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Eliminator tongue VS. Booster strap

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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
I was getting some nasty shin bang over christmas break so i headed into the shop and picked up a product known as the Eliminator tongue. For those who don't know what it is, it's basically a foam tongue that fits into one's boots, right between the boots tongue and the user's shin. I used these for a couple of days and they seemed to help ease the pain a little and they did what they were intended to do; take up space in the boot to stop the bang. What i noticed is that since they are placed in the front of the boot they forced my legs back and put me slightly backseat, a little farther than i am usually at when standing up straight. a positive is that my shin bang went away a lot quicker than usual after i started using these.

A similar Product, The booster strap, has also been said to reduce the bang. since this doesn't go in the boot and serves the save purpose (takes up or reduces space in the boot) will these feel more natural than the eliminator? Which does the job better?
thanks in advance


Sparknotes: Eliminator tongue worked well but made me feel backseat (not sure if i was just imagining this). Will booster straps work better?
Jan 5 2009 10:48PM
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BigMeech621
Posts: 1257 - Karma: 16
i got heel lifts to stop shinbang and they really help.  they also help to keep me in the front seat on landings because they help me to keep on the balls of my feet and stay leaning forward.
Jan 6 2009 3:51PM
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SK1ERDUDE
Posts: 1365 - Karma: 51
an idea to try is maybe put them behind your calves? The booster strap is good to use but makes the boot much stiffer. I use both and they help a lot, But sometimes the booster strap is unnecessary.
Jan 6 2009 4:32PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Putting the Eliminator on your shin doesn't force your further back, it just takes up space. The back of your calf is still in the same position against the back of the boot.

Land properly, problem solved.
Jan 6 2009 7:32PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344
I have something similar, it works like a charm
Jan 6 2009 10:59PM
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bobs
Posts: 4801 - Karma: 869
use the eliminator if its workin and adjust the forward lean on your boots if you have that option
Jan 7 2009 11:02AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
once you use booster straps you wont be able to ski without them, for sure go pick up a pair
Jan 7 2009 11:09AM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
Booster straps do not make the boot stiffer.  The boots are softer than they should be, if you dont tighten them properly.  If there is a gap between your shin and the tounge, you arent flexing against the spine of the boot because your strap is too loose, and the boot is a noodle.  Boosters suck the strap up against your shin and the boot has the flex it was designed to
Jan 7 2009 2:27PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
just get the booster anyway, for $30 its worth it
Jan 7 2009 6:04PM
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hedgehog
Posts: 1595 - Karma: 167
booster straps are weird man. they make for unpredictable flex when jumping onto a rail or off a jump. i would get some heel lifts and stick with your eliminators
Jan 7 2009 6:34PM
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Tucks
Posts: 2120 - Karma: 161
booster straps are the way to go
Jan 7 2009 9:08PM
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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
just for reference i have full tilt high fives
Jan 7 2009 9:16PM
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invader7
Posts: 5756 - Karma: 49
im lovin mine so far. it fixed my problems
Jan 7 2009 9:17PM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
You want to keep the extra shit youre jamming in the boot to a minimum.  Go with the straps instead.  There is a reason Boosters are so popular.  They work.
Jan 7 2009 9:37PM
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Gorno
Posts: 266 - Karma: 28
I just picked up a pair of eliminators. Hopefully they help alleviate some of the pain I get from my ill fitting boots.
Feb 24 2009 5:16PM
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,570
i bought some and they havent done a whole lot for me.

SAD :(
Dec 31 2009 2:57PM
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eli112233
Posts: 1028 - Karma: 15
i bought booster straps last year and there saving me shin bang man, there nice. they basically make the top of your boot as tight as you cant, so no bang and it helps you lean forward in your boots like youre supposed to be
Dec 31 2009 5:30PM
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Style+eeze
Posts: 6901 - Karma: 551
this

i've had booster straps for a year now, and i have gotten shinbang 0 times since they have been on my boots.

and also not just shinbang... i have had ZERO problems with my boots.
Dec 31 2009 5:59PM
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
Bumping with a question. I have super chicken legs and i seem to always have space between my calf and upper boot cuff, which makes me feel out of control when skiing park. Would a booster strap fix this problem?
Jun 23 2013 1:00AM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
Yes. It will make the top of the boot tighter. Also if you are using full tilts, putting them behind the to tongue can help to take up space
Jun 23 2013 1:46AM
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SamtheEagle
Posts: 1658 - Karma: 713
never used eliminator but BOOSTER STRAPS ARE AMAZING AND I HIGHLY SUGGEST THEM TO ANYONE WHO USES SKI BOOTS. that is all
Jun 23 2013 3:14AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
In your situation a booster may help but I would think an eliminator would be a better idea. You may even be able to get a new spoiler added to the back of the boot. Boosters may not be the best choice as if you have a lot of space then all the booster will do is try to deform the boot to make it fit smaller. This may mean the liner gets folder making it uncomfortable an it may totally mess up the flex of the boot. An eliminator or spoiler on the other hand will reduce the volume which is what you want. Eliminator a can be used infrint or behind the shin so if you don't like being slightly more upright you can use it to push you forward more, which in turn can help reduce shin bang.

Overall though don't try to fit your self. Take your boot to a good fitter an see what they recommend. It may just be that you could get the buckles moved or readjusting your foot inside the boot could help.

So overall probably an eliminator will work better but go see what a boot fitter recommends.
Jun 23 2013 6:00AM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 868

I really don't like those eliminator tongues. They're basically a Band-Aid for a pretty poor boot fit.

The long and short of it is that if you have room in your boots for eliminators then your cuff is too big.

This either happens because the boot fit is just terrible, or you have a relatively high-volume foot combined with a low-volume calf (chicken legs, afflicts lanky people with high arches) and ended up with a boot with enough room for your foot but far too much for your leg.

Have you tried just doing your cuff buckles up as tight as the buckles will allow? If you move the buckles to the last hole and then do them up all the way and you're still not tight then they're the wrong boots for you. A good friend of mine went through this situation, tried booster straps, spoilers, Eliminators... in the end the only thing that solved it for him was getting a new boot with a narrow cuff and getting the foot blown out to fit. It's relatively easy to make a boot larger, making it smaller is tricky.

Jun 27 2013 8:09PM
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traylortrash
Posts: 1935 - Karma: 2,450
booster straps over eliminators for sure, from my experience eliminators are garbage... if you're looking to take up space around your calf check out shintronics, I've gotten addicted to mine, don't ski a day without them... add a booster strap and its a nice combination.
http://www.shintronic.com
Jun 28 2013 9:23PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
This. They'' eliminate shinbang, as well as improving your skiing as a whole
Jun 30 2013 12:52PM
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
This is my problem. My full tilts fit perfectly in the foot/ankle area, but up top there is just too much room. Even if I tighten the hell out of my top buckle and strap, I still get shin movement.
Jun 30 2013 3:07PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
Yeah in your situation a booster won't do much to help. Unfortunately you got boots that don't really fit. You may be able to get spoilers added or an eliminator style product may help. But take them to a good fitter and they can advise you what will work beat in your situation.
Jun 30 2013 5:37PM
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bigspencer
Posts: 26 - Karma: 10
ReedSkis...hey I'm not a qualified bootguy but have the same cuff-fit issue...
I use both..the strap simply keeps the pressure constant..imho. The fit over my ankle-joint is close to snug, thus I don't need much foam to snug it up...so I've been pulling the Eliminator tongue insert up a little from the beginning of my using it. There IS a little taper to the foam that rests in front of your tibia...but pick up a few+ heel shims and try different heights(a sander is mighty handy with generic height lifts) under your footbed. Then I might give a call to a bootfitter, tell him what you've tried, and schedule a visit and let him do the accurate measuring...if a little heel lift throws your balance off a little.. an exterior toe shim will work wonders. I *ThInK* there is a slight difference in dimensions between a SMALL vs LARGE, so it might be worthwhile to try or buy both...
$.01
Steve
Jan 28 2015 8:29PM
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