Reply With QuoteIf you go regular invest in your own boots particularly with funny feet
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I'm of skiing on Thursday and whilst chatting with a friend of mine about uncomfortable hire boots, he's mentioned getting a footbed. After a while I get painful feet (quite sharp pains through the sole) whilst skiing, so need to stop every 5mins or so. I'm not sure why, maybe the boot is too tight, maybe the foot spreads out or the vibrations just make them painful. Is this the sort of thing a footbed may stop? Is it just like an expensive insole?!!
I'm toying with the idea of getting some of my own boots - in fact I'm looking today in Snow and Rock, but I would be interested in any thoughts for you skiers out there.
If you go regular invest in your own boots particularly with funny feet
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Perhaps see a podiatrist first as shop staff may not understand your special needs
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I found snow and rock to be quite good (chertsey) and my boots are really comfy as a result. Also, they do price match so be sure to check online before!Originally Posted by badger1
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Own boots with mouldable liners are the way to go.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Getting my own boots was the best thing I ever did. It makes a hell of a difference to a days skiiing when you're not in pain for half of it! Got all my own kit eventually, but boots definitely the first thing if you're planning on going regularly.
Cheers,
Plug
As others have said, getting your own boots will be the best thing to do if you plan on skiing fairly regularly - even at least once every couple of years. But make sure you get them properly fitted and there are no pinch points when you try them on. Any pain or discomfort in the shop or at home will soon become unbearable on the slope. Also if you buy your own boots, wear them around the house for a few hours if you can before you go skiing for the first time in them, as this will help break them in and bed the liners in to your feet.
If you need support for your arches, a better foot bed may also help. The ones in ski boots are generally pan flat. I recently bought a new pair of walking boots which were very comfortable in the shop, but after a couple of hours walking, I was getting pain in the outside of my left foot. Replaced the foot bed with a pair out of a pair of walking shoes I was getting rid of, but had more arch support and I knew I could walk for days on. Problem solved - no more pain.
Some great advice already on here, but here is my tuppence worth too.
100% get your own boots plus a moulded footbed. Be realistic in what you want to achieve. I can ski pretty well on and off piste and like the steep and even hard/icy stuff, but 95% of the time I'm cruising around in my leisurely way, thus I favour comfort over out & out performance. Thus I ski a Salomon Quest 90 flex boot. Its great as it does flex more and as such is pretty comfy, yes I could get a 120 or 130 flex boot for perfect performance but most of the time I just don't need it and my 90 flex still works great on the steeps or in powder, plus it has the 'walk mode' which is a shin/calf saver if you do need to trudge anywhere.
Go to a specialist shop and try on lots, if you try boots don't stand up bolt upright but flex at the ankle and feel the weight in the shin so your toes pull back from the toe of the boot (basically adopting a skiing posture and not a normal standing posture). The boot should be pretty snug everywhere and the heel should not be able to lift. Don't go in with any one boot make or model in mind, get advice and go for what is most comfy. Don't get upsold the latest, flashiest highest performance model.
When fastening the boot the lower clips should be able to be fastened with a single finger, ie, not too much force needed, as you don't want to damage the nerves and delicate bones in the top of the foot; nor cut off circulation which will lead to cold toes. The upper clip should be pretty tight. there are even tutorials on YouTube!
Good luck and enjoy! I just got back from Plagne Centre and it was great.
Thanks for all your replies - I went to S+R but it was so busy I left before chatting to someone. I’m going to Ellis Brigham in the morning to have a chat with their guys and we’ll see how we get on!
100% agree with everyone else about buying your own boots. One word of warning about snow and rock. One sales assistant was adamant that I should purchase the superfeet insoles, and that my feet would pinch unless I got them. I politely refused as it seemed suspicious. I tried a specialist bootfitters who told me that the snow and rock advice was completely wrong and that they had recommended a pair of narrow boots for my wide feet. So I'd definitely try several places for boots. Buy comfort and not colour scheme/features!
Given your experience of getting painful feet I would definitely recommend seeing a podiatrist just to try to rule out any underlying issue. I'd be reluctant to purchase boots before you know what causes your pain and any recommendations that may fall out of the assessment. After that it's very definitely a case of trying on lots of boots and finding what's comfortable. Snow & Rock will let you keep boots on for some time whilst you walk around, flex etc. to determine comfort. There is a tendency for some to have their boots far too tight which, as has already been mentioned, will cause problems with pain and cold feet/toes. Do not be tempted to go for Advanced or Race boots for cruising around on the pistes; they'll become uncomfortable very quickly as they're far stiffer than an Intermediate boot.
Good luck and enjoy.
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