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

[mntlion]

AK, same thing

[Adrider83]

I am having an issue with my Salomon Ghost 130s. Although they are right out of the box, they fit great the first year. Now, it is causing pain right at the base of the tounge when I drive forward (essentially, on the top of my metatarsals- inside of foot, basically in line with the big toe, but higher up on the foot). It hurts to the point that it makes it difficult to maintain a good stance, and a bump is developing on my feet. The draw string tightener for one liner is busted too- which might be the issue, but I don't think so, because I've noticed the problem in both boots.

1) BOW with the buckles tighter or looser? Wose when tighter

2) BOW with thinner or thicker socks? haven't tried

3) BOW with any footbeds (custom, stock, none, etc)? haven't tried

4) BOW skiing, standing, or feet un-weighted (hanging off a chair lift)? Worse when skiing

5) BOW thru out the day (and when does the pain start?) Consistent

6) BOW on the first vs the third day? Worse as day progresses

7) BOW on harder or easier terrain? Worse on harder

8) BOW with the power straps (velcro straps) tighter or looser? Cannot tell

9) BOW if you do any particular movements, or actions? Forward lean hurts

10) Any medical, health, or weight changes since you used them last? No

Any thoughts or help is greatly appreciated. I'd love if this was a quick fix, otherwise I'll go to the boot fitter.

[AKbruin]

Thanks, mntlion! Probably no need for a care package just yet. (Incidentally, the walk mode in the Maestrale RS = holy crap.)

[mntlion]

is the boot collapsing downward when you flex it? You overflexing it? I would try a new liner and see if that helps, but my guess (without seeing the boot, the foot, of how you flex the boot) is that might help. also make sure that your heel is back and down all the way in the boot.

[Adrider83]

I think the boot is collapsing downward when I flex forward, yes. Perhaps a new liner is in order? I wonder how that will work with the two-buckle Ghosts.

[mntlion]

Not sure, I never really saw a plus side of 2 buckle boots.

also make sure the tongue is pulled all the way up before you buckle it,

[brew_ski]

THANK YOU. As a bootfitter all I have to say is thank you. You are spot on in your analysis, and it would be nice if people could start describing what they feel instead of just saying "uh my boots hurt here." Well done

[RockChalk]

I recently acquired the rossi branded version of the rx130 lv in a 28.5 and they are killing my foot

Coming off of a Squad s3 110 with a much roomier fit, I was swimming in them with some pretty significant heel lift.

Anyways, i went with the lower volume boot, shell fit is not too snug but just right. My left foot is fine but my right felt like it was in a torture device. Pain was focused just below my ankle and extended almost all the way to the arch. I have pretty large arches and previous ankle injuries on this foot.

my foot would be numb by the time i got to the top of the lift and eventually had to swap them out for my old boots. The ultimate culprit was a hotspot just below my inside right ankle. (used 2 days)



1) BOW with the buckles tighter or looser? Worse when tighter

2) BOW with thinner or thicker socks? there is no way they are better with thicker socks, I already use an UL and they are tight.

3) BOW with any footbeds (custom, stock, none, etc)? haven't tried

4) BOW skiing, standing, or feet un-weighted (hanging off a chair lift)? better when skiing- could be mental

5) BOW thru out the day (and when does the pain start?) worse towards the end for sure, starts early afternoon

6) BOW on the first vs the third day? Worse as days progress, I had to ditch them at 2 on the second day of use.

7) BOW on harder or easier terrain? better on harder terrain

8) BOW with the power straps (velcro straps) tighter or looser? Cannot tell

9) BOW if you do any particular movements, or actions? Forward lean makes them feel better, i think. maybe worse. they fucking hurt.

10) Any medical, health, or weight changes since you used them last? No

[Dkla52]

Rockchalk looks like we are suffering from the same condition. Funny thing is I also have my boots in size 28.5 and my symptoms are in verbatim exactly the same as yours. I also have pretty wide feet and good amount of arch, and the pain comes in the same area where you described. I tried the orthotics from Sure Foot and they helped but the problem is still there. I'm going to a boot fitter on Thursday in Mammoth; I'll keep you posted

Sent from my SPH-L900 using TGR Forums

[mntlion]

the shell wdith, in the back foot, might be the issue? see if you are touching the shell in that spot. (widen the shell)

also try with different, or NO footbeds (change the footbed)

[dark_star]

FYI I followed mtnlion's tips on a pair of used boots that I was certain were too small to use- now they fit beautifully and are the best performing boots I've used. All this based on an e-mail in which I told him roughly how much room I had in the heel and what I'd done so far to make the boot fit!

Listen to this man, he knows what's up!

[mntlion]

glad it worked.

I'll wait for the thank you beer in the mail

[DRZ1050i]

26.5 full tilt first chairs. It took a punch in the left forefoot, but now almost everything is working well.. Except my toes are still getting smushed. I have room in the shell, and have tried heat molding with toe caps, but that doesn't give enough room.. Somebody suggested cutting some foam out of the liner, is that a good option?

[mntlion]

UT skier: when you stand, feet shoulder width apart, feet forward, how far can you flex your ankle forward until you heels lift up? how far part your toes are your knees?

if this range is limited, add a heel lift and see if that helps open your ankle angle a bit? also remove any F lean shims on the boot?


Do you get this cramping in any other sports, boots, activities, etc.

[mntlion]

DRZ: is your heel back AND down all the way in the boot? what is the shell fit like?

If the heel is back, get the shell punched a bit in that spot. If the heel is NOT back, add a 2cmwide and 10cm long to the tongue of the boot, on the middle buckles, to help drive the heel back all the way

[DRZ1050i]

Yes, heel is back all the way when buckles are tight. If I loosen/ release them the heel slides forward and the problem gets much worse. I think I have enough room in the shell, something around 8-10mm front to back? Side to side is close, but side pain is gone now.
When I put the liner on even without the boot, my toes are getting smushed. Was wondering if there is any good way to stretch an intuition a bit without shaving material off.. shoe horn + heat gun? I didn't want to do something like that without checking here first.

[mntlion]

DRZ: heat the liner with a hot hair dryer/heat gun, until the inside of the liner is warm, THen put on a broom handle and stretch it out until cool: should help

UT: ya, limited ankle flexion might be the cause. 1) Try making the boot as upright as possible. remove all F lean shims on liner and shell

2) then add heal lifts so that you open the ankle/ tibia angle as much as possible.

3) make the boot as stiff as possible. boosters, add screws to the cuff/clog etc.




at $30 an assessment, I'm just pulling in the big bucks this morning

[Dkla52]

the shell wdith, in the back foot, might be the issue? see if you are touching the shell in that spot. (widen the shell)

also try with different, or NO footbeds (change the footbed)

I think you are right. The shell width in the back foot is the problem bc I noticed over the weekend that my heels constantly came up while I was skiing... What is the remedy to this problem?

Sent from my SPH-L900 using TGR Forums

[mntlion]

I think you are right. The shell width in the back foot is the problem bc I noticed over the weekend that my heels constantly came up while I was skiing... What is the remedy to this problem?

Sent from my SPH-L900 using TGR Forums

get that part of the shell widened / punched out / stretched out.

[mntlion]

you can't flex forward much (limited range of motion) so when the boot pushes you forward, you are using up most of the range. So as you flex forward (more so on harder terrain) you are cramping up the muscles as they are over flexed in this possition. Plus you are flexed most of the time anyways again due to being to far forwards.

I'm guessing here, but try it and see. when/if I'm wrong pull all the stuff out and try again.

[Dkla52]

get that part of the shell widened / punched out / stretched out.

Kk. I'll try to do that. Thanks a lot... Do you know of any good boot fitter in Southern California? I don't wanna take my boots to Sure Foot bc they are just bunch of sharks trying to haustle ppl. They don't know any thing about boots. All they do, regardless of whatever the problem is, is to try to concvince you to buy their customized liner. They have a shitty customer service and they really don't know what the hell they are doing or even saying. I can't believe they haustled me to but their orthotics. It simply doesn't work

Sent from my SPH-L900 using TGR Forums

[Skeeze]

I'm guessing the issue is that my boots are a bit too big and I need to (preferably) get new boots or take up room in the lower leg, but I'd like to get another opinion before going to a bootfitter.

26.5 Dynafit Titans with size 27 (recommended by Intuition) Pro Tour liners and a Booster strap (the 2nd stiffest one).

Shell fit is bigger than I'd like at 15-20mm (I didn't know much when I purchased these, but I did get them at Mammoth Mountaineering, which is a good shop). Width is fine with slight touching.

I'm 5'11", 145, with a narrow heel, pretty low arch, slightly larger than average toe box width, and extremely skinny lower legs (only about 9 inches in circumference near my ankle).

My main issue is that in order to get them tight around my lower leg, I have to buckle the top two buckles and booster strap as far as all of them go (and really torque down to get a tight feel, resulting in multiple broken buckles). Then, the muscle on my shin next to my tibia cramps horribly after about 5 minutes. I have to unbuckle my boots every lift ride and generally do so on runout/mid-run as well to relieve the pain. If I don't tighten then as much as possible, I feel like there's way too much room and I have no control.

Additionally, when the temperature gets warmer, I feel like the boots get extremely soft and even with everything buckled as tight as possible, I can feel my foot (especially my ankle) moving around and there's no control.

1) BOW with the buckles tighter or looser? Looser, but then I don't have any control.

2) BOW with thinner or thicker socks? Thinner (for circulation and space around my toes so they don't freeze).

3) BOW with any footbeds (custom, stock, none, etc)? Have only used with custom Kork, but it's not my feet that hurt.

4) BOW skiing, standing, or feet un-weighted (hanging off a chair lift)? Standing (not in a flexed position) is best.

5) BOW thru out the day (and when does the pain start?) Starts immediately when I tighten down the boots.

6) BOW on the first vs the third day? Equal

7) BOW on harder or easier terrain? Equal, just a function of how much I tighten the boots

8) BOW with the power straps (velcro straps) tighter or looser? Tightening the boosters all the way doesn't seem to cause a problem so long as the buckles are loose

9) BOW if you do any particular movements, or actions? N/A

10) Any medical, health, or weight changes since you used them last? No

[mntlion]

skeeze: you are correct; too big


DL...52: nope, mammoth area should have someone?
http://www.epicski.com/a/boot-fitters-on-epicski

[Skeeze]

skeeze: you are correct; too big

Thanks for confirming. Do you think some sort of tongue eliminator/well-placed high-density foam could help, or would I really just be dancing around the issue of needing new boots?

[mntlion]

tangoing at best.

buy the right thing ONCE.