the answer to "WTF is wrong with my boots?"

[shafty85]

if you have the canting all maxed out, that is all the boot can do as stock.

make sure the footbed is posted correctly, and not too big?

if you need more, then you have to get the side bolts drilled out, and re-set to what ever you need, and re-bolted in.

Thing is, I can't turn the mechanism far enough either way to lock into the next canting setting (one way because the buckle is in the way, the other way because it won't turn that way) - so, as I haven't been able to adjust the cant, essentially, the canting is where it is and is immovable? That would be a bit odd...

[gwat]

Lurker here, first time poster.
New RS130s. They just don't feel tall enough over the arch. Feels much better with no footbed, obviously skiing with no footbed wouldn't be an option. And of course they are narrow, thats what I signed up for but maybe its time to move into the wider last.
Only two days on them so far. Give it more time I guess.
But.....is that redneck boiling a not bad idea to do in general? I'm thinking it can't hurt anything...right?

[Jacolac]

I need help determining wether it's my boots or my skinny fucking legs that is causing me problems. I'm close to giving up on skiing without pain.

Always had really bad lower shin pain. Thought it was my horribly fitting boots and got new ones fitted in Whistler at Fanatyk Co which many people on here seem to think is the best place to go. Since I have a high instep and skinny ankle/heel/lower legs, the only boot they had that would fit me at the time was the Lange RS130.

Still had pain with new boots even though they were a much much better fit than my old boots. Went back about 8 times to get work done on them to try and fix the shin pain. At this point they look like franken boots. I've also got tongue eliminators to fill up the space around my skinny ankle. Also got booster straps since they're supposed to be magic for shin pain/shin bang.

None of this has helped. The boots fit pretty snug (only with tongue eliminators though) and to me seems like a pretty good fit but I still have to crank the buckles down to the second last notch.

Gone to several doctors and physio for my shins (which got so bad I couldn't even walk at one point) and they seem to think I just need to stretch and strengthen my lower legs, calves etc. I have been doing this (maybe not as well as I should have though...) but it doesn't seem to have helped.

I brought up foam liners to the bootfitter to make sure to fill up the space around my ankles and they said I might be good candidate for foam liners cause of my small ankles/lower legs. I really can't afford to shell out $500 for foam liners if I can't be sure it's going to help though.

Not sure what to do next. I feel bad to keep going back to the bootfitter because they seem to be out of ideas and have been very patient with me already. Especially since I'm not even sure the boot is the cause.

I don't think it's my skiing as I'm fairly certain I'm not in the back seat which is know is a big cause for shin pain. I ski pretty aggressively though, perhaps beyond my chicken legs limits sometimes.

Suggestions? Pick up snowboarding?

[weasel1]

I need help determining wether it's my boots or my skinny fucking legs that is causing me problems. I'm close to giving up on skiing without pain.

Always had really bad lower shin pain. Thought it was my horribly fitting boots and got new ones fitted in Whistler at Fanatyk Co which many people on here seem to think is the best place to go. Since I have a high instep and skinny ankle/heel/lower legs, the only boot they had that would fit me at the time was the Lange RS130.

Still had pain with new boots even though they were a much much better fit than my old boots. Went back about 8 times to get work done on them to try and fix the shin pain. At this point they look like franken boots. I've also got tongue eliminators to fill up the space around my skinny ankle. Also got booster straps since they're supposed to be magic for shin pain/shin bang.

None of this has helped. The boots fit pretty snug (only with tongue eliminators though) and to me seems like a pretty good fit but I still have to crank the buckles down to the second last notch.

Gone to several doctors and physio for my shins (which got so bad I couldn't even walk at one point) and they seem to think I just need to stretch and strengthen my lower legs, calves etc. I have been doing this (maybe not as well as I should have though...) but it doesn't seem to have helped.

I brought up foam liners to the bootfitter to make sure to fill up the space around my ankles and they said I might be good candidate for foam liners cause of my small ankles/lower legs. I really can't afford to shell out $500 for foam liners if I can't be sure it's going to help though.

Not sure what to do next. I feel bad to keep going back to the bootfitter because they seem to be out of ideas and have been very patient with me already. Especially since I'm not even sure the boot is the cause.

I don't think it's my skiing as I'm fairly certain I'm not in the back seat which is know is a big cause for shin pain. I ski pretty aggressively though, perhaps beyond my chicken legs limits sometimes.

Suggestions? Pick up snowboarding?

See the balance exercises on page 5. If you stand even in your boots, then lock your knees, do you feel like you are going to fall over on your face?

[mntlion]

Thing is, I can't turn the mechanism far enough either way to lock into the next canting setting (one way because the buckle is in the way, the other way because it won't turn that way) - so, as I haven't been able to adjust the cant, essentially, the canting is where it is and is immovable? That would be a bit odd...

remove buckle, adjust, re-install? seems stupid, but that might be the way? call the company or store you got them from and ask?

[mntlion]

Lurker here, first time poster.
New RS130s. They just don't feel tall enough over the arch. Feels much better with no footbed, obviously skiing with no footbed wouldn't be an option. And of course they are narrow, thats what I signed up for but maybe its time to move into the wider last.
Only two days on them so far. Give it more time I guess.
But.....is that redneck boiling a not bad idea to do in general? I'm thinking it can't hurt anything...right?

how is it with an older liner? Just to make sure this is the shell and not just new liner?

just ya, heat liner and shell, buckle tight, drink scotch. and try again.

[Jacolac]

See the balance exercises on page 5. If you stand even in your boots, then lock your knees, do you feel like you are going to fall over on your face?

Just tried that and I feel very stable. Weight is on the ball of my feet.
I used to have a heel lift of about 5 mm I believe. It was put in to try and fix this issue but when it didnt, it was removed. Should I try it again?

[mntlion]

Just tried that and I feel very stable. Weight is on the ball of my feet.
I used to have a heel lift of about 5 mm I believe. It was put in to try and fix this issue but when it didnt, it was removed. Should I try it again?

Sure try without too

Do you get shin bang with any/all other boots?
2or 3 part boots?
Soft or stiff flexes?

[stuckathuntermtn]

Lurker here, first time poster.
New RS130s. They just don't feel tall enough over the arch. Feels much better with no footbed, obviously skiing with no footbed wouldn't be an option. And of course they are narrow, thats what I signed up for but maybe its time to move into the wider last.
Only two days on them so far. Give it more time I guess.
But.....is that redneck boiling a not bad idea to do in general? I'm thinking it can't hurt anything...right?

Get boot board (the removable thing under you liner) ground down a hair. Like, run it across a ski base grinder for about half a second. I'm serious.
Put everything back together, put it on, repeat if necessary.

[Jacolac]

Sure try without too

Do you get shin bang with any/all other boots?
2or 3 part boots?
Soft or stiff flexes?

Right now I'm skiing without any heel lifts at all but I'll try again with the 5mm heel lift and see if it makes a difference. When I had them put in before it still hurt a lot but maybe that's because my shins were already destroyed at that point.

I've gotten shin bang with the last three boots I've had. Before that I didn't ski for 10 years.

I've only had 2 part, 4 buckle boots. I wanted to get a 3 part boot like the full tilts etc but because of my high instep the bootfitter said none of them would fit my foot.

Last two boots I had were 110 flex. My current boot is 130 flex but has been softened in attempt to fix my shin bang which of course didn't fix it.

[weasel1]

because of my high instep the bootfitter said none of them would fit my foot.

No. That's exactly wrong. But anyway. Where on the shin is the point of the most pain relative to the cuff? At the top of the upper cuff, in the middle, etc?

[Snowy Spartan]

No. That's exactly wrong. But anyway. Where on the shin is the point of the most pain relative to the cuff? At the top of the upper cuff, in the middle, etc?

You sure about that? I have a high instep and tried to fight kryptons as well as ft first chairs. I'd image the fire arrow would be the same. There's a buckle that pulls at a 45 degree angle right over the instep. How does that not create fit issues?

[Jacolac]

No. That's exactly wrong. But anyway. Where on the shin is the point of the most pain relative to the cuff? At the top of the upper cuff, in the middle, etc?

The pain is only in the circled area below. So in the lower inside/front of shin right on top of the bone:



It's in the same spot on both legs.

[weasel1]

You sure about that? I have a high instep and tried to fight kryptons as well as ft first chairs. I'd image the fire arrow would be the same. There's a buckle that pulls at a 45 degree angle right over the instep. How does that not create fit issues?

That buckle is not over the instep, and if the boot is set up proper and fit well, it can accomodate a wide variety of instep height and shapes. It certainly allows for more accomodation than most overlap boots, as there is no shell over the instep. The tongue can more easily adapt than an overlap shell. Volume-wise, the Dalbello is more accomodating than the Full Tilt

The pain is only in the circled area below. So in the lower inside/front of shin right on top of the bone:



It's in the same spot on both legs.

From your image, I am guessing that the pain is all below the top of the cuff. If that is the case, judging from the location, the most obvious culprit to my mind (and without seeing you and the boot) is too much motion in the mid and rear foot. That could be a function of a variety of variables that would need to be addressed. A good footbed (my preference for this purpose is the ALINE), coupled with stance analysis and some work trying to isolate the movement would be the necessary steps. Throwing foam at where it hurts isn't a good answer. I have no suggestions as to who to work with where you are, but you need a competent fitter who understands the physics of the foot in a boot.

[Jacolac]

That buckle is not over the instep, and if the boot is set up proper and fit well, it can accomodate a wide variety of instep height and shapes. It certainly allows for more accomodation than most overlap boots, as there is no shell over the instep. The tongue can more easily adapt than an overlap shell. Volume-wise, the Dalbello is more accomodating than the Full Tilt



From your image, I am guessing that the pain is all below the top of the cuff. If that is the case, judging from the location, the most obvious culprit to my mind (and without seeing you and the boot) is too much motion in the mid and rear foot. That could be a function of a variety of variables that would need to be addressed. A good footbed (my preference for this purpose is the ALINE), coupled with stance analysis and some work trying to isolate the movement would be the necessary steps. Throwing foam at where it hurts isn't a good answer. I have no suggestions as to who to work with where you are, but you need a competent fitter who understands the physics of the foot in a boot.

Thanks. I already have a custom foot bed by this same boot fitter. I'm not sure who else to go to in Whistler since these guys are supposedly the best.

Do you think this is something that can be fixed by a proper boot though? I'm just trying to determine what to focus on, my boot or more dr/physio crap. I don't really have money for either.

[weasel1]

Thanks. I already have a custom foot bed by this same boot fitter. I'm not sure who else to go to in Whistler since these guys are supposedly the best.

Do you think this is something that can be fixed by a proper boot though? I'm just trying to determine what to focus on, my boot or more dr/physio crap. I don't really have money for either.

Hard to say if a new boot alone would do it. Depends on how your foot acts on the footbed, your position in the boot, how well it follows the shape of your foot and leg, etc. My guess is that the footbed is rigid under the 5th met, and that because of this the 5th met can't drop like it needs to as you go through the beginning-middle of your ankle flexion. So instead, (equal and opposite reaction, remember physics? I barely do) it drives the medial side of the foot inward, twisting the lower leg bones and causing the friction and pressure. That, or the footbed isn't sufficiently supporting the calcaneal shelf, again allowing that to move and twisting the lower leg in the boot. But this is pure conjecture, because I can't see you in it. Positional factors with the shell could be causing it, or just exacerbating it. If the fitters are good, keep at it with them. Sorry I don't have an easy fix for you.

And hey, I'm just a middle-aged desk jockey on the internet these days, so what do I know... ;-)

[Jacolac]

Hard to say if a new boot alone would do it. Depends on how your foot acts on the footbed, your position in the boot, how well it follows the shape of your foot and leg, etc. My guess is that the footbed is rigid under the 5th met, and that because of this the 5th met can't drop like it needs to as you go through the beginning-middle of your ankle flexion. So instead, (equal and opposite reaction, remember physics? I barely do) it drives the medial side of the foot inward, twisting the lower leg bones and causing the friction and pressure. That, or the footbed isn't sufficiently supporting the calcaneal shelf, again allowing that to move and twisting the lower leg in the boot. But this is pure conjecture, because I can't see you in it. Positional factors with the shell could be causing it, or just exacerbating it. If the fitters are good, keep at it with them. Sorry I don't have an easy fix for you.

And hey, I'm just a middle-aged desk jockey on the internet these days, so what do I know... ;-)

Thanks. I think I'll head back to the fitters again even though I'm on my third winter in these boots now and although they guarantee a proper fit, I feel a bit bad to keep coming back there this much later. We'll see what they say.

[sb]

Dear DR Bootfitter

A friend of mine who I finally have talked into getting an AT setup, selling him my unused Dfit STs for $300 to get him started, needs boots.

I have been over all the preliminary stuff with him, told him do a foot tracing and measure the dimensions. He says his foot is 110mm wide in the forefoot.

So the question is which boot shell is the widest?

As far as I know Dfit and Black Diamond have some of the widest at around 103mm. Are there wider boots out of the box?

I do have him convinced that he will need to go to a bootfitter near me once he gets his boots.

Thanks in advance for da helps.

[dark_star]

I have tried on BD Quadrants, Scarpa Maestrale, Garmont Radium, and several of the Dynafit line, and from my experience and impressions BD is the widest. Didn't make measurements though, so take it with a grain of salt.

[mntlion]

The widths of boots are based on a size 26 boot. 100mm being average. SO 100mm wide foot that is 22 is very wide and 100mm wide foot in size 29 is very narrow
Most boots can be made 5mm wider per side.

[Like a Boss]

Need a replacement liner recommendation. I'm in the Rossignol Sensor 130s (same as Lange RX 130) and the stock liner is toast. I'm not totally sold on intuitions, so I'm looking for something a bit more traditional but not shitty like the stock. I also want to keep my footbeds in. I'm about 100-120 days a year in these things so I'd like something that will last a while.

[mntlion]

zipfits?

foam?

intuition liners can be VERY stiff and just about any thickness. Wrap around or tongue style too.

[sparkletarte.]

Blisters! I'm going back to the fitter, just want to check in to see if there's anything I can do on my end.

Boots are ~3 years old. I was having to crank them in more tech terrain, and top-of-foot pain, so I went in and they put in bigger j-bars. After some grinding (...) of the new j-bars, I got a blister on my second day in them. More grinding, feels much better. Blister is between my ankle and sole, back a bit towards my achilles.

Couple days ago went for a tour, first one since the refit. Two blisters on the other foot, one on each side, same place as first one. They happening on the way up, not down.

I've never had blisters in these boots before. Wearing the same socks as always (thin Icebreakers).

First time, the fitter said that indicates some movement in the boot. Otherwise they fit awesome- buckles are one finger tight, my feet feel solid and warm. He did check my ankle flex or whatever, I don't need a heel lift.

Thoughts? Just keep grinding down j-bars? I don't want to lose the other great parts about the new fit.

I am having another issue with cramps on the soles of my feet, but he says it's because I have high arches and could use a custom footbed (am using Soles). Don't think that's related to blisters, because it was happening before, just putting it out there in case.

[Caucasian Asian]

IME, cramping in the soles of your feet either means that:
a) Your foot is moving around a little, and you're trying to hold onto bottom of the boot with your toes. So a better fitting footbed may be the answer.

or

b) The boot is too narrow, and is squeezing the forefoot.

Since you're having issues with blisters as well, I would guess that your foot is moving around a little.


I stayed at a Holiday Inn once.

[JaytaeMoney]

About a month ago I sized down my Lange RX 130 pros so that I now have a ~1cm shell fit. They worked great out of the box for about 15 days but are now feeling sloppy and I imagine the problem is only going to get worse. I am using stock everything, no custom footbed or liner. Would an orthotic help with the slop issue or is this likely caused by the liner already packing out?