From the Mountain.

Why Shell Fit Is the Most Important Step in Boot Fitting — And Why Most Shops Skip It

Ask any elite boot fitter what separates a professional fitting from a retail one, and they'll say the same thing: the shell check. Removing the liner and evaluating the shell fit directly on your bare foot is the industry gold standard — yet most ski shops skip it entirely in the interest of saving time. Here's why it matters more than anything else in your fitting.