Footbeds..

[Sheena]

Not the most exciting thing, I know...

Do any of you have any info on good footbeds? I have had trouble with my right boot off and on for the past few seasons. Each time I have tried to come up with my own solution (which has actually worked for a short period of time). I have finally come to the point where I cannot make a fix to make my foot comfortable any more.
With demoing the longer skis, I was forced to ski more aggresively, and my right foot kep coming right off the foot of my boot. Not comfortable (or safe) at all!!

I did make use of the snow emergency yesterday (got off work at 2:00 pm), and went over to the Ski Center in DC. They gave me some new footbeds--berry-colored women's specific footbeds from Super Feet. I am going to try them over the weekend and see how they work for me. If they don't, then on to plan B - customs.

Does anyone have experience with custom footbeds? Are they worth the cost? I do have a partially collapsed arch on my right foot (which causes me a lot of pain with some brands of footbeds) accoring to the army of men who helped me at the shop yesterday.

I guess I will know more after the three-day ski weekend, just wanted to see if y'all had any positive or negative experience with customs.

 

[Lori_K]

Were these just off-the-shelf footbeds that you stick in your boots?
If they just handed you a set of footbeds without checking your feet and the fit of your boots, then they did you a disservice.

Custom footbeds are worth every penny that you spend on them. I had custom Superfeet footbeds made a few years ago, and it was like night and day the next time I skied. Power steering for your skis. :D
When I was ready for new boots, I took my custom footbeds and transferred them to the new boots (with a little cutting and trimming by the bootfitter.). I won't even consider skiing without the footbeds now.

Edit: I just looked up the Superfeet website. It looks like you have the "trim to fit" Berry footbeds? I don't know how much these cost, or if they will help at all. I have the Superfeet Kork footbeds, and the cost of the fitting was included with the footbed. If your ski shop can't do the custom footbeds, then find a reputable bootfitter. There are also other manufacturers of custom footbeds, not just Superfeet.

 

[volklgirl]

My feet pronate and leave me with very flat arches. No way would I ski without my custom footbeds ever again.....worth every penny!!!!

Although - the footbeds are only as good as the person who makes them, so choose your fitter very carefully. A badly made footbed can be worse than no footbed at all.

 

[num]

I have zapz footbeds. https://www.masterfitenterprises.com/zapz/insoles.html

Before I got them, I had a problem where on the side of my right foot, by the joint by the big toe was getting irritated. I went to my bootfitter, and he told me that when I flex, my right tibia rolls inward, and that put a strain on that part of the foot; I should fix it by stabilizing the foot. He recommended that I get footbeds, and also said that he could glue some sticks (are these shims?) to my stock footbed and see if that helps for free. I asked him about the custom footbeds, and he said I could get zapz for $59 or traditional customs for (I think) $200, and told me about the processes and lifespans for both. Not wanting to spend money without thinking about it first, I just had him glue the sticks to my stock footbed and see if it made a difference.

After skiing on them, I was surprised by the huge difference it made, and knew that it would be worth it to get footbeds. I figured I'd get these much cheaper ones and take it from there. Maybe a few years down the road, if these have lived their life I might get the regular customs, but for now I'm happy.

Here's how they did it:

My bootfitter took the one that fit my shell size, then trimmed it to shape, then threw it in the microwave to heat the gel, put it into my boot, and had me flex in the boot while the gel moved to conform to my arches. After a few minutes he took it out and wiped where the excess gel had came and plugged the drains, and did it to the other boot.

Enjoy your three day ski weekend!

 

[Jilly]

Sounds like you got new insoles, not footbeds. I ski on Superfeet as I don't have any issues other than high arches. Anything is better than the insole that comes with the boot. About 10 years ago I had major problems and tried "comfortab" footbeds. The only problem I have with still using them is they are plastic. Not warm enough on the bottom of my foot. We don't have a local shop that does custom, so I've learned to use the Superfeet. Next boots though are coming from a different shop and I'm sure they'll want to sell me the custom footbeds. We'll see. I do have Orthotics too, but only use them in the running shoes and in-line skates. Again they are plastic and just not warm enough.

 

[skigirl]

I have custom orthotics that I use in all of my shoes. They are from Action Orthotics. They are not custom foot beds but corrective orthotics. I have pain in my feet no matter what I have on my feet. The longer that I am on my feet the worse it gets. I pronate, have low arches, two bad hips, and constant low back pain. The pain in my ski boots was getting so bad I did not want to ski much and when I did I would only last about 3 hours before the pain would be too much to stand. This summer I came accross these orthotics and tried them. They go from my heel to just behind the balls of my feet. In my sneakers they were great so I was hoping they would work in my ski boots. THEY DO!! When I skied the first time with them I was amazed at how great my feet felt and how much more control I had in my ski boots. As the season has progressed they are still working great. No more PAIN!! Before I got the orthotics I had work done on my boots in Utah but it only helped some. They cost me $300 and were worth it. The great thing about mine is that I can use them in all of my shoes. I can actually walk in heels now too with them. My feet, hips, and low back love them. I don't know if you need what I have but I do recommend a good custom orthotic or footbed. Good Luck!!

 

[Sheena]

Edit: I just looked up the Superfeet website. It looks like you have the "trim to fit" Berry footbeds? I don't know how much these cost, or if they will help at all. I have the Superfeet Kork footbeds, and the cost of the fitting was included with the footbed. If your ski shop can't do the custom footbeds, then find a reputable bootfitter. There are also other manufacturers of custom footbeds, not just Superfeet.

​

They were only $31 dollars, and since I bought the boots there (even though it was a few years ago) they did the fitting for free. They did spend some time looking at my feet. And found out through them that the reason why other footbeds/insoles had hurt my right foot so badly was because my right arch was partially collapsed. (too many years walking the 2 miles to work in 2in heels???) Anyways they suggested I try these out for the weekend and if they don't work, I could come back and they would work out some other options for me. The bootfitter there is really great, they just wanted to try and save me some money.

 

[Little Lightning]

I have a condition on my left foot where the 1st metatarsal drops lower than the other metatarsals on my foot. Cork type foot beds made in the ski shops made my foot feel miserable. It was getting to the point that my foot hurt so much that thought I was going to need surgery. I went to a sports medicine person here in Denver and had custom orthotics made for my shoes and a pair made for my ski boots. They're awesome and well worth the money I spent. No more foot pain.

I have a friend who is a podiatrist and she says the best orthotics are made unweighted, IE seated and putting a bag around your foot or using a foam mold, like mine were done. She recommends steering clear of standing on the orthotic as it just replicates your problem.

If you have a specific issue with your foot a trained, knowledgeable person is well worth the money. Plus, even though I didn't pursue it my insurance co. might have paid for the othotics.

Kathi

 

[Jilly]

Yeah Sheena you got insoles. Custom footbeds would be at least $100.00. Hubby paid $ 125.00 Cdn. If they work great. If not see about other options. Orthotics may be paid by insurance.

 

[sskier]

I do not like the berry because they have that forefoot shock pad, great for snowboarders. I believe that the green would have been a better choice.
The corks at least they are molded for your feet and they are stiffer. Personally not for me but I know many that love them.
There are other products out a new product i A-line.
Do check you’re insurance if they cover orthotics that is the best because they take a cast of your foot.

 

[sskier]

opps, Hi, sent before I was done typing.
I have a few questions. Everyone one has a stronger and weaker side are you stronger on that side? Is your whole foot coming up or just the heel? Is one foot bigger that the other? How many days do you have in these ski boots? What kind of boots and what type of foot do you have. Look at you’re tennis shoe soles. Do wear them evenly?
Again, I agree with all the above about footbeds, most ski footbeds don’t offer much support.

 

[Little Lightning]

My boots are Lange FS 100, last year's model, size 22. They have 30+ days on them. I have the bails tightened about half way and I buckle them on the 1st notch. Anything tighter would be too tight.

My left foot is slightly larger than my right, possibly due to the drop in the metatarsal in that foot, however, I'm not sure if this is what causes the difference in size.

My foot is very thin with a very high instep and an inflexible arch. Good arch support keeps the metatarsal comfortable and pain down.

My orthotics have over 50 days of skiing and they still feel very supportive. I also have 1/4" heel lifts in my boots and there is no movement with my feet, neither up and down or sideways.

My custom orthotics were not inexpensive, however, I have very good control over my skis and very happy feet and knees.

Kathi

 

[Little Lightning]

The same person made custom insoles for my walking shoes and cycling shoes. Much cheaper than the pain and expense of surgery.

Currently, my right side is slightly weaker than my left due to ACL surgery last Feb. I'm a cyclist and preinjury my body was pretty evenly balanced.

Kathi

 

[smpayne]

Since the shop said to come back if they didn't work, I am assuming they may put the price (or some of the price) of the trim-to-fit toward custom if you need them. Customs are completely worth it if you find someone who is good at trimming them, especially since you said one foot has more problems than the other. Custom fitting will take a few trips to the bootfitter - but completely worth it.

Take a sharpie marker with you skiing. At the end of the day, find all the tender spots on your foot, toes, heals, arch, etc. and circle the area. The sharpie will stay there a few days so you can get back to the bootfitter, show them your feet and see what they say. I found it was easier to show them exactly where the problem areas were than to try and descripe it after the fact, especially when my feet had been out of the boots a day or two.

 

[Marigee]

Sheena, I have custom footbeds and I love them. I got them at The Ski Center. I spent a good 1 1/2 hours getting checked out every which way and getting the footbeds made. Ask for either Brian Eardley or Brian Beaumont. Both are good and have been there a long time.

 

[Sheena]

Sheena, I have custom footbeds and I love them. I got them at The Ski Center. I spent a good 1 1/2 hours getting checked out every which way and getting the footbeds made. Ask for either Brian Eardley or Brian Beaumont. Both are good and have been there a long time.

I had Brian Beaumont look at my current set up (which was actually nothing in them, I had taken the footbeds/SuperFeet insoles out because they were hurting me so bad). He suggested I try the berry SuperFeet and if those don't work out for me, then he said we could try to find some other options. I had the light blue Super Feet in them when I originally got the boots, but those are a bit stiff under the arch and hurt a lot.