Features

Planning to rent either boots and/or skis this winter? Then read this first!

Don't allow rental shops to fob you off with gear that doesn't fit or isn't properly maintained. It'll cause no end of pain and frustration on the slopes. Here, we've teamed up with ski-gear guru Jock Dun, of the outfitters Snowberry in Val d'Isère, to guide you through the process of getting kitted up.

Boots

It's vital to equip yourself with boots that are fitted properly (for example by our blogger James the Boot); otherwise you won't be able to control your skis. In fact, it's so important we'd advise buying your own pair of properly-fitted pair of ski boots after your first week on the slopes. If the job's done properly, then they'll make a big difference to how fast you progress on the slopes.

All the same, we realise lots of people still hire their boots, so here are the golden rules of boot rental...

1. Look for an outfitters with more than one brand of boot. Each manufacturer makes its boots to fit a certain kind of foot shape, and of course, not everyone's foot conforms to that shape - especially if they're extra-wide or extra-narrow. You may need to try two or three different brands to find a boot that will work for you. If a shop only stocks one brand, go elsewhere.

2. Make sure they measure both your feet. It's not enough for an assistant to ask you how big your feet are. A shoe size can cover a multitude of sins and by getting your feet onto the measuring board (pictured, above), the fitter can see how wide as well as how long they are, which will make a big difference to the fit, too.

3. Buy a footbed if the shop doesn't supply one with your boot. Jock's shop provides footbeds with its rental boots, for the simple reason that they won't work properly without them. They provide vital support for your instep, holding the foot in place and preventing it from flattening and rolling. If your rental shop doesn't supply them, then buy your own - Superfeet insoles (pictured, above) cost £25-£35 but are well worth the investment.

4. Get the assistant to help you put the boots on. The staff in rental stores are always in a hurry. Saturdays and Sundays - which is when everyone arrives for the start of their holiday - are a race to turn over as many punters as quickly as possible, and keep the tills ringing: attentive service is one of the first casualties.

But there's a right and a wrong way to put on a ski boot, and to check whether or not it fits. For a start, you need to buckle it up properly - starting with the buckles over the ankle and lower shin, and then finishing with the buckles over the instep and ball of the foot (these last two should never be over-tightened). It's best if the staff do it for you, and if they don't offer, ask them.

5. Don't say anything about whether or not the boots fit till they're buckled up and you're flexing forward at the knee. Your toes will inevitably be up against the inside of the boot when you've just put them on. Only when you flex forward, putting your weight against the tongue, will the heel slide back into the correct position, taking your toes away from the pressure point on the inside of the boot. So don't even think about whether or not the boot fits till you reach this point.

6. Think of a firm handshake. In addition to the fit lengthwise, pay particular attention to the fit around the heel and ankle, and over the ball of the foot. The boot should hold the heel in place when you flex forward and rock from side to side. There should be no lateral movement of the ball of the foot in the boot, either. Overall, the boot should hold your foot like a firm, but not bone-crushing, handshake. If it doesn't, ask for another pair, and keep going until you're satisfied, no matter how many sighs and shoulder-shrugs from the assistants.

Skis

1. Don't talk up your ability. When discussing what skis you should have with the assistant, be honest about your ability - otherwise you'll end up with a pair of skis you can't handle. Remember, "advanced" to you may refer to someone who can get down a black piste. But in the Alps they'll apply the term to someone who skis deep powder and is happy jumping rocks and trees.

2. Take account of the conditions. Ask the assistant what the snow's like. There's no use renting a pair of fat powder skis if it's been sunny for two weeks.

3. Edges. Always check the edges of the skis you're given. There should be no dents or metal burrs on them, and they should be sharp enough to take a little bit of fingernail off when drag the front of the nail over the edge. Don't accept the skis if the edges are blunt. You'll go flying the first time you hit a patch of ice.

4. The base of the ski.These should be waxed before each hire. Look for a dark lustre to the skis, with no gouges or scratches. It's more difficult if the bases contain colourful graphics, but if they're black, then make sure they have no dry, greyish patches. These are a sure sign of poorly-maintained skis.

5. Length There's no 'correct' length for a pair of skis - it all depends on what they're designed for. Off-piste and all-mountain skis tend to be longer than on-piste ones, for example. But if you're a nervous skier, you should err on the side of shortness, as shorter skis are generally much easier to steer. Beginners can get away with skis that reach to just below their collar bone. Wobbly intermediates don't want skis that come any higher than their Adam's Apple.