Tips to avoid bad feet in boots
The mountains, the fresh snow, the radiant sun and the immaculate blue sky; all the ingredients for a wonderful day of skiing come together perfectly. With one exception: the comfort of your feet. Winters come and go, as does the same question. Always those little annoyances, numbness or even unbearable pain that turn your skiing sessions into torture. Sometimes the discomfort of your feet in your boots steals a lot of the pleasure that the sport should give you.
Laurent Tacussel, responsible for International Training at Sidas and with over 20 years of experience in bootfitting, has developed more than just expertise in this field: he has transformed the relationship between your foot and your boot into a true art.
Here are his 12 expert tips to make sure your boots never hurt again.
BEFORE YOU SKI, BE WELL EQUIPPED AND WELL PREPARED
1 / "Equip yourself well"
There are no bad boots on the market, only good feet trapped in ill-fitting boots with inadequate equipment. Because the comfort of your feet doesn't just depend on your choice of boot! It lies in the composition of a winning combination: The boot, but also the sock, the sole and the insole.
2 / "Work on your boots before you ride with them"
Despite great gear, the first day in your new boots will inevitably put your foot to the test with the unnatural confinement it encounters. To reduce stress on this first day of skiing, try on the boots several times at home beforehand and walk in them to get them flexed.
3 / "Prepare your feet"
Preparing your feet to adapt to a situation they are not used to takes a bit of routine and anticipation before each session, but this will be your lifesaver. Massaging the arch of the foot by rolling a tennis ball under it, checking toenails are trimmed and applying a moisturizing or anti-friction cream are all small steps that limit the risk of numbness, blisters or overheating.
ON THE SKI DAY
4 / "Put on boots at room temperature"
Nothing is worse for the comfort of your feet than starting the day by putting on cold boots. To avoid this, do not leave them outside overnight, in the basement or in the trunk of the car.
5 / "Put your boots on properly"
You probably remember skiers who have struggled to put on their boots, sitting in the trunk of their car in the parking lot in the snow. However, there is a fairly simple technique to follow in order not to cause pain to the foot as soon as it comes into contact with the boot. Help the ankle in the boot by pulling apart the shell. It may help to pull the tongue of the boot up and sideways.
6 /: "Adjust your boot correctly"
Proper adjustment of the boots means you feel like you're firmly in place without being pinched. You are the only one who can judge this feeling. You must therefore pay attention to the pressure exerted on your feet when the boot is closed. A little tip: listen to the sound of your buckles as they click against the shell as you tighten them. It shouldn't sound too boring.
7 / "Adjust your boot as the day progresses"
As the day progresses, the materials that make up the inner shoe naturally tend to settle under the weight of the effort. So you may need to adjust your boot by tightening the ratchets after a few hours of skiing to maintain comfort and precision.
8 / "Drop your feet during the breaks"
There are few skiers who do not take a break from their long day in the mountains. Whether it's for a coffee, lunch or on the chairlift, relieving your feet of the pressure of the buckles for a few minutes will be a lifesaver later in the day.
APRÈS-SKI, AT THE END OF YOUR SKIING DAY
The comfort of the feet is also a matter of expectation. Trust us, tomorrow you'll be thankful you took a few extra minutes of care today, before the hot chocolate, even though you're exhausted from the day's skiing efforts.
9 / "Take off your boots properly"
Just like when you put them on at the beginning of the day, you have to be careful how you take off your boots at the end of the afternoon. Again, put your thumbs between the shell and the lining at the ankle. This will help in particular to prevent the inner parts of the boot, especially the sole and tongue of your liner, from changing position for the next day.
10 / "Dry your boots"
Instead of casually tossing your boots into the trunk of the car as soon as you take them off, adjust the boots correctly and close the buckles. When you get home, remove the inner shoe from the shell and then dry them, either with a shoe dryer or by placing them near a heat source, but without being in direct contact with the heat source. The risk of not doing so is affecting the properties and shape of the foam that makes up your inner shoes.
11 / "Take initiative if the pain persists"
If you feel discomfort in your feet at the end of the day, minor aches or even pain, don't be fatalistic. No need to give up. There are solutions. First maybe try GEL leg protectors, which can be integrated into socks, or not.
12 / "Maintain your boots for a long time"
At the end of the season, before you put away the boots that have served you so faithfully throughout the winter, let them dry for two or three days outside, having previously dismantled all the components, from the lining to the shell via the sole. Then, after that, store them in a dry room, protected from light and in a bag intended for boots.
We may not quite have Cupid's arrow to create an eternal bond between your feet and your boots, but with these tips, at least now they can become friends.
