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

[mntlion]

spark: sounds like the boots are a bit big? what is the shell fit like? try a bit thicker sock? What footbed?

Jay: is the movement side to side? up and down? pronation roll?

[sparkletarte.]

spark: sounds like the boots are a bit big? what is the shell fit like? try a bit thicker sock? What footbed?

shell fit is right as far as I know- same place I bought them is where I'm getting the refit. I can't fit a thicker sock in them, it hurts my feet, and is too cold- even before the refit, thicker socks were a no go. Sole footbeds. With the new jbars, my toes were actually bent at first, so I can't see them being too big. I have a bit of toe wiggle room, that's it.

both my physio and my podarthist said my arch isn't getting the right support, but since I didn't have blisters before (same boots, same insoles) I didn't really think that would be the problem. the bootfitter really wants me to get custom insoles to deal with my sole cramps. I'm having a bit of an issue needing to spend another $180 to get $500 boots to not hurt and fit right. I'll probably suck it up eventually but man, that's so lame. love my snowboard boots!

[mntlion]

sounds like a different footbed, or a new liner might help then. Blisters are rubbing, and rubbing is caused by movement, so something in the boot is letting your foot move. Maybe a re-heat on the liner to help re-fluff it might help for a while?

how many days on the boots?

[JaytaeMoney]

Jay: is the movement side to side? up and down? pronation roll?

I'd say side to side more than anything else. I'm gonna go skiing right now so I'll pay close attention and edit this post with more info.

[mntlion]

add some small "L" pads to the side of the liner, covering the narrowest part of your heel. THis might help to trap your foot in place better.

[gwat]

FKNA! Mntlion I owe you a beer or two. My boots were so uncomfy my feet would be numb by the time I got to the top of the lift, I was almost literally taking my right foot out of my boot after every lift ride. After a few runs my feet were so sore I didn't enjoy skiing.
I did the redneck boil and put the liners in the oven. These things now fit like a dream, no pain or numbness today. Wow!!

[mntlion]

welcome.

I also take payment in happy cow ice cream, either in fernie, or sent to banff.

[gwat]

Haha, I still haven't stopped in there.....should I stay away..for my own good?

[mntlion]

soooo goooooooodddddd....

[dark_star]

Yes, mtnlion is a first-rate mag for spending his time to help out so many mags. Totally kickass.

He also has an awesome avatar

FKNA! Mntlion I owe you a beer or two. My boots were so uncomfy my feet would be numb by the time I got to the top of the lift, I was almost literally taking my right foot out of my boot after every lift ride. After a few runs my feet were so sore I didn't enjoy skiing.
I did the redneck boil and put the liners in the oven. These things now fit like a dream, no pain or numbness today. Wow!!

[Ripzalot]

what's the best way to stretch a liner a little in the toes?

i have a pair of factors and the right foot liner is a wee bit too short in the toes. i have baked my liners once (fully) and again in just the toe area (turkey bag boiling water trick) but it didn't increase the length in the toes. i need about half a cm extra. maybe less.

[mntlion]

cut open the seam of the liner, heat with hot hair dryer, and stretch on broom handle end

[weasel1]

Spark: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, check the forward lean also. Never mind on risk, I AM a broken record on this. Mostly because it's wrong for so many people I see.

Carry on.

[Ripzalot]

cut open the seam of the liner, heat with hot hair dryer, and stretch on broom handle end

i was too chickenshit to cut the seam so i just reheated the toe area in boiling water (in turkey bag) and worked it with a broom handle real good. i can straighten my toes out now but seem to be pretty much right up to the limit - toes are in firm contact with the liner (or shell, hard to tell). will test it out this weekend. thanks for the input!

[johngenx]

Have a new pair of Scarpa Rush boots that I'm dialing in. Have them perfect for skiing, all day comfy. Took them for a long tour (30km) and have one problem that I seem to have lately with all my boots: a blister on the top of the little toe on my right foot. Other than that, I have managed to get them working well.

So, there is some rubbing. My options seem to be to give a bit more room for that toe, and stop the rubbing OR to reduce the space a little and snug the liner up a bit. The former option seems to make the most sense to me.

So, my plan is to recook it with more toe space for the right toes. Think I'm on the right track?

[mntlion]

how many days on them?

more supportive footbed?

I would vote #2, making MORE room, when you have too much already is not usually good. I would ADD padding, all around the blister point, like a donut.

try that...

[spotted dogs]

tecnica bushwacker 26.5, good shell fit, intuition dreamliners MV (9/27) , sole red insoles. left foot is money. my right (slightly smaller) is an issue as I can't seem to get a solid heel and Achilles lock/contact up to the cuff. (go too tight and foot gets squished and falls asleep.) I have tried "c" shaped moleskin around my ankles ( around the back...should I try on the front ?)....but it seemed to just push my foot/toes forward. Next step?
FWIW this leg is also short by 1/4 inch ish which is also why the foot is shorter.
Would a simple heel lift work or do i need to add material to the tongue?
Thanks,

[johngenx]

Thanks Dave!! Not many days on them, as I just bought them. A half dozen resort days dialing in the ski fit, and then just the one long tour day (30km) I'll build up the area around the blister and re-cook them, making more room for the problem area. See if that works. I don't think I can use a more supportive footbed, as I have low arches and find SuperFeet uncomfortable.

how many days on them?

more supportive footbed?

I would vote #2, making MORE room, when you have too much already is not usually good. I would ADD padding, all around the blister point, like a donut.

try that...

[The SMP]

06/07 krypton rampage, intuition alpine liners with orange superfeet off the shelf
about 150-200 total days, had 25 on stock liner before I got the intuition, had the cuff buckle moved to allow for tighter fit

Shell fit length wise is about 12mm with 0-1mm on width(had to heat/compress the liners again around middle of foot).

Problem: Bottom of my feet kill between my toes and heel in the mornings when buckled longer than 5mins. Seems to have gotten worse this year and end of last. It might be time to just go get a new pair of boots but I'd rather not deal with a potentially different bsl this season. This problem has always sort of been there since I got the intuitions/superfeet but generally if I buckle and unbuckle for the lift I only really have issues on longer runs or if I'm mid run waiting for someone.

I'm going try and check out a bootfitter but would like some idea if I'm getting sold some BS or my issue fixed. I would like to try and salvage the rest of the season on these and maybe buy a new pair to break-in in the spring. From reading it sounds like I might try another insole. Any other suggestions?

All the checks are good
1) BOW with the buckles tighter or looser?
when they hurt, better looser.
2) BOW with thinner or thicker socks?
thinner
3) BOW with any footbeds (custom, stock, none, etc)?
Haven't tried without, on the carpet they feel way to loose to try.
4) BOW skiing, standing, or feet un-weighted (hanging off a chair lift)?
worst standing
better skiing
best unbuckled and unweighted
5) BOW thru out the day (and when does the pain start?)
worst in the morning, better by lunch, somedays gone away after lunch
6) BOW on the first vs the third day?
not much different
7) BOW on harder or easier terrain?
worse on easier/cruising
8) BOW with the power straps (velcro straps) tighter or looser?
Same to start, goes away faster if straps are tight
9) BOW if you do any particular movements, or actions?
better skiing aggressive, when heel is tight in pocket
10) Any medical, health, or weight changes since you used them last?
noticed my calf muscles getting tight and cramping after a hard day. Might be a new fitness issue or a new boot issue.

balance test is close to falling forward but not quite.

[mntlion]

tecnica bushwacker 26.5, good shell fit, intuition dreamliners MV (9/27) , sole red insoles. left foot is money. my right (slightly smaller) is an issue as I can't seem to get a solid heel and Achilles lock/contact up to the cuff. (go too tight and foot gets squished and falls asleep.) I have tried "c" shaped moleskin around my ankles ( around the back...should I try on the front ?)....but it seemed to just push my foot/toes forward. Next step?
FWIW this leg is also short by 1/4 inch ish which is also why the foot is shorter.
Would a simple heel lift work or do i need to add material to the tongue?
Thanks,

I would try either (or both) a 3-5mm heel lift, and some padding on the tounge (outside is better, but might get caught on the shell when geting in/out of the boot)

I would also try "C" or "L" pads that are high density foam, 2-3mm thick, all around your ankle bone that moves. the foam should be 10-20mm wide. this should help to trap that heel in place.

[mntlion]

SMP: (thanks for filling in all the info)

sounds like that footbed is pissing you off. Have you tried NOT skiing with any footbed? or with other footbeds?

I'm in the same boot/liner combo, and use no footbed at all, and a small 3mm wedge on the inside of my heel to correct my foot placement.

So try without a footebed and see how that feels.

[AKbruin]

This is a very helpful thread. REI is the only shop around me that currently has a certain lusty AT ski boot nearish my size (Scarpa Maestrale RS). I like REI, but I'm not super confident in their boot-fitting capabilities. I'm thinking that, as long as the shell fits well, I can get a real bootfitter to trick out the rest of the boot with a custom footbed, etc. As far as I can make out, my foot is unexceptional in its relative dimensions and fitting needs.

Anyhow, long-winded preamble aside , my question is this: Does the shell-fitting advice dispensed here apply with the same force to AT Boots?

[spotted dogs]

Pm you mntlion...
Re some supplies

[sparkletarte.]

Just thought I'd update. Got a little more shaved off the j-bars. Probably a mm too much (being fussy) because I have a tad bit of movement now. However, I'm still able to keep my buckles loose on all terrain, and I haven't had any blisters since. My foot cramps have pretty much stopped, my feet are warm, and my boots feel good. I'll see how they do for the rest of the season and maybe next year I'll refluff (they have maybe 50 days on them).

Too late, couple friends said they tape their ankles when they tour. If I did it again, I would have tried that before the final shave.

Weasel, I'm not too sure what I'd be checking about the forward lean... ?

[mntlion]

AK yes I can make up a care package to send you, but might not need much of it. But I can put a $30 with shipping package together as needed