Stretching boot liners (Atomic)

[vinotinto]

I'm new here, so this is probably a novice question, but here it goes. I bought a pair of Atomic (women's) M Tech 90's last year from a reputable boot fitter (fits a huge number of racers in Toronto). Got the custom foot beds, heaters etc... and they were fine last year. When I put my boots on this year I thought my toes were being crushed - lo and behold the liners are too short. I know my feet haven't grown as I'm 15 years past puberty.... they fit okay last year. Do Atomic liners shrink? Can I get them stretched? Any tips? Thanks.

[L7]

I've seen this sort of thing happen before and it involved too much heat applied to the boot melting the thermo mold footbeds which curled up on the end and jammed up the toes. Just saying, best to check the easy stuff first.

I've never known a liner to shrink but a lot of heat might I suppose. Yes you can stretch a liner but fitting one season and not the next seems something else is likely at play.

[roymiz]

do the boots have the same insoles (inserts)?
in any case, buy some $5, 2/3 length arch support insoles and that'll push your arch up and toes back a tad...

[L7]

^^^^^ That's another good point. Did you forget to put your footbeds in all together. Something has changed from last year to this year and I really doubt it was the liner shrinking. Without a footbed or as supportive a footbed your foot may well be stretching out further.

[mntlion]

A few basic things to check first:

1) You just have one, thin, clean ski sock in the boots
2) You just have a sock in the boot? (no thermals, jewelry, etc)
3) Your toe nails are trimmed short?
4) They are YOUR boots and not borrowed?
5) You are just skiing in your ski boots? (not walking, driving etc)?
6) You dry your liners out at night either with a dryer or remove liners?
7) The left liner, the left footbed are in the left boot and this is on the left foot?
8) You are loosening the buckles if you are not skiing (while standing, on lifts, etc)
9) You are not skiing all day in new boots? They need time to break in
10) Buckles are pointing to the outside?

[ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2056447#post2056447"]the answer to "WTF is wrong with my boots?" - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]