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Boot Buckles

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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
How tight should my ski boot buckles be while boots are on, like should I make them all similar tightness or some looser and stuff like that
Jan 17 2019 12:59PM
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Greg_K
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,747
sauceboss420How tight should my ski boot buckles be while boots are on, like should I make them all similar tightness or some looser and stuff like that


Tighter on the top two as they do the work securing your foot and looser on the bottom two as they are there just to seal your boot from snow getting in.

https://youtu.be/6bjiy2pIcxE
Video which shows the proper tightness and sequence.

**This post was edited on Jan 17th 2019 at 1:13:46pm
Jan 17 2019 1:13PM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1709 - Karma: 11,064
Yeah as greg said above buckle top two moderately stiff as they hold your foot and ankle in place,then the bottom two (or one on a three piece boot) should be left light enough to be lifted with little strain from your pinky.
Jan 17 2019 1:18PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Greg_KTighter on the top two as they do the work securing your foot and looser on the bottom two as they are there just to seal your boot from snow getting in.

https://youtu.be/6bjiy2pIcxE
Video which shows the proper tightness and sequence.

**This post was edited on Jan 17th 2019 at 1:13:46pm


Ok but when you say tighter on the top does that mean like as tight as possible or kinda tight
Jan 17 2019 1:30PM
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Session
Posts: 5400 - Karma: 22,469
sauceboss420Ok but when you say tighter on the top does that mean like as tight as possible or kinda tight


as tight as can be while still being comfortable.
Jan 17 2019 1:35PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Sessionas tight as can be while still being comfortable.


Ok gotcha
Jan 17 2019 1:36PM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1709 - Karma: 11,064
sauceboss420Ok but when you say tighter on the top does that mean like as tight as possible or kinda tight


Tight to the point where moving the next buckle up isn’t really possible or just feels too tight
Jan 17 2019 1:37PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
powpatrolTight to the point where moving the next buckle up isn’t really possible or just feels too tight


Ok, in all honesty Im in a very weird non permanent situation and just seeking ways of comfort with out having to pay a lot of money. I got some full tilits with out trying them on and am realizing that my legs are too skinny, and I get badddd shin bang. I currently use some compression pad things I found at dicks sporting goods to fill up the space and it definitely helps but I also then leave the top buck super loose, almost wish it wasn't even there and that feels pretty alright but I just wanted to hear if that was normal at all.
Jan 17 2019 1:45PM
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Greg_K
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,747
sauceboss420Ok, in all honesty Im in a very weird non permanent situation and just seeking ways of comfort with out having to pay a lot of money. I got some full tilits with out trying them on and am realizing that my legs are too skinny, and I get badddd shin bang. I currently use some compression pad things I found at dicks sporting goods to fill up the space and it definitely helps but I also then leave the top buck super loose, almost wish it wasn't even there and that feels pretty alright but I just wanted to hear if that was normal at all.


Your boots are too big it sounds like so then they were bruised and now it’s tender. Boot bang is usually caused from boots being too big and then your shin slamming the front of the boot because there is too much room in there.
Measure or get your foot measured properly so you can get the right size and you’ll see you should be a size down (or two) from what you have. Cheaper just to sell those boots and get the proper sized ones that fit properly. Craigslist, Kijiji or forums like this have used boots in your size that would cause you less grief and probably for less money than band aid solutions like you’re using.
Jan 17 2019 2:56PM
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-eREKTion-
Posts: 1629 - Karma: 10,939
Top two need to be tight, that goes for the power strap as well. The cuff of the boot is going to keep your shin and your heel held in place. The bottom two buckles can be looser, if your boots are properly fitted you could even ski with them unbuckled. Basically, you want your toes to be able to wiggle a bit but not move laterally, your mid-foot should be held snugly with firm pressure all around (but no pressure points obviously), and your heel should be held totally in place. You'll need to adjust each boot a bit differently as your feet are slightly different, I'm usually a notch tighter on my right cuff.
Jan 17 2019 3:02PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Greg_KYour boots are too big it sounds like so then they were bruised and now it’s tender. Boot bang is usually caused from boots being too big and then your shin slamming the front of the boot because there is too much room in there.
Measure or get your foot measured properly so you can get the right size and you’ll see you should be a size down (or two) from what you have. Cheaper just to sell those boots and get the proper sized ones that fit properly. Craigslist, Kijiji or forums like this have used boots in your size that would cause you less grief and probably for less money than band aid solutions like you’re using.


Im not doubting that you know much more about this than I do, because I really don't but I actually did that, I was in a 26.5 and went down to 25.5 after a fitter said the same thing, but it really seems like the liners cannot get tight enough around my leg which cause slight space near the top of the boot and I think you are right, my shins are definitely some sort of bruised. I dont know if this is possible either but do you know if new liners could potentially help?
Jan 17 2019 3:03PM
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-eREKTion-
Posts: 1629 - Karma: 10,939
sauceboss420Im not doubting that you know much more about this than I do, because I really don't but I actually did that, I was in a 26.5 and went down to 25.5 after a fitter said the same thing, but it really seems like the liners cannot get tight enough around my leg which cause slight space near the top of the boot and I think you are right, my shins are definitely some sort of bruised. I dont know if this is possible either but do you know if new liners could potentially help?


Liners could help. The dirtbag fix would be to put a beer koozie in the front of your liner, that can sometimes help take up some unwanted volume.
Jan 17 2019 3:05PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
-eREKTion-Liners could help. The dirtbag fix would be to put a beer koozie in the front of your liner, that can sometimes help take up some unwanted volume.


Hold up, in front of the liner? like in between the tongue and the liner?
Jan 17 2019 3:11PM
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-eREKTion-
Posts: 1629 - Karma: 10,939
sauceboss420Hold up, in front of the liner? like in between the tongue and the liner?


In between the liner and your shin, make sure it's held snugly so it doesn't move. I can't stress how ghetto of a fix it is but it does work, we keep foam lying around the shop for that purpose. If going to a bootfitter/getting a new liner is out of your budget, it's a decent stopgap.
Jan 17 2019 3:15PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Yea, I have some of these actually got em for 5 bucks and they for sure help actually, although not a permanent solution. I am also using a lot of advil.
Jan 17 2019 3:17PM
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Greg_K
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,747
sauceboss420Im not doubting that you know much more about this than I do, because I really don't but I actually did that, I was in a 26.5 and went down to 25.5 after a fitter said the same thing, but it really seems like the liners cannot get tight enough around my leg which cause slight space near the top of the boot and I think you are right, my shins are definitely some sort of bruised. I dont know if this is possible either but do you know if new liners could potentially help?


If the fitter doesn’t think you should be in 24.5 boots, I guess the 25.5 should be good.

Do you have a Booster strap on your Full Tilts? If not that should be the cure to get your boots tight on the top of your boots. Gets your liner tight and allows you to get the top buckle tight like shown in that video even though they just showed a regular power strap on it.

If you got the bruises on the 26.5 boots, your shins might be sore for a bit even with the 25.5 boots but it will eventually heal.

Aftermarket liners like intuition would definitely help as you can get thicker volume liners into the same size shell. I’d try the Booster strap first unless you have lots of days on those boots already as most factory liners last about 100 full ski days.
Jan 17 2019 3:30PM
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Mtuhockey33
Posts: 765 - Karma: -2,197
sauceboss420Im not doubting that you know much more about this than I do, because I really don't but I actually did that, I was in a 26.5 and went down to 25.5 after a fitter said the same thing, but it really seems like the liners cannot get tight enough around my leg which cause slight space near the top of the boot and I think you are right, my shins are definitely some sort of bruised. I dont know if this is possible either but do you know if new liners could potentially help?


Dude I’m literally in the same boat; I was in a 26.5 Salomon Ghost 130 (305 BSL) went down to a 25.5 (293 BSL) Seth Mo Pro FT and they were great the first season (about 70 days). This second season (about 40 now) I’ve had horrible shin bang on them... no idea why this is happening. Could the liner already be packed out? (Intuition Pro)

I have the money now for a boot fitter but I’m not stoked about dropping $1,000 on new boots and a fitting when I can drop $150-250 and make boots work for a season..
Jan 17 2019 3:43PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Greg_KIf the fitter doesn’t think you should be in 24.5 boots, I guess the 25.5 should be good.

Do you have a Booster strap on your Full Tilts? If not that should be the cure to get your boots tight on the top of your boots. Gets your liner tight and allows you to get the top buckle tight like shown in that video even though they just showed a regular power strap on it.

If you got the bruises on the 26.5 boots, your shins might be sore for a bit even with the 25.5 boots but it will eventually heal.

Aftermarket liners like intuition would definitely help as you can get thicker volume liners into the same size shell. I’d try the Booster strap first unless you have lots of days on those boots already as most factory liners last about 100 full ski days.


I have intuition liners and a booster strap but maybe im just not going tight enough and I mean I got these boots this season, also I noticed that when my buckles are slightly looser and my tongue can flex more so do my skis. Like is it super dangerous to leave the top of your boot unbuckled if you make the ankle one super tight? Ps thanks for all the help so far.
Jan 17 2019 3:46PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Mtuhockey33Dude I’m literally in the same boat; I was in a 26.5 Salomon Ghost 130 (305 BSL) went down to a 25.5 (293 BSL) Seth Mo Pro FT and they were great the first season (about 70 days). This second season (about 40 now) I’ve had horrible shin bang on them... no idea why this is happening. Could the liner already be packed out? (Intuition Pro)

I have the money now for a boot fitter but I’m not stoked about dropping $1,000 on new boots and a fitting when I can drop $150-250 and make boots work for a season..


Im telling ya man try those exact pad things and if you are in 25.5 id go with medium, kinda tight but that way they dont slide so much. They kinda fill in as a cheep extra liner pad thing. For 5 bucks it is worth a try.
Jan 17 2019 3:48PM
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Greg_K
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,747
Mtuhockey33Dude I’m literally in the same boat; I was in a 26.5 Salomon Ghost 130 (305 BSL) went down to a 25.5 (293 BSL) Seth Mo Pro FT and they were great the first season (about 70 days). This second season (about 40 now) I’ve had horrible shin bang on them... no idea why this is happening. Could the liner already be packed out? (Intuition Pro)

I have the money now for a boot fitter but I’m not stoked about dropping $1,000 on new boots and a fitting when I can drop $150-250 and make boots work for a season..


You’re an easy fix-new liners. 100 days is an average with some people going more, some going less. Go to a boot fitter you trust and get shell fit measured for the correct volume for new Intuition liners. Have them molded and enjoy “like new” boots for $200.
Jan 17 2019 4:07PM
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Greg_K
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,747
sauceboss420I have intuition liners and a booster strap but maybe im just not going tight enough and I mean I got these boots this season, also I noticed that when my buckles are slightly looser and my tongue can flex more so do my skis. Like is it super dangerous to leave the top of your boot unbuckled if you make the ankle one super tight? Ps thanks for all the help so far.


If your problem is skinny legs and you have boot bang because your boots have too much room on the top, I think having the top buckle loose will make things worse. The middle buckle does most of work keeping your heel locked but the top helps as well and prevents shin slapping.

Think the issue is you weren’t running the middle, top buckle and booster strap tight enough which caused the boot bang and now it’s super tender. Use those pads until your shin “toughens up” and isn’t as tender and you can stop wearing the pads and just buckle tighter. I’d still buckle tight over the pads to prevent more shin bang.

Wouldn’t be a bad idea to show your bootfitter how tight you have your boots or your sequence of putting them on. They might see something in the way you are doing things causing the issue or can solve any fit issues if you are doing things right.
Jan 17 2019 4:22PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6949 - Karma: 25,100
Sounds like your boots are too loose and leaving the top of one of your boots undone or loose is just going to make it worse the next time you slam down.

I used to have that problem and I tried the coozies and then had better luck gluing boot fitting foam on the outside of my tongue. I also glued pads around the outside of my ankle that had like a C shape around my ankle bones. That and I tightened all my buckles all the way. Regular full tilts are pretty low volume so you probably have a pretty thin lower leg. If you aren't already doing so I'd use spoilers on the upper back of my liners to take up more space there. Most liners have velcro to stick it on or you can just glue it. That 3m spray adhesive worked the best for gluing the stuff to the outside of my liners.
Also you can double up your insoles to take up a little more room too. For example put superfeet on top of the stock insoles.

I eventually went down a shell size and had a little more room made for my long toes and it is a much more secure fit.
Jan 17 2019 4:58PM
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MFZOREN
Posts: 312 - Karma: 502
Greg_KIf your problem is skinny legs and you have boot bang because your boots have too much room on the top, I think having the top buckle loose will make things worse. The middle buckle does most of work keeping your heel locked but the top helps as well and prevents shin slapping.

Think the issue is you weren’t running the middle, top buckle and booster strap tight enough which caused the boot bang and now it’s super tender. Use those pads until your shin “toughens up” and isn’t as tender and you can stop wearing the pads and just buckle tighter. I’d still buckle tight over the pads to prevent more shin bang.

Wouldn’t be a bad idea to show your bootfitter how tight you have your boots or your sequence of putting them on. They might see something in the way you are doing things causing the issue or can solve any fit issues if you are doing things right.


Ok thanks a lot man, I think I kinda know what to do now, I have learned a big lot!
Jan 17 2019 6:13PM
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