feet hurting

Question
Hi, my feet have been hurting everytime I snowboard. I wear a looser boot(size 6) so that I have room to move because I have flat/wide small feet (size 5). So I find that when I carve I tend to curl my toes to push the board down. Boots my size (5) are too tight. The pain is aching and burning in the middle of my sole and goes away when I take pressure off of it, like riding up the lift. I tried using insoles, it hurt just to walk in them. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hey Syl,

There could be a number of reasons causing your feet to hurt. Mainly, it could be the bindings on your board. Rarely can you tie snowboard boots tight enough to cause the type of pain you are describing. The pain you are describing is most commonly caused by too much pressure on the instep. If you have a style of binding that pinches down on the top of the instep, this could be the main problem. If your bindings are the newer style where the front strap goes around the front of your boot, then it could be the position of the rear/top strap. If positioned too low or too forward, it could be pinching nerves in your instep and causing the pain.

The solution to binding issues is to move the front strap as far forward as you can, or purchase an aftermarket strap with more padding and mount it as far forward as the binding base allows. Also, move the back/top strap back and up as far as you can.

Another option is to switch to a step in binding that basically eliminates an over the instep strap, or, get the newer style strap binding that goes over the toe. I have a similar pain issue and use Switch step in bindings but I've modified my high back and mounted my top strap so that it goes around my lower shin and eliminates all pressure on the instep.

As for the boots fitting better, you should consider getting a thermo liner that can be custom fitted to your feet. Here are a couple of the better ones available;

http://www.bomberonline.com/store/accessories/liners.cfm

http://www.intuitionliners.com/

Hope this helps.
Keep on riding,
Windlover