Sizing

There used to be a couple of simple 'rules' to follow for ski length. With the wide variety of ski types and designs now, it's not that simple. If you are buying from a store, listen to the salesperson. If you are buying online, check for guides posted on the site that give the manufacturer's recommendation. Much is determined by the skier's weight, not their height. You want the ski to flex just the right amount for proper contact with the snow.

For poles, it's a little simpler - but still complicated. This table, taken from REI, gives pole lengths for skiing on well-groomed trails. But if you are skiing in more 'difficult' conditions, you might want shorter poles. I use adjustable poles for backcountry skiing. These rules also came from REI (and are what we told people 'way-back-when...')

Sizing XC poles: Stand in your XC ski boots on a level floor. Place the pole tips on the floor next to your feet. The top of the grips should reach your arm pits.
Sizing skate poles: Stand in your skate boots on a level floor. Place pole tips on the ground with the pole shafts perpendicular to the floor. The poles should reach from the ground up to a point somewhere between your chin and your lips.

Pole lengths - for skiing on well-groomed trails

Height	Classical	Skate Skiing
<4'7"	44 in./110cm	48 in./120cm
4'8"-4'9"	46 in./115cm	49 in./125cm
4'10-4'11"	48 in./120cm	52 in./130 cm
5'-5'1"	49 in./125cm	54 in./135cm
5'2" - 5'3"	52 in./130 cm	56 in./140cm
5'4" - 5'5"	54 in./135cm	57 in./145cm
5'6" - 5'7"	56 in./140cm	59 in./150cm
5'8" - 5'9"	57 in./145cm	61 in./155cm
5'10" - 5'11"	59 in./150cm	63 in./160cm
6'-6'1"	61 in./155cm	65 in./165cm
6'2"- 6'3"	63 in./160cm	67 in./170cm
6'4" - 6'5"	65 in./165cm	69 in./175cm
6'6"+	67 in./170cm	71 in./180cm

For boots, you really want to try them on. You will need to deal with European sizes - be careful - some of the conversion charts I've seen don't seem to match up with my idea of the sizes that I wear.