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Boot fitter question

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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
My foot is shaped weird. I have an average width foot, however, the widest part of my foot is pushed back towards my ankle/ heal. The boot fitter told me that widest part of most people's feet is right below the pinky toe. Mine is pushed back. This causes immense pain and pressure on the side of my foot. Very intense.The fitter told me that i shouldn't go with a boot made for wide feet. Becaause my foot and ankle is actually quite slender. He said I need a boot that is more square shaped.
He recommend the salomon xpro 100.
Anyone have any other recommendations or suggestions? I'm tired of my feet hurting. I have custom foot beds.
Nov 29 2013 11:33PM
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D34DM0053
Posts: 150 - Karma: 604
Get really custom shaped boot shells like vacuums. Shit would feel like heaven on your feets.
Nov 29 2013 11:46PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,502
The fitter sounds like he knows what he is talking about. You don't want to go for a really wide shell just for one wide section. Your better staring too narrow and getting the part which is tight pushed out. The x pro is great for that as it has custom shell. The x pro is a medium volume but as it can adapt it may well be very good for you. Make sure the footbeds are holding you in neutral and get the shells worked and and you should be good. It's a very common problem so don't worry it's what fitters do all the time.
Nov 30 2013 3:40AM
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D_Elgar
Posts: 210 - Karma: 391
Listen to the boot fitter
Nov 30 2013 10:08AM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
Listened to the bootfitter it new footbeds and the salomon xpro 100, had the liner and shell heat molded to my feet.
Went to copper, sides of feet and bottoms of feet on fire!!! Crazy style.
Took them back, and picked them up the next day. The said the punched out the sides. Went skiing today same deal, the sides and bottom of my feet are on fire.
I am gettting very very frustrated because this is ruining my ski days that I have so few of these days. Hurts so bad that it makes me ski as gingerly as possible to avoid pressure.
Dec 14 2013 12:19PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,899
There are a few things in here that no one on here will ever be able to answer properly for you, but I have a feeling it comes down to your footbeds. There isn't one perfect footbed that suits everyone's needs, so perhaps the one you have simply doesn't agree with the needs of your foot.

However, even if you do have the right footbed for your foot, you have to get used to it. You cannot go from wearing skate shoes with zero arch support to wearing ski boots with 100% arch support inside them. Your feet will burn and cramp like crazy.

The human foot has 3 main arches to it and if you are not accustomed to wearing arch support in your everyday shoes, then your foot has to adjust and literally realign itself in your ski boot. So do yourself a favor and get some footbeds for your everyday shoes. Your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and back will thank you in the long run and it will also make switching to ski boots way easier for you.
Dec 14 2013 12:28PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,502
Yeah onenerdy has it exactly. Its a footbed issue OP. What brand of footbed did you buy? It sounds like they are not sufficiently supporting you and your foot is still pronating quite a bit, hence why you needed the shell widened. What is the the shop your going too, it may simply taht they do not have a great fitter, the reason I say this is the fact they punched your shell rather then correctly molding it.

I would imagine it is just footbed related, but as onenerdy says they may just take time to get used to but I think in your case its simply a lack of support.
Dec 14 2013 12:45PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,816
Very interesting. I have legit orthotics that I wear in my boots (I have really flat feet), but I don't really give a shit for everyday use because my shoes feel fine and I it's a hassle to constantly swap footbeds around between shoes. But the first handful of runs cramp the hell out of my arches almost every day on snow.

Guess I'll go invest in some more footbeds.
Dec 14 2013 3:10PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
I don't wear skate shoes. I wear gym shoes most of the time, and dress shoes when I am at the office. I don't have flat feet. The burning on the bottom of my feet is 2nd to the pain/burning/pressure I get on the outside of my foot. That shit is no joke, hurts like hell. I am not sure the brand of the footbed, it is made of cork. The bootfitter heat molded them to my feet, and did lots of sanding and molding. Under the bottom of the heal portion it is completely flat, and allows my foot to sit in a neutral position.
I don't think it is the footbeds, I have tried 2 different footbeds and have had the same results. I think that my foot is oddly shaped, and has changed a bit since I have gotten old. Notice how the widest part of my foot is over halfway down my foot? This is seriously ruining skiing days.

[img][URL=http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/speedin1983/media/foot_zpsc07ea1dc.jpg.html]Click for larger image[/URL][/img]
Dec 16 2013 10:47AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,899
I've never really been a fan of the Kork footbeds from Superfeet, but if you think they are working for you then let's move on to the shape of your foot.

The good news is that your foot is not abnormal.

This footshape is very common and the problem in your boot (should be) easily fixable. The area on the outside of your foot towards the rear which is pronounced is called the tuberosity of the 5th metatarsal and it can really hurt when the slightest pressure is applied to that area.

Because most boots have a V-shape to the their last, your foot has more of a upside down "h" shape. All the boot fitter has to do is reshape the lateral side of the boot (particularly at the tuberosity) and you will be in a lot more comfort. This will in turn allow your foot to sit more naturally on the footbed and thus be more comfortable there too.
Dec 16 2013 11:21AM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
What other footbeds do you recommend besides the Superfeet?

So, I purchased these boots because they were recomended to me because the shell is heat moldable, and would be easier to shape to my foot.
I had the liners, and shells heat molded. The fitter put some foam on the outside of my foot where the problem area is, and I sliped on the liners and shells. The shells, where pretty flimsy when he took them out of the oven. However, I am having my doubts as far as the "heat moldable" claims for this shell.
Like I said, the shells were pretty soft and flimsy when they came out of the oven, however I don't think the foam put enough pressure on that area to actually widen the shell enough. I feel that the liner just compensated for the added volume in that area.
Should I have the shells pushed out in that area? O should I have the shells completely re heat molded to my foot?


Dec 16 2013 11:58AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,899
When it comes to molded footbeds, I prefer to work with something from Sidas- a real blank piece of thermo moldable plastic that is molded to your foot and then posted correctly. This requires a really skilled footbed maker, which is what you should search for (not just a brand of footbed). You also should check out the brand A-Line since for being an off the shelf footbed they do a fantastic and most of the time better job of properly supporting the foot. Plus they have a special relief zone on the 5th met to relieve pressure in exactly the area you are having issues with.

I re-read an earlier post you made, where you dropped off the shells and the shop stretched them again (without you there?). Did they do really do this? Did the shells look wider in said area? Also, did they open the shell, put your footbed in the shell, and then look at your foot+footbed combo in the shell to see how much room is between your foot and shell? When your foot is on the footbed and centered in the shell, you should have about 5mm of space between your 5th met and shell. If you don't have this space, you should have them mechanically stretched to achieve this.
Dec 16 2013 12:12PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,502
I would have to agree with onenerdy about looking for sidas footbeds. The Korks are not much good and would explain much of your pain. The korks simply can not surport your foot in neutral thanks to the way they are made with the cap.

There is a better way to mold your shells too. Have ff block foam stuck to the outside of the liner when they mold your shells. It's a much more effective way to get volume in that shell
Dec 16 2013 12:25PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
No, I really don't think he actually did it. He was kind of annoyed that I brought the boots back the next day. I walk up, he takes one look at me and tells me that the footbeds and liners need atleast 5 days of skiing for proper break in. I told him I understand that the boots will feel tight, which they do, but I am having a hard time even skiing 1 run, without extreme pain.
So no, I don't believe he actually did anything to them. The shells don't look any wider, I inspected inside, and there wasn't any change. Funny, because when I went to pick them up, the fitter said they were cooling down and would be ready in 20 minutes. 20 minutes later I came back, and they were not even luke warm.
If I take the footbed out of the liner, and place it on the ground, and then step on it. You can literlly see that area of my foot is much wider then the footbed.
I will check what my foot looks like in the shell on the footbed without the liner.

The problem for me is that I purchased boots in Colorado. I live in Illinois, far away. There really are not any quality bootfitters around here that I know of. I would like to try doing it myself, but am scared that I will mess up the shells.

Dec 16 2013 12:26PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,502
As I said before it's not very common to need to stretch those custom shells it's far better to mold them with foam on the liner. See if he will cut some dd block foam so that it sits on the 5th met and back as far as you feel it tight.

As for the korks unfortunately there is little you can do to inprove them now. Unlike sidas for instance once they are molded that's it there is no chance to alter the shape. It's partly for this reasons quite a few shops have moved to sidas in North America. Jeff from superfeet did try to inprove the product with the Kirk pro but if they are made how superfeet sugger they are no better. The best was to make them is mold without the cap then stabilise with a sidas stabiliser. Not many shops will have staff that can offer this though so maybe see if you can find a shop who work with sidas and start again with the footbeds.
Dec 16 2013 2:27PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
When I had the boots fitted they heated the shell and liner. They stuck foam to the side of my foot, and put a nylon over to hold it in place. Put my foot in the liner, and shell.
You said to put the foam on the liner. I still don't see how that would be any different. I feel that the liner will compress and not move the shell. I don't see how the shell would actually be able the stretch using this method, unless you got the shell insanely hot, jeopardizing the structural integrity.
Like I said before the bootfitter got the shells pretty hot, but it did little as far as widening the area....


Dec 16 2013 2:59PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,502
If you get it in the right spots and its a stiff foam the liner will not just compress because your foot will be there too. The stiff foam will push the shell away a small amout in the same way it would be if it was stretched but it allows to fitter to be more precise as the foot it's elf is used to stretch the boot. The shells should get up to 80degrees C. You should stand in them for around ten minutes ice packs can be used to help cool them and sidas even mamba boot glove which can be frozen to really speed up the cooling. You should stand with the toes elevated and just resting in the tounge not flexing the boot. Flexing will bow the boot out. If you really want more space stand flat and flex forward. This is what I have found to work best working with the custom shells for a few years.
Dec 16 2013 3:44PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
Like I said, I am not aware of any qualified boot fitters around my location.
So I might have to do the DIY route.

Where can I purchase some foam?
Here is my idea, feel free to tell me if I am wrong.

Use the foam you recommended, stuck to the outside of the liner.
Heat the specific area of the shell with a heat gun, up to temperature.
Put my foot with the liner and foam attached into the shell.
Let it cool like you said with ice packs.

The rest of the shell/boot feels good, its just this one area. Which is why I thought it would be better just to heat up the area in need of stretching instead of the whole shell.

My only question is. How do I keep the foam from getting knocked off the liner when I put it into the shell?
Should I put the liner into the shell by hand, and then put my foot into it?
Or should I put the liner on my foot and try to step into the shell?




Dec 16 2013 5:19PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
bump

Dec 18 2013 12:50PM
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