What To Look For
Freeride skiing, generally defined as using features of the mountain such as rocks and trees to do jumps and tricks, requires different gear than traditional all-mountain skiing. The boots should have more cushioning, to help absorb the jumps, and have a slightly softer flex than most expert and racing boots. Some freeride skiers also like to have boots with only three buckles, as opposed to the more traditional four-buckle designs. Another feature worth looking for is a boot compatible with alpine touring (AT) equipment, so that you can take your love of freeride into the backcountry and climb uphill to ski downhill.
The best-designed freeride boots have features like adjustable flex to fine tune the performance in different conditions, and thermo-moldable liners to help get a more customized fit in the boot. The best boots also have a power strap above the top buckle for a snug fit in the shin area.
Common Pitfalls
Many people transitioning into freeride skiing are expert skiers who are used to having stiff boots. It's counter-intuitive, but with freeride, a softer boot is better than a very stiff boot like a race boot.
Fit is a common mistake people make when buying freeride boots. The best way to assure a good fit is to do a shell sizing before checking the liner. Wear thin, performance-oriented ski socks when trying on boots. Remove the liner and slide your foot in until the toes are lightly touching the front of the boot. There should be a half an inch of room between your heel and the back of the boot.
Where To Buy
You can buy freeride boots at local ski shops and online from retailers like Backcountry.com and REI.com. It is better to buy from a local shop that has an experienced bootfitter who knows what boots fit different types of feet. Some boots fit low-volume and narrower feet better, while others are better suited to wider and high-volume feet. Bootfitters can adjust the fit as needed by molding the boot liners, punching out hot spots in the shell, and building custom footbeds that keep your foot in a neutral position inside the boot.
Cost
Freeride ski boots cost between $400 and $800, as of September 2010. The cost will vary based on the quality of the liners, the stiffness of the boot, and features like adjustable flex and lean. Generally, the boots built for expert skiers who are shredding big mountain lines are more expensive.
Comparison Shopping
The Garmont Radium is an AT boot with an adjustable lean and a walking mode, which softens the boot when climbing uphill or walking across the parking lot. It costs $700. The $440 Lange Freeride 130 is a four-buckle boot with power strap and slightly lower cuff in the shin area for shock absorption. The Dalbello Freeride Virus has a three-buckle AT design with a cuff hinge feature that allows a walk mode without having to loosen the buckles. This boot costs about $699. The Nordica Ace of Spades Freeride, which retails for about $749, is a three-buckle boot with a powerstrap that has Full Shock support to cushion the impact of landing big air.
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