Prevent Arch and Foot Pain in Snowboard Boots

You've adjusted your snowboard binding straps and the snowboard binding foot ramps. The arches of your feet are still in pain inside your snowboard boots. The only arch pain relief comes when the snowboard binding straps are loosened. You want to keep snowboarding but not when the arches of your feet are in agony.

As a snowboard instructor I've felt this arch pain while snowboarding. So have a number of my clients in my beginning snowboarding classes. Upon inquiry, they've all stated they have either high arches or flat feet and use arch supports in their other athletic footwear.

Snowboarding is a highly aerobic activity that relies on the feet for turning, body support, and impact absorption. Without any foot arch support, the feet can pronate inside the snowboard boot. This can lead to plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and posterior tibial tendonitis. In plain English - massive foot pain.

Most snowboard boots come with stock footbeds that provide little arch support or impact protection. What's the solution? Buy some aftermarket arch supports that prevent foot pronation and offer impact protection while snowboarding. The foot will be stabilized and protected during weight bearing exercise.

Aftermarket footbeds for snowboarding

There are several manufacturers who produce footbeds suitable for snowboard boots to prevent arch and foot pain. They are not meant to be substitutes for prescribed orthotics by a podiatrist. Those experiencing persistent foot pain should see a physician. Brands I use and recommend for snowboard boots are:

Superfeet : Green Model

If you need support for medium to high arches in your snowboard boots, the Superfeet Green model provides support for the entire arch and maximum shock adsorption in winter athletic shoes. To install them is very simple.

Remove your snowboard boots current footbeds and line them up with the Superfeet. Take a marker and draw the outline onto the Superfeet footbed. Then, trim the Superfeet to match the old footrest. Install them into your snowboard boots.

They take anywhere from 10 minutes to two weeks to break in. Most wearers notice an immediate difference. Say goodbye to arch pain while snowboarding. It now comes in a model for those with wide feet. Priced around $35.

Superfeet Worldwide, Inc.
1419 Whitehorn Street
Ferndale, WA 98248
800-634-6618
http://www.superfeet.com/

Downunders : Blue Model

The Downunder Blue Ski-Snowboard/Skate model is designed specifically for sports that use edging activities such as snowboarding to prevent foot arch pain. It has three flexion and support zones that provide maximum sport for the foot. The green zone is softer allowing those toeside turn initiations, while the yellow zone provides lateral stability. The unique full-length tear drop pocket allows for a tighter heel cup fit, foot alignment, and shock absorption. They've eliminated foot pain in my snowboard boots. Trim to fit. Priced around $30.

Walkabout International, Inc.
P.O. Box 4729
Sunriver, OR 97707
(541) 598-2285
www.downunders.us/

Fully customized footbeds

Sometimes aftermarket trim-to-fit footbeds fail to prevent foot arch pain while snowboarding. The foot may then require a more customized fit and supportive orthotics. Snowboard professionals often go with customized orthotics to give them a fit that will allow them to snowboard daily without the arch pain in their snowboard boots.

Fully customized footbeds will require a trip to a store specializing in athletic footwear. The best store for fitting can vary by region so ask for recommendations from friends and snowsport professionals who use customized footbeds to prevent arch pain and foot pain.

Two commercial customized footbed fitting dealers found nationwide at ski areas are Superfeet and Surefoot. If you happen to be in Colorado, I can recommend the following local shops for orthotics and boot fitting:

Larry's Boot Fitting, Inc.
2709 Spruce Street
Boulder, CO 80302
303-402-6733
http://www.larrybootfitting.com/

Boulder Ski Deals
2525 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80302
303-938-8799

Le Feet Lab
78878 U.S. 40
Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-9841
http://www.lefeetlab.com/

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496

http://www.foot.com/info/cond_over_pronation.jsp

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/footproblems/a/posteriortibial.htm