How to maintain your ski boots?

They're soft, they're warm, they don't hurt: you'd like to keep these ski boots for life. Yet, after a few years, sometimes you need to change them. There is no secret, to make your equipment last, it is better to take care of it. Here are some key advice to extend your ski boots lifespan.

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How to take care of your ski boots during the season

Whether it's skis or ski boots, you must take care of them on a daily basis! After a great day on the slopes (or even off-piste), rid your boots of packed snow. Preferably with your gloves or a soft bristle brush, rather than tapping them against one another.

If your locker is equipped with shoe dryers, great! Simply hang them heel down and toe up. If you don't have one, it may be helpful to remove the liner to make it dry. This is the case if you sweat excessively from your feet or after a very looooong day of gliding. It is usually sufficient to store the shell in your locker and the liners in the apartment. We don't recommend placing them directly on or near the radiator. A heat source that is too hot or too close could distort them. Simply let them dry in the open air overnight. This will also aerate the foam and prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

In the locker, don't forget to close the buckles and strap so that the shell keeps its shape. No need to over tighten.

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How to store your ski boots during the summer

The closing of the ski resorts is approaching and you are getting ready to put your boots away for a few months. It's time for the big cleanup of your ski boots. For extended storage, we're counting on you to:

• Dry the shells and buckles of your ski boots with a cloth to prevent rust from forming on the hooks
• Remove and allow the liner to dry before reinserting it into the shell
• Close the hooks but not too tight, so that they don't distort the shell
• The storage of your ski boots should be done in a skibag or locker, stored in a dry place and away from light (so not in the cellar, eh ;)).

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Deodorizing the liner: our tips

Either you sweat a lot, or the liner does not have the opportunity to dry completely, or the foam is impregnated with an odor that you can not get rid of, in each of these cases, there is a solution.

The simplest and most economical is to air out the liner for several days. This allows it to evacuate all the moisture and usually the associated odors. If the odors return, you will need to repeat the process or move on to the next step.

If that doesn't work, know that there are sprays to apply inside the liner. You can find them in sports stores but also in any shoe store. Designed to fight persistent odors, these products are quite effective. For a greener approach, grandma's tricks is to use baking soda as a very good odor destroyer.

Another option: wash your liner. Indeed, most boots have a removable liner. You can either plunge it into a tub of cold water and detergent for a hand wash, or in the machine on a "cold wash" program. Be careful with the spinning, we opt for the minimum possible. Of course, the dryer (which is a source of heat) is prohibited. Then, let dry the liners outside for several days before putting them back in the shell.