More frustrating boot help

[PNWSkier]

After many trips to the bootfitter I'm still frustrated and need some Diva help. I've also posted on Epic because we are leaving for Whistler on Friday and I need quick help.

I found out that my main boot issue is a high instep, very narrow ankle and heel. My left foot pronates more and seems to have a higher instep giving me more pain in that foot. I have had so many modifications and at this point am ready to give up as nothing fixes my issues. Current boot-Salomon Mynx

Not sure if this matters but I wear a size 7 shoe and wear a 23/23.5 boot.

In the hopes that an Inutuition Liner would work, I tried a non heated one and still had instep and lower forefoot pressure. I also tried many new boots:

Lange (don't remember model)- Too big throughout
Head Dream Thang 10- way to big everywhere
Dalbello Krypton Storm (non ID b/c that is all they had)- loose in ankle
Nordica SM 8-Loose in ankle don't remember what else
Full Tilt Sally- Instep pressure but I guess this can be fixed?

At this point it seems the Full Tilt will be the best but I'd hate to buy a boot that immediately needs work. I would at least like to ski in a boot before I feel pressure. I know the perfect boot does not exist but is there something I'm missing? Any suggestions on what else I could try?? If not, Full Tilt it is.


To add to my frustration, the bindings for my Auras have not arrived and should have arrived last Friday!

 

[PowDiva85]

when i fit boots if a person is uncomfortable in anywhere that the tongue hits, ie. top of the instep, front of the shin we move on to another boot. its easier to snug up the heel a little bit with a heel lift or narrowers (however I would rather not use either if I was lucky but some people need them) than fix the instep. The instep issue could be caused by several reasons which is why I rarely sell boots if there is an issue there. It is most likely happening in the full tilt because the full tilt has too much forward lean. If the boot has a spoiler, remove it. The cuff of a boot can be bent back to relieve instep pressure by letting you stand up straighter sometimes but I urge you to keep looking. Try a dobermann pro 100 if you can find it. If you did not try a lange exclusive FR try that or the lange competite. You talk about instep pressure relating to pronating but pronating causes you to roll in, not up so unless the pressure is on the inside of the instep you might be dealing with two seperate issues. Are you trying all these with or with out a custom orthodic?

 

[PNWSkier]

We are trying with my custom footbed and without. The Full Tilt was incredibly uncomfortable without my current footbed. I think he said my footbed is posted also (not sure what thay means) but it is small. The instep pain is on top and after a while in most boots (current ones included), even with buckles undone I can feel pulsating in my foot.

My main issue with my current boots is that I get instep pain on top and have a loose heel with heel lifts and this plastic piece around my ankle. I think it belongs to a Nordica boot.

 

[PowDiva85]

so what posting is doing is tipping your heel in one direction or the other. This should be specific to the boot so I would recommend trying boots with a superfeet until you find the right one and then decide if the custom is appropriate for the boot. I bet if you took the heel lifts out of the salomons your instep pain would not be as bad but then of course your heel slips. Without seeing your feet, its hard to diagnose but i wonder if you are getting what we call "getting hung by the calf". If the calf is too wide for the top of the boot ( which may be because there is a spoiler in or there is a cuff adjustment that can be made) you are getting hung up here and you are not able to get all the way into the boot so things feel loose because you are not actually sitting all the way in the heel pocket. The other thing that could be happening is that your footbed is over supporting your foot. If the orthodic is even just slightly too supportive then it could be pushing your arch up too high and causing instep pain. I agree you probably need support from a footbed but maybe a pink superfeet is enough to support your foot but still lets your foot collapse a little bit giving you room in the instep. Do you struggle with a narrow heel in all your shoes or is it just ski boots? Does your heel feel snug in the store and then not when you ski? When you say it feels loose is it like you can wiggle it side to side? or you can pull it up?

 

[PNWSkier]

Thanks for your help. I will try to answer all of your questions. I'm ready to just deal with foot pain in my current boots since I'm not totally convinced that my issues will be fixed with a new boot.

It seems as though when something goes in or out it causes more issues. Without the heel lifts the boot is too loose in the heel and I get shin bite which is why they were put in to begin with.

I had green superfeet but upgraded to these new footbeds because I was getting a lot of pressure points especially in my left pronated foot. I also had some shin bite with the green superfeet even with heel lifts. Last visit we found that my heel was a teeny bit more snug with superfeet so that is when he posted my footbeds.

I can move my heel up and down a lot and slightly side to side. It always feel loose whether I am in the store or not. I have to crank down on the boots to the second to last or last buckle positions to try and secure my foot. I then lose circulation!

As far as my calf, it is actually pretty small and muscular. I had one bootfitter comment that it fit me well in the calf. Initially to fix the shin bite issue eliminators were put in but I found them awkward and they really messed with my calf fit.

When I was fitted for these boots I weighed a bit more and think that I lost some width in my foot. I just tried on a bunch of my flat shoes and it seems as though my heel is a little loose in them. Since I am only 5'1' I wear a lot of heels so I never thought about it.

 

[alyeskaluv]

As a fellow narrow-heeled, pronating Diva, I would suggest you try that Atomic line . . . I got a fitting last month and ended up with Atomic Hawx 110s and they are really a great fit on my very narrow heels. I tried some other boots as well (namely the Krypton Storms and some Nordicas) and could lift my heel up a LOT. The Atomics were secure as soon as I put them on, and I didn't have to crank the buckles all the way down to get a good fit (which I always had to do on my old Dalbellos).

Everyone's unique, but I found that the Atomics fit my narrow feet really well. I am so happy with my boots

Best of luck to you! I also ski the Auras and, rest assured, once you get your boots and bindings figured out, you are in for a treat! They are the best skis, and will be perfect for Pacific NW conditions!!!!

 

[nyskier]

In Whistler, get thee to Snocovers. It is a shop in Village North near the condos and the supermarket. They have really good bootfitters there (my instructor recommended them), and if they can help me, they can probably help anyone (wide calves and feet).

Some people also swear by Fanatyk (I think it is near the Mongolie Grill towards Whistler Mt), but I can't vouch for them personallly. I have heard several instructors talk favorably about that shop as well.

Have fun!

 

[Jilly]

I second SnoCovers. I've a friend working in the store in Vancouver. They have great people and really great training. I was learning from him at Christmas about fitting boots.

 

[snowday]

I have narrow heel, ankle and front foot, high arch but NOT high instep. I tried the first 3 boots on your list and I felt them exactly as you did. I thought that my biggest problem was narrow foot and I red that the only truly narrow boots are racing boots, so now I own the Nordica Dobermann Agressor 100. They felt very very tight out from the box but they heated the shell and molded it on my feet. I'm still adjusting to the boot, I added custom footbeds (surefoot). They are made from old style plastic that gets very rigid at cold temp. It's not affecting my skiing but when I want to get them out of my feet I let them warm for 5-10 minutes :( On the good side I really feel more confident in them, more in control. My husband told me to slow down... that never happened before.

Other boots that I liked were Nordica Dobermann Pro 100. These had thicker lining than the Agressor and felt more comfortable, very comfortable and still very tight. They were hurting my shin on top of the tongue and the boot fitter said the cuff was too short for me.. that's why we moved to the Aggressor.

I also liked, and I'm still wondering about them, Salomon Scarlet. The cuffs were positioned not straight but toward exterior, lateral. I didn't know at that point that that is adjustable. They are described to have a big forward lean, I think the boot fitter thought I was complaining about that...

I think the more you try the better the chance to find the boot for you. Good luck!

 

[Jilly]

SnowCovers website: https://www.snowcovers.com/

 

[PowDiva85]

I have to agree based on what you are saying about the Mynx that they are not the right boot for you. I think it is doubtful that they can be fixed to fit you but maybe they can. If you continue trying boots dont buy anything that is not comfortable in the shin area or instep. Shin "bite" usually indicates a cuff that is not the right hight or a boot board that is tipping you in the wrong direction, neither problem is easily fixable. And do not try them with insoles, an insole is great to make the fit better or add support but it should not be used to "make" a boot fit.

 

[PNWSkier]

Thanks everyone.

I will probably end up at Snowcovers especially since I don't think I will have time today to visit another ski shop with a bigger selection. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome!