Snowfeet* or Skiskates? That is the Question...

So you've finally decided to throw away those heavy, bulky and annoying long skis and enter the wonderful world of the short skis. What an exciting plan! However, you'll soon be about to find out that that's not the only decision you have to make. There is not just one type of short ski and the more you're trying to get to the bottom of it, the more options get in your way. 

Don't lose hope just yet, we're here to help. We've been there as well so we know what to focus on. We'll give you the solid ground so that you can make the right decision for yourself and enjoy the best the short skis have to offer! 

As you probably already know, we are producers of a wide range of short skis, from our ultimate best-seller Snowfeet*, through Skiskates up to our newest Snowblades. The biggest dilemma comes when you want to decide between Snowfeet* and Skiskates. So, why don't we have a look at these two and make it clear so that there are no more doubts left? This is what you should consider before making your exciting purchase.

 

Or, if you want to take a shortcut, just watch this video:

To get some firm basis for our comparison, let's tackle the most frequent questions. 

Are Snowfeet any good?

Snowfeet are not just good, they are amazing. They are very light and portable, so you can take them anywhere with you. Snowfeet are made out of very durable material therefore you can truly rely on them, plus their fantastic feature is that you can put them on your regular winter shoes or snowboard boots. 

Are Snowfeet easy? 

Snowfeet are very easy to learn for hockey players, roller-bladers and ice-skaters since they combine skiing and skating. However, anybody can learn how to use them. As with any new sport, it will take some time and effort but the learning curve is really fast and you will enjoy the process since Snowfeet are a hell of fun.  

How do you wear Snowfeet? 

Just like the regular long skis, you will attach them to your feet. However, thanks to the revolutionary bindings, you can put Snowfeet on your normal winter shoes or snowboard boots which means that you don't need to carry your heavy ski boots.  

Can you skate with Snowfeet? 

With Snowfeet you can skate on snow. They are not regular skates so don't take them onto your local frozen pond. However, you can take them anywhere else - snowparks, ski slopes, hiking trails - wherever your heart will take you.  

 

Do Snowfeet work in powder? 

Snowfeet are not very suitable for powder, since you could not slide on it properly. You will enjoy them the most on a harder surface.   

Do you wax Snowfeet?

To ensure the ultimate experience, you should wax the base of Snowfeet regularly. To keep your turns sharp and fast, tune the metal edges of your Snowfeet, as well. You can use either a handy tuner or just visit your local ski shop and have them tuned. A good thing is also not to leave your Snowfeet wet after you come home from a fun day on the slopes.

What are skiskates? 

Skiskates are the shortest skis in the world, combining skiing and skating. 

With a body consisting of cap construction and wood core, skiskates are pretty similar to the traditional skis you know, but with some extra advantages. 
They are very short - only 44 cm - which allows you to enjoy your ride to the fullest. 

Plus, they come in two versions: with binding for ski boots and snowboard boots. So if you are not a fan of uncomfortable ski boots, you can still enjoy skiskating.  

 

How do you use mini skiskates? 

The movement is similar to ice hockey or rollerblading. If you know how to do that, skiskating will be a piece of cake. 
Basic tips on how to skiskate:

• keep the front-back balance by placing your weight over the middle of your feet or over your heels 
• keep your legs flexible, at about shoulder width, slightly bend your knees and lean the upper part of your body forward.
• place one foot in front of the other if it helps you increase your stability. 
• stopping is pretty easy,it’s similar to stopping with skis or skates.

 Are ski skates good for beginners?

Skiskates can be a bit challenging because they are very short, but it helps to know how to skate. The learning process is fast, though. 

Skiskates are easy for rollerbladers or hockey players since they already know their way through the ice and snow. For the rest of the beginners, skiskates can be a bit challenging, since they do not provide a long and firm base and they require a different style of moving. 

However, the learning process is super fun and fast, so you will enjoy your whole journey with skiskates.

Are ski skates allowed? 

Yes, they are allowed. You can take them anywhere you wish - ski slopes, snowparks, hiking trails, or small hills. But whenever in doubt, check with the resort you are about to visit, if they are okay with snowfeet insurance-wise. 

What is the Difference between Snowfeet* and Skiskates?

Let's start with the basics, shall we? We will look at the construction of these first to know if that's something to consider.  

Snowfeet* are made of highly durable fiberglass reinforced material. The base is equipped with metal ski edges to enable easy stopping. Heel brake helps you slow down when you don't feel adventurous enough. However, the real game-changer in these is the bindings. These were developed especially to fit any winter boots or eventually snowboard boots. 

Skiskates, on the other hand, are very similar to traditional skis, made with high-quality technology, consisting of cap construction and wood core. We've made these with two different kinds of bindings for you to choose from, so you may use these either with your ski boots or with your snowboard boots.  

What to Consider before Purchasing Snowfeet* or Skiskates?

1. Footwear

The first thing you should be thinking about is the footwear that you'd like to use with your short skis. You might be comfortable in your ski boots or snowboard boots and especially these two kinds of shoes will provide you with a great deal of control over your short skis. If you're a fan of these, you would probably like to choose Skiskates. You can choose either ski boot bindings or snowboard boot bindings and you will be perfectly fine with what you're already used to. If you're a snowboarder, you may use also Snowfeet II or Snowfeet X with your snowboard boots. 

However, there are downsides when it comes to special boots, you have to carry them around and they are just for one purpose, you just can't have these ready anywhere you go. But guess what? Snowfeet* are designed to be used with your regular winter boots so you can always just put them on and go! It's as simple as that. We have, however, some recommendations when it comes to your winter boots, in particular, it is reasonable to choose boots that have some level of ankle support to keep your bones safe and also to give you the necessary control over your Snowfeet*.

 

 

2. Activity

 

One reason people are choosing short skis over regular ones is to be able to manoeuvre with these more easily, not to feel heavy on their feet and to help with the basics of skiing when they're just starting to enjoy this wonderful sport. Considering this intended purpose of use and the skiing activity, the best partner for this would definitely be the Skiskates. These are made to make your skiing easier and more fun and they're quite at home on the slopes. You can't go wrong with these if you want to enjoy skiing and you will probably forget about your super-long ski right away you try these.

 

So let's say you want to slide down some hill while you're on a hiking trip or you want to just have some fun with kids on a local sledding hill. This is exactly the right time to grab your Snowfeet*, put them on your winter boots and head out! Snowfeet* are brilliantly versatile and lightweight as well, you can just pop them in your backpack and take them with you anywhere. You will have fun with these either going downhill or taking any snowy trail or path you meet on your way. Also, if you like to cross-country ski, Snowfeet* would be your best friend for this activity as well.

 

3. An Adult or a Kid?

 

If you are deciding between Snowfeet* or Skiskates, you might notice that there is a size range for both of these that you have to follow. As an adult, you might find yourself outside the usual sizes and in that case, Snowfeet* would not fit you. Don't worry because if this is your case, Skiskates can save you. Skiskates fit ski boots sizes of 36-49 EU / 4.5-14.5 US. If you prefer snowboard boots, then you have to be within the sizes 38-49 EU / 6-14.5 US. Snowfeet* have the smallest size range, which is obvious because they are smaller than Skiskates, however, still fit the regular sizes from 6-13 US / 38-47 EU.

 

If you're planning to get short skis for your children, you might be tempted to get them Snowfeet* because they are the smallest skis you can get. However, there's one important thing to consider, apart from the length of skis, which is the size of the bindings. We've made the bindings of Snowfeet* adjustable enough to hold even the tiniest feet tight, you just have to bear in mind that it still might not be enough. Children's feet are soft and need good support and firm hold and Snowfeet* might just be too big for them. But only until we bring you the kids' version of Snowfeet*, which we are already working on. 

 

We bet you've got your own concerns when it comes to the big decision... Snowfeet* or Skiskates? Just feel free to leave them in the comments section down below and we will look at it together and hopefully find a way out.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

 

Yours