Buying ski boots before your child can walk isn’t exactly something a “normal” person does. But if you’re like us—motivated to challenge yourself and your little one to get after it early—then why not?
With Isaac just turning 1, we bought his first ski boots before he could even crawl (summer deals are hard to pass up—more on that later). It became both a symbol of our drive to get him on snow early and a motivating (sometimes panic-inducing) reminder to finally get this blog going. After all, if we didn’t start documenting Isaac’s ski journey now, we might miss the chance to help other parents along the way.
Sizing: Tricky Yet Simple
There are really two key features in a child’s ski boot: length and flex.
1. Length (Mondopoint Sizing)
Ski boot length is measured in mondopoint, which refers to the inside length of the boot in centimeters. You can measure your child’s foot now and determine the right size. But here’s a simple reality for those of us getting really young kids on skis: almost every manufacturer’s smallest ski boot size is mondo 15/15.5, roughly equivalent to a kids’ size 8.
So, regardless of what your child’s actual foot size is, you’re likely buying a 15.5—just go with it. If your child is older and falls between sizes, prioritize comfort. In the early days of skiing, they won’t be pressuring the ski or using their edges for anything beyond controlling speed in a wedge. If in doubt, size up rather than down, but you’re likely going to be in a 15.5 until your little one is at least 3 years old.
2. Flex Rating
For kids under four, you won’t find much variation in flex ratings—most are 50 or lower. At this stage, it’s all about comfort. Whether your child is riding the magic carpet, skiing on a leash, or simply gliding on snow, their boots should feel easy to move in. Comfort keeps them happy, engaged, and willing to stay on the snow longer—a crucial part of building confidence and enjoyment.
As your child progresses, boot flex becomes more important. When Charlotte turned five, I had more options to choose from and knew she could really arc her turns. That’s when I bumped her up to a 60 flex. Any skier—child, teen, or adult—must be able to flex their boot with their own weight. If the boot doesn’t give at all, it won’t properly transfer energy into the ski, making turns harder and balance more difficult.
First Ski Boot Choices
Victoria & Charlotte’s First Boot:
Both girls started in the Dalbello Gaia 1, size 15.5, which we found on sale at Evo. We got five seasons out of that one pair between the two of them. Victoria got her first season in them 2017/2018.
She continued to use them for another season. It looks like we switched her to another ski boot during the 2019/2020 season.
Here is Charlotte rocking that same size 15.5 ski boot which we had stashed away for a couple of years.
Isaac’s First Boot:
With Isaac, we decided on a new boot. The old ones were looking rough, and we knew we’d get at least two solid seasons out of a fresh pair. More on that here: Planning for a 1-Year-Old’s First Ski Season
We expect this boot will go through a few more tiny feet before its journey with Crawl, Walk, Ski is complete! More on Isaac’s early skiing adventures coming up.
