Tightening ski boots around the calf has always been a source of debate for skiers and snowboarders. While many snowboarders believe that having your boots as tight as possible around your calf is beneficial for edge control while snowboarding, other skiers argue that it creates unnecessary pressure on your lower legs which might cause injury.
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Tightest Calf-Bearing Boots
To figure out which camp is right, we need to examine how the different tightening methods of ski boots affect a skier’s legs. A couple of the most popular methods are:
Walking While Looking Down
When you walk down the street looking down at your feet (this is called ‘lock-step walking’ or ‘step dancing’), you’re applying pressure to your lower legs. The reason this is such an efficient way of walking is because it puts the weight of your body on your feet, which in turn, makes you feel like you’re standing on a solid ground. In this instance, having your boots as snug as possible is advisable.
Standing On One Leg While Sideways Looking
Sideways looking is a stance that requires leaning forward and holding one leg in front of you while looking down at the ground. In this position, you’re applying pressure to your lower legs via your boot. However, since you don’t have full control over the amount of pressure you’re putting down, having your boots as loose as possible is advisable.
Riding A Bike With The Friction Grip
Attachments such as toe-clips, which are used to hold a bike’s tires in place, act as a friction device while also providing some structural support to the boot. In some situations, such as when you’re riding on rough terrain, having your boots as tight as possible is necessary to prevent them from coming off during use. In most instances, though, the friction grip is more than enough support to keep your boots attached to your feet while skimming over the snow, allowing you to go at your own pace without worrying about your boots coming off.
Riding In A Skier Safety Bag
A skier safety bag is a hard backpack designed to withstand the substantial impact forces that result from a collision with a tree or other objects. Wearing a skier safety bag helps to protect your head, legs, and chest during a fall. The backpack straps are positioned across your chest so that in case of an accident, your body’s natural instinct is to protect your head and neck. Most people consider a skier safety bag to be among the most important gear items when skiing, especially since they offer the best of both worlds – having your hands free for steering while also being able to feel the impact of an accident as the airbags deploy.
Choosing The Right Ski Boots
The key is to find a happy medium when it comes to the tightness of your ski boots around your calf. First, you need to consider whether you’ll be using the boots for walking or for skiing. If you plan on using them for both activities, the walk mode will most likely be your everyday wear while the ski mode will be the one you use when snowboarding. In most cases, your everyday shoes will be more than enough for skiing, however, if you plan on taking the trip to a snowy environment, you might want to consider upgrading your ski boots. This is particularly important if you plan on walking on a slippery surface or if you’re going to be in an area with a lot of ice. In these situations, having your ski boots as tight as possible will help prevent injuries to your lower legs caused by slipping and falling.
Having a happy medium when it comes to the tightness of your legs and feet will also depend on the type of activity you plan on doing. If you prefer to ski at high speeds, you might want to go for a looser fit around the calf while those who prefer to slowly cruise down the slopes might want to go for a tighter fit. This way, you’ll find the right balance of comfort and performance depending on the day and the weather conditions.
With proper use, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy skiing without worrying about your leg and foot injuries. However, we all love to live dangerously and argue about unnecessary things, so here’s to hoping that this article will help you to enjoy your time on the slopes more and prevent any injuries caused by improper foot and leg positioning while skiing or snowboarding.