realskiers

Some great points brought up here...

To reiterate...shell fit...shell fit...shell fit. Do it in your bare feet if possible. When your foot is in the shell, stand and "feel" how much room is around the sides of your foot and the heel. Hot spots can be ground out but the fit for a level 5 and up is critical for improvement. I also like to make sure the point where the upper cuff and the lower part of the boot come together, "the hinge points" are at least on the same horizontal line or the medial side, (the inside ankle part) of the boot is a bit higher and not significantly lower than the other side. The boot where they are on the same horizontal line or the medial is higher is a better boot for straight line energy transmission to the boots edges (fire da laser beam) and the others I feel allows the heel to push out more easily.

Having said that, I like the Salomon and the Head boots a whole bunch.  Fit and alignment are key to getting the best energy transferred to the skis.

Glen, thinking if you spend tons of time in the air and in the park on jumps, you probably don't want a boot too stiff.

Best,
G