Snowboard boot problems
Discussion
I wasn't going to go this year, but a place came up on my normal group trip so I've signed up.
I've been riding for 5 years or so and the last 4 with my own gear. I'm not happy though, as my boots (I think) are crippling me, I get cramp over the tops of my feet and can't feel them after 5-10 minutes of boarding. They are fine when walking around. I don't know why or what to try, I can't take another year of this and still enjoy it.
Can anyone recommend a good boot shop who will make sure they fit properly. Hopefully in Berkshire but I'll travel. Budget for new boots in not unlimited but I'm prepared to pay for what I need as I hope they will last me at least another 5 weeks.
I've been riding for 5 years or so and the last 4 with my own gear. I'm not happy though, as my boots (I think) are crippling me, I get cramp over the tops of my feet and can't feel them after 5-10 minutes of boarding. They are fine when walking around. I don't know why or what to try, I can't take another year of this and still enjoy it.
Can anyone recommend a good boot shop who will make sure they fit properly. Hopefully in Berkshire but I'll travel. Budget for new boots in not unlimited but I'm prepared to pay for what I need as I hope they will last me at least another 5 weeks.
I've been riding a long time and I can sympathise with painful feet, as my current boots give me some trouble. It may be that the last used by the manufacturer just doesn't suit your foot - hence the need to buy new boots from another manufacturer. But before doing that I would recommend:
1) Sore top of the foot suggests to me that you may be trying to work the board during turns with an inadequate connection to the board. It might seem counter intuitive but tightening your boots may actually help - reducing the need to tense your feet to stay in control, and also reducing the need to overtighten the binding straps.
2) Try adjusting your high back angle to see if that helps
3) Specialist snowboard socks with padding in the right spots are considerably more comfortable than basic ski tubes, or two pairs of socks.
Having said all that I haven't cured my problems yet...
1) Sore top of the foot suggests to me that you may be trying to work the board during turns with an inadequate connection to the board. It might seem counter intuitive but tightening your boots may actually help - reducing the need to tense your feet to stay in control, and also reducing the need to overtighten the binding straps.
2) Try adjusting your high back angle to see if that helps
3) Specialist snowboard socks with padding in the right spots are considerably more comfortable than basic ski tubes, or two pairs of socks.
Having said all that I haven't cured my problems yet...
I've always had similar problems with ski boots. As you say, walking etc doesn't show up problems so the only way I managed to get a decent fit was to buy in resort on the first day and keep going back until they're right!
Finding a boot fitter that speaks good English in resort can be tricky though, but if you're going to Les Deux Alpes I can recommend one.
Finding a boot fitter that speaks good English in resort can be tricky though, but if you're going to Les Deux Alpes I can recommend one.
this guy is the best imo,
http://solutions4feet.co.uk/
had lots of work done to my boots (ski) there to get them comfortable
http://solutions4feet.co.uk/
had lots of work done to my boots (ski) there to get them comfortable
I'll probably get flamed for this, but after my first trip many years ago when I had unbearable pain in the same way you describe while using some cheap and nasty hire boots, I forked out for some flow bindings and boots. They fitted a whole lot better from the start but I found the design of the binding spread the load over the top of the whole foot and not through the two narrow straps. Admittedly since I learnt straps seem to have almost doubled in size and quadrupled in padding though....
Before my trips last year I changed my lace up boots to some flows with the boa system. These mean that there is minimal stuff on top of the boot being pressed down by the binding too and I didnt get sore feet at all.
Flows are worth a look, a lot of people hate them and will tell you they are cr4p, but they suit my needs perfectly. I have heard a lot of talk of them falling apart but I've never had any probs and they are easily stiff enough. I also board with a lot of skiiers so the added bonus is that they dont have to wait while I sit down and do my straps up at the top of every lift as I can pretty much do them on the move off the lift ramp (unless I fall over taking the rest of the 8 man chair passengers with me - which has been known!)
Before my trips last year I changed my lace up boots to some flows with the boa system. These mean that there is minimal stuff on top of the boot being pressed down by the binding too and I didnt get sore feet at all.
Flows are worth a look, a lot of people hate them and will tell you they are cr4p, but they suit my needs perfectly. I have heard a lot of talk of them falling apart but I've never had any probs and they are easily stiff enough. I also board with a lot of skiiers so the added bonus is that they dont have to wait while I sit down and do my straps up at the top of every lift as I can pretty much do them on the move off the lift ramp (unless I fall over taking the rest of the 8 man chair passengers with me - which has been known!)
I already have flow bindings (they were on the first set of hire boots I had so I stuck with them) I also liked the ease of access as I board with skiers as well.
The boots are 32's with boa laces as well.
Reading round, it seems there is a possibility it's my stance on the board (I ride goofy) so I'm going to see if my stance is too far apart and too angled.
Has anyone used the snowboard shop in Fleet or Sputnik in Marlow?
The boots are 32's with boa laces as well.
Reading round, it seems there is a possibility it's my stance on the board (I ride goofy) so I'm going to see if my stance is too far apart and too angled.
Has anyone used the snowboard shop in Fleet or Sputnik in Marlow?
Bullett said:
Has anyone used the snowboard shop in Fleet or Sputnik in Marlow?
Sputnick are a really cool bunch of people but wouldnt say they were boot specialists. The guys in fleet are great. I would take all your kit over with you and im sure they will go through setting it up with you, but it mite be worth ringing first and finding a quiet time! A better option is go to MK snowdome do the same with TSA then go and try them out!Bullett said:
Has anyone used the snowboard shop in Fleet or Sputnik in Marlow?
I buy all my stuff from there including my last pair of boots (32s) and Anna who owns the shop spent an hour with me going through lots of different boots to get the right ones for me.ETA - I was talking about Sputnik in Marlow. Doh!
Edited by flyingjase on Monday 3rd January 19:30
Bullett said:
I already have flow bindings (they were on the first set of hire boots I had so I stuck with them) I also liked the ease of access as I board with skiers as well.
The boots are 32's with boa laces as well.
Reading round, it seems there is a possibility it's my stance on the board (I ride goofy) so I'm going to see if my stance is too far apart and too angled.
Has anyone used the snowboard shop in Fleet or Sputnik in Marlow?
Having had Flow style bindings (made by Nidecker) back in the day I found I was able to get a better, and more comfortable fit with standard bindings. My Burtons have a good broad heel band and a cap strap on the toe. Only slightly slower to do up than flow style, with the added advantage that it is possible to clip in on steep slopes without taking your life in your hands balancing on a toe edge! The boots are 32's with boa laces as well.
Reading round, it seems there is a possibility it's my stance on the board (I ride goofy) so I'm going to see if my stance is too far apart and too angled.
Has anyone used the snowboard shop in Fleet or Sputnik in Marlow?
sassthathoopie said:
3) Specialist snowboard socks with padding in the right spots are considerably more comfortable than basic ski tubes, or two pairs of socks.
This, this and many times THIS!I've been snowboarding for 15 years now, I've suffered from all manner of horrible cramps through all the boots I've ever owned.
I had always written off the specialist sock as a load of b
ks designed to part stupid people with thier money.How wrong was I! I got a pair for x-mas 3 or 4 years ago and never looked back. It was an amazing transformation, hardly a twinge!
They were are clearly knitted from pure magic!
Brand doesnt appear to matter, I must have 5-10 pairs of the buggers now, all ace, Oakley and K2 (I think) spring to mind as to a couple of the brands but there are others too.
They all work a treat (for me anyway!)
davido140 said:
sassthathoopie said:
3) Specialist snowboard socks with padding in the right spots are considerably more comfortable than basic ski tubes, or two pairs of socks.
This, this and many times THIS!I've been snowboarding for 15 years now, I've suffered from all manner of horrible cramps through all the boots I've ever owned.
I had always written off the specialist sock as a load of b
ks designed to part stupid people with thier money.How wrong was I! I got a pair for x-mas 3 or 4 years ago and never looked back. It was an amazing transformation, hardly a twinge!
They were are clearly knitted from pure magic!
Brand doesnt appear to matter, I must have 5-10 pairs of the buggers now, all ace, Oakley and K2 (I think) spring to mind as to a couple of the brands but there are others too.
They all work a treat (for me anyway!)
The best socks are generally very very thin with a little extra thickness in key areas - I've got a few different pairs and can tell the difference between the best and worst.
Best one's I've got are made by Conformable - the same people that do the custom footbeds and liners. I've also got some Teko ones which are pretty good too.
I had this problem but it was down to the binding - not the boot.
Would suggest trying a pair of bindings with toe caps on them (Burton Mission's/etc)
They made a world of difference to me and the problem has now gone.
I've currently got the K2 Cinch CTX bindings and whilst these haven't strictly got toe-caps they can be moved down to act as them - so do the same job. very quick and easy to ride with and take on/off.
Cheers,
Rick.
Would suggest trying a pair of bindings with toe caps on them (Burton Mission's/etc)
They made a world of difference to me and the problem has now gone.
I've currently got the K2 Cinch CTX bindings and whilst these haven't strictly got toe-caps they can be moved down to act as them - so do the same job. very quick and easy to ride with and take on/off.
Cheers,
Rick.
Thanks all.
My first thought was binding, not boot. I don't really want to replace £300-£400 worth of kit and not know what fixed the issue.
I think the plan is to go to a shop and change the bindings to some toe-cap type 'normal' bindings. I've always had to fiddle with the binding on the slopes and it pisses me off.
I'll also pick up some proper socks.
Hopefully I'll get the shop to re-heat form my boots and check more position and angles as well.
My first thought was binding, not boot. I don't really want to replace £300-£400 worth of kit and not know what fixed the issue.
I think the plan is to go to a shop and change the bindings to some toe-cap type 'normal' bindings. I've always had to fiddle with the binding on the slopes and it pisses me off.
I'll also pick up some proper socks.
Hopefully I'll get the shop to re-heat form my boots and check more position and angles as well.
Well well.....so you Snowboarders get sore feet do you ? All you ever hear in the perennial skiing vs snowboarding debate is how comfortable the boots are!
Bookmarked for future reference.
My ski boots don't hurt at all! Oh and I'd agree on the thin socks...if you need thick socks to make the boots comfortable there is a problem.
Bookmarked for future reference.
My ski boots don't hurt at all! Oh and I'd agree on the thin socks...if you need thick socks to make the boots comfortable there is a problem.
bullies180 said:
This might sound stupid but could it be that you are over tightening the laces? you could be cutting off the blood flow? Thats probably why you are getting cramp
Don't think so, I use boas and I'm 99% sure it's not a too tight problem else I'de have it when walking round instead of just on the board.I use 32's and they are excellent but I know that good boots for me may not be good boots for the next person. I also used to use Flows and was a big supporter of them, even when I was slated by my mates, until my highback snapped in two. However, once I switched to regular straps and toe caps I realised how much play there actually was in my old Flows (they were actually top of the range Flows). I now use Burtons (Cartel on one board and P1's on the other board). I still get calf and thigh pain but thats usually lack of excercise rather than my kit.
If you are anywhere near one of the domes then head over to TSA or Ellis Brigham and try out some of their kit on your board. They've usually got demo stuff available.
If you are anywhere near one of the domes then head over to TSA or Ellis Brigham and try out some of their kit on your board. They've usually got demo stuff available.
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