Ski & Snowboard Boot Fitting

Boot fitting at Borderline Outdoor is free with any ski or snowboard boots you buy from us. A fitter measures both feet in Mondopoint, checks the shell, heat-moulds the liner when the boot allows it, fits a footbed and matches the boot to your bindings. Our Richmond Hill flagship at 160 West Beaver Creek Rd is the main fitting centre; our Newmarket and Ottawa stores fit boots too.

Not sure of your size yet? Find my boot size turns your street shoe size into a Mondo size, a last width and a flex range in a few seconds. A fitter confirms it in store.

What a boot fitting includes

1. Your skiing or riding. We ask where and how you ski or ride, your level, and what hurt in your last boots.
2. Mondo measuring. We measure the length and width of both feet. Mondo size is your foot length in centimetres, so a 27.5 cm foot starts in a 27.5 boot.
3. Foot shape. We look at width, arch, instep height and ankle flex. These decide the last width: narrow about 97–98 mm, medium about 100 mm, wide about 102–104 mm.
4. Shell check. With the liner out, we check the space behind your heel. This shows whether the shell size is right before the liner packs out.
5. Try-on in your stance. You try two or three boots that match your size, width and level. You buckle them, flex forward and stand in them in the socks you ride in.
6. Heat-moulded liners. Many current ski and snowboard boots have heat-mouldable liners. We warm the liner and you stand in the boot while it shapes to your foot.
7. Footbeds. A supportive footbed holds your arch and heel in place. We fit Sidas Winter Custom insoles moulded to your foot, or Sidas 3Feet insoles as a ready-made option. Insoles are sold separately.
8. Binding match. We check the boot sole against your bindings. Alpine (ISO 5355), GripWalk and touring (ISO 9523) soles each need a compatible binding. When we mount bindings for you, we set them to your boots.

What is free

Boot fitting is free with ski boots and snowboard boots bought from Borderline Outdoor, in store or online. It covers measuring, try-on, liner heat-moulding and setting the boots to bindings we mount. If a spot presses after your first days on snow, bring the boots back and a fitter will look at it again.

Snowboard boots

Snowboard boots are fitted the same way: Mondo length, foot width and a flex that suits your riding, on a scale of 1 to 10. Beginners usually ride a soft boot (flex 1–4), all-mountain riders a medium boot (4–6), and aggressive riders a stiffer boot (6–10). We check the boot in your bindings so the straps or BOA dials close without pressure points.

Where to get fitted

• Richmond Hill (flagship, main fitting centre): 160 West Beaver Creek Rd, Unit 5, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1B4. Phone 416-800-9053. Open daily 11 am to 8 pm. Store details
• Newmarket: 1235 Journey’s End Cir, Unit 2, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8T7. Phone 416-800-8374. Open Friday to Sunday, 12 pm to 8 pm. Store details
• Ottawa (Nepean): 1701 Merivale Rd, Nepean, ON K2E 8B8. Phone 613-800-4764. Open daily 9:30 am to 8 pm. Store details

How to book

Walk in during store hours, or call the store to set a time with a fitter. Weekends from December to February are the busiest, so call ahead then. You can also order boots online with free store pickup and get fitted when you collect them.

What to bring

• The socks you ski or ride in: one thin pair, not two.
• Your current boots, if you have them, so we can see where they wear and press.
• Footbeds or orthotics you use now.
• Your bindings, or their make and model, if you plan to keep them.
• For kids: last season’s boots and the length of their skis or board.

Boot fitting questions

Is boot fitting free?

Yes. Boot fitting is free with ski or snowboard boots you buy from Borderline Outdoor.

Do I need an appointment?

No. You can walk in during store hours. Calling ahead on weekends helps make sure a fitter is free when you arrive.

Which store should I go to?

Richmond Hill is our main fitting centre and has the largest boot wall. Newmarket and Ottawa also measure and fit boots; call ahead to check your size is in stock there.

What is Mondo size?

Mondopoint is your foot length in centimetres. Ski and snowboard boots are sized by it, so a 26.5 cm foot fits a 26.5 boot. As a rough guide, US men’s size plus 18, or US women’s size plus 17, gives your Mondo.

How tight should a new boot feel?

Snug, not painful. Standing straight, your toes should lightly touch the front; when you flex forward, they pull back and your heel stays down. Liners pack out over the first days on snow, so a boot that feels roomy in the store will feel loose on the hill.

Can you fix a boot that hurts?

Often, yes. Heat-moulding the liner, a supportive footbed or a little padding can take pressure off a spot. Bring the boots and the socks you ride in.

Will my boots fit my bindings?

Check the sole. Alpine (ISO 5355) soles fit standard alpine bindings. GripWalk soles need a GripWalk-compatible binding, usually marked GW or MNC. Touring (ISO 9523) soles need touring or multi-norm bindings. A fitter checks this before we mount.

Do you fit kids’ boots?

Yes, and it is free with kids’ boots too. We size kids for this season, with no more than about one Mondo size (1 cm) of growing room. Read how much room to grow.