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May, 2025

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The Official: "What is wrong with my boots?" Thread

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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
This thread should be seen as an accompaniment to the "How To Buy Ski Boots" thread, more specifically aimed at solving a problem with your existing ski boots. Rather than clog up Gear Talk with countless repeating threads, please dump your boot-fitting related questions here and we will do our best to help you out.

Remember, nothing is a substitute for going to a real boot-fitter; they can see your foot, we can't. So if you can't get to a boot-fitter, or are frustrated with your current one, we can help point you in the right direction. Try to be as descriptive of your problem as possible and post pics if you can. The more information we get from you, the more successful we will hopefully be in helping you out.

Ready, set, go.


11 years ago
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Harry_Twatter
Posts: 36 - Karma: 370
no i did not but now i most certainly am going to get custom footbeds.Thanks for the help.
11 years ago
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,505
Hello I need help buying boots, I have a small (size 24), high instep (I've got a saddle bone), wide foot and I need new boots mainly for use in park. The problem is because I have a such a small size the range of boots I can try is pretty much nothing and I have ask the shops to order boots in for me to try.

I need recommendations on boots, one of the boot fitters I went to recommended Atomic Overload 100/120 boots however the smallest size they do is 25.5 so they're out of the question.

Please give me some recommendations on what boots to try and look for or ask for preferably with a flex of 100+
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
If the fitter recommended the Overload to you, I would try out something from Atomic Hawx family or Waymaker family. The Overload series borrowed a lot of the fit dimensions from these boots and they are available in 24.5 in select models.
11 years ago
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_CC_
Posts: 3890 - Karma: 747
My right foot keeps going numb in my newer Black Diamond Shivas for whatever reason. They're a little big for me so i don't think tightness is the issue, and I've heat molded the liners. I don't have footbeds but, I've never had them in any other boots and haven't had this happen before.

I probably just need my foot amputated.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
Describe in better detail a little big... remove the liner, put your foot in the shell, slide your foot to the front so you toes just barely touch, and see how much space is behind your heel. 1cm = high performance fit, 2cm = normal, 3cm = too big and problematic.

Even if you never had footbeds before, they will be a huge improvement for you. Footbeds support your foot and keep your foot in place, essentially doing the work that buckles should do. If the footbed is holding your foot properly, then you don't need to crank down on buckles to get a good fit and therefore you won't compromise blood flow to your feet. You will have far less numbness, warmer toes, and a better fit in the boot.
11 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,650
Thanks for this response, even though I'm respond ages later. I may check out footbeds.

I was out today however; and skied full day, and harder than normal out in the park. No complaints. No pain, no leg or foot soreness.

So I feel like it could have just been an odd day for me last time.
11 years ago
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Czv
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
Hi I just got fitted into new Atomic Overload 70 they fit well but the only problem I've had with them so far is that my toes get very cold. I have custom footbeds beds in them to aid circulation but my toes are still cold. I've only skied two days on them so maybe I just need to let them pack out? Any ideas on why my toes are getting so cold and is there anything I can do?
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
That liner has lots of insulation in it, so I would wait a few more days to see if they get better as the liner breaks in. Also, do you know if you have any circulation issues such as Raynaud's or the like?
11 years ago
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7583 - Karma: 12,741
Do your feet sweat? I have the sweatiest feet and often find that the inside of the liner is wet, rather than the exterior. If thats the case, some baby powder works or an antiperspirant should work too. Test it out.
11 years ago
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
New boots this year. Got fitted for Lange rx 100 lv, I have a fairly normal medium-wide foot, maybe a slightly narrow heel. Anyways the boot fits really well in the heel and calf (no shin bang even if I have a bad backseat landing), but the toe box was wayyyyy too tight (obviously because it's a 97mm last). Fitter punched the toe box out a bit, then a bit more, then even a bit more, so now my boots look rather strange. The pressure on the sides is less I guess. I have the green superfeet, they worked very well in my old boot.

Anyways my toes hurt, they go numb and get cold within 10 minutes even in balmy weather. I have to completely unbuckle my boots every chair ride like I'm back racing or something. It sucks, I want to put my boots on in the morning and not have to fiddle with them all day. It's like I'm a snowboarding with the having to buckle all my shit up at the top of the hill. I also have a nice black toenail on my right foot.


Thoughts?
11 years ago
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
To start out with, get custom insoles made, it will prevent elongation of the foot and make the chances of losing a toenail much less. What it sounds like is happening to me (and it's hard to say without seeing your foot inside the shell) is that the medial side of your big toe is contacting the shell rather hard, both; causing your foot to orient more towards the lateral side of the boot, causing more pressure on the lateral side of the foot, as well as creating enough pressure on the front medial side of your toenail to make it bruised. When you take it back to the fitter, ask about punching the medial side of your foot from the met to your big toe (which will probably take about three punches) and have him flapper ball it flat. I would first have customs made by the most trusted fitter in your area (super important!). Well that is my guess, let us know how it goes!
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
I would also add to my other post that you should be wearing the thinnest non-cotton ski sock possible. Dead air space is what keeps you warm and if you wear too thick of a sock, you will take up this air space and it will make you colder. I generally find that people still wear too thick of a ski sock.
11 years ago
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
This a thousand times. One of my goals in life is to get everyone skiing in an ultralight type ski sock.
11 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7293 - Karma: 18,716
Yep start with getting those superfeet out of there and get a good sidas custom. With your foot secured it will be much easier to make shell adaptions as you will know exactly where the foot is sat.

What I would suggest though is check its not the liner. Those RX LV's have a super low volume liner around the toes. Quite often its just the liner thats tight and the shell is good. The toe box is the same in the RX and RX LV so I would guess its actually a liner issue, coupled with the fact you have not got footbeds.
11 years ago
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Alright thanks for the help guys, I'll look into footbeds, might have to wait it out for awhile until to can afford em.

Tom you worked in Whis right? I got the boots fitted at Comor Burrard, they've been super helpful and accommodating, what do you think about their insole work?
11 years ago
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,536
When storing my FTs for an extended period of time is it important to keep them buckled up like traditional overlap boots?
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
I would vote yes, simply so buckles/cables don't get banged around, broken or tweaked.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
The last couple seasons of SPKs are lower on the instep than previous models. A proper footbed will for sure help position your foot in the proper place, which may help a bit. If I remember correctly, there isn't really a boot-board in the SPK that you can grind down to gain volume... But definitely start with a proper footbed (not Superfeet green) that will correctly position your foot in the boot and go from there. If your foot is not properly supported any adjustments you try to make will be be less than successful.
11 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7293 - Karma: 18,716
Well footbeds should certainly be a starting point. They will realign your instep which may help with the instep pressure. They will also help a lot with your heel by preventing your foot pronating. They will overall give a more secure fit by stopping your foot moving in the boots. Take your boot to a good fitter and see what he thinks of te shell of your foot. If it is ok go ahead and get some sidas custom footbeds made and see how this helps. From there if you need the instep volume increasing a good boot fitter can do this but never stretch shells untill you have a footbed.
11 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
helpful video for ghetto fixes...





11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
Seeing some threads that could be answered by reading this, so page 1 bump
11 years ago
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Sparta
Posts: 228 - Karma: 336
Are there any fixes for worn out toe & heel areas for boots that don't have replaceable grip pads? Lifters?
11 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7293 - Karma: 18,716
Possibly. It depends how worn and rounded they are and also how much the heel and toe can be ground. A boot like a full tilt for example has very little material on the heel and toe so if the boot is very worn there will not be enough to grind back to flat before adding the riser. Other boots are designed with grinding in mind so have higher heel and toes which can be ground more. But it's not cheap. It will cost about 200 and void any warrenty. So ask yourself if it's really worth it.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
Adding to what Tom said, usually the wear is slightly uneven, so putting a lifter on to compensate for wear rarely works. It's unfortunately best to put them on when the boots are new and just replace the lifters as they wear out.
11 years ago
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Sparta
Posts: 228 - Karma: 336
Alright guys, thanks... Guess I gotta plan better next time on the boot front
11 years ago
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Lick
Posts: 1927 - Karma: 518
I am really fucking skinny, and my boots fit pretty well, they're the best fitting boots that my local shop sells and I don't have a bootfitter, so I got them. Everything fits well except for my calves... they're too skinny. I moved the cable tighter (they're full tilt booters) and when i buckle it as tight as it can get there's still like half an inch of space in between my shin and the boot. How can I fix this???
11 years ago
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
http://www.tognar.com/the-eliminator-custom-tongues-pair/

These might be the cure
11 years ago
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theo79
Posts: 305 - Karma: 70
I have a pair of FT booters that fit PERFECTLY. However I do not have a footbed in them, and the booters do not come with a removable footbed.

Is it possible to add a footbed if I wanted to? I mainly want one for proper alignment of my food, joints, knees etc. Not because my feet are uncomfortable.

It just does not seem like there would be enough room to put a footbed in.

Thanks.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
Generally speaking, if you are really skinny I doubt that you have wide enough feet for a wide lasted, high volume boot with a wide cuff.

You need to find a boot-fitter to 1) check that the shell and cuff have the appropriate shape for your biomechanical needs and 2) if this does in the slight chance happen to be the best boot for you, a boot-fitter is still required to shape special foam pads around your calf and ankle area to remove any excess volume that is there.

I know you said you don't have access to a boot-fitter. Try a bit harder to find one. At your local mountain, at the mountain you vacation at, in the city near the mountain you vacation at. This might sound like crazy talk, but go visit the shop that is known to cater to racers. They will generally have the best boot-fitters and can fix just about anything.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
This is one of the problems with FT's liner design- adding a footbed will take up a bit of volume. But it is possible, and your liners should definitely get remolded when you add the footbed. Typically, it is not that big of a problem once you remold everything properly.
11 years ago
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Lick
Posts: 1927 - Karma: 518
Alright, I mean there's one like 4 hours away, but I'm not going to make that trip. I am going to Colorado in about a month, so I'll find one in Keystone and maybe see if they can help me!
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
You will for sure be able to find a reputable boot-fitter there. Just do a bit of research before you go and narrow down your selection to the best 2 or 3. And don't judge the shop based on what brands they carry, judge the shop based on its reputation of solving problems. They might carry FT, they might not, but your ultimate criterion should be who can fix your issue the best.
11 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
basically go in, and bea able to describe how you ski, and how you want to be able to ski in the next 2-3 years.

Then, purely go with what ever the bootfitter says. be high maintenance with how they fit and feel, and ask questions- people like talking about stuff they are experts in. be very descriptive in what goes numb, what burns, what feels loose etc. plan on spending a day there. since you dont live near a bootfitter you only have one chance to get it right. so spend the day there, seeing how the boots fit after being in them for an hour or more.

I have SUPER weird feet and it took me 8 hours over 3 days to dial in my boots(i needed a true "performance" fit with a 130 flex with a stupid high arch, wide foot). Im going back next weekend to get them tweaked a little again. Its a process, but it makes a pretty large difference when you get a boot that is dialed.

I basically went in, described exactly how and what i ski and then let my bootfitter totally guide me.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
Wise words everyone- don't go searching for a boot with a boot already in mind. Go in with an open mind and find the best thing that works for you.
11 years ago
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
I can feel my ankles rolling around in my boots with custom foot beds. My ankles roll over and I have no arch when I am unsupported. I have very floppy ankles that the boot fitter said that he can't correct due to the anatomy of my ankles. Is there any exercises that I can do to prevent this?
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
How good is your boot-fitter? From what you have said, it sounds like he is making excuses and/or did not make a good enough footbed for you. I have a super flexible foot as well, but with a proper footbed, I am locked in place...

Secondly, are you confident you are also in the proper shell? Are the shell dimensions a good match for your foot? If your footbed is actually spot on and your ankle is still moving around, then chances are your shell is the wrong size/shape for your foot & ankle needs.

How wide is your foot? What boot are you using? What is the shell fit like in your boot?
11 years ago
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
Well hes making some adjustments to the footbed today and giving me some ankle retention. Im in salomon ghost custom shells and have had the boot heated up to fit me. Im pretty sure im in the right shell. I have narrow feet.
11 years ago
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
If the tweaking of the footbed doesn't solve the problem, you may not be in the correct shell. Just because a shell fits your forefoot width doesn't mean it is a good overall fit, and custom shell doesn't guarantee a good fit. It will only increase the volume of the boot, so if a boot is too high volume in a certain area, the boot is not going to fit any better in that area after custom shell. Did he downsize you in the max shell?
11 years ago
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
I did get downsized from a 27.5 to a 26. I had the toe blown out and the foot board shaved down to gain some roof space. I also had the back of the boot trimmed out to give me less forward lean. The forward lean had to go cause I felt like I was nose buttering every turn.
11 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9207 - Karma: 40,317
Okay well I get cramps in my leg on the outside mid shin/calf(?)....it about 3-4 inches directly up the side of my leg, and it's in a muscle. Guessing this is from my lack of customs? Or maybe it's something else.....I don't live anywhere near a fitter....so any help is very appreciated.
11 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
This isn't so much of a plea for help, but more so a confession of idiocy...

Yesterday I got cold feet from sleeping in the back of the car with my shoes off on the way to the hill, my ski boots became ice cubes to. Since I hadn't skied in a few weeks I was really hyped to get out on the hill and just tossed the boots on my feet loosely then proceeded to hammer park laps until lunch.

With cold numbed feet I didn't even realize I was getting toe bang, so I never bothered to tighten my boots. The real devastator in all of this was me having some super long toenails that hadn't been trimmed in the few weeks that I hadn't been skiing. I was left with very purpled and bleededing big toenails on both feet.

I drilled them last night to stop the swelling, throbbing, and pain. The entire toenail evacuated blood so that tells me that the nail has separated from the entire bed. I'd imagine sooner or later they will both fall off.

Really could have prevented this by cutting my toenails, letting my feet and boots warm up, and tightening my boots up. Aha, it does suck because I got fitted into new boots with footbeds this year and it's been the first season I've had zero fit issues and nothing but amazing times skiing.

Lesson = learned. Hopefully that provides a few words of caution to others. Ha...

11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
From your last couple of posts, it does sound like the shell might be small enough/low volume enough for you so hopefully the footbed tweak works. I would also ask him to custom shape some semi-large pads that go on the outside of your liner on the medial side. These work wonders in removing the natural excess volume that exists above your ankle and below your calf muscle.
Click for larger image


11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
If this is 90% related to not having a well supported footbed. If your foot collapses and pronates inward, it will place more stress on the outside of your leg muscles, among other things. Definitely make sure you get fitted for a proper pair of footbeds and then also have your liners remolded.

It is common for many people to have to drive 3+ hours to get to a reputable fitter. Perhaps we can point you in the direction of one or recommend one at the mountain where you go skiing or are on vacation at.
11 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
I think I counted at least 4 different face palms in your story, 94 ;) Hopefully you're healed up soon!
11 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7293 - Karma: 18,716
What type of footbed did you get? Having worked on a lot of ghosts its a boot which does require fitting well. Firstly its a non max shell so not a custom shell boot. Depending how old it is there may be some custom material on the medial and lateral forefoot.

Volume wise they are low which means the footbed needs to be quite low volume. Superfeet Korks will not work and surefoots footbeds will be no good either. A good sidas custom which can be shaped to match the foot and shell will work by far the best.

But as onenerdysaid an ankle pain will be directly from movement in the boot created from a lack of support. Hopefully remolding the footbeds will help but if not, maybe have the fitter start again and do an unweighted mold for the footbed. This is sometimes a better method for a very unstable foot.
11 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9207 - Karma: 40,317
Okay.....do you recommend any semi-customs? I love in South Dakota, and I'm pretty sure the closest fitter is in Denver. Which is 7-8 hours away. So it's not something my parents think is justifiable to drive there for.
11 years ago
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7293 - Karma: 18,716
Unfortunately semi customs are never worth the money. For footwear like street shoes they can work, as movement inside the shoe is still ok. However in a ski boot you need to try to eliminate as much movement as possible and usually this will not be possible with a trim to fit (TTF) insole as the arches wont match.

If you really have no other option though, a TTF will be better then the stock insole, but should be replaced with a full custom once you get chance. In terms of TTF try a few and see which fits your foot the best. TTF's are sized by the heel width rather then the length so make sure the guy fitting you for them knows what he is doing. My favorite TTF's are sidas and superfeet and I have seen some decent Aline TTF's
11 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9207 - Karma: 40,317
Okay....do you happen to know which ones are compatable with Nordica Ace of spades? I'm going to try to use these as more of a short term fix, until I get out somewhere with a decent fitter.
11 years ago
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
The superfoot carbon will give you some support, is very low in volume, and tends to interface Breyer with the heel of a ski boot than other super feet. That is probably the route I would go.
11 years ago
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