This guide is for Alpine Skis. For help with Nordic Ski sizing, please call us at: (877) 812-6710.
Ski Sizing can be tricky, thanks to a combination of the ever changing ski technology. It used to be that if you extended your arm upwards, you should be able to reach the tips of your skis. Then parabolic shapes came along. Then skis got wider. Then rocker technology came along, and, long story short, there’s way more room for preference and interpretation than ever before. The good news is that the all around quality of skis is increasing, making it more possible than ever to find a ski that fits your specific style and preferences. The bad news, is that it can be a bit more difficult to do- but that’s why we’re here. Take a look at the chart below, and if you have any trouble figuring out your size range, scroll past the cart to where we provide more information regarding these categories.
Sometimes you just need to speak to a expert, so if you're still having trouble picking a size, please give us a call at (877) 812-6710.
Rules of Thumb:
Adults: Between Chin and Eyebrows
Kids: Between Chest and Chin
Height
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Expert
3'
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
3'2"
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
3'4"
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
3'6"
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
3'8"
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
3'10"
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
4'
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
4'2"
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
4'4"
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
120-125 CM
4'6"
115-118 CM
118-121 CM
122-125 CM
125-132 CM
4'8"
121-124 CM
124-127 CM
127-130 CM
130-138 CM
4'10"
124-129 CM
129-134 CM
134-139 CM
139-148 CM
5'
134-139 CM
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-160 CM
5'2"
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-165 CM
5'4"
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-170 CM
5'6"
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-175 CM
5'8"
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-180 CM
5'10"
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-185 CM
6'
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-190 CM
6'2"
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-195 CM
6'4"
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-200 CM
6'6"
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-205 CM
6'8"
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-199 CM
199-210+ CM
Skill Level Descriptions:
Beginner: Chances are you’ll know if this is you. Beginner skiers are classified as people who have never ever skied, right up to those just starting to dabble in Intermediate trails. Chances are if you’re the type of skier who typically skis with a “ski-mentor” or a friend who’s job it is to get you down the mountain. Skill wise, you’ll be able to control your speed with snowplowing, wedging, or forming a “pizza”. Turns will be slow and steady, and at the end of your time as a beginner, you’ll be starting to tip your skis to turn rather than pushing yourself to turn with your heels.
Intermediate: Congratulations! You’ve made it to the next level in skiing. Rather than snowplow your way down blue squares, you’re able to use the shape of your skis to make parabolic or carving turns. You’re likely still pretty cautious in regards to your speed, but are able to stop on demand and have a bit more confidence that you’ll make it to the bottom in one piece. Most intermediate skiers will be tempted to wander off trail, but may not be brave enough quite yet. Some certainly will, but if off-trail skiing becomes your preference, chances are you’ve graduated to the next level.
Advanced: This might be one of the hardest groups to identify. If you know you’re not an Intermediate skier still, but aren’t quite confident enough to call yourself an expert, then chances are this is you. Ski lengths on our chart above will fall somewhere between your nose and eyebrows. This is what used to be referred to as “Expert” until rocker skis came along and let experts go back to over head ski lengths. Characteristics of an advanced skier would be: the ability to ski most, if not all trails, an ability to ski fast, regular ability to ski off trail, and more traditionally, the ability to link full carving turns at full speed.
Expert: Hands down, you’re the best skier on the mountain. Ok, so maybe not the best, but you certainly could be a contendah, kid. Black diamond, double black diamond, centuple black diamond, it doesn’t even matter. You’re that good at skiing. Heck, you could probably even ski blindfolded and with your hands tied behind your back. Well, maybe not, but you get my point. If you’re truly an expert skier, you probably know it.
Other Considerations:
Weight: There’s no easy way to say it, but skiers who are carrying around a bit of extra weight should consider staying to the higher side of the scale. More weight means the skis will feel softer, and shorter. With a bit of extra length, the skis will have a more accurate flex and better weight distribution. Conversely, skiers who are exceptionally light should stick towards to smaller side of the scale, for similar reasons.
Use: This is a question that’s most relevant to advanced or expert skiers: Where are you skiing? If you’re looking to buy a powder ski, the natural notion is to go a bit longer. In most cases, this is the right call, but skiers should be geo-conscious before buying more than they can handle. For example, East Coast skiers may have visions of skiing wide open powder fields, but the reality is that 9/10 they’ll have to navigate tight trees before finding their 100 yard straight shot of glory. Out West, where things are a bit more open, it’s not uncommon to see skiers on skis much taller than themselves. Powder is likely the most common reason to adjust your ski size, but other specialties such as ski racing, park skiing, and moguls can all skew what size is proper for you.
Preference: Finally, there’s preference. While this isn’t a free pass to say “screw all that, I know I need 210’s!,” it is an official recognition that different skiers have different preferences which can easily change the length of ski they purchase. Myself? I size up. I like the extra stability on groomers, and with 102mm waist widths, the extra length allows me to use these skis in light powder on those rare East Coast days.
SKI POLE SIZING
Alpine (Downhill) Pole Sizing
The nice thing about sizing ski poles is that it's relatively straight foreword. To determine your size, simply flip a ski pole over, grab it under the basket, and place the handle on the ground. If you're holding the right size pole, you'll notice that your elbow forms a perfect 90 degree angle between your bicep and forearm. If the pole is too long, then your forearm will be angled slightly up. Too short, and you'll find your forearm angled downward. Of course if you don't have ski poles to try this out on, you can always use the chart below. Finding the proper length ski pole is important as ski poles too long will actually shift your center of balance to behind you, and a pole that's too short will put it in front of you.
Skier Height:
3'2 - 3'4
3'5 - 3'8
3'9 - 4'0
4'1 - 4'4
4'5 - 4'8
4'9 - 5'0
5'1 - 5'3
5'4 - 5'6
5'7 - 5'9
5'10 - 6'0
6'1 - 6'3
6'4 - 6'6
Ski Pole Length (IN):
32"
34"
36"
38"
40"
42"
44"
46"
48"
50"
52"
54"
Ski Pole Length (CM):
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
Nordic (Cross Country) Pole Sizing
Cross-country pole sizing is easy as well. For classic or touring poles, the correct size pole should reach your armpit. For skate skiing, poles should be a bit longer. The rule of thumb for skate poles is that they should come between your lip and your nose. So you can measure yourself, or you can just check out our handy-dandy chart below.
Skier Height:
4'11"
5'0"
5'1"
5'2"
5'3"
5'4"
5'5"
5'6"
5'7"
5'8"
5'9"
5'10"
5'11"
6'0"
6'1"
6'2"
6'3"
6'4"
Skate (CM):
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
165
167
170
172
Classic/Touring (CM):
120
122
125
127
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
We're looking for your Mondo Point size, and the conversion is easy! Find your street shoe size on the chart, determine men's, women's, or kid's, and find the corresponding Mondo size! Please keep in mind that ski boots DO NOT come in half-sizes. If you measure a Men's 8/Mondopoint 26, please select 26.5, for example.
BOOT SOLE LENGTH: What is it?
Your boot sole length is the actual length of your ski boot, in millimeters. This is the number that our ski techs will use to mount your bindings. While you’ll still need a final adjustment done before you can ski, providing us with your boot sole length is absolutely crucial if you’d like us to send your skis pre-mounted with your bindings.
HOW DO I FIND IT?
Finding your Boot Sole Length (BSL) is easy. On your ski boot, there will be a 3 digit number on the outside or inside heel of one or both of your boots. Keep in mind that there shouldn't be a decimal (ex. 28.5). If the number you see has a decimal, then you’re probably looking at your Mondo Point size which isn’t accurate enough to use when mounting bindings. Other hints that you're looking at the Mondo Point and not the BSL would be if it looks something like "270/275" or if the number is found on the bottom of the boot. If you’ve looked all over and still can’t find your BSL, it’s also acceptable to measure along the bottom of the boot from the very tip of the toe, to back of the heel- just make sure you measure in Millimeters!
ISN'T THE BSL THE SAME AS MONDO POINT?
Nope! The mondo point size is the generic boot size that every boot maker uses it. Think of it as a shoe size, like a "size 11" for example. The boot sole length is the literal length from toe to heel of that boot, measured in millimeters. It's entirely possible and very common for boots with the same Mondo Point to have different Boot Sole Lengths. Because ski bindings are so precise, it's crucial to have them mounted to the BSL and not the Mondo Point.
ALPINE SKI SIZING
This guide is for Alpine Skis. For help with Nordic Ski sizing, please call us at: (877) 812-6710.
Ski Sizing can be tricky, thanks to a combination of the ever changing ski technology. It used to be that if you extended your arm upwards, you should be able to reach the tips of your skis. Then parabolic shapes came along. Then skis got wider. Then rocker technology came along, and, long story short, there’s way more room for preference and interpretation than ever before. The good news is that the all around quality of skis is increasing, making it more possible than ever to find a ski that fits your specific style and preferences. The bad news, is that it can be a bit more difficult to do- but that’s why we’re here. Take a look at the chart below, and if you have any trouble figuring out your size range, scroll past the cart to where we provide more information regarding these categories.
Sometimes you just need to speak to a expert, so if you're still having trouble picking a size, please give us a call at (877) 812-6710.
Rules of Thumb:
Adults: Between Chin and Eyebrows
Kids: Between Chest and Chin
Height
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Expert
3'
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
3'2"
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
3'4"
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
3'6"
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
3'8"
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
3'10"
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
4'
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
4'2"
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
4'4"
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
120-125 CM
4'6"
115-118 CM
118-121 CM
122-125 CM
125-132 CM
4'8"
121-124 CM
124-127 CM
127-130 CM
130-138 CM
4'10"
124-129 CM
129-134 CM
134-139 CM
139-148 CM
5'
134-139 CM
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-160 CM
5'2"
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-165 CM
5'4"
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-170 CM
5'6"
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-175 CM
5'8"
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-180 CM
5'10"
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-185 CM
6'
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-190 CM
6'2"
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-195 CM
6'4"
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-200 CM
6'6"
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-205 CM
6'8"
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-199 CM
199-210+ CM
Skill Level Descriptions:
Beginner: Chances are you’ll know if this is you. Beginner skiers are classified as people who have never ever skied, right up to those just starting to dabble in Intermediate trails. Chances are if you’re the type of skier who typically skis with a “ski-mentor” or a friend who’s job it is to get you down the mountain. Skill wise, you’ll be able to control your speed with snowplowing, wedging, or forming a “pizza”. Turns will be slow and steady, and at the end of your time as a beginner, you’ll be starting to tip your skis to turn rather than pushing yourself to turn with your heels.
Intermediate: Congratulations! You’ve made it to the next level in skiing. Rather than snowplow your way down blue squares, you’re able to use the shape of your skis to make parabolic or carving turns. You’re likely still pretty cautious in regards to your speed, but are able to stop on demand and have a bit more confidence that you’ll make it to the bottom in one piece. Most intermediate skiers will be tempted to wander off trail, but may not be brave enough quite yet. Some certainly will, but if off-trail skiing becomes your preference, chances are you’ve graduated to the next level.
Advanced: This might be one of the hardest groups to identify. If you know you’re not an Intermediate skier still, but aren’t quite confident enough to call yourself an expert, then chances are this is you. Ski lengths on our chart above will fall somewhere between your nose and eyebrows. This is what used to be referred to as “Expert” until rocker skis came along and let experts go back to over head ski lengths. Characteristics of an advanced skier would be: the ability to ski most, if not all trails, an ability to ski fast, regular ability to ski off trail, and more traditionally, the ability to link full carving turns at full speed.
Expert: Hands down, you’re the best skier on the mountain. Ok, so maybe not the best, but you certainly could be a contendah, kid. Black diamond, double black diamond, centuple black diamond, it doesn’t even matter. You’re that good at skiing. Heck, you could probably even ski blindfolded and with your hands tied behind your back. Well, maybe not, but you get my point. If you’re truly an expert skier, you probably know it.
Other Considerations:
Weight: There’s no easy way to say it, but skiers who are carrying around a bit of extra weight should consider staying to the higher side of the scale. More weight means the skis will feel softer, and shorter. With a bit of extra length, the skis will have a more accurate flex and better weight distribution. Conversely, skiers who are exceptionally light should stick towards to smaller side of the scale, for similar reasons.
Use: This is a question that’s most relevant to advanced or expert skiers: Where are you skiing? If you’re looking to buy a powder ski, the natural notion is to go a bit longer. In most cases, this is the right call, but skiers should be geo-conscious before buying more than they can handle. For example, East Coast skiers may have visions of skiing wide open powder fields, but the reality is that 9/10 they’ll have to navigate tight trees before finding their 100 yard straight shot of glory. Out West, where things are a bit more open, it’s not uncommon to see skiers on skis much taller than themselves. Powder is likely the most common reason to adjust your ski size, but other specialties such as ski racing, park skiing, and moguls can all skew what size is proper for you.
Preference: Finally, there’s preference. While this isn’t a free pass to say “screw all that, I know I need 210’s!,” it is an official recognition that different skiers have different preferences which can easily change the length of ski they purchase. Myself? I size up. I like the extra stability on groomers, and with 102mm waist widths, the extra length allows me to use these skis in light powder on those rare East Coast days.
SKI POLE SIZING
Alpine (Downhill) Pole Sizing
The nice thing about sizing ski poles is that it's relatively straight foreword. To determine your size, simply flip a ski pole over, grab it under the basket, and place the handle on the ground. If you're holding the right size pole, you'll notice that your elbow forms a perfect 90 degree angle between your bicep and forearm. If the pole is too long, then your forearm will be angled slightly up. Too short, and you'll find your forearm angled downward. Of course if you don't have ski poles to try this out on, you can always use the chart below. Finding the proper length ski pole is important as ski poles too long will actually shift your center of balance to behind you, and a pole that's too short will put it in front of you.
Skier Height:
3'2 - 3'4
3'5 - 3'8
3'9 - 4'0
4'1 - 4'4
4'5 - 4'8
4'9 - 5'0
5'1 - 5'3
5'4 - 5'6
5'7 - 5'9
5'10 - 6'0
6'1 - 6'3
6'4 - 6'6
Ski Pole Length (IN):
32"
34"
36"
38"
40"
42"
44"
46"
48"
50"
52"
54"
Ski Pole Length (CM):
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
Nordic (Cross Country) Pole Sizing
Cross-country pole sizing is easy as well. For classic or touring poles, the correct size pole should reach your armpit. For skate skiing, poles should be a bit longer. The rule of thumb for skate poles is that they should come between your lip and your nose. So you can measure yourself, or you can just check out our handy-dandy chart below.
Skier Height:
4'11"
5'0"
5'1"
5'2"
5'3"
5'4"
5'5"
5'6"
5'7"
5'8"
5'9"
5'10"
5'11"
6'0"
6'1"
6'2"
6'3"
6'4"
Skate (CM):
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
165
167
170
172
Classic/Touring (CM):
120
122
125
127
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
We're looking for your Mondo Point size, and the conversion is easy! Find your street shoe size on the chart, determine men's, women's, or kid's, and find the corresponding Mondo size! Please keep in mind that ski boots DO NOT come in half-sizes. If you measure a Men's 8/Mondopoint 26, please select 26.5, for example.
BOOT SOLE LENGTH: What is it?
Your boot sole length is the actual length of your ski boot, in millimeters. This is the number that our ski techs will use to mount your bindings. While you’ll still need a final adjustment done before you can ski, providing us with your boot sole length is absolutely crucial if you’d like us to send your skis pre-mounted with your bindings.
HOW DO I FIND IT?
Finding your Boot Sole Length (BSL) is easy. On your ski boot, there will be a 3 digit number on the outside or inside heel of one or both of your boots. Keep in mind that there shouldn't be a decimal (ex. 28.5). If the number you see has a decimal, then you’re probably looking at your Mondo Point size which isn’t accurate enough to use when mounting bindings. Other hints that you're looking at the Mondo Point and not the BSL would be if it looks something like "270/275" or if the number is found on the bottom of the boot. If you’ve looked all over and still can’t find your BSL, it’s also acceptable to measure along the bottom of the boot from the very tip of the toe, to back of the heel- just make sure you measure in Millimeters!
ISN'T THE BSL THE SAME AS MONDO POINT?
Nope! The mondo point size is the generic boot size that every boot maker uses it. Think of it as a shoe size, like a "size 11" for example. The boot sole length is the literal length from toe to heel of that boot, measured in millimeters. It's entirely possible and very common for boots with the same Mondo Point to have different Boot Sole Lengths. Because ski bindings are so precise, it's crucial to have them mounted to the BSL and not the Mondo Point.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI SIZING
Fitting cross country skis is different then fitting alpine skis. Instead of fitting the ski by height, the skis that we carry are fit by weight. Check the charts below to see which size you need. Still have questions? Don't hesitate to give us a call at (877) 812-6710 and let us help you.
BOB ST.PIERRE, I really need some feedback on your testing of the 2020 DPS WAILER 100 RP ALCHEMIST 179 cm
I am your size probably a less skilled . quickness is paramount to me as I enjoy tight off piste lines. Will I overwhelm the 179cm?
insight appreciated regards Greg
Hi Greg!
Tight turns and lines are right up the Wailer 100’s alley. The RP shape really accentuates the quick-turning nature of the ski, and the dual-carbon laminates make it pretty stiff. I wish I tried the 184 for a bit of extra stability at speed, as the 179 did feel a bit short. But if you’re looking for quickness, the 179 will be a great size. If you’re skiing fast and aggressive and you’re my size, you might overwhelm the 179–there’s a bit of a learning curve to the shape and style of the ski. Hope that helps!
Bob
Hi Bob!
I’d love your feedback on what all-mountain skis I should consider. I’m a mogul-loving, ~25 season skier (some groomers with friends and 4-5 hours of moguls a day if I can take it). I’m 6’1, 180 lbs, 35 years old, and I spend a few days out east plus 1-2 weeks out west every year. I’ve been skiing a k2 public enemy 2007 for 12 seasons. What should be top on my list? I’m trying to find the perfect blend of playful vs stable – this is intended to be a 1-ski quiver (although perhaps I should have a normal ski plus something really fat for powder).
HI Andrew!
I’m always going to recommend multiple skis! Do you like the PE for bumps and all mountain and if so, are you looking for another twin tip? I’ve been on a Nordica Soul Rider 87 for the past few seasons and love it. Yes, it’s a bit soft for higher speeds, but I always justify it by stating that the skis aren’t stable, but I am, so I can deal with it. My only knock on them is that the tails are pretty aggressively turned-up, so I do catch them from time to time in the bumps, but I’ve kind of learned to deal with it. A bit wider, but also more stable, the K2 Poacher is a great choice. We see them in the X-Games in the park, but also all over the mountain. One of the most stable twins out there, and at 96 mm underfoot, makes for great versatility. Not quite as quick as the 87’s but pretty darn good still. In the non-twin category, take a look at the Elan Ripstick 88 or the Head Kore 87. Still narrow enough to justify the wider ski down the road, while remaining versatile and quick for bumps and groomers. Between those four skis, depending on if you’re in the market for a twin or not, you’re going to get what you want, and I’d look to the low to mid-180’s for length. Have fun!
SE/Bob
BOB ST.PIERRE, I really need some feedback on your testing of the 2020 DPS WAILER 100 RP ALCHEMIST 179 cm
I am your size probably a less skilled . quickness is paramount to me as I enjoy tight off piste lines. Will I overwhelm the 179cm?
insight appreciated regards Greg
Hi Greg!
Tight turns and lines are right up the Wailer 100’s alley. The RP shape really accentuates the quick-turning nature of the ski, and the dual-carbon laminates make it pretty stiff. I wish I tried the 184 for a bit of extra stability at speed, as the 179 did feel a bit short. But if you’re looking for quickness, the 179 will be a great size. If you’re skiing fast and aggressive and you’re my size, you might overwhelm the 179–there’s a bit of a learning curve to the shape and style of the ski. Hope that helps!
Bob
Hi Bob!
I’d love your feedback on what all-mountain skis I should consider. I’m a mogul-loving, ~25 season skier (some groomers with friends and 4-5 hours of moguls a day if I can take it). I’m 6’1, 180 lbs, 35 years old, and I spend a few days out east plus 1-2 weeks out west every year. I’ve been skiing a k2 public enemy 2007 for 12 seasons. What should be top on my list? I’m trying to find the perfect blend of playful vs stable – this is intended to be a 1-ski quiver (although perhaps I should have a normal ski plus something really fat for powder).
HI Andrew!
I’m always going to recommend multiple skis! Do you like the PE for bumps and all mountain and if so, are you looking for another twin tip? I’ve been on a Nordica Soul Rider 87 for the past few seasons and love it. Yes, it’s a bit soft for higher speeds, but I always justify it by stating that the skis aren’t stable, but I am, so I can deal with it. My only knock on them is that the tails are pretty aggressively turned-up, so I do catch them from time to time in the bumps, but I’ve kind of learned to deal with it. A bit wider, but also more stable, the K2 Poacher is a great choice. We see them in the X-Games in the park, but also all over the mountain. One of the most stable twins out there, and at 96 mm underfoot, makes for great versatility. Not quite as quick as the 87’s but pretty darn good still. In the non-twin category, take a look at the Elan Ripstick 88 or the Head Kore 87. Still narrow enough to justify the wider ski down the road, while remaining versatile and quick for bumps and groomers. Between those four skis, depending on if you’re in the market for a twin or not, you’re going to get what you want, and I’d look to the low to mid-180’s for length. Have fun!
SE/Bob