Edit 6/2013...some of the links to pics have messed up...here is a link to the pic album
https://picasaweb.google.com/114215022719963410889/SnowboardParts?authkey=Gv1sRgCOKP1pftj8bl9wE#
idk mods...perhaps sticky at top of boots....I'm tired of boot fitting questions.
Boots are arguably the most important part of your set up. Everybody’s feet are different and most boots need some mods/adjustment to be comfortable and to get performance. Also go for the highest quality boot you can….they will feel better and last longer. Boots will break-in, wear and pack-out. However you can do things to keep them fitting comfortable and performing well. Over my 9 years if riding I gone through 9-10 pairs of boots and during the past few have finally got it pretty much dial-in as to size model and dealing with pack-out. You will be damm lucky if your first pair without any mods work for you.
The single best thing to do is to try on a lot of boots…different brands, models, sizes and then get then dialed in…..find a quality boot fitter
Originally Posted by Cycle4Fun
You need to find a quality boot fitter. Then it may take several days of riding and boot fitter sessions to get the boot dialed in.
A good boot fitter at a shop will start you off with the right boot for your unique foot shape and riding style. You'll start with the right size and go out and try it. Then you come back and describe in great detail what you're experiencing. You'll walk out with different insoles and/or wedges and go ride the next day. Repeat until things don't hurt and numbness goes away.
I did this with my fiancé on her ski's last year. Her boots had worn out and were too soft. She was badly bruising her bone after a 1/2 day of riding. A couple of days was enough to bring her to near tears after a run despite constant icing at night and pain killers.
We went to an expert boot fitter and got new boots. New boots helped a ton, but were too loose in the toe and she had heal lift. She got an insert and went back out. Better, but not perfect. Heal wedges stopped the last of the heal lift. Came back to the resort the next week to buy the new skis she demo'd and verify the boot fit despite the fact that the conditions were awful. It took one more round of boot fitting to get the boots dialed in.
Modify and check. Repeat. It's no different than bicycle, saddle, and bike shoe fitting.
Get to a good bootfitter. They won't be happy until you're happy. Don't BS yourself and waste money trying this boot and that boot because other people say it fits their feet. Their feet aren't yours.
Which is why you should go to a reputable boot fitter. Your boot could be too wide, to narrow, not enough arch support, poor heal fit, poor ankle fit, too loose. The list of potential problems is huge. Any of which could contribute to numbness.
People suggesting different boots are shooting in the dark. What works for them, may not work for you!
If you do not have a quality boot fitter or want to do a diy….continue
You can make your own butterflies, h, c, or j with some 1/4" adhevisive backed foam...get a piece of it from your local core ski /board shop…it should not cost more than a few dollars. Cover the butterflies, c/j/h with some tape…I use “hurricane” nylon web tape and found it is slicker to get liners in/out of the shell and it doesn’t roll like duct tape.
You can do c's, j's, butterfly's, put a bit of 1/4" or 1/8" self adhesive foam in the front/tongue of the liner. Any good ski shop has it and could sell you a piece to cut your own or have them do it, take your boots in. Also make sure that you really cinch down the inner lace on the 32 focus boas and then you can leave the lower boa looser. I also use hurricane tape (also makes them slide in/out easier than duct or other tape) over the c's/padding so they don't rip off when you insert/remove the liners for drying. Besides the c's there is a bit of foam above the heel area...so it makes a little pocket for the heel to set in and then with the inner lace cinched down there is no heel lift. To position the c's just put on the liner mark where your ankle bone sticks out and place the c so that it would cup that protrusion. I also use ed vessieurs "sole" insoles due to high arches...all snowboard boot inserts are pretty much garbage so a good footbed can/will also help.
https://picasaweb.google.com/114215022719963410889/SnowboardParts?authkey=Gv1sRgCOKP1pftj8bl9wE#
idk mods...perhaps sticky at top of boots....I'm tired of boot fitting questions.
Boots are arguably the most important part of your set up. Everybody’s feet are different and most boots need some mods/adjustment to be comfortable and to get performance. Also go for the highest quality boot you can….they will feel better and last longer. Boots will break-in, wear and pack-out. However you can do things to keep them fitting comfortable and performing well. Over my 9 years if riding I gone through 9-10 pairs of boots and during the past few have finally got it pretty much dial-in as to size model and dealing with pack-out. You will be damm lucky if your first pair without any mods work for you.
The single best thing to do is to try on a lot of boots…different brands, models, sizes and then get then dialed in…..find a quality boot fitter
Originally Posted by Cycle4Fun
You need to find a quality boot fitter. Then it may take several days of riding and boot fitter sessions to get the boot dialed in.
A good boot fitter at a shop will start you off with the right boot for your unique foot shape and riding style. You'll start with the right size and go out and try it. Then you come back and describe in great detail what you're experiencing. You'll walk out with different insoles and/or wedges and go ride the next day. Repeat until things don't hurt and numbness goes away.
I did this with my fiancé on her ski's last year. Her boots had worn out and were too soft. She was badly bruising her bone after a 1/2 day of riding. A couple of days was enough to bring her to near tears after a run despite constant icing at night and pain killers.
We went to an expert boot fitter and got new boots. New boots helped a ton, but were too loose in the toe and she had heal lift. She got an insert and went back out. Better, but not perfect. Heal wedges stopped the last of the heal lift. Came back to the resort the next week to buy the new skis she demo'd and verify the boot fit despite the fact that the conditions were awful. It took one more round of boot fitting to get the boots dialed in.
Modify and check. Repeat. It's no different than bicycle, saddle, and bike shoe fitting.
Get to a good bootfitter. They won't be happy until you're happy. Don't BS yourself and waste money trying this boot and that boot because other people say it fits their feet. Their feet aren't yours.
Which is why you should go to a reputable boot fitter. Your boot could be too wide, to narrow, not enough arch support, poor heal fit, poor ankle fit, too loose. The list of potential problems is huge. Any of which could contribute to numbness.
People suggesting different boots are shooting in the dark. What works for them, may not work for you!
If you do not have a quality boot fitter or want to do a diy….continue
You can make your own butterflies, h, c, or j with some 1/4" adhevisive backed foam...get a piece of it from your local core ski /board shop…it should not cost more than a few dollars. Cover the butterflies, c/j/h with some tape…I use “hurricane” nylon web tape and found it is slicker to get liners in/out of the shell and it doesn’t roll like duct tape.
You can do c's, j's, butterfly's, put a bit of 1/4" or 1/8" self adhesive foam in the front/tongue of the liner. Any good ski shop has it and could sell you a piece to cut your own or have them do it, take your boots in. Also make sure that you really cinch down the inner lace on the 32 focus boas and then you can leave the lower boa looser. I also use hurricane tape (also makes them slide in/out easier than duct or other tape) over the c's/padding so they don't rip off when you insert/remove the liners for drying. Besides the c's there is a bit of foam above the heel area...so it makes a little pocket for the heel to set in and then with the inner lace cinched down there is no heel lift. To position the c's just put on the liner mark where your ankle bone sticks out and place the c so that it would cup that protrusion. I also use ed vessieurs "sole" insoles due to high arches...all snowboard boot inserts are pretty much garbage so a good footbed can/will also help.