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Tight boots, feet in pain

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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
I swear I've had this issue since my first pair of properly fitted boots.

I'm now on a pair of Dalbello Panterra 120's, and I find myself tightening them significantly when I first put them on, feet go numb for like 3 runs and then it usually starts to mellow out after that and I'm fine. Yes, I was fitted by a professional boot fitter, and I also have custom insoles, stock Intuition liner though.

It's always the lower part of the side of my feet, kinda right above the middle of my sole. I get bruising afterwards, or they're just uncomfortable while skiing.

I'm like 90% park, so I'm choosing control over comfort here, any looser and I ski with a loose foot and feel weird, so it ends up being tight to keep that control.

Is there anything I can do to combat this? Have a tight fit without the discomfort?

Thanks guys
Mar 9 2021 8:52AM
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Session
Posts: 5400 - Karma: 22,469
Don't tighten them until they hurt. Tighten them until they are snug, then adjust them after a few runs when they start to loosen up. Once everything starts to break in on the boot you will settle on something you can be happy with all day.
Mar 9 2021 8:55AM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
SessionDon't tighten them until they hurt. Tighten them until they are snug, then adjust them after a few runs when they start to loosen up. Once everything starts to break in on the boot you will settle on something you can be happy with all day.


I'll make sure to start doing this, it may help to tweak the buckles individually as well i'm thinking.
Mar 9 2021 9:27AM
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asparagus
Posts: 2490 - Karma: 28,374
And if you can, unbuckle in between laps like the racers. It also lets you flex your full tilts
Mar 9 2021 9:40PM
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eheeth
Posts: 459 - Karma: 2,529
Are you tightening the whole not down, just the forefoot, or just the cuff?

If it's the forefoot, these should barely be right at all regardless of pain, and should really only be so there's a tiny bit of tension in the buckle, but no more.

If it's the cuff, my fix has always been getting a booster strap, much better than the stock power strap, allow you to get a more precise fit and adjustments, and take up any room at the top of the boot where you get the loose, 'sloppy' sensation

If it's the whole boot, either you're doing it wrong, overdoing it, or you have a bad boot fit
Mar 9 2021 10:25PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,100
Choosing a boot for performance over comfort is like choosing a race car with one seat and no trunk as your daily driver to drive the kids to school and go shopping.

a low performance boot that fits your leg perfectly will perform way better for you than a high performance boot that feels terrible. The comfy boot you can tighten down, but the uncomfy boot you cant.

of course some boot PU is softer than a vagina but most boot PU is stiff enough for anything.
Mar 10 2021 11:52PM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 6792 - Karma: 72,578
DolansLebensraumChoosing a boot for performance over comfort is like choosing a race car with one seat and no trunk as your daily driver to drive the kids to school and go shopping.

a low performance boot that fits your leg perfectly will perform way better for you than a high performance boot that feels terrible. The comfy boot you can tighten down, but the uncomfy boot you cant.

of course some boot PU is softer than a vagina but most boot PU is stiff enough for anything.


Dolan, do us a favor and never offer this advice again. Thanks.
Mar 11 2021 12:12AM
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drifts
Posts: 619 - Karma: 4,463
DolansLebensraumChoosing a boot for performance over comfort is like choosing a race car with one seat and no trunk as your daily driver to drive the kids to school and go shopping.

a low performance boot that fits your leg perfectly will perform way better for you than a high performance boot that feels terrible. The comfy boot you can tighten down, but the uncomfy boot you cant.

of course some boot PU is softer than a vagina but most boot PU is stiff enough for anything.


You were on such a roll with the ski base material posts... guess this is your way of self sabotage
Mar 11 2021 12:35AM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
DolansLebensraumChoosing a boot for performance over comfort is like choosing a race car with one seat and no trunk as your daily driver to drive the kids to school and go shopping.

a low performance boot that fits your leg perfectly will perform way better for you than a high performance boot that feels terrible. The comfy boot you can tighten down, but the uncomfy boot you cant.

of course some boot PU is softer than a vagina but most boot PU is stiff enough for anything.


No.

this does not even remotely pertain to my situation Dolan :(
Mar 11 2021 7:48AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6949 - Karma: 25,100
if it is always in the same spot I'd ask my bootfitter to do something about it. you shouldn't get bruising. I have had work on a couple spots like that and now I don't notice it at all
Mar 11 2021 11:30AM
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lilnoid666
Posts: 379 - Karma: 738
SessionDon't tighten them until they hurt. Tighten them until they are snug, then adjust them after a few runs when they start to loosen up. Once everything starts to break in on the boot you will settle on something you can be happy with all day.


this was an issue i had too, I would just go super tight when I first put them on
Mar 11 2021 1:38PM
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apc.fr
Posts: 293 - Karma: 879
Op do you have high arches in your feet?
Mar 11 2021 2:03PM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
apc.frOp do you have high arches in your feet?


slightly high on the inside, i feel like the inside of my foot gets fucked when it's pushed against the side of the boot
Mar 11 2021 9:54PM
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FruitBootPro
Posts: 3140 - Karma: 14,235
backyardcrackerI'm now on a pair of Dalbello Panterra 120's, and I find myself tightening them significantly when I first put them on, feet go numb for like 3 runs and then it usually starts to mellow out after that and I'm fine.


What's the issue? Just swallow it for 3 warmup laps and then you're good to go.
You just gotta have the liner pack out, happens with any sort of boot really.
Mar 11 2021 10:42PM
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quagsire
Posts: 250 - Karma: 1,243
To me this sounds like a lack of arch support issue, but it's impossible to really know without taking a look at your foot and your boot.
Mar 12 2021 2:35AM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
FruitBootProWhat's the issue? Just swallow it for 3 warmup laps and then you're good to go.
You just gotta have the liner pack out, happens with any sort of boot really.


It varies, and while I might feel fine some days a few runs in, afterwards I always have pain
Mar 12 2021 9:20AM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
ethanshredzTo me this sounds like a lack of arch support issue, but it's impossible to really know without taking a look at your foot and your boot.


eh, i have custom footbeds for that issue exactly. good input tho

i think the consensus is that i need to tweak my buckles a little bit, and gradually tighten down my boots. instead of tightening them right at the beginning.

**This post was edited on Mar 12th 2021 at 9:24:51am
Mar 12 2021 9:22AM
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apc.fr
Posts: 293 - Karma: 879
backyardcrackereh, i have custom footbeds for that issue exactly. good input tho

i think the consensus is that i need to tweak my buckles a little bit, and gradually tighten down my boots. instead of tightening them right at the beginning.

**This post was edited on Mar 12th 2021 at 9:24:51am


I'm going to also say your footbeds are part of the issue. Making good supportive footbeds for high arches is pretty hard to do, most people have flatter feet. Higher arches really need that arch support built up to keep your foot neutral and evenly distribute pressure. If there isn't enough arch support, the pressure shifts to the outside of the foot and you feel it the most on the bones of your pink and second to last toe/metatarsal.
Mar 12 2021 10:33AM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
apc.frI'm going to also say your footbeds are part of the issue. Making good supportive footbeds for high arches is pretty hard to do, most people have flatter feet. Higher arches really need that arch support built up to keep your foot neutral and evenly distribute pressure. If there isn't enough arch support, the pressure shifts to the outside of the foot and you feel it the most on the bones of your pink and second to last toe/metatarsal.


does this need to be done professionally? or could i possibly make a mold myself?
Mar 15 2021 7:58AM
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apc.fr
Posts: 293 - Karma: 879
backyardcrackerdoes this need to be done professionally? or could i possibly make a mold myself?


You just need to add material underneath your footbed to build up the area that needs support. Figuring out where support is needed its trickier though, and a boot fitter does definitely help.

You likely don't need new ones, just some modifications on the ones you have. I also found that REALLY cranking those bottom buckles helps keep my foot in the right position, that might help as well.
Mar 15 2021 11:13AM
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,752
Op I went through the same thing, it sounds like your really over tightening and possibly doing it wrong. Start with your bottom strap, heel bang, crank the bottom to snug, do the top snug, flex forward hard and possibly tighten lower buckle again. Snug up lower and top buckle, do the lowers only enough to keep them down. After say 20 days of skiing if they still cause pain or numbness you either need mods, better fitter or different boot.

My boots are race fit and are comfy from first chair to last, they were initially too small for my last, instep and just overall volume
Mar 15 2021 3:50PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,100
BiffbarfDolan, do us a favor and never offer this advice again. Thanks.


driftsYou were on such a roll with the ski base material posts... guess this is your way of self sabotage


Are you guys saying a 130 pu boot that doesnt fit your foot/ankle is going to perform better than an 75 pu boot that fits your foot/ankle like a glove?

bc i have skied high performance 130 pu boots that were such a bad fit i couldnt do a single fucking thing in the park,

and i have skied a 75 pu boot that was so snug on my foot and ankle that i could crank the buckles down very tight without it hurting, and i had 50 x more support from ghe boot and connected feeling to the ski than i had with the 130 pu hp boots.

Choosing an hp boot that doesnt fit over an lp boot that fits like a dream is like a skateboarder choosing to skate in high performance platform shoes instead of low performance comfy sneakers.
Mar 15 2021 11:32PM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 6792 - Karma: 72,578
DolansLebensraumAre you guys saying a 130 pu boot that doesnt fit your foot/ankle is going to perform better than an 75 pu boot that fits your foot/ankle like a glove?

bc i have skied high performance 130 pu boots that were such a bad fit i couldnt do a single fucking thing in the park,

and i have skied a 75 pu boot that was so snug on my foot and ankle that i could crank the buckles down very tight without it hurting, and i had 50 x more support from ghe boot and connected feeling to the ski than i had with the 130 pu hp boots.

Choosing an hp boot that doesnt fit over an lp boot that fits like a dream is like a skateboarder choosing to skate in high performance platform shoes instead of low performance comfy sneakers.


Tightening down buckles very tight on soft 'comfy' boots is 100x worse than letting a well fitting shell firmly cradle your foot while buckles clasp with minimal pressure. How tight you can buckle your boots comfortably isn't anything close that resembles a metric to which a proper bootfit is measured.
Mar 16 2021 12:08AM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,100
BiffbarfTightening down buckles very tight on soft 'comfy' boots is 100x worse than letting a well fitting shell firmly cradle your foot while buckles clasp with minimal pressure. How tight you can buckle your boots comfortably isn't anything close that resembles a metric to which a proper bootfit is measured.

That sounds ridiculous. A 70 or 80 pu boot is still almost rock hard plastic. If boot fit didnt matter then you might as well ski with a smaller shell that has no liner
Mar 16 2021 12:27AM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 6792 - Karma: 72,578
DolansLebensraumThat sounds ridiculous. A 70 or 80 pu boot is still almost rock hard plastic. If boot fit didnt matter then you might as well ski with a smaller shell that has no liner

You're not seeing my point. I never said boot fit doesn't matter. It does. But a large soft boot you need to crank down isn't a proper bootfit. Neither is a small stiff boot that kills to wear.
Mar 16 2021 12:32AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,998
Bootfitter here.

Drink a cup of cement.
Mar 16 2021 12:57AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,998
Realtalk though... Where exactly is the pain happening and how is it traversing your foot? is it happening equally on both sides?

Are you able to go back to your bootfitter and have them re-fitted? sounds like you'll need to at least make some adjustments... the Panterra is a pretty damn volumous boot.. and if your feet aren't that big, it might be the case where you're buckling down too much and creating overpressure areas.

Also, it might be a case of your footbed having been made too rigid or not be posted correctly for your foot... I'd definitely go back to a fitter and seek advice..
Mar 16 2021 1:02AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 11,442
DolansLebensraumThat sounds ridiculous. A 70 or 80 pu boot is still almost rock hard plastic. If boot fit didnt matter then you might as well ski with a smaller shell that has no liner

You need to always keep these 3 parameters in place when picking a boot: fit, comfort, performance

If you argue which 2 are more important that the other, you are missing the bigger picture.

Asking "What's worse: a boot that doesn't fit as well or a boot that doesn't perform as well?" is just like asking "What's worse: a cake that didn't use eggs or a cake that doesn't have frosting?" If you don't have all of the necessary ingredients, you don't have the correct end result.

And if you felt a 70 flex boot made of PU, it would basically feel like rubber. It's not even remotely rock hard.
Mar 16 2021 5:59AM
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,200
DingoSeanRealtalk though... Where exactly is the pain happening and how is it traversing your foot? is it happening equally on both sides?

Are you able to go back to your bootfitter and have them re-fitted? sounds like you'll need to at least make some adjustments... the Panterra is a pretty damn volumous boot.. and if your feet aren't that big, it might be the case where you're buckling down too much and creating overpressure areas.

Also, it might be a case of your footbed having been made too rigid or not be posted correctly for your foot... I'd definitely go back to a fitter and seek advice..


Only the insides of the foot, it seems like it may be more of a horizontal force, rather than a vertical pressure.

I'll head back to the shop and see if there are adjustments that could be made to combat all this
Mar 17 2021 7:49AM
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