 Poster: A snowHead
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So I tried out my new ski boots yesterday for a few hours at the snow dome... and OUCH!!
They seem tight around my foot (especially the left one.) ... tight on the width part so on the outer foot and slightly around the ankle bone.
Now when I have been skiing in rental boots from the snowdome.. I had foot pain, calf pain and also leg pain to the point I had to stretch out my calfs after skiing in order to be able to actually walk!!!
I think I worked out that the boots were too big and I was gripping too much with my feet causing the pain.
& when I went to get my boots fitted sure enough I was a size smaller than I thought I was.
The good thing is when skiing yesterday and after skiing, no claf or leg pain whatsoever.... so getting my boots has solved that issue for sure.
But my feet were very painful... I could ski for about half an hour and then to have a 5 minute sit down to take the weight out my boot and then I was ok to go again for another half an hour... When I took my boots off I had pins and needles in the outer left foot as well so I am guessing this was because they are so tight.
One of the instructors said to maybe go back and get them stretched out.....
Now I know that boots are likely to stretch with wear anyway so my question is it normal for them to hurt at first until you break them in a bit? I know they stretch a fair bit when you ski more in them so I dont want to rush off and get them blown out only to find they are too big after skiing in them.
I am going away in 4 weeks so hoping that if I keep wearing them around the house they should break in abit.
What are everyones thoughts?
As its my first pair of ski boots I am unsure of whats normal and whats not!
Thanks 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
I am going away in 4 weeks so hoping that if I keep wearing them around the house they should break in abit.
What are everyones thoughts?
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the experts tend to say wearing them round the house is a waste of time, but I've found it quite helpful. Don't confuse the fact that the liners pack down (which they always do) with the fact that you can get a boot fitter to stretch the shell a bit. What sort of socks are you wearing? If I were you I'd wear them round the house with just a pair of thin ankle socks (not ski socks) and see how you go.
I can only wear very thin racing socks inside my boots (they are the only "racing" part of my skiing  )
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Does the shell stretch at all through wear?
As the tightness is around the outer foot not the top of my foot so I am not sure the liners packing down will help?
I wear the ski socks I had them fitted in ... but yesterday I had tight on and then my ski socks on top which probably wasnt the best idea but I want as prepared as I should have been haha!
I'm just unsure if they will stretch or whether if they are tight around the sides this part of the boot is unlikely to stretch...
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Em1986, I'm surprised the problems you describe weren't evident in the shop before you bought them.
Take them back for a refund, rather than trying to modify them. The description you give is of a boot that's clearly not right for you.
Maybe go to a specialist ski-boot-fitting shop, given your experiences to date. Your foot shape etc. maybe needs an experienced eye to judge what's best for you.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
yesterday I had tight on and then my ski socks on top which probably wasnt the best idea
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no, a very bad idea, and maybe the source of your problem. And yes, the liners are all round your foot, so will pack down. As for the question about the shell, I'd say that they don't stretch - but probably one of the bootfitters will be along soon with a more authoritative answer.
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Well, I mean they don't stretch by just wearing them - they can be deformed by a bootfitter but it takes a lot of heat.
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The liners will bed in a little bit every day over probably the first 4 days.
However, its not always clear during fitting what our legs and feet do during skiing.
Its not unusual to need a tweak here and there on new boots, just pop back and they should be able to make a small adjustment for you
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I did get them fitted at a ski boot fitting shop that were recommended to me on here, Lockwoods. No I really didnt feel any pain or discomfort wearing them around in the shop at all. They felt tight but not painful.
So when you get a new boot should they not hurt at all initially? They certainly are too tight around my outer foot as like I said I had pins and needles for 5 minutes after taking them off!
I just hear / read so much conflicting information that they will hurt at first, then that they shouldnt hurt at all.. etc and I dont want to rush off and get them changed / adjusted if what I am experiencing is all parr for the course if that makes sense 
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Em1986, wear them round the house with just really thin socks for a bit, then change up to your ski socks and see how they feel. Never wear more than one pair on your feet - your tights really won't have helped at all. And be sure not to let the shells get cold (e.g. leaving them in the boot of a car). They are more pliable when they are warm.
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Yes I will give them another try, when I am just walking around in them, no discomfort whatsoever, although tight they feel fine.
Its only when I start skiing I feel the pressure points mainly in my left foot... (I think Lockwoods adjusted them as my left foot is smaller so to make the right boot bigger / less lining which maybe why I am noticing how tight the left is out the two) ...
(I thought the tights thing was probably a stupid mistake the first time I wore my new boots!) ...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd go back to Lockwoods, explain the pressure points you are experiencing and see what they advise. TBH, a bit of pressure in new boots isn't entirely a new pehnomenon, and I would avoid blowing out the shells after just a few hours of use. If you blow them out, and then the liners (as they certainly will) pack out, you will have a boot which is too wide.
After having gone through similar pressure, which initially was really bad, after a few days of use was just bad, and then after another few days became almost perfect, requiring a tiny stretch on one boot to get it bang on, I would avoid stretching at this point unless the boots are unuseable right now.
Are you loosening off the buckles after each run? For the first few days I'd expect that to be necessary, once the liners pack down you'll find that isn't required.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Em1986,
It's the liners that pack down after time. I also have new boots and the left foot in particular gave me pain on my first day out in them.
Things you could try until they are fully bedded in .....
a) Take a very thing pair of ski socks with you and use these if the boots are painful.
b) If you have a footbed in your boots and the pain is too much around the lower part of the foot, take the footbed out.
After time the liners will pack out and you can introduce the footbeds along with returning to "moderately thin socks".
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Mon 30-12-13 14:12; edited 1 time in total
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Em1986, yeah, I think probably too early ti think about stretching. I've just had new liners fitted and they're slackening off nicely after 3 days. Probably skiing 3 days this week before I may think about having them "adjusted"...
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You know it makes sense.
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The boots are definitely not unuseable ... It took a good 40 minutes of skiing for my feet to start hurting but then the pressure gets so bad I have to sit down and take the weight off... but within 5 minutes of sitting down I am ready to go again for another half hour.. so taking the pressure off seems to help considerably and I think when away skiing on holiday, the break / lifts between runs will provide this relief!! 
Thats what I am worried about doing as 2 hours skiing is not much to go on in terms of how they will fit once 'worn in'..
In terms of the buckles, the lower buckles are not done up tight at all and undoing them does not loosen the boot.. the upper buckles I did loosen them off a few times .. but to be honest it didnt make a great deal of difference (Perhaps a tad around my ankle!)... but sitting down just for 5 minutes worked a treat for a while.
I will get back in touch with Lockwoods and see what they say.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thank you thats really good advice, I will get some thin ski socks to take away with me..
Thats what I was thinking, that I need to do a good week in them before looking at getting them adjusted as 2 hours is not long at all.
I havent got a custom foot bed, just the superfeet. But yesterday was the first 2 hours I have worn them at all...
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Poster: A snowHead
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Taking the superfeet out might also help.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Em1986, did Lockwood's sell you the superfeet at the same time as the boots?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Yes they did.
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I'd give them a bit more use; mine killed me for a day or so before they calmed down. After that the fit was fine.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Em1986 wrote: |
The boots are definitely not unuseable ... It took a good 40 minutes of skiing for my feet to start hurting but then the pressure gets so bad I have to sit down and take the weight off... but within 5 minutes of sitting down I am ready to go again for another half hour.. so taking the pressure off seems to help considerably and I think when away skiing on holiday, the break / lifts between runs will provide this relief!!
I will get back in touch with Lockwoods and see what they say. |
I would expect them to say that is kind of normal. Depends on how tight a fit you are trying to achieve at the end of it, but on their first outing, being able to ski for 40 mins without any pain is pretty good, and I'd give them a few more sessions before modifying them too much. You are unlikely to be skiing for more than 30 mins without getting on a lift, taking the pressure off and giving you the chance to slacken off the buckles, and within a few days I'd expect the fit to improve as they pack out.
You can modify the boots now. But you risk them packing out and then being fairly useless within a few trips. I would avoid that if you can. Also remember that there are usually a range of shops that can modify your boots for you - pushing out a specific section to widen the boot is probably a £10 job overnight for them, so worth persevering if you can.
But I would go back to Lockwoods and get them to have a good look at the boot and try to establish that you definitely are in the right boot before they get a lot of use. You mgiht also find that a custom footbed prevents your foot from spreading out as much as it does now when you ski, which might help with the width problem, but they may have very good reason for putting you on superfeet.
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I agree to wait first. I'm planning on having my boots heat moulded soon, but I've used them for around a week and a half already before doing it. They stretched somewhat during indoor sessions, and really rather a lot whilst in the Alps. I've now narrowed the pressure down to very specific pressure points, so when I get them moulded those points will be stretched out and the boots will fit as well as they can - I recommend this approach.
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+1 for the thinner socks. I have had huge probs with boots. See how you go with them and if they're not any better, revisit the fitter. The problem I have found with remoulding, is that unless the fitter uses a lot of heat, the plastic will revert back fairly quickly.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I take a new 6pack of super thin M&S cotton socks everytime I go away. I've never had cold feet. I reckon that thick woolly ski socks are throw back to the days of leather boots.  Modern liners are so well insulated that additional insulation via the sock is unnecessary IMV and a bit of space around the toes helps with warmth and comfort.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I do get cold feet sometimes but regardless of how cold they get there is absolutely no room for thick socks in my boots. I have Thermic warmers for when it gets cold!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| pam w wrote: |
| I do get cold feet ! |
Maybe it's time to trade in those rear entries? 
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Em1986, As someone who has spent 25 years finding the 'perfect' boot I understand how soul-destroying it is to ski with painful feet. I have short wide feet and very big calf muscles so have always had a problem. So this may seem obvious but first just check the basics. Are the liner tongues sat absolutely correctly, and have you got your heel tight against the rear of the boot before buckling up? Also don't forget the temperature difference - at room temp your boots will be more flexible and fractionally bigger than they are at sub-zero temps. Often these very very small differences determine comfort or discomfort. Personally I wouldn't wait until your hols to wait to see if they bed in, but maybe go to the Snowdome once more so that you can tell the fitters at Lockwoods definitively where the pinch is.
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You know it makes sense.
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Mollerski, I have excellent boots, thanks, with Zipfit linings.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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I may be wrong but this is how i do up my boots.
Foot flat then gently tighten the top buckle.
Put boot behind me and push against a wall to seat my heel.
Do up the middle and bottom buckle so i have an even gentle pressure. Not tight in any way but foot is held and i can wiggle my toes.
Do up power strap.
His means my boots have an overall gentle caress of the foot and my heel is snugly in he back of the boot. I used to get numbness in the midfoot before being precise about his with my old boots and it turned out the middle buckle was too tight.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I can only speak from my own experience Em1986, but was your trip to the snow dome the very first time you've actually worn your new boots other than in the shop when you had them fitted? If the answer is yes, then it may be a bit premature to be taking them back. You need to wear them for around 20 hours or so at least before they start to feel more comfortable (or less uncomfortable). Wearing them for short periods around the house will help to achieve this - it worked for me. I'd worn mine for around 6 hours before I went to the snowdome. Good luck and a happy new year btw
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I start with the liner out on my piste boots, almost impossible to get on otherwise. I need a tight middle buckle as I have a low volume ankle, but I found that I get better results when doing up the top two gently, then the lower buckles, then tighten the top and cinch the strap tight. Usually have to micro adjust a turn or two as the day goes on.
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Em1986, get some Strolz boots. End of problems!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| mozwold wrote: |
| Also don't forget the temperature difference - at room temp your boots will be more flexible and fractionally bigger than they are at sub-zero temps. |
I always found that on the mountain my boots always needed tightening up after a few runs. Maybe the fact that I am moving and get the blood flowing helps. Having the ski boots on while I am sitting at home perhaps causes a bit of swelling at the foot anyway, which makes the boots feel uncomfortable.
I am having the same issue with the OP. I had my boots fitted in Rivington alpine last month and in preparation for my trip to Saas Fee next week I have been wearing my boots at home. The left food (which is smaller than the right one) feels more tense, for some reason. I cannot see any pressure points, just a feeling of tightness and a lack of comfort. I can wiggle my toes all right, and the buckles are not too tight. Tomorrow I am off to Chill Factore, see how it goes. If I feel bad after that I might take a trip back to the shop for some remedial action. I have only worn the boots at the shop (and experienced the same thing) and at home while seated reading emails etc, so see how the boots feel in the indoor slope...
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I may be completely wrong as i know nothing about boot fitting. I have bought boots before though and wouldnt
be happy if they hurt at all. My boots have always been good from the off.
It's possible to get rental boots that don't hurt so surely you should expect
shop bought boots to be even better.
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emwmarine, it depends how tricky your feet are - I think you are quite lucky to have no problems. It can take more than one iteration with new custom boots to get the fit right. Rental boots always caused me significant pain. Now I finally have a pair of my own boots that don't cause pain (after 8 years, thanks very much CEM!), I am so paranoid about losing them that I won't put them in the hold when flying out, they have to come with me in the cabin. And I know I'm not alone
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this is normal.
My boots are now perfect for me after 2 punches, and some work done, but the first 3 days were agony. Now, I can ski all day and without any issues. But, I have a very snug fit, with only around 1.5 cms in a shell check.
Give it time, young padawan
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| psyxologos wrote: |
| ... I have only worn the boots at the shop (and experienced the same thing) and at home while seated reading emails etc, so see how the boots feel in the indoor slope... |
I was told by the person who fitted my boots that it's better to wear them in if you are standing whilst wearing them at home, ie whilst doing the washing up, vacuuming, ironing etc., for up to 30 minutes or even an hour at a time.
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Yes, this might be an issue. When I complained of discomfort at the shop the person fitting my boots said that as I was seated most of the time the discomfort was expected. Anyway. I am off to the indoor slope now so hopefully after a couple of hours skiing they will feel better.
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