Boot soles.
Boot soles.

The soles of your ski boots, the things on the very bottom, might seem like a pretty standard, ignorable portion of your boots. But as the major interface between your boot and the bindings, they can be a lot more important than you think.

Especially if you’re looking into buying new ski boots, knowing that there are different types of boot soles can save a lot of headaches. Usually your boot fitter will be able to figure out what sole you need, getting you the right gear without you needing to think about it for a second. But understanding the different soles can be helpful, and Scott from The Skiers Lounge is here to help.

Generally unless your buying a pair of touring boots, you shouldn’t have to worry about having touring soles. GripWalk soles seem to be getting more and more popular, so there’s a decent chance you might wind up with those, even if you don’t buy touring or hybrid boots. In most cases though, listening to your boot fitter will be just fine.

Nolan Deck is a writer for Unofficial Networks, covering skiing and outdoor adventure. After growing up and skiing in Maine, he moved to the Denver area for college where he continues to live and work...