Boots do come in different widths and shapes. With a size 9.5 or 10 shoe you shouldn’t have to go up to a size 30.0 to be comfortable (equivalent of about a 12.0 shoe). Look at the Tecnica Pheonix 100 HVL. The HVL stands for High Volume Last. These boots run 106mm which will accommodate up to an EE width. You may still need to get these stretched at a shop still but you will have a great starting point. Going to a size 30.0 is not the right answer though. They will feel great in the store but after skiing in them your feet will be slipping and sliding all over and you will not be able to fix these issues with a boot that is just plain to big. You can always make a boot bigger by stretching it or grinding it (essentially sculpting the shell to fit your foot), but it is very difficult to make a boot smaller.

Thanks,

Kevin Palmer

Do not go up any bigger in the size, accommodating extra width with extra length is a common and widely made mistake in the ski world. What we could recommend from experience would be a Rossignol boot or a Salomon boot as they tend to run a bit wider than other manufacturers. It is recommended that you go with the same size boot as your regular shoe size, or smaller. If you have trouble continually no matter the boot style or brand it would be a great idea to get the boots professionally fitted. Getting boots fitted can be costly but can make all the difference in the world when you are out skiing and your feet are happy for once, you will forgot how much it cost.

We hope this helps answer your question and we welcome any others you may have.

Thanks,
Chris Gorski

Ski boots can usually be taken a size smaller than your shoe size but at 11 you can go with the exact shoe size just in case there is more growth. A woman’s size 10.5 in mondo-point, which is the sizing measurement for ski boots, is a 27.5. This would be a 28.5 in men’s and men’s boots will fit similar to women’s with some extra width and a higher cuff. Hopefully this helps with your decision, happy skiing!

It is not uncommon for plastics to become brittle, crack, and break over time. I have seen this very scenario many times over the years. You’re very lucky that you were not out on a mountain skiing when this happened. The only rear entry boots that will most likely find these days are for kids. Adult boots have moved on to front entry buckle boots to help accommodate the change in ski technology by allowing more ankle flexion making it easier for one to ski today’s shorter, wider, shaped skis. Now-a-days ski boots are offered in a variety of shapes, widths, flexes, and styles to better suit the user’s feet, ability level, and type of skiing. Where you will really notice the difference is in the fit of today’s boots. Rear entry boots were designed to pull your foot away from the shell of the boot, making it feel plush and roomy. Now boots are design to bring your foot as close to the shell as possible taking away the extra room, making the boots more responsive on the slopes. In addition, today’s boots can be customized to really fit the user’s feet and allow for more comfort and performance.

I would recommend checking out your local ski shop and trying on at least 3 different boots with different flexes to narrow down the right manufacturer and fit. Keep in mind that with new boots, when you stand up straight, your toes should touch the front, but when you bend your knees, your toes should come off the front of the boots. Overall, it should feel like a firm handshake squeezing your foot. You do not want any wiggle room other then in the toes. The idea is to have your foot immobilized inside the boot because any room means that you need to wait for you foot to slide around before you initiate a turn on skis. You also want to be able to flex forward in your boots. Try not to purchase anything too stiff that you cannot flex, or anything thing that is really soft that feels like its too easy to flex forward. New boots are always a fun purchase. Good luck.

Based on the measurement you provided, I would suggest a 26.0. At 10.25 inches, his measurement converts out to a 26.035 measurement, so a 26.0 should do the trick.