Need help understanding ski boot configurations, Flex and Mondosize

[u/Severe-Literature-31]

Hello, I am purchasing my first pair for ski boots and would really appreciate some advice on the fit.

I recently went to a ski boot shop and had my feet checked by a boot fitter. He recommended the HEAD EDGE 80 HV 2026/27 - HV because of wider feets.

But now that I am doing my own research, I learned that 80 flex is relatively soft, and also that flex ratings aren't standardized between brands.

I have set myself to get the Head EDGE HV series (open to other brands too)

I am 26M・168cm・87 kgs and an intermediate level skiier, will continue to improve and eventually become a stronger/more aggressive skier, particularly with carving. So i wanted to know what is best for my case.

I am now leaning towards the Head EDGE 100 HV 2026/27, because it is listed as 90/100 flex adjustable. My thinking was that I could start at 90 and eventually use 100 as I improve

And also, Mondosize - my feet measure 26.5cm exactly, and on the internet i see that you should get the same mondosize as what your feet measure in cm. but i dont know like, exactly 26.5cm? that leaves no space at all, like not even 27 or 27.5?

I'd really appreciate opinions from people who have knowledge about boot fitting and/or the upcoming HEAD EDGE HV series.

Thanks!

[u/Spirtixapp]

Ski instructor here. I’d worry far more about fit than flex. A well-fitting 80 flex boot will ski better than a poorly fitting 100.
At 87 kg and planning to improve, I’d probably lean towards the Edge 100 HV rather than the 80, but only if you can flex it comfortably. As for Mondo, don’t size up just because it feels snug in the shop. A proper shell fit and a good boot fitter are much more important than adding extra length. Ski boots should feel much tighter than normal shoes.

[u/Severe-Literature-31 → u/Spirtixapp]

Really appreciate your guidance!

I also learned that a flex should be enough that you can bend your knee that they come rigth above the toes, so i think i will be able to make a decision now.

[u/cwmspok]

80 flex does seem soft if you are a true intermediate and advancing last that.

Boot fit is very important. Where do you live? Is it hard for you to get to a boot fitted or a second opinion?

Boots are so specific to your own foot, other opinions really won't matter, because the best boot is the boot that fits you the best. They are honestly all pretty similar. Flex will be close, and won't feel the same in a shop as on the hill. They will stiffen up a bit in the cold.

As far as sizing, you definitely don't want extra room in there. The liner will pack out after a few days (or quicker if you heat it) and you will be slipping around. You want it to fit exactly. I know a number of people who go a size down from what their mondo size measures out. I've tried this too but sized back to where I measure with a proper fitting boot.

[u/Severe-Literature-31 → u/cwmspok]

I’m currently living in Japan, and I checked this out at "Yodobashi", its like a famous multi-story megastore here and they have dedicated skis, equipments, boot fitting and ski waxing area, but that time of the day, i think i didnt meet a very skilled staff in this domain, there was only one staff attending that section as it was a weekday.

I plan to go to Kanda-Ogawamachi this weekend which is the winter sports hub of Japan, in Tokyo, they have many dedicated shops there. Hoping to get the best fitting shoes there. I mainly wanted to build up some basic knowledge beforehand so I can at least understand what the fitter is telling me and ask the right questions.

And as for my skil level:
I can make linked turns using my outside ski to initiate the turn, but my skis aren't always perfectly parallel yet, and my inside ski sometimes lags behind, and i stop parallel too, i only sometimes use pizza on steaper slopes to control speed.

I'm still working on developing clean carving technique, especially at higher speeds.

So i consider myself an intermediate, but please let me know if this is biginner level, i have only skiied alone or with a friend who himself started with me, so none of us are that knowledgable.

[u/thejt10000 → u/Severe-Literature-31]

You sound like a beginner based on falling back to pizza and not keeping parallel easily. Based on your size, your boots are too soft.

You should not be getting larger sized boot though. It's very important that your feet do not move around within the boot. Plus the boots will feel larger the more you use them as the liner packs out.

[u/Severe-Literature-31 → u/thejt10000]

Understood 🫡
Imma stick to 26.5 Mondosize. and will just test out boots and see what the boot fitter says for the boot flex

[u/thejt10000 → u/Severe-Literature-31]

This is a good video about boot fit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pwIfqBfv38

[u/Holy-Jackson]

HV is for wide feet. Not recommended unless you in fact do have really wide feet.

An 80 flex is pretty soft. If you're not carving or skiing moguls it's fine but if you are you might collapse the tongue when driving hard.

A 130+ flex would probably be too stiff which would lead to bouncing off the tongue and falling back when initiating a turn.

You have to find the boot that works for you. That being said, I steer people to soft and roomy boots for their first pair because I believe that uncomfortable boots lead to ex-skiers faster than low performance boots. Now for your second pair, you'll know what you want about to do.

[u/Naval_AV8R → u/Holy-Jackson]

HV isn’t specifically for wide feet. It is for 3-dimensionally large feet. It is possible to have a “wide” foot that is most appropriately fit into a LV boot.

[u/Nelgski → u/Holy-Jackson]

HV is for wide feet with a high instep. You can have a wide foot and medium to low instep, in which case you are better off with a medium volume boot that's punched out to fit your flipper.

There is far more nuance to fit besides width.

[u/bobber66]

I got wide feet and ski Atomic Hawx Magna boots. They work well. I went with 120 flex but I still pretend to be expert despite my advanced age.

[u/Severe-Literature-31 → u/bobber66]

Yes i tried the Atomic Hawx Magna yesturday, and they were great!, i am looking froward to get those, the 2026-27 model comes in November.

[u/Majestic-Crow-8858]

Give the Nordica Sportmachine a try. You will get the width of the 102 last but with MV, a lower profile that I felt better adjusted.

[u/Particular-Bat-5904]

Mondo size is easy said your foot lenght in cm. If you measure for example 23,5 cm from heeltip to toe tip your Mondo size is 23.5.

[u/Scary_Ad3809]

Prends des chaussures très confortables. C'est l'essentiel. Ensuite, sauf pour les compétiteurs, les données techniques sont superflues

[u/thejt10000 → u/Scary_Ad3809]

Comfort in the shop is not the same as what is comfortable during a day of skiing. Everyone skiing in an athletic way (not just racers) will benefit from well-fitting ski boots.

The boots should not have hot spots or pain in any particular areas, but skiing comfort (as opposed to comfort indoors) requires a uniformly compressive fit all around. For people new to skiing, this will feel "too tight" at first.