A day of riding Mammoth Mountain powder may make you feel invincible, but the second you take your boots off you’re bound to remember just how hard skiing and snowboarding is on our bodies, especially our feet.
When people come into the ASO Mammoth shop to rent or buy skiing and snowboarding gear, we always tell them that their boots are the piece of gear that determine whether they’re comfortable on the mountain. We are constantly using our feet on the slope because they are where we direct movement from our legs and hips down into the ground. Despite all the movement, if you have a well-fitting set of boots, you’ll barely notice that they are there. If you have a bad set though, you won’t make it far before your feet begin to hurt.
If you have a case of the latter, try out these tips to cure your foot pain!
Pay Attention to Your Feet During and After Your Trip
It’s easy to talk about foot pain while your boots are on, but the clues you need to diagnose what is causing your pain may not surface for days after your trip.
For example, skier’s toe occurs when your boots are not fitted properly. It occurs when an improperly fitted boot allows your foot to move back and forth, resulting in your toes repeatedly being pushed against the front of your boot. You will feel pain in your toes if your boots are not fitted properly, but you may not know that you’re suffering from skier’s toe until the bruise shows up underneath your toe nails a few days later.
Other bruising and blisters may not be apparent until days after your trip, so pay attention to your feet even after your visit is over so that you know where your boots were rubbing you wrong and can diagnose the problem.
Get Your Boots fitted by a Professional
If you buy new ski or snowboard boots at ASO Mammoth, you will be fitted by a professional who can shape the boot to fit not only your foot, but also your type of riding and how often you ride. Even if you buy a used boot from a private seller, you should always get them fitted by a professional to avoid problems down the road.
Whether that means having the inner liners heat molded or having a boot fitter modify your boots so they fit properly, consult a professional to ensure that you walk away from the mountain pain free.
Keep Moisture Out of Your Boot
Even if your boot fits you perfectly, moisture inside of your boot can still be a pain.
The main reason you want to keep moisture out of your boot is because it increases the chances of blisters. Blisters are caused by friction between your skin and another surface, and since your feet are constantly moving while skiing or snowboarding it is incredibly important that you wear socks of the right thickness to avoid excess friction. The right socks are also important because moisture, whether from snow or sweat, weakens your skin and increases the chance that friction causes blisters.
Keep moisture out of your boot by wearing socks that keep your feet warm, but not so warm that they sweat. The material your socks are made of should also pull moisture away from your feet. Socks that pull moisture away from your feet will keep them warm while also reducing the chance of blisters.
Wool is a great option because of its ability to keep you warm and dry all while being durable. Marino wool is a great but expensive option, so consider synthetics and synthetic blends if you’re working on a budget.