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Jim W
Lv 7
Jim W asked in SportsWinter SportsSnow Skiing · 8 years ago

How durable are your ski boots?

How long do you expect a pair of top quality boots to last your normal skiing? Estimated days please. Are the liners of the current models short lived compared to what you used 5 years ago?

6 Answers

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  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Several factors come into play Hewitt regard to this question. Among them, how aggressively do you ski? And, how often? In addition, what is the ski boot she'll made of... Thermoplastic shells are very soft and I've seen them break quite easily. Polyethylene shells are harder, and less prone to breaking.

    Typically, one should replace ski boots annually, especially when used a lot or aggressively. Other indicators that it nay be time to replace ski boots include excessive wear at any of the points where the boot and binding interface, e.g., boot toe, where the Binding's AFD contacts the boot sole, and at the heel, especially when the boot is so badly worn as to make it virtually impossible for the binding to close properly.

    Although popular opinion suggests ski boots should be replaced annually when possible, though, one must also note that some competitive skiers, especially those competing for the World Cup, prefer to keep their boots longer simply because they are familiar with the way their boots fit.

    Source(s): Ski retail experience, technician - worked at one time with a former Equipment Manager for the Austrian National Ski Team who had also set up the Kaestle Ski Company's US Service Center, 35 years with NSPS and 20 years as a PSIA Level 2 Alpine Ski Instructor.
  • L&M
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    I've been skiing the same pair of boots since the mid-late 1990's. (Horrors, shriek!) I tried getting new boots two years ago, they don't fit well and I had such bad shin bang it almost ruined my ski vacation. Fortunately I tore off the new boots after the first run and I had brought along my old skis & boots.. My shins were sore but I rescued my vacation. I ski at least 10 to 15 days a year, as often as I can get out to the slopes. This past year it was a little more as we had a really good snow year. If my boots fall apart that's it for me skiing. They're still in great shape, I clean them regularly and I avoid walking over dirt and gravel. The liners are still OK, I don't have very sweaty feet in the cold.

    Just like plastics, liner durability depends on what kind of foam or material used to make them. It could be some deteriorate rapidly, the foam on my skates disintegrated after several years.

    My calves have gotten wider over the years. If they make a realistic pair of boots designed for older skiers and not racers, that can accommodate a shape other than a stick skinny calf comfortably, I'll be the first in line to buy them.

  • 8 years ago

    Why type of skiing? X-country to downhill? I ski x-country and am still using the boots I got back in the late 1990's. However, it depends on how much you use them, the quality/purpose (competition have more support but don't last, recreation have less support but last longer), and what condition you allow before you want to replace them. Some get new boots every year or two. Others like me just wait until they fall apart or no longer provide adequate support.

  • Ian K
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    My boots last about 300-400 days.

    About 4 seasons. They are telemark, but modern plastic ones, similar to modern alpine boots. Have buddies with over 800 days on a pair of boots, it really varies. Seen people claim their boots were blown out after less than a season.

    Source(s): Kind of ski a lot.
  • 8 years ago

    Still depends on the quality of the materials, even let us say that it is branded. Quality materials today are much different than before. I think materials were more durable before. But, you can make last long, if you know how to take care of it.

  • 8 years ago

    It depends of few factors, for example:

    1) Quality

    2) How heavy is the person using'em

    3) How many hours of activity

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