Calling all boot wizards (Lange boot issue)

Crispy.

Active member
Hi all,

I just got a new pair of Lange RX 120s (yes they were fitted and yes there are custom footbeds in there. They felt great at the shop, but the minute I take them skiing, they're awful. Anytime I go extra front seat (whether it be because of a forward landing, hitting some soft snow, or being forward to ski down something steep) my heel gets slammed so hard into the back of the boot. Specifically, the region from the achilles outwards on both heels. It feels like I flex into the boot and then once I hit a certain point, the forward momentum of my shin is transferred to my heel jamming into the back of the boot, causing quite a bit of pain (Ps the boots are definitely not too big. It feels like it's more the design of the boot than the actual fit).

I looked around online to see if anyone else feels this in Lange ski boots, but I was surprised to not come up with much. It's so strange....they don't ski like most boots.

Am I crazy or can anyone attest to Lange boots specifically skiing like this? If so, what part of the design of the boots causes this? Is there anything that can be done at the shop to fix this?

Thanks,

Ethan
 
topic:Crispy. said:
Hi all,

I just got a new pair of Lange RX 120s (yes they were fitted and yes there are custom footbeds in there. They felt great at the shop, but the minute I take them skiing, they're awful. Anytime I go extra front seat (whether it be because of a forward landing, hitting some soft snow, or being forward to ski down something steep) my heel gets slammed so hard into the back of the boot. Specifically, the region from the achilles outwards on both heels. It feels like I flex into the boot and then once I hit a certain point, the forward momentum of my shin is transferred to my heel jamming into the back of the boot, causing quite a bit of pain (Ps the boots are definitely not too big. It feels like it's more the design of the boot than the actual fit).

I looked around online to see if anyone else feels this in Lange ski boots, but I was surprised to not come up with much. It's so strange....they don't ski like most boots.

Am I crazy or can anyone attest to Lange boots specifically skiing like this? If so, what part of the design of the boots causes this? Is there anything that can be done at the shop to fix this?

Thanks,

Ethan

I had a similar issue on an old pair of Solomons that developed out of nowhere on one boot. Got them re-fitted, waited through summer, and they were fine when I started this season.
 
Does it feel like you are over flexing the boot? It could potentially be if the boot is too soft you are maxing the flex and then your Achilles can not stretch any more and this is driving your heel up and back.

do you have any sort of bone spur on the heel at all? If so it could be you need to reshape the heel slightly to fit better.

but I would look at flex first.
 
14091647:tomPietrowski said:
Does it feel like you are over flexing the boot? It could potentially be if the boot is too soft you are maxing the flex and then your Achilles can not stretch any more and this is driving your heel up and back.

do you have any sort of bone spur on the heel at all? If so it could be you need to reshape the heel slightly to fit better.

but I would look at flex first.

The boot is a 120 flex. I'd prefer a 130 but I don't feel like I should be flexing out a 120 unless its on the choppiest of days.

I didn't add in a whole lot of background info because I thought it might turn people off from reading but yes, I actually have Haglunds deformity on both feet. The initial boot that actually gave me the spurs was a Lange, but up until then it wasn't painful to ski. In the meantime I've had other boots that have felt just fine.

Considering this, do you think reshaping the heel is the way to go? The shop I go to has some pretty good bootfitters I reckon (SportsDen, SLC), but just so I cross reference what they want to do with what you would recommend, what would you do? Just punch out the region where the spur is? Or something more dramatic?

Thanks a bunch!
 
14091653:Crispy. said:
The boot is a 120 flex. I'd prefer a 130 but I don't feel like I should be flexing out a 120 unless its on the choppiest of days.

I didn't add in a whole lot of background info because I thought it might turn people off from reading but yes, I actually have Haglunds deformity on both feet. The initial boot that actually gave me the spurs was a Lange, but up until then it wasn't painful to ski. In the meantime I've had other boots that have felt just fine.

Considering this, do you think reshaping the heel is the way to go? The shop I go to has some pretty good bootfitters I reckon (SportsDen, SLC), but just so I cross reference what they want to do with what you would recommend, what would you do? Just punch out the region where the spur is? Or something more dramatic?

Thanks a bunch!

Oh yeah for sure get the heel area worked on then. Probably a small grind could relive the pressure and also give space when needed. That boot has a good thick shell so can be ground well. Have a fitter asses the space you have in the heel pocket and see if space may help. Could be worth having your ankle flex measured too to make sure you are no tv too flat in the boot. If you have limited mobility it could be that when you get near the max of the flex your heel is being pulled up as you run out of mobility.
 
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