TurboSportTSi
FNG
Hi All,
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a boot fitment issue I am having with a new pair of Zamberlan Smilodons. I don't want to be one of those guys who sticks with a boot that doesn't fit, but I am not an easy fit (wide forefoot, narrow heel) and I feel like the overall shape and size of the boot is great. This seems like it may be a solvable problem as it appears to be footbed related.
The issue is that I get pain just ahead of my heel on the outside of my foot, one more than the other, but on both feet. Enough that I want to limp after about a half mile, particularly downhill. I have never had this issue with any other boot or shoe. I researched it a little and it seems that Zamberlans are designed to support the rear of the metatarsals from collapsing under heavy load or something along those lines. Superfeet green apparently have a similar feeling. Almost like the arch is too far back, but in my case, it's mainly the outside of the foot that feels it the most. Looking at pics of foot anatomy, it's basically where the peroneus longus starts to wrap under the foot. Doesn't seem like a plantar fascia issue to me.
I figured I would let the boots break in and, at the same time, let my feet break in to the boots before I did anything rash. I walked around the neighborhood with the family for a couple weeks, then started using them for pack walks early in the morning with a ~40ish pound load. They did seem to not hurt as bad after a few weeks, so I thought I was on the right path. Well, life happened and I took 4-6 weeks off. I went on a pack walk this AM and I'll be damned if they didn't hurt just as bad as they did the very first time!
Prior to this, after the first few weeks of no real progress, I did what I never do and consulted an "expert" - I went to my local running shop with my hunting boots and got fitted for insoles. I heard great things about Superfeet green but wanted to get a pro's opinion before randomly buying insole after insole. They put me in a set of CURREX RunPros, which didn't feel too different than the Superfeet green but did feel better to me in the store. Superfeet blue felt terrible, for the record. I don't think the new insoles made a whole lot of difference over the stock insoles - they are more comfortable overall but the local pain is about the same.
Removing the factory insoles tells me this is built into the boot and not the factory insoles. The thing is, my CURREX insoles are articulated, with a piece of plastic only to reinforce the arch, whereas the Superfeet have a huge plastic tray that goes from the back of the heel to just before the ball of the foot, ostensibly to help stabilize that whole region. I can't help but think the hard plastic support "frame" would help "smooth" the front-of-heel support in the boot, but I don't want to start a collection of $50 insoles and I have a feeling this would decrease the available volume in the boot...not ideal for a cold weather boot.
So far, I've got about 5 or so trail miles, 5 or so unloaded street miles, and probably 20 loaded miles on these boots. The fact that it got better with regular use (and gets better with mileage past that 0.5-1 mi mark) and worse after some time apart tells me that I my feet may be able to stay broken in with regular use, but is that really the right answer? Anyone have any idea what I could try next? Moleskin under the insole just before and after the support ridge? Should I move on and find something else? Any foot nerds willing to take a stab at this? I'd appreciate any feedback.
-Chris
Right before I posted this, I looked a bit closer at an anatomy picture and noticed the Sural nerve. Man, that looks like it could definitely be the source of my pain. Wouldn't I have felt this before? Not new to hiking & mountain hunting and am a former Marine, so I've walked & run many miles in boots and running shoes alike and never had anything like this problem before.
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a boot fitment issue I am having with a new pair of Zamberlan Smilodons. I don't want to be one of those guys who sticks with a boot that doesn't fit, but I am not an easy fit (wide forefoot, narrow heel) and I feel like the overall shape and size of the boot is great. This seems like it may be a solvable problem as it appears to be footbed related.
The issue is that I get pain just ahead of my heel on the outside of my foot, one more than the other, but on both feet. Enough that I want to limp after about a half mile, particularly downhill. I have never had this issue with any other boot or shoe. I researched it a little and it seems that Zamberlans are designed to support the rear of the metatarsals from collapsing under heavy load or something along those lines. Superfeet green apparently have a similar feeling. Almost like the arch is too far back, but in my case, it's mainly the outside of the foot that feels it the most. Looking at pics of foot anatomy, it's basically where the peroneus longus starts to wrap under the foot. Doesn't seem like a plantar fascia issue to me.
I figured I would let the boots break in and, at the same time, let my feet break in to the boots before I did anything rash. I walked around the neighborhood with the family for a couple weeks, then started using them for pack walks early in the morning with a ~40ish pound load. They did seem to not hurt as bad after a few weeks, so I thought I was on the right path. Well, life happened and I took 4-6 weeks off. I went on a pack walk this AM and I'll be damned if they didn't hurt just as bad as they did the very first time!
Prior to this, after the first few weeks of no real progress, I did what I never do and consulted an "expert" - I went to my local running shop with my hunting boots and got fitted for insoles. I heard great things about Superfeet green but wanted to get a pro's opinion before randomly buying insole after insole. They put me in a set of CURREX RunPros, which didn't feel too different than the Superfeet green but did feel better to me in the store. Superfeet blue felt terrible, for the record. I don't think the new insoles made a whole lot of difference over the stock insoles - they are more comfortable overall but the local pain is about the same.
Removing the factory insoles tells me this is built into the boot and not the factory insoles. The thing is, my CURREX insoles are articulated, with a piece of plastic only to reinforce the arch, whereas the Superfeet have a huge plastic tray that goes from the back of the heel to just before the ball of the foot, ostensibly to help stabilize that whole region. I can't help but think the hard plastic support "frame" would help "smooth" the front-of-heel support in the boot, but I don't want to start a collection of $50 insoles and I have a feeling this would decrease the available volume in the boot...not ideal for a cold weather boot.
So far, I've got about 5 or so trail miles, 5 or so unloaded street miles, and probably 20 loaded miles on these boots. The fact that it got better with regular use (and gets better with mileage past that 0.5-1 mi mark) and worse after some time apart tells me that I my feet may be able to stay broken in with regular use, but is that really the right answer? Anyone have any idea what I could try next? Moleskin under the insole just before and after the support ridge? Should I move on and find something else? Any foot nerds willing to take a stab at this? I'd appreciate any feedback.
-Chris
Right before I posted this, I looked a bit closer at an anatomy picture and noticed the Sural nerve. Man, that looks like it could definitely be the source of my pain. Wouldn't I have felt this before? Not new to hiking & mountain hunting and am a former Marine, so I've walked & run many miles in boots and running shoes alike and never had anything like this problem before.