Bang Toe

I have skied 5 times in the last 3 years, off in 2 weeks again. In that time I have had my own boots for all but 1 trip. I gave blackened my big toe nails twice, once both and in January just the left one. Well thus one came off last night leaving a lovely bare nail bed, not sore thankfully. I have researched this quite a lot and have read that it is usually bad fitting boots which I would agree with if it happened every time. In my situation I think that I am over tightening the front fastenings, falsely believing that they need to be really tight. By the time I have realised, the damage has been done, usually the first run!!!! Am I correct in thinking that the ankle fastenings should be tight and that the foot should be able to be undone with a one finger? It seems to be quite common.

Exactly. The two clips or buckles on top of the foot should be fastened relatively loosely. Ideally only gently snapped onto the first notch. The ankle buckles should be nice and tight.

I've just had my boots adjusted in Zermatt at a specialist shop and they re-confirmed the above. A really good boot fitter should be able to diagnose the problem and come up with a solution (preferably when you are in resort)

Might want to check your footbeds as well.

Thanks, will do.

and keep your toe nails trimmed short.

What surprises me here is that there is no mention of pain.
I would have thought that to damage your nail to the point it blackens and falls off would involve a certain level of pain.
With your boots done up, tight the way you do, do they hurt?

Snapzzz: I too had black toenails the first time I wore my first owned boots (about 3 years ago). I can confirm that whle walking in them was extremely painful, after I got home and wore normal footwear, the blackened toenails, which, like the OP's, eventually dropped off, did not hurt at all. As regards the boots, I simply took them back to the shop I bought them from, showed him my lovely black nails. He lengthened the shells by about 5 mm or so; since then they have fitted beautifully.

Weirdly I didn't really feel any bad pain when I did the boots up but I think as my feet got hotter I could begin to feel the tightness. The first time it happened the toe blackened from just above the bed, more on the nail bed itself and wasn't that sore. This time I knew as soon as I had completed the first run that it was not good and my toe was really red and painful but there was no blood under the nail to stick a hot paperclip into. No pain at all when it fell off as it was hardly attached!!!! My nails are quite raised and rounded even when cut really short. I think I will pop my boots back this week for the tech guy to have a look at. At least the left one can't get damaged this time :lol: