 Poster: A snowHead
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Have been skiing 3 times - been through about ten pairs of hire boots in those 3 weeks.
I try them on in the shop, they feel snug, or at least not painful, and by the time I get up the mountain I am in agony.
Back to the hire shop, more boots, more snug (or at least not painful) feelings, more days of agony.
I have fairly wide feet and high arches.
Going to be doing alot more skiing this year so decided to buy some boots. Went to S&R yesterday and for each pair I tried on I kept them on as long as I could - record was about ten minutes before I had to take them off.
Had some custom footbeds made. They made a slight difference. Kept the boots on about 12 minutes. The pain is under the foot, at the front of the arch.
S&R's conclusion was that my feet aren't match fit and I need to practise wearing ski boots and over time my feet will get used to them. I have bought some boots and am trying to get used to them but everytime I put them on I have to take them off after 10 minutes, not because they are a bit uncomfortable, but because they are killing my feet.
Does this sound right, i.e. could it be that the problem is my feet aren't used to wearing ski boots or did they just not know what to do with me?
To be fair to S&R they sold me the boots on the understanding that I can have my money back if I can't get used to them as long as I haven't worn them outside - shouldn't be a problem, can't see me popping down the shops in them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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doncaster, Welcome to snowHeads.
Sounds like you have a problem. My experience with both S&R/EB is that their fitting service is fine for mortals that have 'problem free' feet. It sounds like you're one of the many who fall outside that description. If you're serious about your skiing my recomendation is to get your money back & go visit either Lockwoods in Leamington Spa (who work with CEM who posts on this forum) or Profeet in London. There's a snowHeads boot fitting day at Lockwooods on Mon 23.10.06 were Smallzookeeper (who runs Footworks in Chamonix & also of this parish) which you still might be able to book in on: http://www.snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=17998
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Welcome to snowHeads doncaster! 
| Quote: |
| over time my feet will get used to them |
Hmm - not sure about this! Sounds to me you should get to a specialist boot-fitters. CEM and the Small/Largezookers are just such bootfitters & are snowHeads. If you can get to Leamington Spa/Bicester I would go to Lockwoods or CEM if I were you. I know from my OH's experience there is nothing worse than ill-fitting boots!
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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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Thanks for the replies.
Not skiiing again is not an option. Whilst I have only been 3 times I kind of liked it and (rather rashly given my boot issues) bought an apartment in the Alps and so I have to get this sorted properly.
Apartment is not a million miles away from Chamonix so a trip to the Zookeepers might be in order.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the replies.
Not skiiing again is not an option. Whilst I have only been 3 times I kind of liked it and (rather rashly given my boot issues) bought an apartment in the Alps and so I have to get this sorted properly.
Apartment is not a million miles away from Chamonix so a trip to the Zookeepers might be in order.
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What brand of boot, model & size have they given you?
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doncaster, there could be 101 things going on with your feet that could cause this problem......
without seeing your feet it is a guess as to which it is, my best guess [and this ia a guess] is that you have a lack of passive flexion in your ankle, this can cause the foot to rotate towards the outside of the boot in an effort to keep the heel on the bottom of the boot, as this happens all the weight is transfered onto the ball of the foot and the excessive pressure causes pain, numbness etc etc. in 18 or so years i have come across very few people who cannot have this issue solved, but it is a little more work than just a boot and some footbeds.... normally requires a heel raise on the base board [ and possibly inside the liner] the correct boot, the correct footbed and a stretching regime to get it right, often the problem is acetuated by boots that are oversized in an effort to resolve the problem in the first place
if you can make it up top the boot day we should be able to see you then...it is getting incrediby busy and things like this can take a while to solve
as i said without seeing your feet it is a guess but it is the best i can offer right now
hope this helps a bit
regards
Colin
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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doncaster
For what it's worth, here's my short, sweet recommendation. Don't mess about, get your boot fitting sorted once and once only. Go to people who know. If you can get yourself down to London then go to Profeet. I have wide feet and pronation. Profeet sorted it out. I'll have the boots until they fall apart, then I'll go back to Profeet. If you can't get to London then book a week in Val d'Isere. My mate has feet designed by Picasso, I kid you not. When he took his socks off to show me I couldn't stop laughing all night. Anyway, he went to Precision Ski in Val and they sorted him out. Granted, it took a few visits to the shop but you should see the state of his feet. Anyway, they put the time in, stuffed a load of Meccano into his boots and they fit fine.
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Technica Vento 6 Ultrafit.
Given me size 26.5. Originally gave me 26 but feet particularly unhappy.
I wear size 8.5 in shoes, unless they are "not just shoes" but Marks & Spencer extra wide shoes and then 8 is fine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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doncaster
For what it's worth, here's my short, sweet recommendation. Don't mess about, get your boot fitting sorted once and once only. Go to people who know. If you can get yourself down to London then go to Profeet. I have wide feet and pronation. Profeet sorted it out. I'll have the boots until they fall apart, then I'll go back to Profeet. If you can't get to London then book a week in Val d'Isere. My mate has feet designed by Picasso, I kid you not. When he took his socks off to show me I couldn't stop laughing all night. Anyway, he went to Precision Ski in Val and they sorted him out. Granted, it took a few visits to the shop but you should see the state of his feet. Anyway, they put the time in, stuffed a load of Meccano into his boots and they fit fine.
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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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doncaster, another testimony from someone with 'problem' feet. Snow & Rock were never able to completely sort out my painful boots (including giving me shells that were too big, despite what CEM states above) and it wasn't until I visited Profeet that I felt I was getting close to boots that were comfortable. They're still not perfect and I'll be talking to CEM later this month when my girlfriend using his service for a new pair of boots about options for my feet. If I were you, with your problem feet, I'd take your boots back to S&R and start the process again, this time with an exceptional bootfitter. The extra hassle of traveling some distance, whether that's here in the UK or in France, will pay for itself many times over if you get your boots right.
BTW, where did you buy your ski apartment? Good show to buy a place after just three ski trips 
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rob@rar, apartment is in Les Carroz. What makes it even more of a rash purchase is that we have never been skiing in France. All 3 of my previous trips have been to St Anton. But Les Carroz seems like a nice place so looking forward to the winter (when I get some proper boots!).
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You know it makes sense.
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4thefunofit, how long ago was your mate at Precision, i would be interested to know who he saw as a fitter, i know quite a few of the guys that work [worked ] there and there have been a few changes with ownership / management over the past couple of seasons. it would be good to know who is was there as it is always good to have a contact in the resort 
i should add that if i was going to make a special trip anywhere in France it would be to Chamonix to see a zookeeper or two
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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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CEM
We were in Val d'Isere in March 2004. It's a fair point you make, the important thing being not the name of the establishment but the individual who's doing your fittng. Unfortunately though, I don't know the name of the individual at Precision Ski who sorted my mate out. Profeet are the ones who fitted me and that's why I recommend them. Apart from that I've heard that Lockwoods are good and someone in Tignes "just up the road from the Palafour lift" too. As I haven't used Lockwoods or the fella in in Tignes I couldn't say.
I think the important thing which everyone would agree on, though, is that wherever doncaster goes it should be to a fitter with a well-deserved reputation. If a named individual can be recommeded then so much the better. Doing it properly means doing it just the once, saving money in the long term and having no pain.
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Poster: A snowHead
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4thefunofit,
yeh, a couple of the good guys that were at precision have since left, the Guy in Tignes is called..... $%£"* (forgoten his name right now) the shop is Nevada sports, looks like a doctores clinic from the outside, he also has a place in Bourg
I can vouch for the guys at Lockwoods, i worked there for nine years prior to setting up my own business just over a year ago
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Edit:
sources tell me that shop in Bourg is now closed, the guy i was thinking of is Jo Jo and his mate Frank
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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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| CEM wrote: |
Edit:
sources tell me that shop in Bourg is now closed, the guy i was thinking of is Jo Jo and his mate Frank |
Yes Nevada in BSM is now closed. Jo Jo sorted out BernardC's boots last season I believe.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| doncaster wrote: |
| S&R's conclusion was that my feet aren't match fit and I need to practise wearing ski boots and over time my feet will get used to them. |
That sounds like the old 'Don't worry, sir, they'll ride up with wear.'. Chances are, in my experience, they'll get worse the more you wear them.
If you can only wear them for a short time without agony setting in, get to a specialist bootfitter. First sign of discomfort from my boots and I'm off to Profeet (as I live in London).
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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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When I went back with my boots to S&R their conclusion was that I "must have very sensitive feet"! Roughly translated as, "You're a mardy mare - get used to it"! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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maggi, what is the boot, most can as you say be softened in some way, may be as simple as removing a bolt or two
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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CEM, they're Head something (no, not Case spyderjon  ). Will post later from home when I can read the label!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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CEM, 
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spyderjon, i blew my dremel up and that is what i replaced it with a couple of weeks back
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You know it makes sense.
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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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maggi, to be honest i don't find that that bolt makes a lot of difference whatever way up it is, i have not tryed leaving it out completely, the boot will not fall to bits but you will not have any rebound when you flex forward. the best approach is to make some flex cuts in the back of the clog of the boot, or reducing the bulk of the clip straps. they must be identical left to right or you will find the boots flexing unevenly before doing this what is your body weight (you can PM that if you wish) and what size is the boot
hope this helps a little 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| CEM wrote: |
| maggi, .......the best approach is to make some flex cuts in the back of the clog of the boot.... |
Looks like I might get to use my new dremel bits after all.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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maggi, No probs re Thurs evening. I've cut a V out of the back of a few pairs of Sally X-Waves before. The first pair I did were my own boots & the other two were for pupils on a Warren Smith course who couldn't flex there boots. The X-Waves have a dotted line imprinted in the plastic to show you were to cut. I've not seen inside of Head boots before but if you want them softening then unless CEM advises differently I'd do the same to your Heads by removing the cuff & copying the same 'cut-out' section that's on Deb's X-Wave's.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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CEM, AGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! By all means cut a V if you never want your ski boot to return to origin!!!!!!!!
No rebound! If doing this always, always, always add a Booster afterwards.
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CEM, Sorry meant to say remove the spoiler not the cuff. My plan would be to cutt the back with the boot in one piece. I had to take about 3mm off Deb's ankle band to stop that binding. Marking out is no problem but wasn't planning to chain drill but instead just dremel out carefully. On my old X-Wave 9's I slid a small slighty curved thin sheet of ss between the cuff & clog as a depth stop.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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maggi, 
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FAQ
. And I daren't ski with it removed in case the boot falls apart 
. I'm sure you know what you're doing but 