Boot Fitting Problems and Remedies

Cramping Of Calf Muscle or Lower leg

Step Remedy Result
1 Heel Lift A heel lift positioned under the insole, inside the inner boot will help to lift the leg up to a higher position within the boot so reducing pressure on the calf muscle.
2 Remove Spoiler Lots of ski boots have a spoiler (Plastic shim) between the shell and the liner at the back of the boot adjacent to the calf muscle. Removing it will create more volume for customers with larger legs.
3 Slacken Closure Buckles A ski boot that is tightened too much around the lower leg can put excessive pressure on the calf muscle. This in turn can lead to cramps generally caused by restricted blood flow or trapped nerves, especially common in women.
4 Buckle Extenders Useful for customers struggling to tighten ski boots without cramping the lower leg. A Buckle extender replaces the existing catch and slides across to give extra reach on the cuff. Please note they will not fit all models of boot.

Rubbing Internal Ankle Bone

Step Remedy Result
1 Customised Insole A customised insole will help to realign the bones in the feet which in turn will prevent the foot from collapsing inwards. This reduces the possibility of the ankle rubbing.
2 Stretch Boot By warming the plastic and placing a boot stretcher inside the ski boot shell the area where the ankle bone sits can be re-moulded and space created by pushing the shell out.
3 Doughnut Padding A doughnut shaped piece of special padding material is placed between the shell and the inner boot with the central hole located where the ankle bone sits. This reduces the pressure on the ankle bone.

Heel Lifting Out Of Boot

Step Remedy Result
1 Butterfly Padding A butterfly shaped piece of padding is stuck onto the back of the inner boot wrapping around the ankle area. When the inner is placed back in the ski boot shell the lower leg and Achilles area will feel a lot tighter.
2 Heel Retainer A heel retainer is a simple but effective method of reducing the problem when there is only a small amount of heel lift. It fits between the liner and shell to reduce volume.
3 Change Boots A ski boot that is too big may cause the heel to lift.

Sore Shins

Step Remedy Result
1 Good Socks A proper technical sock has padding in the correct places to cushion and protect the foot and lower leg. Socks that are too thick or non technical can cause rubbing and friction.
2 Gel Padding Products gel pads placed directly on the shin act as a shock absorber for the tibia and can be reused day after day.
3 Heel Lift By placing a heel lift under the insole inside the inner boot, the whole leg is lifted slightly out of the boot and is repositioned. This may help to reduce pressure especially in cases where the pressure is confined to a small area.
4 Buy New Boots If your boots are old the padding in the tongue, which is there for comfort, may have compressed. Your boots may also be too stiff or soft for you, so flexing them can lead to shin pressure problems.
5 Customised Insoles A customised insole will help to re-align the bones in the feet which will allow you to flex forward more naturally.

Arch Cramps

Step Remedy Result
1 Customised Insoles Arch cramps can be caused by the customers’ foot collapsing inside the boot. This means the tendons, ligaments and muscles are overstretched and overworked and will start to cramp up. A customised insole will help prevent this by supporting the whole foot, especially in the arch area.
2 Loosen Instep Buckle Too many skiers over tighten the instep buckle. This in turn forces the foot down and can cause the foot to cramp up. A better solution is to place a volume reducer underneath your insole which will lift your foot up towards the top of the boot and it will then no longer be necessary to have the instep buckles so tight.

Sore Toes

Step Remedy Result
1 Heel Lift A heel lift under the insole will elevate the leg within the shell of the boot which in turn will bring the toes away from the front of the shell especially when you flex forward.
2 Stretch Boot in Length Plastic ski boots can be modified by heat and pressure and it is possible to stretch a shell in length, but only by a couple of millimetres.
3 Buy New Boots It may be your boots are too small, in which case your toes will be too tight. In some cases customers have boots that are too big, this allows the foot to move backwards and forwards which can cause sore toes.
4 Customised Insoles A customised insole will support the whole foot so the foot cannot elongate whilst weight bearing. The foot is therefore shorter than without an insole and less likely to touch the front.

Cold Feet (More Common With Women Than Men)

Step Remedy Result
1 Heated Insole heated insoles are available in a variety of forms. This really is the only solution if you suffer naturally from bad circulation. Pre-shaped heated insoles are a cheaper alternative but ultimately a customised heated insole will give you more benefits.
2 Thinner Socks Although a thicker sock can give additional warmth and padding there are occasions when socks that are too thick can cause the boot to feel overly tight which can then restrict blood flow. A good technical sock has padding in just the right places so is not too thick.
3 Slacken Buckles Over tightening ski boot buckles can lead to cold feet due to blood flow restriction. If your foot feels too loose without over tightening the buckles, lift your foot up towards the top of the boot with a volume reducer.
4 Buy New Boots It may be that the boots are too small/tight and the only remedy is to change to a different size or model which is more suited to your foot shape and ability level.

Forefoot Cramps at Width

Step Remedy Result
1 Stretch Boots By warming the plastic shell and using a boot stretcher we can modify the width of ski boots in specific areas. This method is particularly useful for customers who either have wide feet or bunions.
2 Heel Lift A heel lift placed underneath the insole allows the foot and lower leg to be re positioned. This can result in reduced pressure at the widest point of the foot.
3 Customised Insoles A customised insole will distribute your weight more evenly throughout the base of the foot which in turn will reduce the width and length of the foot slightly.
4 Buy New Boots It may be that your ski boots are too narrow for your foot shape and only by changing to a wider fit will the problem be resolved.

Burning Under Ball of Foot

Step Remedy Result
1 Customised Insoles A customised insole will spread your weight equally throughout the base of the foot which in turn will reduce pressure under the forefoot area.
2 Buy New Boots If boots are too narrow or small you may suffer from discomfort under the ball of the foot.

Tingling Sensation / Pins and Needles

Step Remedy Result
1 Heel Lift This ailment is generally caused by restriction in the forefoot area. A heel lift positioned under the insole will allow the foot to draw away from the front of the shell which can lead to reduced pressure points.
2 Customised Insoles A customised insole will spread your weight equally throughout the base of the foot which in turn will reduce the width of the foot slightly.
3 Slacken Buckles If your toe and instep buckle are fastened too tightly the blood flow is restricted and nerve endings can become trapped leading to forefoot aches and pains.
4 Thinner Socks Sometimes the thickness of a sock can make the boot feel too tight so restricting blood flow and trapping nerves. A good technical sock has padding in just the right places so is not too thick.
5 Buy New Boots It may be the boots you have are just not right for your foot shape or size.