Well Loved - A well loved boot shows significant signs of wear and tear including heel wear, scratching, and scuffing on a majority of the boot’s surface area.

Fair - A fair boot shows some signs of wear and tear on the sole of the boot. This includes chipping, scratching and scuffing on high impact areas like the heel and toe lugs. The liners in these boots are typically very broken in. 

Good - A good boot shows minor signs of wear and tear with little heel and toe wear, some minor cosmetic scratches across both boots, but no major damage. Liners in these boots have been broken in but still have some life left in them. 

Excellent - An excellent boot shows almost no signs of wear and tear on the sole or upper of the boot shell. The liners in these boots show little signs of break in and will fit tighter than a boot that has been used more. 

The flex of a ski boot is the measure of force required to bend the boot at the ankle. The stiffer the boot is, the more support it provides. A stiffer boot requires the skier to stand with their weight further forward in order to transfer energy through the boot to the ski effectively. Softer, more forgiving boots are meant for less experienced or lighter skiers. A softer boot requires less energy to initiate the turn of the ski. 

Ski boot flex ranges from about 40 (for small children) up to 130 for general consumer boots. An 85 flex is generally a medium stiffness for intermediate women skiers, and a 100 flex is a generally a medium stiffness for intermediate men. Some race boots, categorized as “world cup flex” are measured at 140-170 flex and are built for only the most aggressive skiers. Ultimately, the flex index is not a perfectly succinct measurement across boot brands; it is always best to try a boot on before buying to confirm the flex works well for you. 

The last of a ski boot is essentially the width measurement of the boot shell at the forefoot. The last is also a general indication of the volume inside the boot shell; a wider last increases the boot’s overall volume. A boot with a narrow last is generally measured at 97mm or 98mm wide. A medium last measurement is about 99mm - 101mm, and a wide last is any measurement 102mm or greater. 

Tongue - The tongue style liner is the classic liner construction found in most ski boots. Tongue liners are often thinner than wrap style liners but offer a better fit for those with a higher instep. 

Wrap - Wrap liners are less common than tongue liners and are often found in a 3 piece style boot like the Dalbello Krypton/Lupo line or any Full Tilt boot. Wrap liners generally take up more volume in the boot shell, and are better suited for skiers with skinnier legs/calves. 

Modern touring bindings have been engineered to attach differently than a traditional alpine binding. The “Tech” style binding uses pins that fit into specific inserts in the sides of the boot’s toe and into the back of the boot’s heel. These special inserts are built into the boot and are necessary to utilize a tech style touring binding. 

Walk modes are generally found on all touring boots and some inbounds alpine boots. Walk mode can be advantageous to both a resort skier looking for comfort and a backcountry skier looking for increased range of motion and efficiency when skinning uphill. A walk mode device allows the user to free the cuff of the boot to flex both forward and backward, allowing for a more natural stride.