Ski boot woes ....

Ski boot woes ....

Author
Discussion

Por911T

Original Poster:

461 posts

224 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
I'm 43 and started skiing at 5 and have only ever missed 3 seasons in all those years ....... In recent years I've been getting incredibly sore feet early in the day . I've gone through three pairs on boots trying to remedy this - and now realise it's clearly not the boots ( currently using 2014 Salomon Quest ).

.......... The problem is the outer edge of both feet - running from front to back - from my little toe on the outside edge back along the towards my heel . In the morning it's cripplingly sore when first starting out - properly sore - feels very cramp like . So painful in fact that I need to stop & remove the boots for a foot rub.

Although it's not the boots I've had them widened by 2-3mm just for good measure . I cannot replicate the scenario while siting with the boots on in the house - it's only happens when on the piste .

I'd appreciate any help / advice / input with this , I'm drawing a blank - ITS RUINING THE SPORT I LOVE SO MUCH

Solve this and I'll by you a beer

Regards
Barry ( Glasgow )

lemmingjames

7,502 posts

209 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
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Who fitted the boots as it sounds like they dont fit (though i maybe wrong).

I have fairly wide feet and the onlyki ones to fit me where the lange xc120's @ 102mm last.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

253 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Thermo fit footbed and the right socks.

anonymous-user

59 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
I have a vague memory that this is caused by your arch collapsing. Try a good orthotic insole with high arch support.

Eta: here we go http://www.thebootdoctor.com/custom-boot-fitting/

You are probably better off with a smaller boot than making more space in the boots you have...

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 4th February 23:52

Lotus Notes

1,229 posts

196 months

Thursday 5th February 2015
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So, if I see correctly, this only happens on the slopes and not in the house.

I would guess the following:

(1) When in the flexed position, the top of the boot pushes down on the foot and compresses it against the sides. The solution to this would be to reduce the height of the insole or plastic shell.
(2) After skiing for a while, the boot feels a bit loose and you tighten it a bit more than necessary (see 1).
(3) The boots are colder outside and contract in a way, thus causing the pain.

I would go for No1 as the most obvious problem and try and resolve yourself. Also, a slighly thinner sock might help.

If this fails, go to a boot specialist or back to where you bought them if possible.

Nobby Diesel

2,062 posts

256 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
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Take up snowboarding. The boots are nicer.

Asterix

24,438 posts

233 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
Go to a respected, experienced and well recommended boot fitter.

It's the simple, and only correct advice.

clarkmagpie

3,581 posts

200 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
Nobby Diesel said:
Take up snowboarding. The boots are nicer.
yes
Best advice so far!

AlmostUseful

3,295 posts

205 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
Nobby Diesel said:
Take up snowboarding. The boots are nicer.
As an (almost) lifelong skier, it's the boots that have made me consider taking up snowboarding!

Marcellus

7,152 posts

224 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
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Asterix said:
Go to a respected, experienced and well recommended boot fitter.

It's the simple, and only correct advice.
+1 on this advice.

As you get older your feet change shape, as you adopt your stand your feet change shape.

An expert will fully understand this and stretching by 2/3mm may not be the correct answer.

For example my boots when being used for "leisure skiing" are almost crippling but when skiing hard and properly are bob on. This used to cause massive problems when guiding as its not often i'd actually be skiing properly so i bought a cheap (relatively) pair of boots which i used when out with clients saving the decent boots for hard skiing either on my own or with friends but no clients.

Asterix

24,438 posts

233 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
quotequote all
Agreed, I taught for four seasons and I had a pair of biffa boots and skis for teaching up to intermediates. Race boots and skis were only used for advanced lessons, personal use and racing.

malks222

1,952 posts

144 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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seeing your based in glasgow, it might be a short drive but maybe try: http://www.alainbaxter.co.uk/ former GB ski racer/olympian has opened a boot fitting/ski servicing shop in stirling.

I've heard a few good reports of his service, its not the cheapest, but I imagine he knows what he's talking about when it comes to boot fitting considering the amount of time he's spent in ski boots in his life!

Nobby Diesel

2,062 posts

256 months

Friday 13th February 2015
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AlmostUseful said:
As an (almost) lifelong skier, it's the boots that have made me consider taking up snowboarding!
I skied for 12 years (10-22 years old). I then tried 'boarding.
I was hooked. That was 25 years ago, ish.

I'm now 49 and stil boarding. I could never go back to ski boots - sorry!

Por911T

Original Poster:

461 posts

224 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
Well ................that's me back from France last night. Great weather / great snow ..... I buggered about with various insole/sock/instep combos throughout the week, to no effect. Eventually as a final last ditch effort I tried no insoles at all - 'almost' perfect !! Next day, again with no insoles, I inserted a small thin pair of heel & arch support - bliss. Feet slightly sore at the end of the day but nothing out of the ordinary.

Now no doubt Ill get slated for this - however having skied since 'god was a boy' I'm now very happy.

Off to France again on March 7th (knowing Ill have happy feet!)

Cheers - Barry

Por911T

Original Poster:

461 posts

224 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
malks222 said:
seeing your based in glasgow, it might be a short drive but maybe try: http://www.alainbaxter.co.uk/ former GB ski racer/olympian has opened a boot fitting/ski servicing shop in stirling.

I've heard a few good reports of his service, its not the cheapest, but I imagine he knows what he's talking about when it comes to boot fitting considering the amount of time he's spent in ski boots in his life!
..............also thanks for this - I've forwarded this to my Dad who has a history of boot issues - he lives 20 mins from Stirling.

That was very handy cheers