Ski boots - A pain that I no longer want to be used to

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can help me :), I've just got back from my 1st trip to Whistler (how awesome?!!!) and my introduction to Back Country skiing was in so many ways a delight and in others a nightmare.

I'm not an expert skier by any means but I really don't think the fatigue my feet feel after 3 hours is all down to my technique.

I say this because when I 1st started skiing, ski boots (rentals) were comfy enough to leave done up on the chair lifts etc and I used to ski all day.

It all started when I was treated to a pair of boots for my Birthday last year, think that was my 2nd season, boots were from snow and rock, tried on some boots and after much faffing decided on a pair of Fischer, also got a foot bed made up.

1st run down was so uncomfortable I had to take the foot beds out on piste. Stuck with the boots minus foot bed, last week, at best they were bearable but my feet would ache after a few hours.

I tried to book a recommended boot fitter while in Whistler but that didn't pan out.

I just wanted to know if anyone knew of any really good boot fitters in the UK?

My snow and rock experience has left me sore :(

Cheers T1b

Look up cem or swingbeep on this forum and have a chat/pm with them they are just a couple of boot gurus here!!
Theres no way they should hurt like that and they dont need to...

Thank you Scapula! Alarm bells should have been ringing from the off as the rental boots I've used in the past have been absolutely fine.

Cheers :)

In addition to finding a good boot fitter, you should also do as much research as possible. The more you understand about how a boot should feel and what you want from a boot, the more likely you are to get a good fit. You should also try to use those boots a few times before going on a big trip.

How stiff are your boots? "Fatigue" is a bit vague description. My feet used to be killing me off-piste because the boots were too stiff, it was tiring to the point that I would start struggling to turn the skis by the end of the day. So I had them softened last Saturday and had first Monday since January that my tendons were not in any sort of pain, and I skied for 6.5 hours on Sunday. You really should see a bootfitter wherever you are going on your next ski trip. Or, in case you get new boots in UK, make sure there is some sort of warranty on the fit etc, and go on a dry slope to check them out. If stiffness is the issue but overall fit is OK, you won't need new boots, a good bootfitter should be able to soften the boots some. But make sure you see a real bootfitter, not some guy that can take measurements of your feet and cut the footbed, there can be much more to a well-fitting boot than have a customised footbed.

Your boots may be fine, but the experience can be ruined by a poorly made footbed. My boots get fitted by J2skier cem at:

http://www.solutions4feet.com/

He's away, doing bootfitting stuff at the British Champs this week AFAIR, so there might be a delay in responding if you mail him today.

If you want resort based help, then Jules at:

http://www.thebootroom.fr/eng/Home.html

in Chamonix.

Hi all,

Thank you for all the replies, I'll give you a bit more info, the fatigue is coming from the arch of the foot, there is no additional cushioning in the boot, no insole in the insert, there is a foot bed at the bottom of the boot (previously I took it out).

The problem has been that with an insole the top of my foot got compressed inside the boot, so think of the heel on an insole being about 4 - 5mm, this would be enough that with the bindings set quite loose the top of my foot would be compressed. so once you tighten it to the point where you can safely ski off piste it's crushing almost.

I did get an insole while in Whistler but had to take it out as it was crushingly tight, too give you an idea, when I 1st got these boots I had to get thinner socks as my "Rental Boot" thick socks were too big for them.

On hire boots I never had these issues, hence my concern. Originally I was told they need "breaking in" but 4 Ski trips later it's got to the point where they take a fair bit of the joy out of skiing for me, I can't go over 4 hours in them at the mo :(

I reteiterate the advice that Bandit and others give in relation to CEM.

However, in view of the time aspect, I wonder if you have considered that you may have developed Plantar fasciitis. This can suddenly occur. It is likely if you have developed PF, that you would feel it at other times. If this is the case, the use of Orthotics in the ski boot will eliminate the pain.

If PF is not the culprit, it does soumd like a badly fitted boot. The first port of call should be the supplier. When you explain that you did not have issues with a rental boot, the supplier might feel that his fitting ought to be at least as good.