1. If the boot felt good, is that good enough to start with?
2. Are those skis in fact too long for me, or fine?
3. Is it simply not wise to buy any gear at this point, but instead just rent?
So, let's recap the great advice you've got so far.
- Typically, with 5 days of skiing in your history, if they feel good they are bad
- They seems a bit too long right now. Shorter skis are easier to turn, longer skis are more stable at speed (and you don't need any speed)
- I know you got to this answer already, but yeah, in these first ski days, where you are improving exponentially, better rent for a bit.
- Get good, thin, ski socks (I use euro socks). Rationale: you can get a great, thin sock, and fit into a smaller boot.
- Listen at the rental place! They typically, surprisingly, do a good job at asking you to push into the shin, and then asses if they fit snug. As you rest on your shins, the heel will be placed properly in the back (heel pocket) and that's when you asses.
- Use the flexibility of renting skis, and start 10cm or so under your head, if not 15. Say, 160-165cm. Go longer as and when you need it.
Finally, to your other question, the boot price. Typically, shops will charge you full price for a boot-fitted boot. Most boots can be bought a couple hundred bucks lower online. What you are paying for, in a good place, is for the time the boot-fitter will spend with you,looking not just at the sizing, but also your alignment. We are not perfectly symmetrical, and most people benefit from adjustment that only a trained technician can do. They will also "punch some areas" if you have pain points, after skiing a few times on a tight boot. On he bright side, like @Philpug explained here, higher flex boots are higher quality and price. You will need an "intermediate" boot, with lower flex than the max for your weight, but definitely less expensive than the top of the line.
Cheer up, go out there and make some turns. Nothing's more fun than sliding on snow!
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