On Dec 18, 4:28 pm, (Eugene Miya) wrote:
I can't believe I'm the only one that gets sore feet from ski boots. So, I'm
serious. Looking for serious responses.

That's lots of people.

Will Steger, the guys who did ski circuses to both Poles and lives in
MN made some sort of plastic binding for use with his mukluks, but don't
expect much kick and glide. I tried them once years ago because they
were around, but I preferred my 75 mm set up, and I didn't get blisters or
cold feet.

Those bindings are called Berwin Backcountry Bindings. They were
originally made by Bill and Gene Prater's Sherpa snowshoe company, so
sometimes you'll hear (or see, if you have the old tan model) them
called Sherpa bindings. Now they are made and distributed by Akers
Cross-County Ski Shop in Andover, ME. (http://www.akers-ski.com/) The
new, blue ones are pretty bomb-proof. Avoid the late 1990's black
model. They had a well-deserved repuation for breaking under the ball
of the foot.

I use them with either mukluks or Sorel lace-up winter boots (NOT
pacs!) on a pair of Trak Bushwacker II skis. I have been using them
since they came out, and they are very comfortable. I don't have the
strongest ankles in the world, particularly on the left side, but I
never have any problems with mukluks and the Berwin/Bushwacker combo.
I can switch back and forth between skis and snowshoes and not change
footwear, which is a nice convenience.

All that being said, I agree with those who suggest trying a different
boot. I have a pair of Karhu Converts, which are a strong backcountry,
3-pin boot, which I actually wear the majority of the time I am
skiing. I find they help to keep the afore-mentioned left ankle and
fallen arches in place nicely when skiing for extended tours. To me,
that justifies the extra weight. I also have a pair of strictly
recreational 3-pin Alpha boots that I bought on a ski trip to the U.P.
of Michigan, when the toe broke off my old LL Bean ski boots. They are
warm and comfortable, but I can't use them for ski patrol or search
and rescue.

I have a pair of old Army skis with Ramer cable bindings on them.
Great, bomb-proof (literally, I think) binding, which also work with
my Converts. But I don't think your problem is the binding. Check out
some new boots, wear the socks you will wear when you ski. I am sure,
with the help of a knowlegable ski shop, you should be able to
eliminate the pain problem.

Ski safe,
Hans Erdman, WEMT
Backcountry Trail Patrol, MN
www.trailpatrol.org
www.wintersnowtrails.org