Can I wear my dad's old ski boots or are they past their prime?

sanchez82 VE 🌱 Newbie 👁 34 ⚑ Report Winter Sports

I found some Lange ski boots in the garage that my old man used years ago. The plastic looks good, the buckle works, but I don't know if ski boots have an expiration date or if the material degrades over time even when they're not being used.

1 answer

Check the inner foam and insole: if they crumble when you touch them or smell like moisture, don't use them, but if they look solid they're probably fine. The outer plastic holds up for decades without a problem - what breaks down is the cushioning material inside, especially if they were stored somewhere damp or with temperature swings. Best thing is to try them on at home first: if the cushioning still feels comfortable and the shell (the rigid part) doesn't have any cracks, you're good to go for a test season. Ski boots don't have an expiration date as such, but after sitting around that long you might want to start with a short run to see how they feel.

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