Girlfriends Feet

My girlfriend has size 5 feet last year she hired (it was our 1st time skiing) an she had to try a different pair of boots every day we were there.
She said she would get a cramping feelingin either foot starting on the outer edge and spreading across the top of her toes, the only way to relieve was to undo buckles and take foot out. I adjusted the tightness of her boots several times but to no avail. Any ideas?? :-)
Oh forgot to say she lost the nail on her big toe as it bruised over the week and she had neatly trimmed nails before and during.
She also has a fairly high instep (dancers feet, ballet) oooo flexible, long legs, blonde hair :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Damn I digress.

Unless she is really, really, lucky and bags a new pair of hire boots, I feel there is more discomfort to come. Lets' face it, hire boots have so many different foot shapes shoved in them it's not surprising they don't really fit anyone.

The loss of the toenail can sometimes be due to the foot sliding forward in the boot, because the foot is not held properly. Been there done that! :mrgreen:

Sometimes a boot shell is too low over the top of the foot and that can cause cramping. She also needs good arch support, and a womens' fit boot appropriate to her skill level.

I feel what you both need to do is decide before you go, if she would like to take her chances again, or go and see a bootfitter and get her own pair. A decent fitter will assess her foot shape and offer a shell of the right size and shape.

If that is not an option, then consider taking a pair of Superfeet footbeds with you, and replacing the removable footbed from the boot after fitting. At least this will provide some support. Just don't forget to take them out again when you hand the boots back :D

Painful feet can ruin a ski holiday, and it's my view that most skiers have endured the rental experience, then gone and purchased their own boots.

Personally speaking, there is nothing nicer than knowing that only my feet my go into my boots :D

I agree, buy a pair for her and have them fitted. It will be worth it, provided she is going to use them each year!

My boots were the best things I ever bought.

Dear Scoousefly

If you do decide to take the sensible advice of the above suggestions, and buy a pair of boots, please read my entry on "Massive boot problems - a cautionary tale"
to read my experience.

I may also point out that my expert Chamonix boot fitter recommended only 3 places in the UK for boot fitting.I don't have the details but of the only ones he suggested, one is in Leamington Spa, the second is in Bicester and the third is in Scotland.

If you want to know more (and I must stress that I have absolutely no financial or business interest in any of these parties, merely a passion for us not to be ripped off or incorrectly fitted-I have paid the price and I want the rest of us to learn from my mistakes), then contact him directly and he may give you more details.

His name is Jules Mills. He works for his own independant boot fitting concern based in Chamonix within the premises of Sanglard Sports.

I did'nt want to be seen as pimping, but I know of the fitter who you went to see in Chamonix. I'm a longstanding customer of the fella in Bicester, and I buy kit from the place in Leamington :D
Links here:
http://solutions4feet.com/

http://www.lockwoodsoutdoor.co.uk/

Hey Bandit

Pimp away man, that's what this site is all about.

I'm especially glad to hear some feedback of someone with 1st hand knowledge, as I was beginning to think I was being a bit of a bore.

In fact all my now former friends have told me just that !

The Meercat wrote:Pimp away man, that's what this site is all about.

<cough>Ahem ...pimping gets your posts deleted and your account locked... :evil:

Genuine recommendations of good service are always welcome... keep it real, folks... 8)

Dear All

Many apologies to all if I incorrectly encouraged any form of the p word.

Admin is right that we need to fair and only encourage genuine good service. However we must be on our guard and highlight genuine bad service.

Is this a fair analysis/statement ?