am also afraid of shin bang because I have that as well, the 90 flex on the DropKicks was most definetly flexy enough. Really wishing you could still demo ski boots.
Sep 22 2020 7:31PM
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CossackMalone
Posts: 35 - Karma: 264
If your boots are that loose in a 24.5 a 22.5 might even be a better choice. Go to the best ski shop where you live, have them measure your feet and try on boots there. Toe bang is from too long of boots, shin bang is from not being tight enough around the calf. Both of those you can figure out in a shop.
Sep 22 2020 7:57PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8825 - Karma: 34,937
you really need to go to a bootfitter. They will get you set up very nice and you wont have to worry about any of your issues stated.
Sep 22 2020 7:58PM
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vibecheck
Posts: 3112 - Karma: 15,187
Go to abootfitter tell them how you ski and how ur feet are. They'll get u set up
Sep 22 2020 8:14PM
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CatdickBojangles
Posts: 6199 - Karma: 62,926
CossackMaloneIf your boots are that loose in a 24.5 a 22.5 might even be a better choice. Go to the best ski shop where you live, have them measure your feet and try on boots there. Toe bang is from too long of boots, shin bang is from not being tight enough around the calf. Both of those you can figure out in a shop.


Yeah don’t blindly listen to advice like this. If you downsize without being fit you’ll be in even more pain. Go see a boot fitter and get properly fit you won’t regret it one bit.
Sep 22 2020 8:49PM
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Corey_O132
Posts: 161 - Karma: 1,119
Yeah women’s full tilts do have a shorter cuff, which usually doesn’t matter, especially if your on the shorter side. Full Tilts are pretty nice. It also might be really worth it to put a foam wrap around the outside of your liner around your heel to stop any heel lift. Also always good to play around with the shims to figure out how much forward lean you like.
Sep 22 2020 9:00PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7130 - Karma: 17,359
Drop Kick S could be an option as it goes down to smaller sizes but you would probably want a stiffer tongue if you were in the drop kick last season and the flex was good. You could also look at the soul sister 100 if you wanted to go stiffer but stay in a 3 piece boot, because you know, just get full tilts
Sep 22 2020 9:08PM
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CossackMalone
Posts: 35 - Karma: 264
CatdickBojanglesYeah don’t blindly listen to advice like this. If you downsize without being fit you’ll be in even more pain. Go see a boot fitter and get properly fit you won’t regret it one bit.

My advice was literally to go into a shop and get fit for new boots.
The part about being a 22.5 could end up being way off, but it is not uncommon for people To be in a boot 2 sizes too big. But yes main takeaway is to go to a boot fitter.
Sep 22 2020 9:56PM
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gvski13
Posts: 195 - Karma: 874
Thanks guys it seems the consensus is to just go to a boot fitter. I've never even heard about the foam wrap stuff
Sep 23 2020 12:29AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6655 - Karma: 10,847
gvski13Thanks guys it seems the consensus is to just go to a boot fitter. I've never even heard about the foam wrap stuff


If your boot is genuinely too big, adding pads to the liner is a short term fix that's not really even a fix. Nothing will correct a boot that is too big.

As others have said, get to a reputable boot-fitter who can see your feet, assess your needs, and go from there.
Sep 23 2020 3:12AM
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broken_skier0
Posts: 132 - Karma: 287
Men's boots typically don't go smaller than a 24. If you want something this small, you need women's boots or kid's boots.
Sep 23 2020 8:10AM
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1315 - Karma: 10,097
CossackMaloneMy advice was literally to go into a shop and get fit for new boots.
The part about being a 22.5 could end up being way off, but it is not uncommon for people To be in a boot 2 sizes too big. But yes main takeaway is to go to a boot fitter.


My first pair 2 pairs of boots were 26.5 and after a couple years i went down to 25.5 for a couple more years and then a little while after that i went down to 24.5. Can confirm it is easy to end up in a boot that is too big if you don't know what you're doing and aren't asking for help!
Sep 23 2020 10:50AM
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Poikenz
Posts: 1471 - Karma: 3,698
gvski13Really wishing you could still demo ski boots.

Some shops offer a fit guarantee, typically hard to pull off getting into another boot with that deal though as they would rather spend multiple hours perfecting the fit in the boot they chose for you. If volume is a big issue for you, don't be afraid of jr boots. As already stated, seeing a proper fitter is the best way to go. Don't let your bias dictate which boots you get, boots marketed as park specific aren't special and won't make you better if they don't fit.
Sep 23 2020 6:27PM
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5Avalanche
Posts: 30 - Karma: -541
gvski13Last season I purchased my first pair of Full Tilt DropKicks. I bought them in a 24.5. This season I know I will be downsizing to a 23.5 for performance because I have wayy too much movement in my boots. For example, when I try to nose butter, my liner basically comes out of my ski boot. I also get quite a fair amount of toe bang.

The only difference between female and male ski boots is the cuff length which I really did not notice. So, should I continue to stick with Full Tilt? Is the all the hype true, and do you really think it matters if I buy a mens or a womens boot? Do men's boots even go to a 23.5?

I am considering the Salomon 110 for women but am also afraid of shin bang because I have that as well, the 90 flex on the DropKicks was most definetly flexy enough. Really wishing you could still demo ski boots.


Most men’s boots don’t go down to 23.5 and most women’s boots are noodles
Dec 27 2020 2:22PM
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