Topic: How are boots supposed to feel? (Read 2096 times)

Josh · « **on:** September 30, 2009, 06:00:55 PM »

So when you are riding, and your doing a toe edge turn, does your heel lift up at all? Or does it stay 100% planted? And do you have to make them really really tight or just tight.

The problem is that for me, I always have heel lift and I have pain in the middle of the bottom of my foot.(the arch)

I also have a pressure point on the side of my foot on the really small toe side. Its kind of towards the middle of that side.
I took it to the people I bought it from and they had some guy stretch it out with a ski boot stretcher. It made it look ghetto as hell but it kind of fixed it I think. (ok dont worry about the pressure point I forget if I still had that problem at the end of the season last season, but the arch problem is definate) I think the pressure point is from making the boot really tight in an attempt to get rid of heal lift. (but in turn i just ended up more hurt.

These are the boots I have http://www.evogear.com/outlet/snowboard-boots/k2-raider-boa-coiler-2009.aspx . I even got them heat molded as well.

So really don't know what to do. I alwaays have that at the bottom of my foot and after a short amount of time it makes my foot hurt and I have to like stop for a while and start up again. Has anyone heard of anything like this before or experienced it at all? unless I make my boots super tight there is a little bit of heel lift. Is heel life normal or is it supposed to feel 100% locked down 100% of the time, with out making your boots so tight that it causes pressure points.

Also, when you are wearing your boots and you lean forward, do they flex? Or do they stay stiff and supportive? (Mine flex a LOT, and sqweak lol)

Sorry this is so long. I really hope someone can help because this has been like a plague on me since I started snowboarding. Thank you verryyyyy much in advance

Josh

Frosty · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2009, 10:08:27 AM »

Sometmes my boots squeek, lol it is annoying. Tip: Try putting some baby powder in them to prevent that. Your boots should be comfortable, Dude.

Well, the less heal lift the better. But this is not a perfect world and you aren't always going to have zero heel-lift. Sometimes though, the answer to minimizing heel-lift is NOT cranking down the laces to make them tighter. Sure, you want a good snug fit around your foot, ankle and lower leg; but over-tightening can lead to an assortment of problems -- especially with the new Boa systems, it is more challenging now to get a feel for how much is enough:

Problems from lacing too tight:
Pain
Cold feet
Numbness
Fatigue

Remember that the reason you are lacing tightly is to improve fit and performance. There are other things you can do to improve fit and performance of your snowboard boot that does not involve simply cranking the laces tighter and tighter.

The most important thing you can do is to purchase a good performance footbed. If you are riding with the stock footbeds that came with your boot you are doing yourself a dis-service.

A good performance footbed can:
Improve overall boot fit
Reduce heel-lift
Prevent injury (acute & chronic)
Improve circulation
Improve energy
Reduce fatigue
Improve control

Footbeds come in stock and custom. I have used both. Custom are custom-molded to your foot and are more expensive. It doesn't necessarily mean they are better. The stock ones keep getting better every year. My advice is if you have an odd-shaped foot and cannot find a comfortable stock one that will work, then go custom.

Two good (stock) footbeds I have used and can recommend are DownUnders and Superfeet. There are also good ones from Montrail, and Sole though I have never used them.

Josh · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2009, 10:41:33 AM »

Thank you Frosty.

I think I willl definately need a new footbed. Superfeet has me sold with "Powering through toe-side turns strains the foot as the heel lifts inside the boot". Sounds just like my problem.

But I think I might actually need some siffer boots as well. They are kinda soft and dont give me the support I think I want in the toe side turns. Theyre a little soft ya know? When I stand up in them and lean forward it really bends in. Does that happen with your boots Frosty?
I definately dont want to buy a new pair cuz I just got these last year, but making my feet comfy all day would be worth soooo much money. What do you think?

I am working on more freestyle as well. I like(love) jumps and some rails. Would something stiffer mess me up doing that stuff?

And articulating cuffs sound like they might reduce some pressure on the top of the foot, reduce pressure points and what not? Do those actually help much or is it not significant?

For those insoles, do you know if there is a difference between the cork, corkvac and redhots?

Thanks a lot

Frosty · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2009, 01:19:40 PM »

Quote from: Josh on October 02, 2009, 10:41:33 AM

...They are kinda soft and dont give me the support I think I want in the toe side turns. They're a little soft ya know? When I stand up in them and lean forward it really bends in. Does that happen with your boots Frosty? ...

Dude, what are you -- PSYCHIC? Yeah, the boots I have now and really comfy and fit great, but the problem is they are indeed too soft. I might keep them around for halfpipe and freestyle, but my main style is freeride so I am in the market for a boot that is a bit stiffer.

A couple years back I overshot a big park jump at Bachelor and crunched both my ankles. I have always preferred boots a bit on the stiff side, but since that injury I really need the additional support -- ya know? You gotta find the right boot/binding combination for you that offers teh best of support, comfort and flexibility!

If anyone knows of a nice and supportive Boa style boot PM me or post it.

Josh · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2009, 01:45:47 PM »

Ya pm me as well pleasee.

Yea no support is kinda wack

What boots do you have right now Frosty?

Frosty · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2009, 04:05:52 PM »

Quote from: Josh on October 02, 2009, 01:45:47 PM

Ya pm me as well pleasee.

Yea no support is kinda wack

What boots do you have right now Frosty?

I got the Salomon Faction Brown
http://www.salomonsnowboard.com/en-us/products/mens/boots/

Mine is from a couple years back. Just a cheapie boot when I was desperate and my old Flow boots were shot. Comfortable and well-made boot, just not supportive enough.

Here is the one I should get:
http://www.salomonsnowboard.com/en-us/products/mens/boots/
Much higher flex rating and adjustable support inserts

Good deal on these online too http://www.frostyrider.com/shops/frostys_shop.htm?gear=salomon+malamute

Josh · « **Reply #6 on:** October 02, 2009, 04:35:23 PM »

Wow, Salomon makes a lot of boots.

Just one more question, how do you get those footbeds into the boot?
Because the boot has the liner part. Does the footbed go under or on top of that?

Frosty · « **Reply #7 on:** October 02, 2009, 05:52:18 PM »

Footbed goes inside the liner.

Josh · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2009, 07:22:34 PM »

How does it get inside the liner? And does it replace another footbed(so it's not really tight or anything)

Frosty · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2009, 08:50:22 AM »

Take the liner out of the boot shell. Reach in the liner and remove the stock footbed. Replace with new supportive footbed. Put liner back in boot. Check fit.

Tip: If your boot fits too tight, use thin socks. Vice versa too

Josh · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2009, 09:46:51 AM »

You mean thinner footbed for the vice versa right?

Josh · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2009, 03:37:55 PM »

Ok so I took out the footbed and was really surprised at what I saw.

The Footbed is basically (not really) paper thin. Very surprising.

Hopefully, a new footbed will help me. Thanks a lot for the advice. I never wouldve actually taken this out and seen how bad it really is.

If anyone wants to see what a boot liner looks like:

btw Is that how jbars are supposed to look? They seem low...

Frosty · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2009, 04:37:53 PM »

Really nice pics!

Author Topic: How are boots supposed to feel? (Read 2096 times)

Josh

How are boots supposed to feel?

Frosty

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Josh

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Frosty

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Josh

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Frosty

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Josh

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Frosty

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Josh

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Frosty

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Josh

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Josh

Re: How are boots supposed to feel?

Frosty

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