24 Jun What Are Your Feet Telling You About Your Ski Boots?

There’s not long to go before the ski season kicks off here – and between Whakapapa and Turoa just a few short hours away or a quick trip down to Queenstown, we feel very lucky to be in our little slice of paradise here in the Wairarapa!

Every season, we see a number of common injuries and pains from the slopes. While pains come from a wide range of places – from not preparing your body to on-field collisions and much more, today, we thought we’d talk about one of the common causes of pain and discomfort: our ski boots and snowboarding boots. Here are a few tips to help make your boots your best friend that helps you on the slopes – not your worst enemy that drags you down.

1. Numb and cold feet? Check your buckles

We know how important it is to have a tight, snug fit for your boots – but it is very much possible to buckle them too tightly, resulting in rubbing and pressure particularly at the top of your foot, which may then restrict the blood flow down to your feet.

2. Constantly chilly feet? Check your liners and socks

Between snow getting in and your feet sweating, all socks and liners will be at least a little wet after a day on the slopes, leaving your feet sitting in what can feel like freezing temperatures. This is where getting your liners and socks pristinely dry goes a long way to helping your feet stay warm the next day.

Good ski socks should be made of a warm (we love merino), moisture-wicking material that is not too thick. We have many friends who insist on wearing the same socks over consecutive days – but then cut their ski days short from being unable to bear their feet feeling like ice blocks. If you want to wear the same socks, alternate pairs on different days to give each pair a chance to properly dry. 

Liners are the same in that they should be completely dry for the next day – and a drying room often isn’t enough. Make sure you’re removing your liner from the boot and giving them good air circulation. We love boot dryers for this.

3. Blisters or painful, raw patches where your boots are rubbing? Check the fit

The fit of the boot that you’ve had for years can change. And it can start doing more harm than good. On one hand, seasons of wear may see the integrity, stability and support of your boots naturally deteriorate. On the other hand, your feet are aging, and with it comes changes like less padding, more prominent bones or joints, wider feet, swollen feet, vulnerable skin – and many more. Regardless of the cause or whether your feet (or boots) feel bigger or smaller, areas of rubbing mean that something is going wrong with the fit, and you should have the fit checked.

4. Bruised toenails? Check your nail length

Speaking from personal experience, trimming toenails before any ski trip is a must – even though it’s easily forgotten. Due to the close contact between the toes and the end of the boots, especially in snowboarding when we’re on the toe edge, having those few extra mm’s can push painfully on our toenails, causing them to bleed and bruise.

When there’s bleeding beneath the nail, it separates the nail from the skin beneath and eventually, the nail will come off!

5. Aches and pains? Check with your podiatrist

If you’re getting foot or leg aches or pain when you put your boots on, it’s time to check in with your podiatrist – and before you set off on your trip. A few weeks before your trip, try your boots on and wear them for an evening. You may have had an injury or problem since your last trip that your boots, or the position of your foot in your boots, is now aggravating. The risk is that the problem will come back while you’re trying to enjoy the slopes – or get worse if you’re still in the rehab stages.

This is where your podiatrist can help. They can assess your feet, check your boots, help treat your pains by understanding the cause – and even create slimline custom orthotics, if needed, to give you maximum support, control and comfort on the slopes.

If you’re looking for caring, experienced podiatrists that love what they do and their community, Masterton Foot Clinic is your team. We help with a range of foot and leg problems across a wide variety of sports, including skiing and snowboarding. Book your appointment with us online by clicking here or call us on 06 370 4057