Ski Boots & Thin Legs

Have just booked a last-minute(-ish) holiday to Alpe d'Huez in a couple of weeks and need some help with ski boots! Having moved from skiing to snowboarding about 6 years ago, I tried skiing again last March and absolutely loved it, so am considering moving back! I obviously don't want to buy boots until I'm sure, so I'm just going to rent for the holiday.

But... I have really skinny legs. Last March, I found that even with my hire boots at maximum tightness they still felt really loose around my calves, which isn't exactly conducive to pulling off some nice sharp turns. Can you get boots for particularly skinny legs, and would hire shops stock them? Or is there anything I can buy that will help secure my legs in the boots?

Thanks!

You are perfect candidate for "adapted boots"

You will never be happy with rented boots since they then to be widder than most.

If you are really "coming back", then look around for correct boots now!!!!

If I understand your boots problems , you have some play in the upper cuff area!

That is a very easy problem to fix!

Just look for boots that fit you well in the toe and arch area, then I will tell you how to fix your problem. If you have narrow smallish feet try Lange boots!

Trust me, it is false economy to wait since you will pick up very poor skiing habits while you try to ski with poor boots.

Good luck in your search.

Alt20,
I forgot to ask, do your ankles also move about.

Is the play only in the upper cuff section?


PS You do not have thin legs!!! You have "tight" legs!!!

A possible solution might be eliminator tongues (see below). You could take these with you to use in your rented boots. If you were really desperate, you could also take some closed cell foam sheets to cut up. Not great, but better than your calves slapping around in the boot cuffs.

http://www.bootfitters.com/eliminator.htm

trencher

Eliminator tongues seem like the kind of thing I was looking for. Or possibly a booster strap. Thanks Trencher.

pavelski: I think it's just my legs that move rather than my ankles. And as I said, I probably will be buying my own boots soon, just need to make sure first :P

Alt20,

If it is just the leg moving in the cuff area ( the upper 30% of boot) then the solution is relatively easy. The booster strap is excellent.

I kept loosing this strap so I found another solution.

If you look carefully at all the ski boots, the "power strap" , that velcro/nylon strap that goes around top section of boot is riveted to the top plastic portion of the rear "spoiler".

Like you I found my leg moving fore and aft inside thew boot. I obtained another power strap and sewed it to the top section of the boot liner. Now my boots are "snug" around my leg! The slightest movement is transfered to the ski.

If you want to see if this is exactly what you want, just roll some duct tape once around the same level as the new strap. Ski one day with this tape.
You will experience an amazing control of your skis.

Hopethis helps you!

Silly thing to overlook, but on most ski boots, the toothed part of the buckle is movable on the cuff. It normally comes in the larger calves position, but may be moved for a tighter fit on smaller legs. Make sure the rental shop moves these for you.

Trencher

Trencher - yeah I'll definitely be checking that when I go. Might find that that's all that's needed.

pavelski - Duct Tape! What a great idea! I might well try that as a temporary solution if all else fails. Thanks