What type of ski boot is best adapted for heliskiing?

The quest for the perfect ski boot can often seem like a fool’s errand. Just when you think you’ve got the fit, the desired stiffness and (most importantly) comfort dialled in, something will usually arrive in the form of a blister or pressure point to remind you that when it comes to ski boots, you can’t have everything.

One could probably argue that boots are boots, and that what works in the resort works when you go heliskiing, too. But that’s not all there is to it, the dynamics of heliskiing are different in a few ways. Firstly, you click in and out of your skis a lot more. At the bottom of the run, everyone disengages their bindings, hands their skis to the guide and awaits the pickup. Guests then climb into the helicopter for a short ride before climbing out and getting into their gear again. Secondly, there can be a lot more time spent standing in one’s skis as they wait for their turn to drop into a run of deep powder. Once moving and flowing through the snow it’s easy to forget the pain or pressure you’re experiencing in your feet.

So what is the solution? It all starts with choosing the right boot. That means going into your favourite ski shop and speaking with a qualified boot fitter, preferably someone with a lot of experience. A good bootfitter can recommend the best boot brands for you based on the shape of your foot. After that it’s time to choose which model you want, while considering secondary factors such as stiffness, weight and features. When deciding on stiffness, most bootfitters will tell you that men typically overestimate their own abilities and women underestimate theirs, meaning men are likely to buy too stiff and women buy too soft. There’s a happy middleground to be found here, but it comes down to what you want to use the boot for. Are you smashing gates on a World Cup GS course, sending 60-foot cliffs or cruising long powder runs in the alpine? Skiing powder doesn’t require excessive stiffness and most people will actually ski better if they can flex the boot properly and engage their ankles more at the start and end of the turn.

The other consideration is whether or not to buy a boot with a walk mode. This function – which releases the forward lean on the boot and allows you to stand vertically and walk in your boots more comfortably – is a no brainer when it comes to heli skiing. Having that instant relief when walking around the landing site and sitting in the helicopter becomes more and more apparent throughout the day. Just remember to click the walk mode into the “off” position before dropping in, or you’ll be chasing your skis in the backseat all the way down the mountain.
The last consideration is the choice of liner. Stock liners are rarely a great fit out of the box, so of you have any comfort issues consider investing in a pair of foam injected custom liners or a thermal mould liners. Intuition make some of the most versatile liners that are light,warm and stiff and some are even adapted to allow extended walk mode.

In any case, keep your feet happy this winter and they will reward you with long days of great skiing.