Thinking of getting foam liners: Your experiences?

[mtbakerskier]

I have had a set of conformables that I foamed years ago, and I just now retired them this year, I even kept the same liners when I replaced my shells (same solly boot). Now that I have my adrenalins, I am thinking about foaming them too. Just not sure how well a foam liner will work in at boots thou. But I would defintly gt foam, it has been the best most comfortalbe fit I have ever had.

[Spats]

You knew I was going to say this, but I bet Daleboot can hook you up. They're not stiff, but if you're considering Flexons...

Six years on mine, still with original liners. Did I mention they weigh about the same as a burly AT boot?

[DB]

Strolz are similar to Dale and they make a boot specifically designed for chicken legs too. They also do a race model. There are better and stiffer shells on the market but a better fitting albeit slightly softer shell could be the best option.

Maybe someone here has a 25.5 Flexon Boot that phUnk could try on, then if it fits he can mail order or pick something up on ebay etc

[13]

Good call, but I think there going to be just about impossible to find locally such that I can try them on.

My roommate in JH looked high & low and all over the friggin' town for a pair of Flexons, to no avail.

We road tripped to Boulder for Halloween and in Casper fucking Wyoming of all places, I spotted a pair of Flexons at a thrift shop.

$5 and they were his. Talk about a score.

True story.

Maybe the DI has some laying around? Worth a shot.

[Ski Monkey]

Surefoot footbeds SUCK! Can't speak for the liners. I have custom liners (conformable) and footbeds done by Snowcovers (whistler, vancouver). I think they're the best bootfitters in North America.

Are you thinking of Superfeet footbeds that are pre made that you buy in the store? Or the cad/cam Surefoot footbeds? The surefoot foams are made by conformable as well but are slightly modified to foam the tongue as well as the rest of the liner. For a while, the surefoot conformable was one of the few liners that foamed the tongue, this may have changed in recent years however.

Some know this, but I am skiing with comformable foam liners and surefoot beds. I don't ski without the footbeds and putting on any type of boot now without my liners is unnecessary punishment. I have 5 sets of the surefoot thotics(3 sets for street shoes, pair for alpine boots, pair for at boots). I have close to 300 days on my liners in the last 3 seasons and they have been the best performing boot and most comfortable boot I've had. I had to tweak the liner a little when I first foamed them but since then the only problem I've had was that just recently the heal pocket has been getting a little lose. I'll get a new shell and liner next season. As far as I'm concerned, the liners are worth their weight in gold.

I will concur that their footbeds suck. I've heard that they try to match your footshape to fifteen or so predetermined foot shapes the best that they can. They are not a true mold of your foot.

Sorry cmsummit, but this is just plain wrong about predetermined foot shapes. All the footbeds are made to your foot and your foot alone. This is easily proven with one of the digitizer machines. Every once and a while a pin will get stuck on the digitizer and the thotic will get milled accidentally and there will be a large depression from that stuck pin. As for them not working for you, all of them are guaranteed, take them back and have them remake them for you. The foot is a strange thing and sometimes the footbed needs to be remade.

edit: i have some pretty serious chicken-legs as well, i am a monkey after all. holy fuck i'm tired.

[KANUTTEN]

Foam liners is the best thing that ever happened to my feet. And probably to my skiing as well.

I have the conformable comp kind. They differ from the conformable "other kind" in that it has two tubes going in at the back and two tubes coming out above the toes. This is better than the other kind with only two tubes going in (and no going out), because it prevents air bubbles to be formed inside the liner.

Get a pro to do the work! Plastic toe caps are essential when making them. Also pads should be attached to vital parts of your foot (ancle bones and other sensitive spots) before foaming. It is an art to get the right pressure in the foam when adapting. If there is too much pressure the boot can easily get too tight. It happened to me on my right foot, and I ended up doing surgery on the liner by cutting it open and removing some of the foam before stitching the liner up again.

Durability of foam liners are said to be somewhat longer than for ordinary liners. IMO they are a bit colder, maybe due to the tighter fit. But for me they are worth the money for sure.

[Stikki]

Rather than make the boot smaller why don't you make your calves bigger? [pause to let laughing subside] Seriously, it may not be a quick fix but something to try over the summer.

Try this routine , it was for a world cup racer and worked so well they had to re-fit his boots.

Try searching that site (t-nation.com) using the word calf and you'll come up with another half-dozen calf routines. In less than two months I put about an inch on my calfs, now I don't have to crank the top buckles nearly as much. A twice a week routine consisting of a heavy/low-rep day (6-10 sets of 4-6 reps) and a high volume day (300-500 total reps) using various calf raises can work wonders.

[peterslovo]

I highly recommend Intuition liners - www.intuitionsports.com
I got the alpine power wraps (http://www.svst.com/page3.html) for my Denali XT boots.

best investment i ever made in terms of comfort and increased stiffness, and their customer service is great.

[skideeppow]

Foam is a tricky thing. So many variable. I have been foaming boots for over 12 years, worked at Strolz last winter for the month of January in Lech and probably have foamed 1400 conformable liners over the last 12 years. Elevation has a factor in when to cut off flow and when to pull the tubes. Foot shape, how many days a year you ski all play a role. Foam is firm. It is not some kind of soft plush feel. I foamed some world cup guys (Thomas Grandi) and generally used less isocyanide to make the foam more playable so the foot could articulate better.

You can buy foam tongues seperalty, which will save you money. As for Surefoot, the machine makes every orthotic differntly, to each specific foot, no question. These machines are used at some of the biggest orthopedic clinincs in the country, walter reed medical center, southern california orthopedic institute, mayo clinic and many others. Remeber, a machine or computer is only as good as its operator. If you are in PC, go and talk to Steve Owen, he has the most experience in that company and will dial you in.

If you are going to get some, I would do it this spring, since the price of the liner is going to go up by 20-30% next year due to the strength of the Euro.

Drop me a pm with any questions, but for shin bang I would say the foam tongue solves that problem 90% of the time.

[mr_gyptian]

my Surefoot orthotic sucks. don't know about the liners.

my next attempt will be Harb technologies. They are based out of Dumont CO and apparently do an amazing job.

[phUnk]

Rather than make the boot smaller why don't you make your calves bigger? [pause to let laughing subside] Seriously, it may not be a quick fix but something to try over the summer.

That's a good idea, because all I do over the summer is sit on the couch.

[extremecarver]

Anyone having probs with stinking clothes and shoes?

Just put them outside in a cold night. The bacteria dies and your shoes smell like new in the next morning. Or put em in da freezer

[Stikki]

That's a good idea, because all I do over the summer is sit on the couch.

If your current approach, be it training hardcore or doing nothing at all, isn't working then you need to try something different. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is insanity.

[phUnk]

If your current approach, be it training hardcore or doing nothing at all, isn't working then you need to try something different. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is insanity.

You mean like trying new liners or something? Why didn't I think of that?

[Arty50]

For a while, the surefoot conformable was one of the few liners that foamed the tongue, this may have changed in recent years however.

I had conformable foams (not surefoot branded) made two years ago and they had foamable tongues.

[Meconium]

I have a pair of very lightly used 25.5 Flexons (comp slalom) the pink and yellow ones. To small for me, bought em for the tongue. Anyway, they can be tried on or I’ll trade them for that duel density tongue in the same size or rossi 26 liners. Race or Bandit new or almost.

Cottonwood heights area

[L7]

Personally I think a foam tongue with a regular liner has more merit than a foam liner and regular tongue. Holding the foot back with tight fit in front solves many problems.

[Long duc dong]

I got a pair of surefoot conformables about 3 years ago in squaw. They have been perfect so far, no problems and have not begun to deteriorate. I used zip fits before that, and the conformables are definitely an upgrade.

[phUnk]

I have a pair of very lightly used 25.5 Flexons (comp slalom) the pink and yellow ones. To small for me, bought em for the tongue. Anyway, they can be tried on or I’ll trade them for that duel density tongue in the same size or rossi 26 liners. Race or Bandit new or almost.

Cottonwood heights area

Woah, just saw this. That's very cool of you to offer, Mec. I've decided to just wait until this fall and check out the Krypton Pro when they finally make em in my size. Thanks though.

[13]

How much do surefoots go for? I hear they're a preeeeetty penny.

[BakerBoy]

How much do surefoots go for? I hear they're a preeeeetty penny.

"I had the Lange FR 120 foamed with a Conformable liner and a Surefoot footbed at Squaw. Total was about $1150 !!!!"

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=25797

Which is better? Not having to pay for boots, or having so much fucking disposable income that you just don't care how much it costs?

[Meathelmet]

Personally I think a foam tongue with a regular liner has more merit than a foam liner and regular tongue. Holding the foot back with tight fit in front solves many problems.

Foam tongue?

Whats dat?

What brands are there? Tried to search on local websites/bootshops and havent come up on any.

[comish]

I had a very similar set up for years. Had multiple pairs of Langes with zip fits. Thought it was the best for my tiny ankles and low volume feet. I was always debating the foam liner thang because eventually I would have brutal shin bang from the same problem you have.

In the end I went to Doberman WC's that have been softened. I now think finding the shell that fits the foot is the best way rather than getting a foam liner to take up the space in a shell that is too big. The liners on the Dobies are the best I have seen as they are leather/cork inner that is firm and the longest lasting liner I have had. No shin bang, no broken toe nails, and the ski amazingly well.

I know Dobies aren't a cool freeskiing boot, but they fit and can be softened. Be aware that the Dobie Pro is wider than the Dobie WC models and the liners aren't nearly the same quality.

[Dirty Hoar]

I personally would start off by going with some enexpensive neoprene that can be cut to fit and glued to the tongue. Go to walmart and buy a couple of cheap neoprene knee or elbow braces. Cut them to fit the inside of your tongue and use 3M spray adhesive to glue them on. If it needs to be thicker then double up the neoprene or find some thicker stuff.

[phUnk]

Please keep in mind that this is a "how do you like your foamed liners" thread, not a "do you have any random suggestions on fixing shin bang" thread.