The 7 Best Ski Boots For Wide Feet In 2023
If you're just getting started skiing and want something that you can grow into, the K2 BFC is ideal. The name says it all: BFC stands for "Built For Comfort." This focus on comfort is especially true for skiers with wide feet.
The BFC features a 103mm last and moldable shells and liners, for even more fit customization. They're a moderate 100 flex level, which is perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers looking to step their game up. They also have a walk mode, a plus if you're starting out backcountry skiing as well.
Expert skiers will want something stiffer. That's because the BFCs are also not compatible with tech bindings, so you'll have to use frame bindings for touring. However, if you want a versatile pair of wide ski boots with all-day comfort, the BCF 100 are hard to beat.
Finding the right ski boots is no small task. Ski boot shells are made of hard plastic that doesn't break in like other materials. So if you have wide feet, you need to find a boot made to fit you.
In this article, I've compiled the best wide ski boots in every discipline of alpine skiing. So whatever your flavor is, you can find the best pair to keep your feet comfortable while you ski. Below is a preview of my top 3 and further down is the full list.
My Review Process
In my 24 years of skiing, I've struggled time and time again to find the perfect pair of boots. As a person with wide feet, I had to learn everything I know about ski boots the hard way.
But in the process, I've tried just about every boot on the market. I'm pleased to bring that expertise to you, to save you some sore feet and help you find your perfect fit.
This guide contains the best ski boots available for people with wide feet, regardless of which discipline you practice. It also contains some tips on how to shop smart.
If you're just getting started skiing and want something that you can grow into, the K2 BFC is ideal. The name says it all: BFC stands for "Built For Comfort." This focus on comfort is especially true for skiers with wide feet.
The BFC features a 103mm last and moldable shells and liners, for even more fit customization. They're a moderate 100 flex level, which is perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers looking to step their game up. They also have a walk mode, a plus if you're starting out backcountry skiing as well.
Expert skiers will want something stiffer. That's because the BFCs are also not compatible with tech bindings, so you'll have to use frame bindings for touring. However, if you want a versatile pair of wide ski boots with all-day comfort, the BCF 100 are hard to beat.
Putting together ski gear can get expensive fast. If you're just starting out and don't want to spend a lot of money yet, Dalbello has a wide boot for you.
Dalbello created the DS MX 75 with beginners in mind. It's a simple design for downhill use with soft flex rating. The last is an accommodating 105mm, making them the ideal wide boot option for beginners. Best of all, they're dirt cheap.
However, if you're trying to venture off piste or out of the resort, the DS MX will not cut it. These boots are strictly for groomer skiing in bounds. Advanced skiers will want something stiffer with more lean angle. But for the price, these beginner-friendly Dabello boots offer exceptional value.
If you're fully committed to skiing in the resort with style, go Full Tilt. The Full Tilt Descendant 100 is a rock solid medium-wide fit boot for freestyle skiers.
The Descendant 100 uses a progressive flex, 102mm last, and Intuition liners. Intuition makes the most high performance liner on the market for comfort and keeping your feet warm.
However, you do need to know these boots won't perform very well out of bounds. They're heavy, have no walk mode, and the three buckle design is less ergonomic for touring.
The Descendants do shine while riding out big airs and rail slides, without sacrificing performance off piste. Full Tilt also makes great boots for women, offering more choices to resort skiers.
After years of trial and error, I've found my perfect fit in the Atomic Magna Prime 120s. These are my daily drivers for resort skiing and short tours out of bounds.
Though the Magna Prime is on the low end of medium wide at 102mm, the moldable shells and liners allow you to get some extra room. They have a stiff flex rating for aggressive downhill performance.
Atomic boots use a frictionless pivot, similar to Salmon's oversized pivot for better power transfer. I also like the adjustable buckles, and the way they fit in the calf region. The liners are comfortable and warm for long days on the mountain.
My two dislikes about the Magna Prime are the lack of a walk mode and the weakness of the power straps. After a season of use, one power strap ripped off completely while tightening it. Be prepared to upgrade them with Booster Straps for a better fit.
However, these small niggles aside, the Manga Prime 120s are perfect for experienced skiiers with wide feet.
Finding the right downhill boot is hard enough. Finding something wide that will also perform out of bounds reduces your options by a lot. Luckily the Dynafit's Eric Hjorleifson pro line has a great option for backcountry skiers with wide feet.
The Dynafit Hoji Free 130 is everything a dedicated backcountry skier could want. They're light enough to go uphill with ease but burly enough to handle big downhill lines.
With crampon and pin binding compatibility, and a 102mm last, the Hoji Free is one of the most technical wide boots on the market. For more comfort, they feature an adjustable cuff profile and awesome range of motion.
The Hoji Free is one of the most expensive ski boots on this list. But it's worth paying a little more for the unrivaled technical performance and reliability in the backcountry.
Tele skiers can have wide feet too! As always, Scarpa has thought of everything with the TX Pro Telemark Boot.
The Scarpa TX Pro offers balanced telemark and touring performance. They feature pin and tele binding compatibility. The shells are triple injection-molded for seamless power transfer while skiing. With 102mm lasts and a 110 flex rating, the TX Pro can handle about anything.
But the TX Pro isn't the most wide forefoot on this list. For moldable boots, this isn't much of an issue, but the TX Pro is not a moldable boot. So if your last is more than 102 or 103mm, you will want to find wider ski boots.
Still, the Scarpa TX Pro has a lot to offer. They're light, versatile, and equally at home off-piste or alpine touring.
If you've been reading up to this point and thinking "none of these boots can handle what I like doing," don't fret. The La Sportiva Stratos V Alpine boot is one of the most high tech boots ever created for skiers like you.
Made with ski mountaineering racers in mind, the Stratos V offers ultralight performance for the alpine. La Sportiva has stripped away every piece of non-essential material to achieve a net weight of 510 grams each.
Despite being so light, they're still very waterproof and stiff enough to handle the descent. With a cozy 103.8mm last, they're more than accommodating for ski mountaineers with wider feet.
But space-age tech is very expensive. This is by far the most expensive boot on this list. They also serve a single purpose. Don't expect amazing downhill performance or even alpine binding compatibility. The lack of shell will also not do as good of a job at keeping your feet warm.
However, the Stratos V are ideal if you want a lightweight boot for long days of ski mountaineering.
How to Shop For A Pair of Ski Boots
Once you dive in, you'll realize that there are a ton of options for ski boots. Finding the perfect pair for your feet is tough. Here are some things to look for while shopping so you can narrow the options down.
Cost
The price of a pair of ski boots depends on a few things. One is how aggressive the flex of the boots is. Another is how technical the boots are. Adding a walk mode, pin binding compatibility, and higher stiffness will increase the cost.
In general, downhill boots range from $200-$600. Backcountry touring boots often range from $600-$1100. Ski mountaineering-specific boots are the most expensive, often priced well over $1000.
Fit
Fit is the most important part of your ski boot purchase. You want ski boots that mold to your feet perfectly, without cutting off blood circulation. When you find the right fit, they will feel too tight the first few times you use them.
But as your new boots break in or "pack out," they will become roomier. For wide boots, the best way to find the right pair is to learn your last size and then find a boot with a matching last.
Some boots like the Atomic Hawx Prime are also made to accommodate a higher instep. Other boots have higher or lower arches, narrow or wide forefoot (or toe box), and different calf shapes.
So there’s a lot more to finding comfortable ski boots than just the right boot size. Heat molding will adjust some of these measurements more than others. For example, wide calves are easy to work around through molding, where foot length (boot size) is not.
Discipline
Are you skiing only at the resort? In the backcountry? Are you more focused on the uphill than the downhill?
These are all questions you need to think about. Downhill boots have the fewest features, and are the heaviest. Touring boots are lighter, and have a release-able "walk mode" for moving uphill. They also often have divots in the toe piece to conform with technical pin bindings.
Stiffness
Usually, if you're going faster, you want a stiffer boot. Stiff boots let you lean forward harder while supporting your weight. Heavier skiers will also prefer stiffer boots. Freestyle boots are the exception to this rule. Many freestyle or park skiers prefer a softer, more forgiving boot flex.
Flex ratings are measured on a scale of 0-130, with 130 being the stiffest. But flex ratings vary between brands.
That is to say, an Atomic boot with a flex rating of 120 may be softer than a Dynafit with a 120 flex. It's not a hard metric for comparing boots, but more of a rough reference of how stiff or flexible a boot is.
Reputable Ski Boot Brands
There are many brands that make ski boots. Some brands stick to certain disciplines within skiing. For example, Full Tilt is primarily a freestyle boot company. La Sportiva and Scarpa make boots for touring and ski mountaineering.
Others like Dynafit, K2, Nordica, Lange, Dalbello, Atomic, and Salomon make lots of different kinds of boots. All these brands are reputable and make high-quality boots.
Working With A Boot Fitter
You should not buy boots based entirely on what you see online. Finding the right fit takes too much tweaking to get right without trying them on. So when in doubt, go to your local ski shop and talk to a boot fitter.
Boot fitters can help you find a boot with a fit that works. They can also mold your boot's liners and shells to dial the fit even further.
Summary
We find the best pair of wide ski boots for beginners and intermediates is the K2 BFC 100.
The best wide boot for aggressive downhill skiing is the Atomic Hawx Prime.
For ski touring, the Dynafit Hoji Free 130 is the best wide boot.
For beginners with wide feet on a budget, the Dalbello DS MX 75 is the best.
Common questions
"Wide fit" ski boots typically have a last that is 103mm or wider. "Medium-wide" boots are 101-103mm wide.
Yes, ski boots have many widths. A ski boot's width is also called its "last," or how wide it is at the ball of the foot.
If your ski boots have moldable shells or liners, you can get a little extra room by having a boot fitter mold them.
Ski boots will "pack out" or break in a little with use. When you get a new pair, they should feel a little tight.
Stiff boots are best for aggressive downhill skiing. Beginners and intermediates will do better with a softer flex.
I consider myself a citizen of the West. Currently residing in my hometown, Salt Lake City, Utah. Between my career as a wildlife biologist and my many outdoor hobbies (mountaineering, skiing, backpacking, climbing, canyoneering, caving), I’ve seen just about every nook and cranny of the Wild, Weird West.
*The information on this site is based on research and first-hand experience but should not be treated as medical advice. Before beginning any new activity, we recommend consulting with a physician, nutritionist or other relevant professional healthcare provider.
