Powdasnarf

Hey everyone,

I have this excruciating pain in my feet when I shred. This is mostly in my downward foot. They don't hurt whatsoever when I'm just lounging around, but they start to hurt when I go down the mountain and continue while on the chairlift for some time.

I've done a lot of reading and there seems to be no easy way to decide if my boots or bindings are the likely culprit. Quick summary:

Boots: Size 10 Vans Encore, single boa lacing system. I wear a size 10 US shoe. After doing some reading I'm thinking that I might need to downsize to a 9 (I measure a 9.5 on the metal thing). They feel plenty tight around my ankles and upper foot, but I can wiggle my toes and they don't seem to touch the front of the boot.

Bindings: Ride EX. Kind of lower quality, so I'm wondering if they're the issue. Since things hurt on the chairlift perhaps these are just not tightening comfortably.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

NWBoarder

How often do you ride? If you only ride occasionally, then your feet may hurt just from getting used to riding. I know that the first few times I get out to ride, my feet are sore by the end of the day, but after a few days, they are used to it and don't hurt by the end of the day anymore.

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wrathfuldeity

Through out the foot bed and get some proper foot beds...but have the foot bed fitted.

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Powdasnarf

I ride about 8 or so days per year (I must travel for the gnar). My friends who ride about the same time don't experience this at all though.

wrathfuldeity

everybody's foot is different

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NWBoarder

This. Not only that, but I'm guessing you all ride different equipment as well, which can play into it. At only 8 days a year though, it sounds more like foot fatigue than equipment issues to me.

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Basti

You should definitely get some custom footbeds like Remind or (my preference) Footprint Game Changers. Footbeds can make all the difference. If that doesn't work try different boots.

chomps1211

Wear the boots around the house for a couple hours. Tighten them like you would for riding. If no issues, probably the bindings. My guess is it is the bindings, since you get more constant pain mostly in your lead foot which stays strapped in more/longer than the rear.

Also, second the footbed advice!! Custom molded "Orthotic" footbeds made a HUGE diff. for me. (...$120 and worth EVERY PENNY!!) I also changed the ankle strap mounting position on my 2010/11 Cartel's from the highest point to middle attachment points. Those two things pretty much fixed 85-90% of all the foot PAIN problems I was having.
(...reasonably sure the remaining 10-15% is just my fucked up & abused dogs! )

You are going to have to take some time to try different things to get this figured out because the fact is,.. Everybody's feet ARE different! What works for one, won't necessarily work for the other! No way around that!

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Soul06

I have similar problems. I think NWBoarder hit the nail on the head. I use to get the WORST foot cramps. Particularly in my forward foot. I changed my insoles to Superfeet which helped a little but not fully. I notice that it hurts when I first start riding for the day but as my feet get to relax a bit they adjust.
Like he said I believe it comes to a lack of frequent riding.

Snow Hound

I had this exact same problem. I only get a week 2 or 3 times a season. I figured that my feet just didn't like snowboarding. Running my boots loose helped but also felt sketchy. Then I swapped my Motos for Salomon Synapses. I've just got back from my second week with them and rode first to last lift with no pain whatsoever.