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nessie
Sep 22, 2010, 8:32 AM
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About a month ago I had my first experience walking with crampons. I already had la sportiva d shoes and borrowed some grivel crampons which fit the boots just fine. The shoes were bought slightly larger than my usual shoe size so that my toes don't go blue on descents. However when on quite vertical slopes my feet hurt on the sides when I am wearing the crampons. The question is: is this because of my technique when putting my feet down or is there something wrong with the shoe/crampon setup?
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julio412
Sep 22, 2010, 11:59 AM
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Exactly what shoes do you have? and what crampons?
My guess is the boots aren't supportive enough.
If the boots don't have much of a shank, then they probably weren't intended for what you're doing.
You can also call La Sportiva in Boulder- they're very helpful.
Mario
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nessie
Sep 22, 2010, 12:37 PM
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La Sportiva karakorum boots- they are intended for semi automtic crampons, crampons are grivel(but borrowed so those are changeable)
(This post was edited by nessie on Sep 22, 2010, 12:37 PM)
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Lazlo
Sep 22, 2010, 12:53 PM
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nessie wrote: About a month ago I had my first experience walking with crampons. I already had la sportiva d shoes and borrowed some grivel crampons which fit the boots just fine. The shoes were bought slightly larger than my usual shoe size so that my toes don't go blue on descents. However when on quite vertical slopes my feet hurt on the sides when I am wearing the crampons. The question is: is this because of my technique when putting my feet down or is there something wrong with the shoe/crampon setup?
What kind of pain is it that you're having?
What technique are you using to descend?
Your boots should be a good fit. I'd be concerned if they're sized a size larger than what you're comfortable in. That alone could do it.
I highly doubt the crampons have anything to do with it. (if it is a solid mountaineering boot)
Mix up your technique when you descend.
Flat foot
plunge step
french step (both sides)
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nessie
Sep 22, 2010, 1:32 PM
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Well, when the slant of the ice is substantial and I point my toe outwards of my valley foot on descent it's as if my foot is too loose and thus kinda hits the side of the boot. My ankle is kept firmly in place and obviously my toes don't keep on being pushed up against the tip of my shoe. However if I point my foot more forward rather than sideways it hardly but then I'm not sure I am walking correctly ie. safely on descent.
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the_climber
Sep 22, 2010, 5:18 PM
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10:1 It's either the fit of the boot (Including how tight you have them laced) or your technique.
The only other things that could effect your feet the way you're describing are:
1 - your feet need to toughen up 
or
2 - You're tightening the strap on the crampon binding too much. Assuming you're meaning New-Matic style binding when you're stating "semi automatic" with a heel lever and a plastic or webbing toe bail... as opposed to step-in (wire toe bail w/ heel lever).
(This post was edited by the_climber on Sep 22, 2010, 5:44 PM)
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marc801
Sep 22, 2010, 5:30 PM
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the_climber wrote: 10:1 It's either the fit of the boot (Including how tight you have them laced) or your technique. The only other things that could effect your feet the way you're describing are: 1 - your feet need to toughen up or 2 - You're tightening the strap on the crampon binding too much. Assuming you're meaning New-Matic style binding when you're stating "semi automatic" with a heal lever and a plastic or webbing toe bail... as opposed to step-in (wire toe bail w/ heal lever).
What he said.
But for the love of god, the part on the back of your foot is the HEEL.
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the_climber
Sep 22, 2010, 5:46 PM
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marc801 wrote: *snip* But for the love of god, the part on the back of your foot is the HEEL.
Spelking police.
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marc801
Sep 22, 2010, 7:21 PM
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Some things just painfully bounce off the eyes!
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Lazlo
Sep 23, 2010, 12:27 AM
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nessie wrote: Well, when the slant of the ice is substantial and I point my toe outwards of my valley foot on descent it's as if my foot is too loose and thus kinda hits the side of the boot. My ankle is kept firmly in place and obviously my toes don't keep on being pushed up against the tip of my shoe. However if I point my foot more forward rather than sideways it hardly but then I'm not sure I am walking correctly ie. safely on descent.
I think you answered your question
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skiclimb
Sep 23, 2010, 7:01 AM
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the sides? that is a big area.. where specifically on the sides is the pain/.. Is the pain internal or on the surface.
Ie.. muscle/ligament pain (usually torsion) or is it skin surface pain? (usually impact)
anterior back side .. interior front side? or vice versa? Both feet or one?
(This post was edited by skiclimb on Sep 23, 2010, 7:01 AM)
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nessie
Sep 24, 2010, 10:39 AM
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Pain is on the outside of my foot and more superficial, not ligament or bone linked at all. I guess it is the size of the shoe but I was kindly informed by just about everyone that alpine climbing shoes need to be 0.5 to a full european size larger than usual shoes or even my b walking shoes to avoid banging my toes continuosly againt the shoes on heavy going descents.
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tomtom
Sep 28, 2010, 10:41 PM
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Buy boots that fit your feet, not the recommendations of others.
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Colinhoglund
Sep 29, 2010, 5:33 AM
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I couldn't disagree more. Both my sportiva Trangos and my scarpa Summits are basically the same size as my 'street shoe'. The trangos are newer, but my summits have seen two seasons of ice with no problems except some blisters on my big toe (I have really wide feet so I usually tape my big toe to prevent this).
If a boot fits well it doesn't need to be 'oversized' to prevent toe bash since your foot will stay put. If your toe doesn't hit on a gentle slope or kick, it shouldn't hit ever. If it hits with an aggro kick, that just means your slipping forward, which means your also susceptible to horrendous heel blisters when frontpointing. Too big is just as bad as too small. Too small your toes always hit the end, too big you get foot slop. This sounds like whats happening.
Especially since I find that people wear their 'street shoes' too big anyways, adding a half size could make any mountain boot too big and allow slop.
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altelis
Oct 1, 2010, 10:39 PM
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Colinhoglund wrote: I couldn't disagree more. Both my sportiva Trangos and my scarpa Summits are basically the same size as my 'street shoe'. The trangos are newer, but my summits have seen two seasons of ice with no problems except some blisters on my big toe (I have really wide feet so I usually tape my big toe to prevent this). If a boot fits well it doesn't need to be 'oversized' to prevent toe bash since your foot will stay put. If your toe doesn't hit on a gentle slope or kick, it shouldn't hit ever. If it hits with an aggro kick, that just means your slipping forward, which means your also susceptible to horrendous heel blisters when frontpointing. Too big is just as bad as too small. Too small your toes always hit the end, too big you get foot slop. This sounds like whats happening. Especially since I find that people wear their 'street shoes' too big anyways, adding a half size could make any mountain boot too big and allow slop. |
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skiclimb
Oct 2, 2010, 6:01 AM
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altelis wrote: Colinhoglund wrote: I couldn't disagree more. Both my sportiva Trangos and my scarpa Summits are basically the same size as my 'street shoe'. The trangos are newer, but my summits have seen two seasons of ice with no problems except some blisters on my big toe (I have really wide feet so I usually tape my big toe to prevent this). If a boot fits well it doesn't need to be 'oversized' to prevent toe bash since your foot will stay put. If your toe doesn't hit on a gentle slope or kick, it shouldn't hit ever. If it hits with an aggro kick, that just means your slipping forward, which means your also susceptible to horrendous heel blisters when frontpointing. Too big is just as bad as too small. Too small your toes always hit the end, too big you get foot slop. This sounds like whats happening. Especially since I find that people wear their 'street shoes' too big anyways, adding a half size could make any mountain boot too big and allow slop.
ditto
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