Expert Boot Advice by Jeff Bergeron/Boot Fixation  

so what bla bla bla!!

buckle and go!!!

Welcome back, Jeff.
I have a pair of Lange comp 120. They fit me well (after minor modifications).
1- I want to try and soften them a bit for powder and bumps days, so i want to take out one of the rear screws on those days. The question is, take out the top or the bottom one?
2- The last day of last season i skied my old straight 1.95 slaloms on very soft and wet conditions. I skied with the standard footbed (as i have broken my ortho footbed) and at the end of the day my feet hurt like hell. The pain was mid foot on the outside. The heel, the arch, the fingers and finger balls were OK. I had no such problems skiing on modern skis on decent snow (even with standard footbeds). Is this because i din't use footbeds or could it be a technique issue?
3- Can trim to fit Superfeet alleviate this problem (am i on tight budget thia year)/
thanks

Hi Jeff.
Background info; level 8 skier, Tecnica Rival boots, Green Mountain Orthotecs Labs custom footbeds.

1. Your opinion on Booster straps and where they should be on the front of the boot. Inside the shell or not? With my stock power straps if I move them partially inside it's great, but all the way inside on top of the liner, it seems to put me on my heels.

Thanks,
Steve

Jeff,
Info: Advanced intermediate skier, ski mostly in east, just bought elan s-10 skis, currently own salomon performa 5.0 boots in 31.
1) My currents boots have gotten far too big (packed out), is there anything I can do about this?
2) I'm looking into buying new boots, but I don't want to spend more than 300, any suggestions?

Thanks

Background Info:

My 16 y.o. son has a long, skinny foot (12 A) with a low instep to go with his long, skinny calves (he's 6'4", 150 lbs.). He skis lots of bumps, under the lifts, steeps, etc. He was floundering in some packed-out Rossi KX's (yellow, really stiff) that allowed his foot to slop all over the place. Just put him in a new (04/05) Lange Comp 120 LF - size 11 with green trim-to-fit Superfeet. After 2 days in the boots, he's enduring somewhat scrunched toes (length-wise), but more importantly, he has developed a bump on the outside of each ankle about an inch in front of the ankle bone - resembles a second ankle bone.

Questions:

1) Considering the "bumps" on his ankles, should I just let him ski with them the way they are for a few more days, take them back to Christy Sports to see what they can do, or do I need to come see you?

2) Could you estimate what you would charge to work on him if we come see you? (I wish you were in Winter Park or Copper where we normally ski!)

3) My foot is shaped nearly identically, but a size bigger (measure a 13 B). No one in Co Spgs stocks the LF in a 12/12.5. Do you think I'd be safe in ordering that boot as a basis from which to hire you to make them fit me well (FWIW, I'm currently in 15 yr. old Lange XRi "Pink Panthers" that are slopping all over on me (size 13) - please, no laughing ) Or, at my size (6'2", 200lbs.), skiing similar terrain (bumps are my current passion/challenge), should I be considering the 130 boot?

Thanks,

AM.

Jeff,
Background: Lange 120 boots, expert skier. 160#. Spend the majority of my time in the back bowls of Vail. I have a very narrow foot & calves. The Lange fits great in the foot, but I'd like increased shin/tongue contact. Overall I like the flex of the 120 which I recently purchased. They're a bit softer than my '96 Langes (I forget the model #, but purplish with neon yellow buckles) which works better for me.

Question:
1. Would a booster strap or eliminator tongue provide me with improved shin/tongue contact.
2. As I've never used either, please explain the merits of both.

Thanks in advance. Since moving back to CO from VT I'm in Vail just about every weekend. Perhaps I'll swing by Breck one of these days so you can have a look-see.

AM, Breck isn't that far from Copper, and dropping by to see Jeff given what you've said here is a pretty good idea, I think!

Hi Jeff: I appreciate your service on this site.

I recently purchased 2005 Lange Comp 120's, which are fabulous!

The only problem is that the edge of the liner tongue on my right boot digs into my instep over the blood vessels. As a result, my foot goes numb after awhile (I'm told this isn't good).

What to do? No amount of shell punching helps. I'm now considering getting new Intuition liners to remedy the situation.

Otherwise, these 2005 Lange liners are amazing (heat moldable - great fit).

Is there any other option you can think of?

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

Hi Jeff-

Background Info:
46 years old, 5'5", 185 lbs (very athletic in past but getting flabby in old age)
Moved to Boston 5 years ago and started skiing again so I bought some gear that included Nordica Exopower (whatever that is) Trend 07 Lady boots. I've replaced my skis twice, but kept the same boots. I'm currently on Atomic Metron M:9s and am comfortable skiing on some advanced terrain (the easier groomed black trials). But I want to get better!

My boots have been worked on by boot fitters and I have a custom foot bed. I'm afraid of getting new boots because I don't want to risk creating foot problems. I have flat, straight feet; wide, square toes. The Nordicas are comfortable, but I want to be sure they aren't preventing me from improving as much as possible.

1. I wonder if upgrading my boots will help me improve? Or if what I have is good enough, I just need to keep skiing, working on technique, and the skills will come even with the boots I know have?

2. If you think I'll benefit from dumping my current boots, do you recommed any in particular?

If you have some thoughts, I'd appreciate your response.

Thanks

You're right, though we ski more often at WP than Copper - Eisenhower is a real drag when you're daytrippin!

I may be skiing alone at Copper on Friday - kid has a basketball game in Buena Vista, which is a great excuse for me to take the day off and go ski nearby! Any chance you'll be there then? It'd be great to hook up for a few runs.

AM.

Hi Jeff, thanks for taking the time to answer questions here!

BACKGROUND INFO:
36 yrs old, 215 lbs, V shaped feet (narrow heal, wider towards the front of the feet). Feet are exactly 28 cm long and 10.5 cm at their widest point. Intermediate/advanced skill level. Currently making the painful transition from older gear: rear entry/straight skis to 4-buckle/shaped skis.

No professional boot fitters in my area, no plans to visit a big mountain this year. After gobs of time trying on different boots, I ended up buying tecnica diablo flame size 28.0 ultra-fit liner. These were the "snuggest" feeling boots I could find, that didn’t make my feet go numb in 5 minutes. (numbness at the inside and outside edge of the foot)

Questions:
1.My heal moves about 1cm when I lift my foot of the ground (in a motion I would use to sit 'cross legged'). Is this heal movement a problem?

if it is....

2. Should I drop down a shell size and suck up the numbness till the liners pack out? Or is there something else I can do to make them fit better around the heal?

Thanks!

Hey Captain Strato- I know that Jeff can probably answer this better than I, but the numbness problem you are having is due to nerve, not blood vessel, compression. I suspect that the reason the punching you have had done so far has not worked is that the area that the nerve compression is occurring is not the same as the place your bootfitter has punched out, despite where you are feeling tightness.

I would map out the areas on your foot that are numb- with that information, you can get some idea as to which nerves are involved based on the distribution of their innervation (which is somewhat varaible, but will give you a good place to start). Then you may have some guidance as to where the compression is occurring based on the route that the nerves take in the lower leg and foot.

Really dumb footbed question (especially since I've been skiing since 1980): Where do you put trim-to-fit footbeds? Inside the liner? Under the liner in place of the stock piece? Wisecracks receive rain next weekend. Thanks

They replace the existing footbed. Remove it, throw it in the trash, trim the footbed to size and place it in the liner.
I hope you appreciate my sincerity. It's only cause I'm heading back to Vail tomorrow night.

Happy New Year Jeff. Thanks for finding time to post.

Needed: Boot recommendation

Background:
1. Chicken Leg brotherhood. Tight Achilles Chapter.
2. Foot=98mm forefoot, 285mm length. Long 2nd toe. Low arches/instep.
3. 6', 160#, 35 y.o. advanced skier. Primarily eastern terrain. Value agility on the hill, prefer light equipment.
4. Looking for a narrow lasted boot, with upright, more neutral stance.
5. Went to SureF*t -- they stuck me in 28.5 MF Lange Comp 100. even though I asked for a narrower last in 27.5, they said the 28.5 MF was perfect. (my foot rattled in it.) Tecnica Flame too wide in forefoot as well. I left, pretty p-o'ed. No one carries narrow lasted boots where I am.

Additional bg:
1. A weak left foot from an old foot drop injury leaves my left leg not as powerful and less precise than my right (approx. 97% of flexion). I worry that a race boot flex would be too stiff. I also tend to roll my ankle outward onto the outside edge of my feet as a matter of habit. The extra volume in my current boots allowing this kind of imprecise movement=sloppy skiing.
2. Not sure how effective my rigid (green) superfeet insoles are. Hate the reduced level of foot to boot sensation/contact and the cramping in the soles of my feet from them.
3. I like the abdcuted stance of my Atomic boots, but not the wider last. (They are the grey and orange Beta Rides.)

Questions:
1. Would the Head Custom fit boots with 100mm last be narrow enough? (eg: RS 80)
2. Would older Head N97 lasted boots do the trick?
3. Does Atomic have a boot (because of the abducted stance) that runs narrow enough? Would downsizing a couple sizes to a smaller shell/narrower last help?
3. Do you have other boot recommendations?
4. This rolling onto the outer edge of my foot - is this typical of some inherent instabilty in lower arched feet? Is there a non-rigid sole Remedy for support?

Thanks -

Jeff,

These are my stats:
- I am 19
- I live in Australia. I ski at Aspen each Christmas and in the Australian Ski fields for about 2 weeks a year
- ski mainly groomed (powder is good too)
- am 6' 1", 165 pounds
- play alot of sport
- I like to ski fast
- occasionally ski the really hard runs, where there is no one around
- bumps are ok sometimes, but I have bad knees
- I have pretty good technique on groomed runs of nearly any kind but I am out to get better
- have size 12 feet; average width (like 4.5" just behind my toes); no prominent bone/spurs

This season I will be working for the first time as a kids ski instructor at Aspen (yay!) so I am looking to buy my own gear. Price doesnt matter so much, i just want a good pair.

1. What should I be looking for in a boot?

2. What brands should I consider/forget?

3. Do you know of a good boot fitter in the Aspen/Snowmass area?

questions...

Background Information:
- Eastern expert, sometimes I like to play in the park but mostly I love trees and fast carving.
- I've got two different sized feet. My left is a 9/9.5 shoe size, my right is a 8.5. Both are EE widths. Also I'm 5'11. 185, athletic.
- I also have extremely flat feet (Cavemen feet) and I wear custom orthotics in my shoes for this. Unfortunately they dont fit in ski boots and are rather expensive so I can't get another set.
- Currently using an older Dolomite, VXS or something like that. It's way packed out, and has gotten so soft i feel like I'm not attached to my skis so its time to get rid of them.
- On my own I tried a pair of the Technica Icon ALU at a 27.0, way too narrow to get even close to putting them on, let alone fitting them. Tried a few others, including a Dalbello (wasn't impressed) at shop and left.
- Went to a better shop and fitting guy helped me out. He seemed to recommend the Dolomite Rage Pro or the Nordica Beast, in 26.5's to keep the tight fit for performance. Those were the only two he had me try on. I should also note that these were the two most expensive boots in the store, so I'm a little skeptical.

Questions:

1. The Rage Pro seemed to fit well, as did the Beast, but neither were great. In both boots a heel lift was inserted on my larger left foot, which helped a little (or so it seemed) with alleviating some pinching of my toes. This seemed to cause heel slippage, especially in the Rage Pro. In general both of these boots actually seemed to have rather roomy heel pockets for me. Was the tech doing the right thing with the heel lift or simply trying to convince me the most expensive boots in the store were the best idea with a small gimmick that helped fit while causing heel and performance problems?

2. Are my heels themselves possibly just too narrow for these boots? Is the heel able to be "tightened up" around my ankle/heel area or is it a find new boots kind of deal?

3. Is there anything else in this flex range that I should go try on?

4. Does 26.5 seem like the size I should really be trying on?


Thanks in advance, and hope the questions are answerable with the information I've given...

-Pete

Jeff,

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

Background:
- 6'1"/195lbs
- Advanced Skier
- Telluride - 25 days Annually
- Powder/Trees/Steeps
- Boots - Raichle F1Pro/Custom Footbeds/Booster Straps
- Skis - Legend 8000/178

Problem:

Boots fit very well and I have no comfort issues at all. Problem is that heels lift slightly out of the pocket on both boots, more on left foot. No amount of strap adjustment within reason solves this.

Is this a problem to be concerned about? If so what is the best way to remedy?

Thanks!

Flyman,

One of the boots you should consider is the new Diablo Mag and Fire models. Try them on and see how they fit your feet. They have a wider forefoot than the Icon Alu and a snug heel.

Hopefully an easy one for you, Jeff...
Background: Tecnica Icon boots with green Superfeet insoles.
The insoles were in my previous boots as well.

On my recent trip to Wengen, I got blisters on both feet at the side just above the arch.
My diagnosis is that either the boot lining has expanded or the insole contracted/curled up a bit. My feet were then being nipped between the insole and lining, which caused the problem.

Since coming home, I've taken the insoles out.

Question: Would buying new insoles help, or do I need to get the boot looked at?