i'm in need of new boots and wonder if there are any brands which are known to cater for the broad-of-foot specifically? way back when i bought this pair, i was advised that nordica's were wide. i guess these days that boots can be pretty much 'configured' for every foot but if there's a brand(s) that i should be looking for that would be helpful. ta.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
No specific brand, but there are specific models. The last measurement is what you need to look at - e.g. my Atomic B90s are very wide at 104mm last, if you have a google most of the info is there.
At the same time there are Atomic boots I couldn't even get my foot into, so not as simple as one brand doing what you want. You need to find someone who knows what they are doing, or a shop with a very wide range to cater for every size and shape.
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?
thanks, Monium. i've got a good shop nearby but wanted to do a bit of t'internet searching before going in. as i know "google is my friend"! ta.
Think Head boots are generally among the widest - my brother and I both have very wide feet and head boots were the only ones we could wear without getting the boots modified.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
grazzenger, i have a very wide very small foot , and my salomon impacts are a great fit , after a liitle teaking in the toe area
What Monium said. Atomic boots in 2009:
Race: Race Tec series (98 mm last, available from 90 to 140 flex)
High Performance: Hawx series (100 mm last, available from 80 to 120 flex)
Sport: M-tech series (102 mm last, available from 70 to 100 flex)
Comfort: B-tech series (104 mm last, available from 50 to 120 flex)
The width of the last refers to the internal width of the forefoot zone. A professional bootfitter will measure the width of your foot and offer you an appropriately sized boot to try.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
good to gather your wisdom, many thanks. it looks like there's a lot more variation is spec, ie width gradings as walter-spitty outlines, than there was when i bought mine 11 years ago (probably not helped by having just moved to munich and not speaking much german, i think i got bunged whatever they had to hand).
After all it is free
After all it is free
Thanks for that link grazzenger.
I just had a weird moment on that web page; I saw the 2nd picture down of the skier in the red jacket and thought, "that looks like the same skiing style as R. Mark Elling", author of The All-Mountain Skier. I hovered my mouse over the picture and lo and behold it says: "Boot tester Mark Elling"!
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.
grazzenger, shape of the boot is as important as the width, often boots advertised as wide may feel too narrow if the toe box shape isn't right for your foot
other things to consider are the biomechanics of your feet, excessive pronation or a limited range of motion at your ankle joint can be the cause of your foot "functioning wide" when it may not measure wide or as wide as it feels, a good boot fitter should be able to work with you on this and get you into something that works (or recommend the right boot if they don't have it)
also be very wary of moving up a size to get a wider boot, this is a commonly done thing to save some shops stretching the shell of the correct length boot to gain a mm or 2 and results in you not being in the correct place in the boot shell which causes more problems down the line
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
grazzenger, my husband has very wide feet, and has Atomic boots (don't know the specific type, sorry) but also has big calves and has found Head to be comfy too. Depending where you live, Rivington Alpine are very good as suppliers/fitters
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
CEM, many thanks. i've read some of your posts, so appreciate that your advice is expert. i've a good relationship with one of our local shops (we're a bit spoilt being an hour or so from the scottish slopes) and they know their stuff so i'm confident, from a previous chat with them, that they'll take the time, measurements, etc to get the very best fit for my requirements.
i've discussed my G fitting feet with them and they mentioned stretching the shell. as a specialist independent, they understand the value of excellent customer service (ie take the time and get it right and i'll be back again and again. as an independent retailer myself, i have very high expectations of others!).
anniepen, ta, i've been checking out heads as the adapt edge seem a possibility for the list.
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.
grazzenger, not sure what shop you are using but around those parts i would probably talk to craigdon mountain sports
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Cem,
Regards, having a limited range of motion at the ankle joint can cause your foot to function wide or feel wide ?
Can certain exercises and ankle flexibilty stretching help here with wider feet, it sounds complex .
Is it a area we can help improve things ourselves.
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much on Sat 17-03-12 23:56; edited 1 time in total
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Tirol 164, if the ankle joint is unable to flex enough to enable you to stand relaxed in the boot and then flex forward maintaining equal weight on both the heel and the ball of the foot rather than just loading the ball of the foot, one of the mechanisms is that the foot will pronate to try and keep contact under its entire surface (the heel bone is being pulled into eversion by the achillies tendon and the tight calf muscles, as this happens the foot will try to externally rotate...(to keep contact under the heel and shorten the muscle pathways as it does).... the effect here is that the foot feels that the side of the boot is pressing..... actually all it is doing is stopping the foot from externally rotating more than if it were not contained, thus the feeling of the need for a wider boot
there are a number of things that can help, not all of them obvious
stretching for the calf muscles and the hamstrings, this will help with giving enough flexion to maintain balance across the whole foot whilst skiing
stretch the outer edge of the boot...if it really needs it
stretch the inner side of the boot by the ankle/navicular as this can cause the foot to rotate further if there is pressure on either bone
add heel lifts to the boot (altering the mechanics to utilize the range of motion available)
support the foot properly on a well made orthotic footbed
all in all if you have good flexibility in the calf muscles and hamstrings and the foot is well supported then there are less things that can go wrong
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Cem Reading many of your posts flexibility in the calfs and lower tendons keeps coming up with wide feet or not.
If I remember right!
Muscles have a initial training effect or improve quite quickly as in a number of weeks but I think tendons and ligaments take more like three months?
That may not be completely accurate but you see my time frame point.
Would this point too inflexible tendons in the foot and heel area often being forgotten about but very important for pain free feet and all day boot comfort.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Tirol 164, i could go with that, general flexibility in the lower leg is a massive part of comfort when skiing (along with correct size, shape boots good footbeds optimum forward lean etc etc)
muscles stretch easily, tendons being linked to muscles will stretch to an extent but mostly the muscle does the stretching, ligaments join bones to bones you don't want them to stretch much !!!!
now throw in the mix any bone blockage in the talar roll and all things get a bit more emmmm, errrrr solid!
why do i talk about it so much.... well probably 80% of the people we see need to stretch more, and 20% just have no flexion whatsoever, why do we see so many? my only thought is that these tend to be people who have tried all sorts of boots /stores and not had success, mostly because nobody has tested flexion and explained it
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Thanks Cem as always.
I never would have thought how important this range of motion is at the ankle joint and its total affect on everything else..it has a large domino effect.
So much so I am trying to find a excuse for not being fully aware but I can,t.
I had too spend some time on the net reading and going over your replys to get it, wikipedia on eversion etc.
It can be a massive area of improvement and looks to be a large part of the combination needed for bootfit and general function.Especially perhaps with higher forces on piste.
Found one link so far in regards too specific snowsports lower leg flexibility.
If others interested in this know of any links that make good reading and can highlight the importance of ankle flexibility please add here.
Considering what Cem has stated percentage wise no one probably will.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Sun 18-03-12 18:32; edited 1 time in total
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?
Quote:
Tirol 164, if the ankle joint is unable to flex enough to enable you to stand relaxed in the boot and then flex forward maintaining equal weight on both the heel and the ball of the foot rather than just loading the ball of the foot, one of the mechanisms is that the foot will pronate to try and keep contact under its entire surface (the heel bone is being pulled into eversion by the achillies tendon and the tight calf muscles, as this happens the foot will try to externally rotate...(to keep contact under the heel and shorten the muscle pathways as it does).... the effect here is that the foot feels that the side of the boot is pressing..... actually all it is doing is stopping the foot from externally rotating more than if it were not contained, thus the feeling of the need for a wider boot
= when you ski, your feet put pressure on the edge of your boot cos you are using your muscles (well that's about all I can work out).
I thought that was pretty much why ski boots were made from a hard shell and were done up tight... to stop you sliding/rolling out of them and stopping loss of energy by rattling around in the boot; enabling decent transfer of energy into the ski/ice skate/rollerblade or whatever else needs it.
Looks like the new line of Atomic Live Fit boots may please a few chappies.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
