When it comes to ski equipment for high performance, ski boots are the most important piece of equipment. A boot links the skier and the mountain, and is the connection between the snow and your brain. Our tactile sense keeps us in touch with our environment. Our sense of touch is derived from a range of receptors in our skin that take messages about pressure/balance, vibration, texture, temperature, pain and the position of our body and passes it through our nervous system to the brain. It is through your boots that all the energy from your body is communicated to your skis.

Boots should have a firm/snug fit and should not have any painful pinch points or cut off circulation. When standing upright in your boots your toes should slightly touch and not be uncomfortable. When flexing (pushing your knee forward towards the tongue) your toes will pull back away from the liner, creating more room in the toe area so that toes don’t touch. This is a good indication that the length of the boot is the right length.

Ski boot manufacturers use an international foot measuring system called Mondo point. It is a metric-based system which measures the foot in centimeters. Zay uses the Mondo point, see conversion chart (link to conversion chart).

 Another way to determine the right shell size is by tracing your foot on a piece of paper. Measure from your heel to the end of your longest toe, in inches, and multiply by 2.54 to convert to centimeters. Round your answer to the nearest half centimeter, and this is your Mondo point size.

 Note: Measuring your foot length is a starting point as there are many other factors in selecting the right ski boot. Below are additional factors that we recommend reviewing before making a purchase.

 Beginner/Intermediate Skiers: Typically rent boots or purchase boots that have a softer flex, slightly longer, even though it may feel a bit snug or small. Note: Over a period of time and use, the foam of the liner will compress and provide a little more wiggle room for your toes and feet, this is normal.

Intermediate/Advanced Skiers: For performance, we recommend choosing a boot close to your indicated Mondo point size or slightly shorter in length with a medium flex. The width of the boot is very important and should be snug or have side to side movement.

Advanced/Expert Skiers: Generally speaking, most boot fitters recommend a shell size 1/2 to a full size smaller than their indicated size. This type of fit provides for a precise and responsive ski experience when coupled with a stiff flex.

Finding the right ski boot is more of an art than exact science and we recommend having a professional help you select the right Zay boot.

Note: Zay does not make boot shells in half sizes. Instead, we use a smaller volume liner in the same size shell size i.e.: 26.0 and a larger volume liner in a size 26.5.  If you try on a 26.5 boot and it feels too big, the next size down will be a 26.0. If this is still too big, try the next shell size.

All ski boot brands are different in the overall length, width and the volume of shell. To find the right boot for your feet we recommend having a professional boot fitter perform a shell fit. Below is a brief explanation of how to do a shell fit test. NOTE: You should shell fit both the Right and Left feet for optimum comfort and performance.

Remove the liner from the shell(s): Unbuckle all buckles on the boot and firmly grab the back of the liner. With your other hand, grab the top of the shell with your fingers between the shell and the liner. In one motion, pull the back of the liner towards the toe of the boot. At this point, the overlaps of the boot will begin to open, allowing the liner to be removed from the shell.

Determining length: Using a ski sock, step into the shell and slide your foot forward until your toes barely touch the toe box. At this point your foot should be resting on the boot board with your toes touching the front of the boot. Check the space between your heel and the back of the shell. You should be able to fit 1 to 2 fingers in this space, which equals ¾ to 1-1/2” (19-38 mm) between your foot and the heel.  If you can fit more than 2 fingers, downsize to the next shell and repeat the above steps. As a general rule, a shell fit that is larger than 2 fingers/38 mm will normally prove to be too loose allowing your heel to lift and foot to move.

The length of your boot isn’t your only fit option, there is also width or “last.” The last of a ski boot is based on the width of the forefoot measured on a slight diagonal across your foot, known as the metatarsal heads. The Zay boot is a narrow last (98mm) with less volume when compared to medium and wide lasts.

• NARROW LAST
  Narrow width boots normally have a forefoot width of 95-98 mm and are narrow through the midfoot. This last is best for people with narrow and low volume feet.
• MEDIUM LAST
  Medium width boots have a forefoot width of 100-101 mm and offer more volume in the midfoot. A medium lasted boot typically fits the average size foot well but may not have that “snug” feel depending on which boot brand you purchase.
• WIDE LAST
  Wide width boots have a forefoot width of 102-104 mm and offer greater volume in the midfoot accommodating those skiers which have a wide (duck foot) and a higher volume (beefy) foot.

STREET SHOE VS. LAST WIDTH

Note: Irregularities in your foot, such as abnormally long toes, bone spurs, bunions, or as boot fitters call it, “sixth toe” a pronounced bump on the outside of the pinky toe. In either case, a professional boot fitter can accommodate these types of issues by selecting the best shell size and making modifications by grinding or punching the shell.

Generally speaking, volume goes hand in hand with the forefoot width. Boots with a narrow forefoot generally have less volume through the midfoot and heel as well as, boots with a wide forefoot usually have more room. A professional boot fitter can normally accommodate volume issues by adding height to the footbed or by stretching the liner.

For a long time, ski boot manufacturers have been rating boots by “flex”. This rating refers to how difficult it is to flex the boot forward. As the temperature drops, the boot shell stiffens up, making it harder to flex the boot which changes the skier’s ability to apply constant forward pressure to the front of the ski, altering their skiing. This method of determining flex has not been adopted as a standard among all boot brands, thus meaning a 130 flex in brand “A” is not the same as brand ”B”.

SKIER TYPE / ZAY MODEL / FLEX RATING

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The skiers’ weight and height should be taken into consideration when choosing the right model along with the type of terrain, snow conditions, such as front side skiing or back country along with a host of other contributing factors.

A taller or heavier skier may require a stiffer boot model such as a Z2 or Z3, providing additional support even though they may be new to skiing. Freeride/Park and pipe skiers use the Z1 as their go-to boot because it offers the greatest flex of all the boots offered by Zay, and World-Cup racers have the option to use the Z2 or Z3 depending on the discipline.

The Zay liner is a removable, firm inner “bootie” that provides support, protects and insulates the foot from the elements. Typically, skiers talk about how their ski boots are worn out or the liner is “packed out” after 40-50 outings, not Zay liners. Our specially engineered liners use the finest foam materials designed to mold around your foot shape, firmly holding/supporting the entire foot structure, lasting 250 days of skiing before needing replacement,

Skiing relies on side-to-side motion and a boot’s function is to transfer the kinetic energy motion from your body to your ski. Since no two feet are the same, it’s very important that you have no gaps between the bottom of your feet and the liner. As skiers, we like to have our feet in close contact with our boot; the way we do this is by over-tightening the buckles, thus cutting off circulation to the feet, creating additional pinch points (discomfort) and a bad habit of buckling and unbuckling throughout the day.

 The footbed is the inside part of the liner that runs under the bottom of the foot and is the support for the foot and the entire kinetic chain. Many boot fitters may also refer to it as an insole. A correct footbed in a ski boot serves many important functions. It distributes pressure evenly over the entire foot, quickening edge response and enhancing comfort. A poorly made foot bed can be the difference between a good ski day and a miserable one and can have a direct effect on your balance and equipment setup.

 Note: Purchasing an off-the-shelf foot bed is not the same as going to a professional boot fitter. An experienced professional boot fitter will do a complete biomechanical analysis from the hips down to your feet and also takes into consideration your ski setup, bindings and or the use of risers.

What is a boot board? The boot board (Zeppa) sits below the liner (removable) and is the foundation of the ski boot. 

 ZAY DUAL DENSITY BOOT BOARD

Our under-the-foot boot board, or “Zeppa,” by its Italian name, offers a unique biomechanical design with a 3mm foam strip down the length of the inside of the foot (ball of foot), enabling the big toe to drop down. When initiating a turn, your shifting body weight compresses the foam, allowing the ball of the foot to naturally articulate. Like a dimmer switch, this provides sensitive edge control to the skis, less fatigue to the skier and greater power for carving turns.

CTA: Show a cut away view of the boot showing boot board. Awaken Koala is currently working on the section view and will be available by 2-14-22

Yes, with the correct tools a boot fitter can make a ski boot 10-12 mm wider in the forefoot. Depending upon the area, a professional will either punch (stretch) or grind the area which needs to be wider or needs relief to accommodate a medical issue. The key to fitting a boot is to get a really secure fit around the heel and ankle area. The Zay heel area has been specifically designed to be 2-3 mm narrower than other boot brands, providing a closer and snug fit.

A ski sock is your best choice for greater comfort, warmth and yes, performance. We recommend using a thinner compression ski sock made from Merino wool. This type of sock should have a seamless toe construction, be exceptionally soft and have natural moisture-wicking and have insulating properties. Avoid cotton-based socks. If you have cold feet, wool based socks will always work best. For hot feet, man-made fibers will pull moisture from the skin.

The cuff alignment can have a large impact on your balance and ability to control the skis. There are two parts that make up the outer shell of a ski boot: lower boot and the cuff. These are typically fastened using rivets or using a specially designed fastener a.k.a “cant adjustment”. The cant adjustment allows for lateral angle adjustment of the cuff to your specific leg shaft, “tip in” or “tip out”, independent of the lower boot. It’s best to consult a professional boot fitter before adjusting.

Canting refers to adjusting alignment of the boot to correct a knocked-kneed or bowlegged stance through sole planning or cants fastened to the bottom of the boot. Proper canting requires a professional boot fitter who understands a skier’s movement capability, is trained to choose, modify, or build equipment and is specifically trained in biomechanical assessment. Not all ski shop retailers or boot fitters are trained or equipped to cant boots or perform a biomechanical assessment. For recommendations, please call Zay at 970-535-9599.

A removable wedge that sits (Velcro) between the liner and the shell directly behind the calf. There are two reasons why you may want to use a spoiler.

• Increase the forward lean of your leg by a few degrees
• Fills extra space in the upper cuff, reducing gap between your leg and the shell

Zay uses the original Booster™ power strap. This patented dynamic elastic strap works with the skier’s movements allowing the skier to cinch them loose or super tight for added performance.

The back buckle of the Zay ski boot uses two micro-adjustment nuts to shorten or lengthen the corresponding cable, allowing for fine tuning of the shell fit to the foot.