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Black Toe

BackLoafRiver

New member
Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
1,608
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Location
Augusta, Maine
Hey all,

Not that many of you care but I thought I would update since this weekend proved to be a pretty nasty one on my feet.

First, the summit was killer. Thanks to all involved.

I skied 7 hours Friday and noticed my toes were starting to go numb again. Especially true of my left foot, I was paying close attention to it. By the time I got back to the inn, my foot was killing me and I notice some discoloration in the big toe. All the others were red as well.

Saturday was much, much worse. By about 12 my toes were frozen solid in both feet. I thawed out for 20 minutes and managed to make it to 4. After I got back, I took my sock off and noticed more discoloration. I called Lionel at Happy Tunes to set up a boot fitting for today. Luckily, he had some time. I still managed to squeak out 3.5 hours this morning.

The short version, my boots were the appropriate length but nowhere near enough volume in the toe box.

Lionel is the real deal and I am so thankful he was able to see me. The downside is that I need new boots. He didn't try to talk me into the sale and didn't charge me for the two + hours I spent with him. He mentioned that the volume of plastic in the toe box was not enough to guarantee that mods would work. He specifically warned me that there was a very high probability that, in order to gain the volume needed, he might ruin my boots.


We tried on several pair and, in the end, found some Langes that fit perfectly. He said he would take any measure necessary to make sure they worked and, if in the end it is a bust, he will take them back and get me into something else.

What boils my blood is that, of all the shops I went to, none of them were able to detect the toe box issue. I asked him if it was something I should have picked up on to which he replied, "no because you are hitting all the right marks but the second you addd a liner, it is going to cause the problems you are seeing".

For what it is worth, check out the difference. He said my right toe was in a bad way but nothing that couldn't be reversed. Essentially, the liner was getting soaked because my foot couldn't breathe (and the shell was taking in some snow), the moisture was saturating the footbed and liner, and promptly freezing. This is what caused my initial black toe as well. (That and the excess pressure)



ImageUploadedByAlpineZone1391996012.625487.jpg
 

bigbog

Active member
Joined
Feb 17, 2004
Messages
4,882
Points
38
Location
Bangor and the state's woodlands
Get the toe area punched out. Do not let them grind it out, unless they are plug boots!

+1 for punch, but check to make sure you're snug in heel pocket, over ankle, and in the shin-to-cuff(boot tongue) fit. If there's space between lower shins and boot tongue, might wanna first grab some foam shin inserts to snug up the fit there, then see how much you need to punch.
$.01
 
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