Need help on cramping feet.....

[ski_resort_observer]

I definately notice that when I have a thicker sock, my feet cramp up faster. This is my one concern with footbeds. Do footbeds take up a lot of space? Will they act like my thick sock? I like to clamp down my boots in the bumps, so loosening them up isn't really an option. I would rather deal with the pain then sacrifice control.

Footbeds like Superfeet and I assume the others mentioned do not act like a thick sock. You pull out the stock liner which is at the bottom of the boot, sometimes is a very stinky dificult job and replace them with the arched footbeds. With Superfeet people generally can tell right away if the fit has been improved. If you have to clamp down on your boots so tight to feel secure then it sounds like your boots are not fitting right. You should be able to go to a ski shop and try Superfeet on to see if the fit improves. If you feel it doesn't help anything, no harm, no foul.

 

[MogulQueen]

Thanks for all the help. I will give it all(bananas, water, thin socks, new footbeds, stetching the feet and toes, and relaxing my feet on the way down) a try. I'll let ya know how it turns out.......

 

[mondeo]

I definately notice that when I have a thicker sock, my feet cramp up faster. This is my one concern with footbeds. Do footbeds take up a lot of space? Will they act like my thick sock? I like to clamp down my boots in the bumps, so loosening them up isn't really an option. I would rather deal with the pain then sacrifice control.

If you go with the custom footbed route eventually, I'd decide on a type of sock you like, wear that when you get the footbed done, and standardize on that sock. I have three different types of sock, but two of them only see use at Sundown. Anywhere else (longer sessions, more difficult terrain) and I don't think of wearing anything other than my Smartwools.

 

[Greg]

If you go with the custom footbed route eventually, I'd decide on a type of sock you like, wear that when you get the footbed done, and standardize on that sock.

Every orthotic I've ever had done was done with bare feet.

 

[mondeo]

Every orthotic I've ever had done was done with bare feet.

Maybe I'm thinking of the liner baking process. Or maybe it's that you shouldn't go to Alpine House for this stuff.

 

[drjeff]

Every orthotic I've ever had done was done with bare feet.

Me too

 

[severine]

Every orthotic I've ever had done was done with bare feet.

For the unweighted footbeds, yes. Cheaper custom-esque options were with socks, but I wouldn't recommend them.

Maybe I'm thinking of the liner baking process. Or maybe it's that you shouldn't go to Alpine House for this stuff.

Agreed.

 

[2knees]

Or maybe it's that you shouldn't go to Alpine House for this stuff.

dont make me start a "Defending Alpine Haus" thread.....:lol:

I buy all my shit there, never had a problem, but then again, i've never asked for anything even remotely "technical"

 

[tjf67]

I only have the stock bootbeds. I have considered getting something better. What are the options on footbeds and what is really worth it? Aren't custom footbeds really expensive?

You can get the premade ones at a ski shop. They take care of 80% of the foot problems. They are like 40 bucks.

 

[o3jeff]

dont make me start a "Defending Alpine Haus" thread.....:lol:

I buy all my shit there, never had a problem, but then again, i've never asked for anything even remotely "technical"

Were they the ones that sold you the Volants?

 

[severine]

dont make me start a "Defending Alpine Haus" thread.....:lol:

I buy all my shit there, never had a problem, but then again, i've never asked for anything even remotely "technical"

http://forums.alpinezone.com/showpost.php?p=309870&postcount=23
http://forums.alpinezone.com/showpost.php?p=312901&postcount=27
http://forums.alpinezone.com/showpost.php?p=312990&postcount=30

 

[mondeo]

dont make me start a "Defending Alpine Haus" thread.....:lol:

I buy all my shit there, never had a problem, but then again, i've never asked for anything even remotely "technical"

Overall, it's a decent shop, done a lot of business there myself. I just don't think I'd go there again for bootfitting.

 

[basemoto]

wear ultra thin socks they are the shiznet

 

[bigbog]

Another Insta-Print user.. Have had great work at GreenMtnOrthoticLab(Chris x?, Greg Hoffman & Nick Blalock in past) up @Stratton, but Jeff's(Bokum) orthotics have been great.. Was a redheaded guy(Dave?) @SR(back years..think I probably drove him into retirement) = outstanding, present guys at SouthRidge shop are good as well.
$.01

 

[2knees]

Another Insta-Print user.. Have had great work at GreenMtnOrthoticLab up @Stratton, but Jeff's(Bokum) orthotics have been great..

$.01

You seem to have some pretty insightful posts. I think you can upgrade to $.02 now. :razz:

 

[2knees]

Overall, it's a decent shop, done a lot of business there myself. I just don't think I'd go there again for bootfitting.

i think rstuthill is the boot fitter at alpine haus....

 

[bigbog]

You seem to have some pretty insightful posts. I think you can upgrade to $.02 now. :razz:

HA...No just a case of owning that odd-dimensional apparatus from the knees down..:lol:
Guess I just didn't get to the right guys...going back a few decades...so one simply ended up learning by trial & mistake, but remembers how it feels & performs.

 

[NJSkiBabe]

How old are your boots? If they are older than about 4 or 5 years old - you need new boots!

Good boot fitters in VT near Killington - Peak Performance or Surefoot.

Definitely spend the money and have a good set of foot beds made for your boots. A good boot fitter will also work on adjusting the cant of your boot so you are always standing in the proper position in your boots.

 

[Rambo]

Cramping. I don't know if this would be at all related but I was at a Division 1 College basketball game a few years ago and one of the players had his leg cramp up real bad and he was in intense pain. Over on the bench the trainer looked him over and then had him drink quite a bit of water. Turns out the player was de-hydrated and this caused the leg to cramp. 25 minutes after drinking all the water the player was fine.

 

[Madroch]

Had your exact issue in the mid 80's-- my foot cramped awefully around the arch, particularly on steep bump runs. Went to a lower volume narrower and smaller shell (AA width here)- was told that scrunching toes to stop foot movement was a likely culprit. I don't know if that was it, but never cramped again in the new shell. Necessary addendum- ended up in a too wide shell again two seasons ago after it packed out-- (won't tell you who sold me the boot as I should have known better, yet I had been out of the sport for years and didn't push hard enough for a tighter boot- even though the little voice in my head was screaming that the boot was going to be too wide when it packed out) - no cramp, just noticeable delay on transferring movement from foot to ski, so who knows-- maybe it was't the fit, or the boot, or my lack of banana's or custom inserts. I still think it was a fit issue with me.