Many experts
have claimed that any plastic boot should be modified after purchase to fit
a foot better. We are in that group. Most people can get away without modifications
and never know the difference but often simple inexpensive or free adjustments,
additions or modifications can make a world of difference.
Shell Stretching
- Like downhill ski boots the shells of AT and Tele boots can be stretched
to fit wide feet (tele boots can not be stretched in the baffle area that
allows the boot to flex). All this entails is removing the liner, heating
up the shell and applying pressure in any areas that are too narrow. This
generally works best on the sides of boots. Superfeet® makes a very nice but
very expensive device for stretching the instep of a boot but very few stores
are willing to purchase it as it is seldom used. No AT or Tele boot fits EEE
and large feet very well. In the past we simply bought longer boots (larger
sizes are also wider) to fit wide feet but the performance decreases dramatically.
If you have an EE or greater foot shell stretching is the best way to get
good performance, warmth and comfort.
Insoles -
Custom or after market insoles are almost universally superior to the insoles
that come with a new boot. Custom insoles are expensive but often worth it.
A custom insole is formed to fit the individual foot. By cradling the foot
precisely, the boot performs better, the foot tires less, and the foot stays
warmer. Superfeet® makes a very nice insole that is much less expensive than
a custom insole and performs well. Insoles can also be used to take up room.
Often a boot is the right length but feels sloppy on a foot. Usually this
can be fixed by adding a second flat insole under the one in the boot. This
is also a trick for warming up a boot. A good percentage (up to 60% by some
tests) of heat is lost through the sole of a boot. A second insole slows conduction
of heat through the boot. On real cold days the second insole can be removed
up high if needed to occomadate extras socks. Some feel the extra insole will
keep feet warmer than extra socks but we know of no conclusive tests that
settle this argument as the material used in the second insole would play
a great role in determining this. Never the less, this little trick allows
a slightly bigger an perhaps warmer boot to perform very well.
Heel Cups
and Pads - A common problem in AT and Tele boots is heal lift and loose spots.
Like downhill ski boots the inner boot can be padded to take up unused space
that allows a foot to move inside the boot. These pads are placed outside
the inner boot. Common places to put them are around the ankle and directly
above the heel. Go to a good boot fitter for these - if placed poorly blisters
are the ussual consequence. Heel cups are simply a partial insole that can
be placed under another insole or used by itself. By lifting the heel, the
area the heel is lifting within is removed and performance increase - often
dramatically. We reccomend this as the starting point for addressing heel
lift. If you have a very high instep padding works better in most cases as
lifting the heel places the instep uncomfortably close to the top of the boot
- the supply of blood to the foot move over the bone though this region and
pressure here is a common cause of cold feet.
Thermoflex
Liners - Coupled with a custom insole it is unlikely you can get a better
fitting boot. A idea stolen from the downhill industry, these liners are of
a heat moldable foam. They replace the liners that come standard. The liner
is heated untill soft, placed over the foot and in the boot. The boot is buckled
and the liner is allowed to cool. With a good boot fitter the outcome is the
best fitting and warmest boot on the planet. These liners also compress over
time. Reheating and refitting will fix this but is only effect up to 5 times
before they begin to permenanatly flatten. These liners are around $130 to
$200. For some it is not worth the effort and cost but is a dream fix for
those of us with feet of unussual proportions or in need of a very warm boot.