Boot problems

Boots don't need to be "broken in", they're not skate shoes. They just need to be heat molded and shell work and they should be good to go. That is if you bought the right boot for your foot...

This is not a matter of breaking in, depending on what your calves are like there are two solutions, if you've got a calf that is lager but gets smaller over a short distance on your leg a wedge could help lift your calf so the cuff doesn't bite as badly, if you've got a larger calf that slowly tapers a solution might be heating up the boot with something to expand it, my shop uses a baileys bottle. Its hard to say for sure what you need without seeing your calf and fitting you in your boots so your best bet is to go to a boot fitter that also does bootwork and they can more accurately diagnose and fix your problem, even with a boot that is right for your foot there is still a lot of things that can go wrong but can be fixed. I don't know anything about your bootfitter but many places will stand by their bootfit and do modifications like this for free

Ski boots are kind of complicated as far as the tongue and having a few plastic flaps in front of the tongue. Make sure that everything overlaps in the right order, and pull up on the tongue so it's not scrunched down. And consider not buckling the upper buckles as tightly as you have been. Get them heat moulded if you didn't.

Another option... Take out the "rear spoiler" in the back of the boot where your calf comes in contact. It's just an extra piece of plastic and removing it will give you some extra calf room

DirtskiingI know you're all going to say go to a boot fitter but I did. I have a pair of B&E full tilts and they are so tight on my calves that my legs start to tingle. Is this a problem with the boot not fitting or are they just not broken in?
K+ for help

KygourzI don't know anything about your bootfitter but many places will stand by their bootfit and do modifications like this for free

OP, if you went to a boot-fitter and your new boots don't fit, then you didn't go to a boot-fitter.

In order to know if it's simply a new boot issue or a wrong boot issue, please answer these questions:
1. Did he do a shell fit? (remove the liner and look at your foot in the shell to make sure it is the right size & shape for your foot)

2. Did you get footbeds? Did he heat mold the liners?

3. Did he not tell you about how new boots should feel? And how to adjust the cables, etc?

Also, in the future, we have a thread dedicated to answering these questions:
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/768122/The-Official---What-is-wrong-with-my-boots---Thread

onenerdykidOP, if you went to a boot-fitter and your new boots don't fit, then you didn't go to a boot-fitter.

In order to know if it's simply a new boot issue or a wrong boot issue, please answer these questions:
1. Did he do a shell fit? (remove the liner and look at your foot in the shell to make sure it is the right size & shape for your foot)

2. Did you get footbeds? Did he heat mold the liners?

3. Did he not tell you about how new boots should feel? And how to adjust the cables, etc?

Also, in the future, we have a thread dedicated to answering these questions:
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/768122/The-Official---What-is-wrong-with-my-boots---Thread

Especially on things places like the calf a boot can feel good in a shop and fit your foot but after skiing them problems arise, that's a major reason why people do bootwork so just because you go a bootfitters doesn't mean there are going to be no problems.
Shell testing and footbeds will most likely not solve his problems.

onenerdykidOP, if you went to a boot-fitter and your new boots don't fit, then you didn't go to a boot-fitter.

This. Boot salesman =/= bootfitter.

But if you really did go through the whole process of getting properly fit and molded for that boot, did you go back and tell them that you're having issues? Bootfitters want to know if you're still having problems after being fit.

just ride they there are new. you probably just need to pack in the liner a bit more

KygourzEspecially on things places like the calf a boot can feel good in a shop and fit your foot but after skiing them problems arise, that's a major reason why people do bootwork so just because you go a bootfitters doesn't mean there are going to be no problems.
Shell testing and footbeds will most likely not solve his problems.

The reason I asked about a shell fit and footbeds was to know if he is in the right size and if his foot is properly supported- these are the 2 most important things to check for in order to solve any fit related issues. If the answer to either or both of these questions comes back "no" then they should be the very first things to remedy.

I don't think I need to explain why being in the right size is crucial. And without a footbed, then his foot, ankle, and leg will therefore be not properly positioned in the shell, cuff, and liner which could very well be contributing to calf pressure.

Lastly, you would not want to do a liner mold or any shell adjustment without a footbed in place. Doing so dramatically lessens your chances at having a comfortable boot.

If we start recommending solutions without knowing any of the above, then we are merely randomly offering help without knowing the primary cause of his discomfort.

onenerdykidThe reason I asked about a shell fit and footbeds was to know if he is in the right size and if his foot is properly supported- these are the 2 most important things to check for in order to solve any fit related issues. If the answer to either or both of these questions comes back "no" then they should be the very first things to remedy.

I don't think I need to explain why being in the right size is crucial. And without a footbed, then his foot, ankle, and leg will therefore be not properly positioned in the shell, cuff, and liner which could very well be contributing to calf pressure.

Lastly, you would not want to do a liner mold or any shell adjustment without a footbed in place. Doing so dramatically lessens your chances at having a comfortable boot.

If we start recommending solutions without knowing any of the above, then we are merely randomly offering help without knowing the primary cause of his discomfort.

If he got bootfitted which he said he did he shouldn't be worried about fit and I can't disagree that he needs a footbed whether he has problems or not but he shouldn't just throw one in and say good enough because it is unlikely that that will actually fix his calfs being squeezed too tight.

onenerdykidLastly, you would not want to do a liner mold or any shell adjustment without a footbed in place. Doing so dramatically lessens your chances at having a comfortable boot.

Do I have to have footbed to mold? Do I have to get a a footbed from my ski shop or can other stores make them for you to?

DirtskiingDo I have to have footbed to mold? Do I have to get a a footbed from my ski shop or can other stores make them for you to?

i'd go to a ski shop, more likely to get the footbed you're looking for/needing. you can get different types of foot beds for different activities so i'd visit a ski shop who specialize in ski foot beds

KygourzIf he got bootfitted which he said he did he shouldn't be worried about fit and I can't disagree that he needs a footbed whether he has problems or not but he shouldn't just throw one in and say good enough because it is unlikely that that will actually fix his calfs being squeezed too tight.

A proper footbed could fix his problems. It could lift his foot enough to where the bottom of his calf muscle isn't being squished by the liner.

Caucasian_AsianA proper footbed could fix his problems. It could lift his foot enough to where the bottom of his calf muscle isn't being squished by the liner.

It's possible but I would put money on that not being enough; if it was just mild discomfort that may be good enough, but he's losing circulation, I would put a footbed in as well as a small wedge in the heel under the liner