Correct ski length and more: Smartfit winter sports sizing now available for a variety of products

What ski length do I need? How big should my new snowboard be? And what is the right length for my new skate skis? Winter sports enthusiasts ask themselves questions like these every year. And for good reason. The right answer not only determines fun and performance on the slopes or cross-country trails, but also safety while practicing the respective sport. With the new update to its online sizing widget, Smartfit now offers the perfect solution for getting even more precise answers to all these questions: In addition to skis, precise size recommendations are now available directly online for snowboards, cross-country skis, and alpine and cross-country ski poles.

The Importance of Size Recommendations in E-Commerce

Before we discuss the new features, it's worth considering the added value of such recommendations. Especially in online retail, choosing the right size is one of the biggest uncertainties when making a purchase. This applies to classic clothing as well as sporting goods – and winter sports products, too. A ski that doesn't fit not only leads to frustration on the slopes, but also to returns – with high costs for retailers and frustration for customers. To reduce the return rate and increase customer satisfaction with ski sales, Smartfit launched Ski Sizing two years ago. A tool that enables precise, individualized size recommendations for alpine skis – based on body measurements such as height, inside leg length, gender, and other relevant user information.

The success speaks for itself: The first season with major partners like Atomic has shown that the Smartfit Sizing widget can reduce the return rate, increase the time spent on the website, and increase satisfaction with online purchases. Retailers benefit not only from fewer returns, but also from the valuable data on user behavior collected via the widget. For shoppers, the e-commerce widget provides the security of receiving the right recommendation quickly and easily— a classic win-win situation.

From the perfect ski length to the right snowboard size

With the latest version, Smartfit is taking the next step. Instead of only considering skis, the sizing widget now also includes snowboards, cross-country skis, and alpine and cross-country ski poles. The parameters have been individually adjusted for each product group:

• Snowboards: Gender, weight, and skiing ability play a decisive role here. Based on this information, the widget provides a clear recommendation for the board length.
• Cross-country skis: Unlike in alpine skiing, body weight is of paramount importance here. Therefore, an additional weight screen has been integrated – giving users a realistic recommendation for skating or classic skiing.
• Poles (alpine & cross-country skiing): The recommendations are based primarily on body height, supplemented by technique. Especially with cross-country ski poles, it makes a difference whether you're skiing classic or skating.

The principle remains the same across all categories: With just a few details, users immediately receive a precise size recommendation – quickly, easily, and transparently.

Benefits for winter sports retailers and brands

Whether calculating snowboard size or skate ski length, the update opens up new possibilities for winter sports retailers. Instead of covering only one product group, they can now offer their customers a comprehensive sizing experience on their websites. This not only increases the attractiveness of the tool but also boosts the conversion rate in the store. The enhanced widget therefore offers significant added value for winter sports retailers looking to optimize their online business.

The advantages at a glance:

• Larger product selection: In addition to skis, snowboards, cross-country skis, and alpine and cross-country ski poles can now be considered.
• Fewer returns: Tailor-made recommendations ensure fewer incorrect purchases and reduce the return rate.
• Greater customer satisfaction: Reliable product selection increases trust and the shopping experience.
• Longer dwell time: Precise size recommendations increase interaction and keep customers in the online shop longer.
• More attractive website: The widget enhances the functionality of the respective product landing pages.

Basis for further developments

With the new winter sports sizing, Smartfit is not only taking a major step forward for the upcoming winter sports season, but also laying the foundation for the future. The technology behind the widget is flexible and can be transferred to other sports equipment. Our goal is therefore to digitally cover all snow sports equipment needs in the medium term – and beyond. For retailers, this means they can offer their customers modern, data-driven advice. For end customers, it means more safety, less effort, and more fun in the snow. Questions like "What length skis do I need?" or "How long should my snowboard be?" can now be answered even better and more reliably.