My tight boots killed me on day 1...

[astan100]

Hey guys,

So I went out my first time at Hunter (apologies if I didn't meet anyone who came. I saw a few hardbooters tearing it up though!)

I had to stop every 3 runs or so and take off my boots because they were MUCH too tight. I'm not convinced they are going to break in more, so now do I get them stretched (the shell itself)?

I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't magically start fitting correctly. It seems like they won't and I was in a tremendous amount of pain which detracted from the huge amount of fun I was having trying to learn.

[Kent]

You need to go talk to a professional boot fitter. Nearly impossible to diagnose your problem on a message boards. Although...I'm happier now that you used the work "tight" rather than "too small"...which are totally different issues.

I'd bet to 95% accuracy that your boots would fit fine with a custom insole and the proper buckle tension.....assuming the liners were baked correctly.

BTW - insoles would be a much cheaper path than a boot stretch. No reputable boot fitter would stretch a boot without a custom insole.

[mirror70]

Originally posted by Kent
BTW - insoles would be a much cheaper path than a boot stretch. No reputable boot fitter would stretch a boot without a custom insole.

Try as you might, you're never going to make a boot any longer by changing the insole.

[D-Sub]

yeah..sorry, but...Kent...what is an insole going to do in a situation where the boots feel tight?

Ive actually noticed that footbeds take up more room in moldable liners, causing the fit to be lessened!

If ones foot is being squeezed from the sides (i have this problem only not so drastic) then how is putting a footbed going to cure that?

[Mike T]

Originally posted by mirror70
Try as you might, you're never going to make a boot any longer by changing the insole.

But - you might change the shape your foot takes while in the boot. If the footbed stops you from pronating then your foot takes less space fore and aft, and less space side to side, and your ankle sits higher - resulting is less squishing at the toes and sides and less heel lift. At least, that's what happened to me.

[astan100]

I guess to be slightly more specific, my big toe is slightly crushed on the outside of the foot in both feet.

It doesn't feel too bad at first, but after a day of riding...it hurts.

They even put a pad under my right heel (the more painful of the two) to try and pull my toes back a little, but I think that stil wasn't enough.

So, do you think the average bootfitter at a bigger ski shop could take care of this problem or are we talking some kind of super specialist?

[mirror70]

You can go to a boot fitter and have the big toe pushed out just a bit, or you can take a razor blade to your liner. Often, simply cutting a slot (and not removing any material) is enough. If you remove the liner and just put your foot in it, does your big toe feel squished?

[Kent]

Originally posted by mirror70
Try as you might, you're never going to make a boot any longer by changing the insole.

Mirror - Mike already nailed it. Depending on the foot, an insole with reduce pronation. I've seen feet drop 2 sizes smaller by using the proper support.

[Kent]

Originally posted by astan100
So, do you think the average bootfitter at a bigger ski shop could take care of this problem or are we talking some kind of super specialist?

That should do the trick. A hardboot is a hardboot.

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by Kent
Mirror - Mike already nailed it. Depending on the foot, an insole with reduce pronation. I've seen feet drop 2 sizes smaller by using the proper support.

wow. well...thanks for the explanation through miket:)

[Jon Dahl]

I had a pair of Switch boots that caused so much pain that I could hardly cross the parking lot in them. The balls of my feet would scream uncle. I put superfeet insoles in them and it pulled my toes out of the end of the boots(they previously just touched), and I could ride in them 1/2 days at a time.

[astan100]

Alright...so I'm going to look into this custom footbed thing.

If I pull the liners out of my boot, I can fit about 2 fingers between the shell and my heel, so I would have thought they would fit fine. I guess they are just slightly too tight somehow.

Should I reduce the lift on my bindings to offset any lift I might get from the new insole though? I'm just trying to cover all my questions now :)

Thanks Everyone!

[D-Sub]

the length is fine, perhaps even slightly bigger than you could get in (right kent?) but it very well could be that the width is just slightly too narrow. happens!

go to a bootfitter. if you cant ride comfortably you definitely need some adjustments made

[Bricky]

Astan100,

Go to Keith, a professional bootfitter at "The Pro" in Hunter, east of the entrance to Hunter Mountain.

Then come over and ride with me at Windham.

Bricky