How do you choose the right size for ski boots?
Bought boots online, they arrived, but my feet are freezing even with thick socks. Maybe I picked the wrong size? What's that thing on the boot that you twist?
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Someone above correctly wrote about the size - you really do need to measure in ski socks, not regular thick ones, otherwise you get exactly this kind of discomfort. That knob on the boot is for adjusting the cuff stiffness, you turn it to press the boot tighter against your ankle and reduce cold gaps, try tightening it more, and if your feet are still freezing - it's probably the size that's actually too big, you'll have to exchange them.
Ski boot size is chosen by foot length, not your regular shoe size. You need to measure while wearing the socks you'll actually wear skiing - usually special ski socks, they're thinner than regular ones. The boot should fit snugly but not be tight, so blood circulates normally. If you bought online and picked the wrong size, yeah, your feet will definitely get cold - tight boots mess with blood circulation and your toes freeze way faster. Try putting them on with the right socks and see if they're really squeezing hard.
As for that nut you turn - that's the cuff stiffness adjustment system (if these are alpine skis) or the tightening mechanism (if these are cross-country). You usually turn it to get the boot to fit your foot better, but that won't fix things if the size was wrong to begin with.
If the boots are actually too small, better to exchange them. I'd suggest before your next purchase going to a store where you can try things on and figuring out your exact size. Ski boots are sized in centimeters of foot length, and each manufacturer has their own quirks. Try them on with ski socks and give yourself an extra centimeter of room - feet swell a bit when you're moving.
Yes, you most likely got boots that are a bit too big and are hoping to compensate with thick socks - that's exactly what creates gaps that let cold air through, and your feet end up freezing even more. That knob is a click system for adjusting the cuff stiffness, it affects how the shaft fits, not the size - try ordering smaller boots and try them on in thin ski socks instead of regular warm ones.
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