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Boot Help

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Pinguu
Posts: 1581 - Karma: 49
I am 6'2" weigh 175lbs

I ride a 28.5 SPK Kaos boot, two years ago model but new last season. I was fitted for these boots and they feel pretty good except for what is killing my skiing... Last year I got the boots and broke them in and they felt alright but shin splints started to build up on the outside of shins. I have skinny legs but this off season I built up my legs and they are a little bigger now. Anyways, I start this season and I'm already beginning to get shin splints on the mid-low outside part of my shins. I BELIEVE this is caused by having skinny legs in a boot that is too big down by my ankles? I bought footbeds, and attached booster straps to the boot so I have done a lot of work towards helping myself out but I really need some advice. What can I do? What can I do to my boots? What boots would I have to buy to fix this problem? And yes yes yes, I may GET FULL TILTS...

+karma for good help
Dec 20 2009 4:20PM
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skates_mcfarlin
Posts: 214 - Karma: 10
shin splints are a funny thing becuase they may not be caused by anything that can be fixed. A few suggestions would be to take a hot air gun, heat the tongue up a point where its really hot to the touch and then you could mold it better to your leg. Also you can take a grinder and grind some of the plastic on the sides away so that there is less stiff material against your leg. Lastly would be to have a boot fitter check your fore and aft balance to see how your sitting in the boot. If your to far forward you could be putting your legs into a position that forces your muscles to contract and then when they get repeatedly hit they will bruise more.

hope that made sense, good luck man
Dec 20 2009 4:42PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
It sounds like you are in a boot that is possibly too big for you, or maybe even the correct size but wrong shape for your foot/leg.  You could have the best footbed in the history of footbeds, but if your leg is allowed to bounce around in the upper cuff and/or your foot is allowed to move inside the shell, it's not going to equate to comfort. 

I know you said your pain is on the outside of your leg, but definitely look into getting some kind of volume reducing pad for your skinny legs, especially on the medial (inside) part of your leg.  Everyone has this void above their ankle and below their calf muscle that can allow for movement to occur.  Try to stop the movement and hopefully you will stop your pain.
Dec 20 2009 7:17PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,269
Yeah, a shock absorbing pad makes sense, isn't shin splints from impact to your legs? like what runners get when they run on concrete a lot?
Dec 20 2009 8:07PM
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Pinguu
Posts: 1581 - Karma: 49
Shin splints is the muscles/ tendons tearing from the bone, yea runners get it a lot. It's from stress when your leg bends the wrong way a lot. Ski boots are rigid so that means your leg can bend easily...

Orange name up there: How can I fill that void above my ankles? I have some foam, it is very soft and about 3/4 think but compacts pretty well. I have herd of people inserting stuff like this, how can I do that? Glue it in the boot? Tuck between my socks and the boot liner? Between the liner and shell?

Thanks a lot guys!
Dec 20 2009 9:17PM
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jabills
Posts: 511 - Karma: 57
i had this exact same problem for a couple years.  i ws in a 27 scratch boot and it killed after going into a shop and having it properly fitted i was in a 26 not 27 and if you do have a skinny leg then two of the best boots for you are dalbello and full tilt.  full tilt runns a little short in the bsl than most companys.  from what you said with your skinny leg the spks are just not the right boot for  you  there are so many ppl saying that there amazing which they are just not for everyone just get into a shop with a good bootfitter or a shop that specilizes in bootfitting and have them help you out and dont just go to one go to a few and see if there is a particular boot that most of the shops reccomend
Dec 21 2009 1:58PM
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Pinguu
Posts: 1581 - Karma: 49
Alright thanks man! I'm going into a shop this evening to hopefully get some advice. Michigan lacks really good boot fitters though... I'll do my best and hopefully be skiing in comfort soon. Any other suggestions? Thanks +karma
Dec 21 2009 2:23PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
The foam goes between the liner and the shell and basically pushes the liner's foam into the natural void that already exists below your calf.  I wouldn't really suggest doing this by yourself, as the foam needs to be cut into a certain shape and ground down to the exact dimensions of the area in question.  Better boot-fitters out there will know what shape to put it in and how to get it spot on.

This trick also works well for anyone looking for a more responsive boot.  
Dec 21 2009 8:57PM
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