From: dwl@watson.ibm.com (David W. Levine)
Subject: Re: How do your feet feel?
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:38:52 GMT
Reply-To: dwl@watson.ibm.com 
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center

In article <18512@mindlink.bc.ca>, John_McKercher@mindlink.bc.ca (John
McKercher) writes:
[history of problem deleted]
|> 
|> My question is, when you bought your new boots, did they feel comfortable on
|> your feet right away or was there a breaking in period after which the fit
|> was fine. I have heard comments from people who say that they would
never buy
|> a boot unless they felt very comfortable in the store. I have also been told
|> that with any higher performance boot, it takes a while (plus a few trips to
|> the boot fitter) in order to get them just right.
|> 
|> Any comments?
|> 
|> 
|> John
|>   who looks just a little silly
|>     sitting here in his R900s
|>       typing away at the keyboard

This gets fairly subtle. Your boots shouldn't feel *too* pleasent before
you ski on them, since in the first couple of days, you end up compressing
your liner a bit. On the other hand, I want a fit that, while it may feel
very snug, does conform to the shape of my foot. In particular, from the first
time I put them on, I don't want to feel hard pressure points, edges of the
shell (or adjustment plates) or things like that. If you are flat footed,
pronate, or have similar fundemental boot fit complications, this may well
require that you have a footbed and have it in the boot. 

My rule of thumb (Or should that be toe?) is that I drag my footbeds with me
when I try on boots. The boot should feel basically correct with the footbed
in, but without any fundemental adjustments. Sure after a couple of weeks, I
may need a shim here, or a layer of foam there, but I don't want to start by
having the fitter stretch the shell, add five pads of foam, cut away
some liner...
(All things people have suggested to me when I was trying on boots) 

There are good and bad places for snugness and looseness. (Loose is
probably even worse than snug in high end boots) Toes should be able 
to wriggle, without running into the front of the shell. Ankles shouldn't
move at all, and a little snugeness on the tongue of the liner probably
doesn't hurt, but if it pinches at the achilles tendon up front, you
are looking for a world of pain. 

When I bought my last pair of boots, I tried on about 12 pairs of boots
before I was happy. I can only try on about four pairs an evening, since
by then, my feet start to feel sore enough that I lose any sense of judgement.

One quick comment on footbeds. A lot of people push these at everyone. I don't
know that anyone has "perfect" feet. I know I have flat feet which
pronate a bit,
so a proper footbed is a requirement for me to feel happy in boots. If I don't
have the footbed in, my arch collapses, which makes my foot wide in the
forefoot under the arch and... Find out up front if you need one. One place
I shopped refused to let me try on boots with my footbed in them. I walked
out on the spot. 

David W. Levine --  dwl@watson.ibm.com  -- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
                   -- My Opinions, IBM's hardware. -- 
"Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your
aim" - George Santayana