First time skiing: equipment advice

[Barnet Flame]

If the boots don't fit you will want to quit.

I echo the views of all those stressing the importance of the boots. The wrong boot/fit simply ruins the day.

At your stage right now, the only thing I would be buying other than clothing, is a helmet.

[Barnet Flame]

Also, I have just read someone belittling the importance of a good bootfitter.

My wife bought some boots here in London a few years back - the service was awful - but she wanted the boots and they came highly recommended.

When we got on the hill at Sunshine, after a short while, she was in agony. It got so bad, she was practically in tears and it threatened to ruin the whole trip. We went in to Banff and I was willing to buy her new boots - the fitter in the Monad's offerred to look at the boots, and established that the jerks in London didn't even sell her the right size. But rather than cash in, he worked with the boots and sorted them so that they were a better fit and my wife enjoyed the rest of our ski trip.

Good boots and good bootfitters are priceless in my book.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by Sliver

How is a bootfitter going to know how my toes feel in the end of boots? I guess there must be a way.

Basically by knowing the shape of the boot and evaluating the shape of your foot. YOU don't know how it's going to feel in the end of boots, is more the issue - you can put your foot in there, but trying it on in the store isn't going to tell you how it'll feel after four hours on the hill, or how much movement you'll end up with inside the shell.

Also I just noticed the OP is from Vancouver. Comor on 4th by Pacific Boarder, Snowcovers on 3rd, or Surefoot in Whistler (if you want to do it right and are willing to shell out for it) are your best options.