Better Skiing: Footbeds

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
There are a lot of ski shops promoting custom footbeds. Are they necessary and do they help you ski better? They answer is yes! That’s why you hear so much about them.

Custom footbeds make the fit of your ski boot much better. The boot itself and its inner liner can only surround your foot so well. It is the underside or the bottom of the foot that needs to be custom fit for your boot to perform. Any void or space beneath the foot takes away energy that should be transferred to your skis. Custom footbeds can also help alleviate tension and cramping in the foot. This can make a big difference in a 6 hour ski day.
Custom footbeds should be looked at as an investment. They are transferable and if you in-line skate, cross country ski or ice skate, they can be used in those sports. Ski boots are the most important piece of your equipment, but custom footbeds can really make the fit of the boot better and elevate your performance.