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October, 2024

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Any problems with boots being wide at ball of foot/metatarsal head?

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FarginBastage
Posts: 22 - Karma: 71
Hey guys. I had burning at the balls of my feet after long ski days, so had a tech stretch them considerably at the metatarsal heads. It helped but my feet still burned a bit so I went to another fitter, bought some custom insoles and now I'm 100%. The 2nd fitter said the new last at the met heads were like 106mm. My feet are 99mm. In the shell I can fit a narrow finger between the shell and the big toe met head, but it's a squeeze. I know blowing out the toe box doesn't affect performance, but what about the ball of foot area? My ankles/heels/instep fit like plugs, btw. Thanks in advance!
Sep 16 2018 3:31PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,898
Normally, if you can fit a finger tip between your 1st met and the shell (without a liner on), then it's normal/generous. If your foot is moving around while skiing, this just leads to sloppy skiing. If your foot isn't moving around while skiing and it's comfortable, then just roll with it.
Sep 16 2018 3:37PM
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FarginBastage
Posts: 22 - Karma: 71
onenerdykidNormally, if you can fit a finger tip between your 1st met and the shell (without a liner on), then it's normal/generous. If your foot is moving around while skiing, this just leads to sloppy skiing. If your foot isn't moving around while skiing and it's comfortable, then just roll with it.


Thanks. I thought the ankle/instep/heel fit is what dictates your foot moving around, but I'm no expert so that's why I'm here. If a loose met head region could lead to slop, I think I will go to a boot fitter and reverse the stretching. Right now I don't have any slop but I don't want to develop slop once my liners get packed out.

**This post was edited on Sep 16th 2018 at 4:19:00pm
Sep 16 2018 4:18PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,898
FarginBastageThanks. I thought the ankle/instep/heel fit is what dictates your foot moving around, but I'm no expert so that's why I'm here. If a loose met head region could lead to slop, I think I will go to a boot fitter and reverse the stretching. Right now I don't have any slop but I don't want to develop slop once my liners get packed out.

**This post was edited on Sep 16th 2018 at 4:19:00pm


Ankle & instep are definitely part of it, but if your forefoot slides laterally, your foot will move too. Reversing the stretching is the right step to take next. Easily done and easily made bigger again if needed.
Sep 16 2018 4:42PM
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FarginBastage
Posts: 22 - Karma: 71
Thanks!
Sep 16 2018 5:05PM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,863
My Lupo AX's are 100mm wide and my foot touches both sides of the shell. Probably gonna get them widened cause it gets really painful when I ski more than two days at a time. I also stopped using the supplied liners cause I'd always be in pain from using them, so I use my Il Moro intuition liners for resort days.
Sep 17 2018 1:48PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,898
finderMy Lupo AX's are 100mm wide and my foot touches both sides of the shell. Probably gonna get them widened cause it gets really painful when I ski more than two days at a time. I also stopped using the supplied liners cause I'd always be in pain from using them, so I use my Il Moro intuition liners for resort days.


Yeah, if the sides of your feet are touching the shell, then there's simply no room for a liner and you're just squishing your feet. Definitely a good idea to have the shells widened a bit.
Sep 19 2018 2:51AM
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