Amanda

Because cheese is delicious. I can't eat chili without cheese unless it is very very good homemade chili made by someone who knows his/her chili. It might also add protein.

there is really no difference between the whole size and the half size. the 23 and 23.5 have exactly the same shell. Some say the liner is a little thicker in the whole size, and some say there is no difference at all. the whole vs half size is mainly for marketing. Reps have told me that there is no difference. Also, just because you measure a 23, doesnt mean you are a 23. I measure a 24.5 but I my boots are lange exclusive rx 100 LV because that is what fits me size 23.5 (i would have gotten the 23 if they had it, but they only had the 23.5, and there is no difference anyway. This doesn't mean they run big or anything, it is just what fits me (with orthotic. they are too short without my orthotics because my orthotics give my feet shape). If you need a 23, get the 23.5. They are the same exact thing.

the soul sister has the pro liner and the mary jane has the performance liner. the pro liner is better.
the soul sister has a 98mm last and the mary jane has a 102mm last. the mary jane is a wide boot and the soul sister is a narrow boot.

merino wool from New Zealand where the climate is constant (climate control). they treat the animals humanely and they don't hurt them when shaving them.

if you freeze when the weather is in the 60s, Your problem could be a circulation issue. try cw-x tights and support tops. the right pant can get your blood flowing better, keeping the rest of your body warm. for Florida, you don't need the insulator tight, but it might be good to have a pair of them for when it gets colder than usual. they enhance circulation and support your muscles. they are expensive, but remember backcountry's return policy. i heard the other day that with the recent cold weather in florida, cw-x dealers are trying to get whatever long cw-x pant they can get their hands on.

Smartwool is the only wool i can wear. all other wool itches me, even cashmere made by expensive designer brands. is great and you will love it, but if you freeze when the temp goes below 60, then you might have a circulation issue that you might want to talk to your doctor about, especially if you are diabetic. if you are diabetic, then talk to your doctor before trying cw-x support clothing, especially if you have edema. cant go wrong with smartwool. It is a good idea to own a variety of weights. you can start with midweight and go from there.

The only way to know is to try them on. if you can't find them in a store, you can buy them and if they don't fit you can return them. I have a small head and the crowbars fit me great. I dont know what my face size is, though - there is no standard for measuring face size, as far as I know -One of my helmets is a RED Trace 0.5 (youth) large and another is a Carerra adult small. They fit me well with my Trace, but I haven't tried them with the Carerra yet.

Rick, do you by any chance have a Ph.D from Harvard?
Okay, now for my answer:
The X3 replaced the Falcon line. They have the same 98-104mm last, and the same liner - my custom fit (great liner). There is a screw in the back of the X3 that appears that you can remove and replace with a plastic rivet (or leave empty) or move to a different position. The Salomon Scarlet, Gun, Poison, and Shogun and some other Salomon models have this feature, although there are two screws and there are in a different place. In the X3 it looks similar to what Technica does. This feature usually makes the flex index softer by 10.
A bootfitter can also cut the shell to permanently soften the boot.
The boot that will work for the entire mountain is the boot that fits properly.
The X3 10CS looks like the same shell as the Falcon other than being a different color - it looks like it is from the same mold, as Nick said, "The X3 boots are built off the chasis of the Falcon." It has the same liner, My Custom Fit, which is a great liner, and the boot has the same last width.
If you have narrow feet, I highly recommend the X3 10 CS.
I work at a ski shop and we carried the Falcon (not CS) two years ago and had a few left over last year. These leftover boots made some narrow-footed men VERY happy - they were on sale and they didn't want to buy pay over $600 for a boot. I know from experience that finding a narrow boot is very hard. If you have narrow feet, or even not narrow because of the custom shell, get the X3 10.

probably edited the post. You used to not be able to delete posts but now they can. You were able to edit to delete the contents of it, but not delete the post.

the crossfire is a pretty perfect ski

For the east, at your weight, you should ski the 173. Out west, you could get away with the 182, but at your weight, the 173 would be a much better choice. I work at a ski shop/demo center on the mountain in the catskills, and the only people I know who ski over 180 are at least 6' tall. If they didn't ski twin tips then they would ski shorter. For a ski that isn't a twin tip, I would recommend 161-168 for northeastern skiing for someone of your size. 5'9 and 150lbs, I wouldn't go over 173, I would say 169-175 for a twintip.

178. If it weren't a twintip or a soft ski I would say shorter. If you were skiing primarily in the west I would say longer. At 185lbs, you don't want any longer than 178 for the east.

the way adult sizing works is first number plus second number mondo = US size, and add 1 to this for women.
For kids, this only works with size 2 US (20 mondo) and above 2 + 0 = 2.
Count backwards to find smaller sizes.
Mondopoint is also the measurement in centimeters.
19mp = 1 US
18 = 13
17 = 12
16 = 11
15 = 10
15 is the smallest boot size made.

The liner has a neoprene toe box that stretches. I tried on the large (size 22-25)liner (without the shell) at stratton last year. I wear a size 8 sneaker (womens)and i measure 25 mondo, and although I wouldn't be able to ski in it because I am a 23 year old advanced skier, I felt that it wouldn't be cramped for someone who is the right size and ability level for the boot.
I would recommend this boot for any child who isn't a racer in need of a stiffer boot. Perfect for the kid who complains out boots.

The Rictor replaces the Recon

I would say the Tracker because it has an Intuition liner, if it fits like you want it to fit.

I would say the Tracker because it has an Intuition liner, if it fits like you want it to fit.

Any boot will work with any ski and any binding. The important part is the way it fits your foot.

Only if you have wide feet.
Langes aren't as narrow as they used to be. They used to have a reputation for being narrow, but they don't anymore. I have narrow feet (I measure A width, B is medium for women and D is medium for men) and every Lange I have tried on is too wide for me (I've tried on a few with a 98mm last). It doesn't matter what last width you are used to using, it depends on your feet. A boot fitter can blow out parts of the boot that are bothering you, such as the "sixth toe," ankle bones, and things on the sides of the feet and ankle. You can always buy the boot and return it (shipping label is $6.99)

the 26.5 is the same shell as the 26. I am a fan of whole sizes. The liner is thicker in whole sizes. I always like to round down, but everyones foot is different and you don't want something that is too big or too small. Wait a few days and they might get more in. So far its the only full tilt boot that has arrived so far, otherwise, you can buy it and exchange it if it doesn't fit. Or order both and return the one that doesn't fit(the shipping label will cost $6.99). You should know right away if the 25.5 is too small since you have had full tilts before. I am only saying this because you have had full tilt boots before. To tell if a boot is too big might not be as easy.
I say wait a few days and if they get more full tilts in but not more of this model then order both and return the one that doesn't fit before the due date of your credit card bill.
Edit 10/4/10
I emailed full tilt asking about how their half and whole sizes differ:
"Full Tilt FT original shells are the same for the full and half size. A size nine shell is the same as a nine and a half. The liners are also the same. Please keep in mind that we heat mold the half size liners on a half size mold/last. So if you try on the nine it will fit smaller than the nine and a half. The heat moldability is really what makes the difference for us with half sizes. Most other boot companies just put a spacer in to make up for the half size. Our boots are specifically heat molded for the half size. Once a professional ski boot fitter heats the liner it will lose the specific size it was and will be ready to mold to the full size or half size.
This does not include our FTI Influence shell used with the High Five, Booter and Mary Jane.
The FTI uses a different liner and boot board for each size."
The 26.5 should work for you.

This is not a park ski. This is not a twin tip ski. Twin tip skis make landing easier for both landing forwards and backwards. Even when landing forwards, the backs of the skis can dig into the snow. You can do little jumps on any ski, but not anything big.

156cm if you are an intermediat to advanced skier. 163cm if you are an expert who likes long skis and to go very fast.
At 150lbs you can ski the shorter ski. I sold a woman who was 5'11" a k2 one luv 149cm(she was thin and it was in a demo center) She loved it. I am 5'5" and weigh 130 and I love the 156cm (burnin luv, free luv, and one luv. Haven't tried the true luv. I don't like short skis. Most women don't like skis longer than 158cm but I know a few who like longer ones. I also loved the 156cm ski (burnin and one luv) when i was 145lbs two years ago. It goes more by weight than height. Demoing is the best way to decide. Some people like longer, some like shorter. The 149 is probably too short. 156 is a very versatile length for a large variety of women.

I would say 170cm for the east. He would only want longer if he was primarily skiing out west.

This happens a lot with some k2 skis. Luckily, that part of the ski doesnt really do much. You just dont want anything hanging off and catching on to anything and you also don't want moisture getting in. Did you make sure it was completely dry when you epoxied it? Also, cover with duct tape and clamp it down at least over night or a few days.

Bring them to a ski shop. They will stretch it. It will take at least an hour though. They heat the shell in the spot that needs stretching and then they stretch it with a special tool until it cools. They can rush it by icing it, but it is best when it cools naturally which takes at least an hour but preferably longer.

Bring them to a ski shop. They will stretch it. It will take at least an hour though. They heat the shell in the spot that needs stretching and then they stretch it with a special tool until it cools. They can rush it by icing it, but it is best when it cools naturally which takes at least an hour but preferably longer.

The smallest size ski boot made is size 15. 15cm

15cm is the smallest size ski boot made, so yes. It is the same shell as 15.5 and many ski shops only carry the half sizes of small children's boots.

They will have this years model of it in soon. the 25 and the 25.5 has the same shell and the liner will conform to your foot, so if they only have whole sizes. it will be the same. I personally don't believe in half sizes. I think they just exist so people find them more comfortable when trying them on in the store. I have narrow feet so I go for the whole size because the liner is thicker.

I am also a female with narrow feet, although I am smaller than you (5'5", 130lbs)
The First Chair and womens Soul Sister both have a 99mm last.
I did a run the 2010/2011 full tilt womens Soul Sister at Stratton last year and I found it wide for a narrow boot, but they were also a little big.
I measure a 24.5, wear a size 8 sneaker, and I wear a 23.5 ski boot.
They only had the 24.5 and it was too big. It was also a little long, so it was probably the wrong size for me anyway.
I ski the Salomon Poison. It has a flex of 90 and a 98mm last. It is the Women's equivalent to the men's Shogun (flex 100). I have also tried on the Salomon Instinct CS in a 24 and I found it too wide, even though they are both Salomon and have the same last. I used to have the Salomon Scarlet size 24, which I found to be narrower than the instinct. The Scarlet is discontinued (replaced by the poison).
I have practically no room in a shell fit in my poisons but it doesnt feel too short at all, even though i wear a size 8 in a sneaker and they my boots are a 23.5.

The liner: Looking at the liner, it appears thin, but wearing the boot, it feels soft and cushy, not in a bad way like a beginners boot. They feel supportive and stiff.

You might want to try going down a shell size, but be careful that that shell size isn't softer. I would also recommend the whole size and not the half size because they both have the same shell, but the whole size has a thicker liner. Atomic boots are not like this (ie. the 24.5 and 25 will have the same shell). Dalbello might be the same way.
Since you were in world cup boots, especially a boot with a flex of 130, I will assume that you are a strong skier. The 24-25.5 should have the same upper shell so that should be the same stiffness. A larger size will be stiffer than a smaller size. My 23.5 are made using the top part of the 22-23.5. I feel like it is a little too short, but they are the closest to perfect I have ever found. I can't flex them when it is really cold, but I like that I can't flex them, but I am also smaller than you.

A woman's boot will be narrower than a men's boot of the same last, but world cup boots are probably different.

A bootfitter might be able to make the Soul Sister fit. The soul sister has a medium flex (6 on full tilt's scale of 10) but you can buy a stiffer tongue to make it stiffer.
If you can find the Scarlet in your size (flex of 85, but I couldn't flex it and I found it to be stiffer than the Salomon Idol 8CS, also with a flex of 85), try it on. Also try the poison, if you can find it.

Go to a shop and try some boots on. A good bootfitter will be able to recommend the proper boot by looking at and measuring your feet and will ask you questions to determine if it is the proper fit. Technicas tend to be wider in the toe area. I can't wear them because I have narrow feet and I move around in them. Salomon has both wide and narrow boots. I love my Salomons poisons but there are many Salomons I can't wear because they are too wide. The Technica M10 (and maybe other Technica boots in the M-series) have an adjustable spoiler so you can adjust it for a narrow calf or a wide calf. You can also take the spoiler out to accommodate for more room if the boot has a spoiler.

If you like the Raichle Flex-on, go with full tilt. They use the same exact molds as the Raichle Flex-ons but they use better materials.

These are slightly stiffer and wider. These have a 100mm last. The poison has a 98mm last. The poison is also ligher. I love the poison. I have narrow feet. I think the origins would be too wide for me

If you get "pooped" easily, I wouldn't recommend the AC30, especially after not skiing for 25 years. They are STIFF. Stiff skis tire you out faster and are also harder on the knees. I would recommend a K2 ski such as the Interceptor, 2010 Recon(2011 Rictor) or 2010 Crossfire(2011 Charger). They are softer and still have amazing performance. K2s have a nice smooth feel and their softness doe not sacrifice performance. I would go with any one of those skis in 163cm.
For the 2010-2011 season, K2's whole line of all mountain skis will have slightly rockered tips, which they say "makes turning easier at low speeds." I didn't really notice anything different about them when I skied them at Stratton, but I did notice that I loved them.
If you do really want the AC30, I would only recommend them if you have demoed them or if you skied a very stiff ski this past season.

For the AC30, you are kind of on the borderline of 156cm to 163 by weight, but height and weight combined put you at 163. When taking your age into account, I would say the 156 would be better but probably be a little short, especially since the skis you skied 25 years ago were so much longer. I love the AC30. I am 130lbs and ski the 156cm. It is a stiff ski that will tire you out if you get tired easily.

Not the k2 xplorer. I am a huge fan of the Fischer Progressor 8. it is 72 underfoot and medium stiffness. It is my favorite ski this season. It can handle anything as well as being a great carver. I skied it on icy days, cruddy days, mushy days, and powdery days (powdery for the east) and it handed it all. I am 5'5" and 130lbs and I ski the 155cm. You can go either 160 or 165 depending on how strong you are. This ski carve and rips. It has a progressive turning radius so it can do both Slalom and GS turns depending on how much you push it. If you want something stiffer, then you can go for the Progressor 9 165cm. It is A LOT stiffer than the 8 and has a plate to make it even stiffer. It is too stiff for me to handle properly (the 165, I didn't get a chance to ski the 160), but It was nice and smooth and picked up speed very fast on the flats and I enjoyed it, but couldn't push it enough to make short radius turns because i don't have the weight or the muscle. It is 70mm underfoot. You might also want to check out the "tuned down" Volkl racetiger models.

You won't lose stability with the 177cm at 170lbs. I wouldn't recommend going any bigger than 177 and would only recommend it if you primarily ski out west. You might want to try the 170. If you consider yourself in any range where intermediate is mentioned, even "intermediate to expert" I would recommend the 170cm. I work at a demo center and 170 is the longest we carry in the ac30 and 50, and many other skis, and many people think they will be too short, then they ski them,love them, and don't want anything longer. I would only recommend the 177 if you skied the 170 and decided it is too short. This is a stiff ski. Now if you were looking at a twin tip ski, I would say go for the 184 for someone of your size, but not the AC30.

I would go 177, or even 170. I would only consider the 184 if you were primarily skiing out west. It goes more by weight than height and at 225, you can easily handle the 170 without it being too short. If you are used to longer skis, you can also go for the 177. I would probably recommend the 177 if you are used to longer ski and are a very strong skier and like them stiff, but this ski is still pretty stiff. Your Vertigo G3s have probably gotten soft over the years (as do all skis), especially if you ski them hard. I would recommend waiting until the season starts and demoing them if you are unsure, but many places in the east don't carry many skis in their demo centers longer than 170cm. Between 177 and 184, choose the 177. No one needs a stiff ski of this type (in the east, at least) any longer than that and it will also do well in the west.

I'm not sure exactly but I know that they can go at least to 360mm (BSL) my dads boots are size 31.5 and have a bsl of 355mm.

You can trim them to fit. The size chart is an estimate that works for most people. If your arch is VERY high, you might need to go up a size. The size is correct when you put your feet on them and the ball of your feet should be in the window. This often requires trimming. The arch placement is the important part.

The boot has rivets in the back behind the heel that can be removed to make the boot softer. If that isn't soft enough than a boot fitter can make them softer by cutting a certain part of it. The price is right. Go for it.

Yes. It has a 98mm last and a flex index of 85.

These boot work great for a narrow foot. I have trouble finding boots narrow enough and these are great for narrow feet. I got these in s size 24 but they seemed a little big for me. That doesn't mean that they run big, but for me they felt big. I wanted to exchange them for a 23 or 23.5 but they were out of stock in that size so I got the Salomon poison in a 23.5 and I love those. I would love to be able to ski these in a smaller size but they were out of stock. I highly recommend these boots for narrow feet.
For flat feet (or a high arch) I recommend a custom foot bed or a supportive foot bed such as the Aline footbed ( http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ALINE-Footbed/ALE0001M.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&CMP_SKU=ALE0001&mv_pc=r126 ). Flat feet need support and when they don't have support it can cause pain.

I am 5'5" and 125lbs (130-135 with equipment) and I ski the 156. The 149 was too short for me. I ski in the east (catskills).
@wul100486098: These are not parabolic skis. They are shaped skis (or just skis). Parabolic skis were the transition between straight and shaped skis that were made about 10-12 years ago. Now they are just called skis. And you can skate in them. I can skate in them on flats and up slight hills.

149 would probably be a good size.

Any boot that fits will be good for a full day of skiing. Full Tilt boots are amazingly comfortable. If you get a lot of shin bang, than your boots might be too big. If it happens and your boots aren't too big then they might not be the right boot or you can try The Instaprint Eliminator.

Go to a ski shop with a boot heater. It is best if they carry boots that have intuition liners such as Dalbello, Ride, and Full Tilt because they have the proper heater but any boot heater will work. Not the ones that you can buy but the ones the shops have. They are very expensive. Some shops charge and some don't.

They will be fine. Womens skis are slightly softer than the mens ski that they are compared with and the center of the ski is positioned up to 2cm closer to the front because women have a lower center of gravity and this puts women over the proper part of the ski when skiing. If you are just starting out, it doesnt matter much. Learn on these and get a womens ski as your next ski. It is more important for your boots to fit properly. I am a woman and I ski mens skis most of the time.

I seen people with tele bindings on slalom race skis. They are usually 65-68mm underfoot.

138 would be too small, especially if you are still growing. You would get a longer twin tip than you would ski a traditional all mountain ski. They have less contact with the snow because of the tips.

I work at a ski shop and we carry this helmet. The small and medium don't seem to fit a lot of kids, but the large fits many and it is a very popular helmet.
The large seems to fit kids of all ages and when the large is too big the medium is often too small. I recommend an adjustable helmet for when the large is too big. Although your son is 7, it is not uncommon for young children to have big heads. I would think that an adult medium would be too big for a 7 year old. The helmet should fit well and snug with the chin strap open, but of course closed when using it.
Could your mother have returned with The Giro G9 Junior? The Giro G9 junior in a small or medium might fit, but unless he has a huge head, the adult medium would be too big, especially if you have to adjust the chin strap to make it stay on. If you think that the helmet is too big, then it probably is. Measuring his head isn't very accurate because head shapes are different and helmets in the same brand (and other brands) often have different head shapes. ex: the Red Avid fits entirely different than the Red Theory as well as the Giro Fuse as compared to the Giro G10.
When a helmets fits properly it will feel snug all around. The helmet will sit between above his eyebrows and the middle of his forehead. When you move the helmet back and forward it will grab the skin on his head you will see it moving his eyebrows up and down. This should be done with the helmet unbuckled.

Giro and Red do their kids sizing differently. The Giro Junior G9 is available in small and medium and it is adjustable. The small is about the size of the Red Trace Grom L but adjusts to be slightly smaller and slightly bigger, and the medium is even bigger than that but they are shaped differently. The small fits me and the Adult G9 small also fits me.

I have a small head and I am a 22 year old female and I usually wear an adult small or adult x-small. I have this helmet in a large and it fits me great. I actually got it for my mom who has a slightly smaller head than I do.

22 inches is 55.8 cm. the small is 54-56cm. That would mean that you are a small. This helmet is adjustable so you might be able to wear the medium. However, you need to try on helmets to make sure that they fit. Not all heads are shaped the same. A helmet in your size may not fit properly because of the shape, even if a helmet of the same brand and size fits well.

172, or even longer if you want it. 172 for quicker turns or for the east, but longer out west. World cup men ski 165 for slalom. At 5'11" and 190lbs 165 would be too short. I am 5'5" and 130 lbs, female, and i skied the Salomon Suspect 151 and it was way too short, but the Dumont 161 is much better.
Twin tips are softer than other types of all mountain skis. Softer skis can be longer than stiffer skis because stiffer skis provide more stability. Twin tips also have less shape and can be skied longer.

Full Tilt boots tend to be narrow. If you can get your feet into them, they can be widened to an extent. They also have an Intuition liner which is very light and extremely moldable.

the biggest size in stock is a 28.5 which is equivalent to a 10.5. You should have your foot measured to see your mondo size. Most people wear a bigger sneaker than they wear in ski boots. I have seen people who wear a 12 sneaker but I measure them and they are a 27 in a boot which is equivalent to a 9. I measure a womens 7.5, or a mondo 24.5, I wear an 8 in a sneaker, but my ski boot size is a 23 or 23.5.

This is a good size goggle because it is a medium face size. As long as you have a good goggle (even a $25 goggle can be good, but It won't be as comfortable) it shouldn't fog as long as it is being worn correctly. If you put a ski mask over your nose, your goggles will always fog. That is a common problem with a lot of people. Also, a really cheap goggle will fog if it doesn't have a double lens. Usually, all goggles sold in ski shops except for some kids goggles have a double lens.

These Oakley goggles should be comfortable and should not fog. Cheaper goggles are uncomfortable, expensive goggles are more comfortable. There is this stuff called Cat Crap that both cleans goggles and puts a layer of antifog stuff on it. It is great, a lot of people swear by it and I use it to clean my glasses. Although, it won't help antifogging if the reason they fog is because she isn't wearing them correctly, or they are only a single lens goggle.
Wearing a skiing/snowboarding helmet might help make the goggles more comfortable because it will hold the goggles in place better. Helmets are more comfortable than hats and they are cheaper than brain surgery.

That is a question you should use the chat feature, but you really need to try boots on. Because you have very big feet, you should shop around at ski shops looking for older models. It is easy to find great sales on big boots that are left over for from the previous year or two. My dad wears a size 31 boot. He wears a size 13 in work/dress boots, and a 14/15 in sneakers. He loves his 2006 salomon Xwave 9s that he got in 2008 for $250 (regular price was $650). They are nice and stiff (flex index of 100 or 110). As the boots get bigger, the flex index number stays the same, but the boot is stiffer than a smaller boot of the same model. This is based on the assumption that people with big feet are larger and need a stiffer boot. My brother is 20 and he has the same size foot as my dad, but he is a lot lighter (and he doesn't ski). He tried on my dad's boots and he couldn't flex them at all, but they fit him. Do you have a narrow foot or a wide foot? my dad has a relatively narrow foot. Stiffer boots tend to be narrower than softer boots, but work can be done buy a bootfitter to make boots wider in certain spots (just not longer). Make sure that you are actually a 31.5 (half sizes are not very different from whole sizes, so if you find a 31, you should try it on. You don't want to get boots that are too big or you will be in pain. Your toes should touch the front when standing, and pull back when you bend your knees forward.

Try http://www.backcountryoutlet.com
Flex of 90 so it isn't very stiff, but might be stiffer in a big size - had size 31.
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/TEC0041/Tecnica-Diablo-Flame-Ski-Boot-Mens.html
Had size 31.5 flex of 100, still not very stiff for a men's boot.
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/ROS0520/Rossignol-Zenith-100-Sensor3-Ski-Boot-Mens.html

you should use the chat now feature to answer that question.

Unless she prefers a really long ski (and knows it and has skied skis that were new within the past 3 years that were very long), I would recommend the 162cm (162 and 170 are the only ones in stock). It goes more by weight than height. Although she is very tall at 5'10", 145lbs isn't very heavy. I am 5'5" and last season i weighed 140-145. I only skied the 154cm because that was all we had at the shop, but I would have liked the try the 162cm (but we didn't have it). I loved the ski
Intermediate/expert isn't clear. Maybe you mean advanced? It is between intermediate and expert and it is what I am.
I would recommend the 162cm. I would only recommend the 170cm in this ski if she was very heavy or a very strong skier who doesn't like short skis, or a combination of the two.
I ski all different skis in different lengths. I ski longer skis and shorter skis. I can do this because I work at a demo center, but for buying a ski for everyday use, I would go on the shorter side, at least for this type of ski.
Very few women like long skis.
If you are concerned about the 170cm being too long for her, it probably is. Go with the 162cm. I see few women skiing on long skis (I live in the east, people probably ski longer (and wider) out west).
For me, I prefer the 154 length, even though i usually like a slightly longer ski (156-160). I am sure that at 5'10", your wife has longer legs than me and will be able to ski a longer ski at the same weight as me, so I would recommend the 162cm, but not the 170cm. (I know that I probably repeated the same thing over and over again).

The DIN on the STH 16 goes from 9 to 16 while the DIN on the STH 12 goes from 4 to 12. The 16 is for more aggressive skiers. The 16 is not for light skiers since the DIN cannot be set lower than 9.

I work at a demo center in the Catskill region of new york and I find that lighter skiers prefer the 163cm. For example, a 155 pound man advanced/expert skier tried both the 170 and the 163. He first wanted to try the 170, but I recommended he try the 163. First he tried the 170, then he came back and switched to the 163. He liked the 163 better. It really goes more by weight than height, although height also plays a roll. I am 5'5", 140lbs, female, 21 years old, advanced, and I love the 163 (they don't make it any smaller). I think it is a little long for me, but I like it better than the aurora 156cm (women's version of the ac50 - same dimensions, but a little softer). if you are skiing out west, you can go a little longer, but if you are skiing mostly on piste, go on the shorter side if you are light. The AC50 is one of my favorite skis, and I have skied about 20 different pairs of advanced/expert level skis this year (if we had more skis, I would have skied more).

Not this boot. You should talk to the gear experts using the chat feature, or go to a ski shop. Everyone's foot is different and you need to look at more than just the ability of the boot. Foot shape and width must also be taken into consideration.If your boots fit nicely, I recommend taking them to a good bootfitter. They can cut away some of the plastic inside, making it softer flexing.

It might be fine, but it might not. Different boots, even with the same boot sole length, may be different, and some with similar boot sole lengths might be about the same. You should get your bindings adjusted and tested with the new boots, but you won't need them to be remounted.

The Burnin Luv is their top of the line "women's" ski. My wife (same level as you) has been skiing on them for 3 years and claims they are the best.Don't spend the money if you aren't going to challenge them though. They are meant to go fast while still being VERY responsive.AgentBristow: I skied these today and they were great on the ice. they gripped it like it wasn't even there. I am an advanced skier 5'5" 140 pounds. I skied the 156cm because it was the longest my demo center had. I would prefer a longer ski. This is K2's top of the line women's ski and would probably be too much for your neice, but not too much for you. This ski should help you with the icy hard pack. I handled ice a lot better with this ski than my own skis. This was a nice ski, but if i were looking to buy skis, this wouldnt be the ski for me. Everyone has their personal preference. It is best to demo skis before buying them. You should call your mountains and ask if they have a demo center.

The difference between the whole (24.0) and half (24.5) size is the thickness of the liner, so yes, the 24.5 will be a little wider, but only because the liner is thinner. The shell of the 24 and the 24.5 are the same size. From what I have heard, Nordicas tend to run wide, but I don't know about their higher performance boots.

It really depends on if they fit your foot.If they fit, they should be ok for an advanced intermediate. If they are too stiff, you can have your bootfitter soften them, but they can't make a soft boot stiffer.

These boots are going to be fairly rigid. They have 4 buckles to optimize support and response. They are a pretty aggressive boot for aggressive ridersFlex Index: 80

I've been told that it isn't.

Yes a size 24 mondo corresponds to a size 38 European.AgentBristow: You really have to try on a boot in order to know your size. In just about all ski boots, I wear a size 24 mondo. In US women's I wear an 8. I tried on a pair of Birkenstock sandles this summer and I think I was a size 37. Mondo conversion charts can only give you an estimate on what you might be, and what you should try on in stores.

My mom has a high arch on the top of her foot, not meaning on the sole, but on the top of her foot, above where the arch is. We both wear the same size shoe (she is a little bit smaller) and she couldn't get her foot into my Scarlets because of the height of her feet. They are pretty easy for me to put on, but kind of hard to take off because of the tightness above the arch area on the top of the foot. They are very low volume, which I like, but sometimes the overlapping part gives me a bruise when I take them off if I am not careful. They are still a great boot. If your arch problem is similar to hers, then you might not be able to get these on. I have narrow feet and my mom's feet are even narrower than mine. These are good for narrow feet. You should get custom footbeds to help solve your arch problem.

You cannot tell your boot size by using your height or mondo charts. I wear a size 24 mondo boot, and that corresponds to a size 6.5 shoe on the chart for my boot manufacturer, but I wear a size 8 shoe. I know someone who wears a mens 11.5 shoe, but his ski boot size is equavalent to a 7. You need to try on boots to determine your size.

She shouldn't try a men's boot. The mens boots would be too tall if she has larger than average calfs. Boots are all about fit. Width of the foot is important. If she has wide feet, Nordicas tend to be wide and Technica has some wide models. If she has narrow feet, Some Salomons are narrow (scarlet, impact) and some Langes are narrow. Langes aren't as narrow as most people think they are. I tried on a lange and it was too wide. The best thing to do is to try boots on at the shop. She should plan to try on a lot of boots in the socks she plans to ski in. Never wear more than one pair of socks. Stiff boots can be made less stiff by a bootfitter, but boots can't be made more stiff. Boots can be made wider, but they can't be made narrower. Her feet should not move at all in the boot, except for wiggling the toes. Even if you decide to buy from backcountry, she should try them on in a shop first. Lower boots would be good for her. Mens boots would not be good for her at all and would cause more pain.