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Biffbarf
February, 2025

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Tight boots, feet in pain

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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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
4 years ago
6 0
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Session
Posts: 5406 - Karma: 22,528
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.
4 years ago
16 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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.
4 years ago
3 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2498 - Karma: 28,440
And if you can, unbuckle in between laps like the racers. It also lets you flex your full tilts
4 years ago
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eheeth
Posts: 459 - Karma: 2,530
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
4 years ago
3 0
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
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.
4 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7174 - Karma: 76,001
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.
4 years ago
18 0
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drifts
Posts: 621 - Karma: 4,498
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
4 years ago
11 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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 :(
4 years ago
4 0
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OregonDead
Posts: 7003 - Karma: 25,742
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
4 years ago
2 0
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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
4 years ago
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apc.fr
Posts: 293 - Karma: 879
Op do you have high arches in your feet?
4 years ago
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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
4 years ago
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FruitBootPro
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 14,503
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.
4 years ago
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quagsire
Posts: 280 - Karma: 1,317
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.
4 years ago
1 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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
4 years ago
1 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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
4 years ago
1 0
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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.
4 years ago
3 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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?
4 years ago
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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.
4 years ago
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,753
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
4 years ago
2 0
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
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.
4 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7174 - Karma: 76,001
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.
4 years ago
4 0
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
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
4 years ago
0 2
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7174 - Karma: 76,001
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.
4 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,003
Bootfitter here.

Drink a cup of cement.
4 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,003
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..
4 years ago
1 0
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6731 - Karma: 11,641
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.
4 years ago
4 0
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backyardcracker
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,203
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
4 years ago
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