 Poster: A snowHead
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As you know, I have made a few postings re. ski boots. Although, there have been quite a few posts re footbeds/insoles, I feel that posts are sometimes "hijacked" and the real reason and sense of the posting is lost.
As you know, I bought my new boots last Thursday. I took some time over it as I didn't want to make the mistake as I did last time by buying boots far too big. They are a size 25.5 (3 shops confirmed this size) so I was happy with that.
The assistant was extremely helpful and very professional. She did a 4-point shell check and I tried on the boots (I had already tried on these boots once before and she kept them behind for me). When I bought the boots, she heat moulded the liners. She told me that I should wear them about the house to "break them in" and that ski boots lose 10-15% volume after about 15 hours (I presume this is 15 hours skiing). I enquired about footbeds/insoles and she said that these could be added at a later date.
I have been wearing them about the house and my feet do feel painful (tingling, pins and needles, numbness).
What I really need to know is:
Should I be considering footbeds/insoles now or should I just leave it for the moment? How do I know that I need insoles and what exactly do insoles/footbeds do?
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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You need them.
They make your boots fit properly.
Use search function for lengthy threads, all of which will come to the same conclusion as the 2 points above.
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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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jb1970, I've skied since 1959 with every form of ski boot and generally use them straight from the shelf with no custom fitting or special footbeds. Sorry, but I doubt if inserting fancy footbeds would help you.
I think your points about numbness, tingling and pins/needles are an indictment of the ski boot industry. On the surface it seems ridiculous that you're suffering these issues 35 years after plastic boots came in. I wouldn't necessarily accept that what sounds like [insert caveat] a blood circulation problem from the boots is going to ease itself.
Your posting is another reminder why rear-entry boots were a good idea. I bet you'd have had more luck with rear-entry designs because they could be chosen to apply less pressure around the foot.
It shouldn't take 15 hours to break in a pair of boots, in my view. They should fit your foot from the outset.
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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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I'd take David Goldsmith's fine advice - actually, why not just lash your walking boots to some 2m30 straight planks? That'd fit from the outset!
(Footbeds make a huge difference, really helping your foot - numbness and tingling might be a result of your liner restricting circulation while it breaks in, your shell being a little too tight in some areas, or your foot not sitting right in the base. Either way, a footbed will make your boot more precise and comfortable and may solve the issues you're having too.)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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David Goldsmith,
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I think your points about numbness, tingling and pins/needles are an indictment of the ski boot industry. On the surface it seems ridiculous that you're suffering these issues 35 years after plastic boots came in
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How true! Did the old Leather ski boot's have these problems?
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jb1970, I've skied since 1959 with every form of ski boot and generally use them straight from the shelf with no custom fitting or special footbeds. Sorry, but I doubt if inserting fancy footbeds would help you.
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You're very lucky to have "off-the-shelf" feet, then.
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Surely it stands to reason that many of us would feel the comfort benefit of custom footbeds/ insoles in all manner of shoes. The fact that boots can be comfortable straight off the shelf doesn't mean they can't be more comfortable with a custom footbed? They're not exactly a massive expense (within the context of new boots). See a bootfitter or Pedorthist and see what they think. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
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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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A couple of points :-
You do not specify where the tingling and pain is,so it is not possible to know if an insole will cure this.
Conformable insoles are not expensive.
They are worth it in my view. I have used them in rear entry and front clip boots. I skied for many years without them;but they definitely did help relieve discomfort I started to experience. I have high arches and the idea of spreading the load also sounded plausible to me. Having said that I should point out that my boots were not uncomfortable when I intially bought them.
It is interesting to see David Goldsmith putting, for want of a better phrase, an 'anti-modernist' approach to boots.
I have a couple of humorous books from the 80s about various skiing character types. I will have to see if I can track down the one that might apply to David.
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Latchigo, Like you, I also have high arches. In fact, my arches are hurting just now and I don't have my ski boots on. I think it might be worth considering the footbeds/insoles.
The girl at Ellis Brigham will think I am a complete nutter, I have been into the shop twice since buying the boots to ask things.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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How ironic - David Goldsmith recommending rear entry to jb1970 
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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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I'd also recommend them to jb2007.
Actually it would be nice for consumers to have a choice, wouldn't it? You can get cars with rear-entry, but of course the idea that ski boots should have more than one design is madness.
I'm kind of glad that I lived through chapters in the ski industry when manufacturers had alternative attitudes.
It's a 'me too' world now. Bunch of clones making clone products.
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You know it makes sense.
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Not at all David. There is a hell of a lot of new technology out there and some very cutting egde products however retailers have to be very realistic about what products they stock so they are not left with piles of stock at the end of a season.
I personally think there is a lot more choice out there today. Look at skis. In the 80s they were long and skiny SL or GS. Now with off piste, park, all mountain, short fats, carvers etc etc there is a lot more alternatives than there have been for a long time.
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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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Footbeds aren't just for comfort - in fact the best thing I ever bought for my technique were a £30 set of custom footbeds. They are used to align your body correctly over the feet if you have slighty prolinated feet (which a huge number of people do). This means that rolling the knees across really does lead to simultaneous edge change, and not one going over and then the other a split second later. I'm not sure how much difference they would make for a beginner, but may as well start off on the right foot. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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iblair, Is pronated the bow-legged or the knock-kneed one ?
I am surprised nobody has recommended cants for the newstyle, bow-legged, cowboy style which is the current fashion. The A frame stance is so last century.
Drifting away from the original question here though. I think jb1970 wants comfort before he starts looking at other issues.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Too be honest, I can't remember, as I've had them for years and the adjustment is very slight. Canting often doesn't adjust far enough to have the desired effect, at least not in my boots.
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FAQ
Insoles not .........
