How do you know you’re ready to make that next step as an intermediate skier? In simple terms, if you are comfortable skiing green and blue runs in a variety of conditions, you are considered an intermediate skier. That being said, the following recommendations are all great options for those who are on the edge of becoming an intermediate skier because they’ll give you room to grow in your ability level without needing to upgrade your gear later on.

Features to Look for in an Intermediate Ski Boot

Now that you know you’re ready for new boots, you’ll need to know what to look for and what will work for your needs as a skier. Some important factors to look at are the stiffness rating, your skiing style and terrain preference, weight, fit, and bonus features.

Stiffness

In general, ski boots come in stiffness ratings from 60 (soft flex for beginner skiers) to 140 (very stiff flex for expert skiers). Softer flexing boots are generally more comfortable but can lack responsiveness as you become a better skier. On the other hand, stiff boots can be more uncomfortable but have a lot of responsiveness. As an intermediate skier, you’ll want to find a boot with a medium flex, between 100 to 115 for men and 85 to 100 for women or lighter-weight skiers. You want to be able to bend your knees and flex the boot a little bit but still have support.

Skiing Style and Terrain Preference

Terrain choice and skiing style also play a major role in choosing the right boot. A standard downhill boot will be the best choice for most skiers who enjoy cruising around the mountain and don’t focus on one type of terrain.

But if you like to ski park and spend most of your time there, you might want a park-specific boot instead of a standard downhill ski boot because it will have features designed for skiing park. On the other hand, if you want to start trying some ski touring, you’ll want to find a boot with the option of toe pins for touring bindings because most downhill boots aren't compatible with touring bindings.

Weight

The weight of ski boots can often be a factor people overlook when buying boots. This is a huge mistake, though. Lighter boots mean it's easier to walk around when not clipped into your skis, and it will make it easier to maneuver your skis to turn because you won’t have so much weight to move around. Heavy, clunky boots will wear you out faster, which means less energy for laps on the hill. A lighter ski boot will allow you to have more fun and longer days on the mountain.

Fit

A great-fitting boot will make the biggest difference in your experience with skiing. Gone are the days of cramming your foot into a stiff, painful boot in order to get out on the hill. Ski boot design has made major improvements in the last decade that allow for the perfect fit to keep your feet comfortable all day long.

Due to uncomfortable boots, many people end up with the wrong size boot, but this can be a terrible mistake. While you want enough room in your boots to be comfortable and stay warm, too loose of a fit can lead to your foot sliding around as you ski, which can cause blisters or potentially can cause an injury. Ski boots are like any other athletic footwear. In terms of length, they should fit similarly to a running shoe or hiking boot.

Some important terms to pay attention to will be “last,” “volume,” and "mondo/mondopoint size." The last is simply the width of the boot. A wider foot needs a wider boot. Ski boots come in lasts from 97mm to 106mm in general. A narrow last width is 97 to 98mm, medium is 99 to 101mm, and a wide last width is 102 to 106mm. Volume refers to how much room your foot needs or how tall your foot is. If you have a tall, high-volume foot and ski in low-volume boots, you’ll have too much pressure on your foot and likely lose blood flow and experience pain. Volume is usually abbreviated as LV (low volume), MV (mid-volume), and HV (high volume). Mondopoint size is the sizing format used for ski boots. You can easily find your mondopoint size online with conversion charts both for U.S. and European sizes.

If you don’t know your last width, volume, and mondopoint size, you can stop by your local ski shop and have a boot fitter look at your foot. Many online articles explain how to measure your foot at home easily.

Bonus Features

Ski boots have a bunch of different options nowadays to fit whatever your needs might be. Some of the key features to look for in intermediate ski boots are GripWalk outsoles, adjustable buckles, walk mode, and heat-moldable shells.

Most intermediate and advanced ski boots have an option for GripWalk outsoles. Traditional ski boots have a relatively flat, smooth, hard plastic outsole that can be hard to walk in. To make this easier, manufacturers started using GripWalk, which is made of grippy rubber with tread for gripping snow and shaped to assist in a more natural motion for walking. If you opt for a GripWalk outsole, check with a Curated Expert to ensure your bindings will be compatible with them because not all ski bindings work with GripWalk outsoles.

Another great feature is adjustable buckles. Almost all ski boots have some form of adjustment for the buckles. But some will have micro-adjustability that can be changed on the fly. The latch itself will swivel to get slightly longer or shorter so you can find that perfect fit—not too tight or loose.

More boots are also coming standard with some form of “walk mode.” This simply means there is a latch typically on the back of the boot that releases to allow a greater range of motion in the ankle so you can have a more natural stride when walking. Some boots have a larger or smaller latch and allow higher or lower degrees of movement, but otherwise, they all perform similarly.

Heat-moldable liners have been around for a while and can add to the fit and comfort of a boot, but in recent years, heat-moldable shells have also become popular. Some boots have a special plastic that can be heated up in an oven and then molded to your foot for a custom fit, no matter your foot shape. You get a perfect fit for the most comfort.

My Top 5 Intermediate Ski Boots

1. Overall Winner: K2 BFC 100

The K2 BFC 100 is a great option for intermediate skiers. Coming in with a moderate price point at around $499, they won’t break the bank but have many features packed into them. Out of the box, these have a relatively wide last to accommodate wider feet and come with a heat-moldable shell and heat-moldable liner that can be custom fit to your foot for the ideal fit.

Another bonus is the combination of GripWalk outsoles with K2’s “Apres Mode 2.0” (aka “walk mode”), which offers a huge 50° range of motion with the flick of a switch, allowing for a more natural stride when walking and lots of grip no matter the terrain. With a flex rating of 100, these boots are great for any intermediate skier looking to upgrade their boots or anyone who struggles to find comfortable boots.

2. Best Intermediate Park Boot: K2 Method

If you enjoy freestyle skiing, this boot has years of freestyle design packed into it. Full Tilt spent decades perfecting the freestyle ski boot with some of the best skiers in the world and, in recent years, merged with K2, and this is the culmination of both.

With a unique shell design, these boots are catered to freestyle skiers. The K2 Method has a wide last at 102mm and a heat-moldable shell/liner perfect for a wide variety of foot shapes. It has a flex rate of 90 for tweaking grabs and freestyle flexibility. One of the key differences between this boot and other park boots is the K2 “FL3X” design adopted from Full Tilt, which adds comfort and easy entry into the boot with a unique tongue on the shell.

3. Best Intermediate Hybrid/ Touring Boot: Tecnica Cochise 110

For those looking to get into touring but still spend time at the resort, the Tecnica Cochise 110 is a really solid option because of its all-around performance. The boot is lightweight and offers a good response, allowing you to grow as a skier and tackle hard terrain.

The one downside of this option is the medium last of 99mm, so those with wider feet may not have enough room in the toe box. Other hybrid boots offer more room, but the Cochise does it best. These boots are very light but offer great downhill performance and the ability to work with touring-style bindings for backcountry skiing. If you’re already an intermediate skier and want to get into ski touring in the future or just want a boot that will allow you to grow as a skier, do yourself a favor and check out these boots.

4. Best Women's Intermediate Boot: K2 BFC 85 W / K2 BFC 95 W

Most of the options on this list also have a women's version of the boot available, so if something on the list catches your eye, ask one of our Experts to check it out for you. Women’s boots often have a lower cuff designed to be more comfortable. That said, my top pick for an intermediate women's boot is, hands down, the K2 BFC. The 85 W and 95 W are the same boot; the only difference is the flex rating.

The 85 flex boot will be ideal for most intermediate skiers and is my overall women's boot choice. But I also wanted to offer the 95 flex boot as an option for those who want a boot they can grow into as they learn to ski harder terrain. If you are just becoming comfortable on greens and blues and don’t see yourself taking on black diamonds any time soon, go with the 85, but if you’re already charging down the greens and blue and see yourself taking on the harder terrain, go for the 95.

Besides the flex rating, though, these are very similar to the men’s K2 BFC 100. They also have a fully custom heat-moldable shell/liner for an ideal fit, a wide 103mm last, “Apres Mode 2.0” for a more natural stride when walking, and GripWalk. They are relatively lightweight, giving you more energy to enjoy the hill. Lastly, these boots have a friendly price point, with the 85 W coming in at around $399 and the 95 W at about $499.

5. Honorable Mention: Salomon S/PRO HV 100

The honorable mention this year is the Salomon S/PRO HV 100. Salomon was one of the first companies to popularize heat-moldable shells, the model included, allowing you to find that ideal fit.

This boot is very similar to the K2 BFC 100 and is a great option for those looking for comfortable intermediate ski boots without all the fancy features and options. Salomon kept this boot simpler and added features, like moldable shells and GripWalk for those icy parking lots. One big difference is the lack of walk mode on these boots, but they have a similar last width at 102mm.

Find the Right Ski Boot for You

Having comfortable boots is most important. If your ski boots are uncomfortable, you won’t want to wear them, and you’ll spend fewer days on the slopes or, even worse, spend your days in the lodge resting sore feet while your friends have fun on the hill. If you have always had painful ski boots, this will completely change your experience with skiing.

All the boot options listed above are great, but I highly recommend the K2 BFC boots. They are moderately priced but pack many great features, from GripWalk and walk mode to custom heat-moldable shells. These will keep you comfortable and lead to a better skiing experience.

If you’re unsure about sizing or how to find the right volume/last, contact one of our Skiing Experts for some personalized advice.