Pain on Top of Front Foot in Straps Binding

I am repeatedly having problems with a pain that almost becomes
unbearable on the top of my front foot in a 2-straps binding. The
pain almost becomes unbearable at times, requiring me to loosen the
boot and bindings, but then I feel that I have to much movement. I am
using the "Sanchez" boot, with metal wire laces that automatically tie
by turning a click dial. I wear a single pair of socks designed for
Snowboarding. Any suggestions or is this just a pain that you have to
learn to put up with when riding?

Charles Coffin wrote:
I am repeatedly having problems with a pain that almost becomes
unbearable on the top of my front foot in a 2-straps binding. The
pain almost becomes unbearable at times, requiring me to loosen the
boot and bindings, but then I feel that I have to much movement. I am
using the "Sanchez" boot, with metal wire laces that automatically tie
by turning a click dial. I wear a single pair of socks designed for
Snowboarding. Any suggestions or is this just a pain that you have to
learn to put up with when riding?



If it's anything like the pain I used to have, it was caused by the boot and
straps flattening the foot - mine was solved when I got a customer inner
made.

Some people get it, some don't. I did, & it made riding impossible.
The answer is one word.

Flow, as in Flow Bindings. There will undoubtedly be someone who tells
you they suck (equipment arguments are part of the sport), but they are
a miracle. No pressure points, and if you take the time to set them up
properly, there is no sensation of a strap whatsoever. It/they feel
like the board is glued to the bottom of you boot.

wrote in news:1107178658.051554.75300
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Flow, as in Flow Bindings. There will undoubtedly be someone who
tells you they suck (equipment arguments are part of the sport),
but they are a miracle. No pressure points, and if you take the
time to set them up properly, there is no sensation of a strap
whatsoever. It/they feel like the board is glued to the bottom of
you boot.


I found while the flows relieved most of the pain, they were, IMHO,
only good in powder or nicely groomed runs. Once things got bumpier
I felt better control with regular strap bindings which I use now.

In many cases this pain is from what is called plantar fasciitis. As
someone else said, changing your boot or liner may be the better
solution. You can also try adjust where your straps are crossing
your foot. Factory settings may not be best!

I find that with my current boot/bindings I can make it pretty
much until the end of season before the pain really starts kicking
in, and its almost exclusively on the front foot. Limping around
a little bit in May and June is a small price to pay for Dec-April
boarding

Good advice from Mike.

I'd also add that I usually loosen my front strap a few clicks while
I'm on the lift. This increases blood flow which helps everything, and
I re-tighten when I strap in up top.

On the foot beds, even if you don't get custom foot beds, just replace
the ones that came in your boot with "superfeet" or something like it.
They work great.

As predicted, I'm the one telling you that Flow bindings are not the
answer to your problems. Although I would admit every
foot/boot/binding combination is different, I had more foot pain with
Flows than any other binding. For me it was that they do not allow
easy on-slope adjustments as your boots and feet warm up after a couple
runs. The only easy adjustment is to tighten the highback which for me
only painfully increased heel pressure.

Good luck,
-todd

Charles Coffin wrote:

I am repeatedly having problems with a pain that almost becomes
unbearable on the top of my front foot in a 2-straps binding. The
pain almost becomes unbearable at times, requiring me to loosen the
boot and bindings, but then I feel that I have to much movement. I am
using the "Sanchez" boot, with metal wire laces that automatically tie
by turning a click dial. I wear a single pair of socks designed for
Snowboarding. Any suggestions or is this just a pain that you have to
learn to put up with when riding?




You can try shifting the front strap to another position. Instead of
having it come across the front, try a different angle. I used to have
it come across until I found that if you angle and have it come across
the top of your toes it'll feel a bit better. Also I've switched
bindings from normal toe strap to a "baltimore toe strap" (like the one
found on technine's MFM binding or one of burton's that sport the 'chin'
strap). It's like a chin strap from a hockey helmet. You put the strap
on your toe box and the 'chin' piece holds it in place. It pulls the
boot into the binding as well as down. Then the pressure points really
stopped.

stu

The problem is that you are tightening you forefoot laces (laces in
front of your ankle) and your straps too much... this crushes your
instep and arch and causes a lot of pain. You are overtightening to
compensate because you boots are too big don't fit well (hence all the
heellift movement). Two things that might help

Ankle wrap padding - a little foam that is places on your liner just
around your achilles tendon area will help keep your foot down.

http://www.tognar.com/boot_heater_wa...snowboard.html

Lacing - do not lace the forefoot laces tightly! lace them comfortable
until you get to the upper lace hooks that are above your ankle, then
tighten those a lot. If you have hooks and not eyelets you can do a
neat trick. Tighten all the way up... and then with your extra lace...
wrap the laces back around the lowest hooks and lace up the ankle area
twice.

Email me if doesn't make sense
--Arvin

Charles Coffin wrote:
I am repeatedly having problems with a pain that almost becomes
unbearable on the top of my front foot in a 2-straps binding. The
pain almost becomes unbearable at times, requiring me to loosen the
boot and bindings, but then I feel that I have to much movement. I
am
using the "Sanchez" boot, with metal wire laces that automatically
tie
by turning a click dial. I wear a single pair of socks designed for
Snowboarding. Any suggestions or is this just a pain that you have
to
learn to put up with when riding?

lonerider wrote:

The problem is that you are tightening you forefoot laces (laces in
front of your ankle) and your straps too much... this crushes your
instep and arch and causes a lot of pain. You are overtightening to
compensate because you boots are too big don't fit well (hence all the
heellift movement). Two things that might help

Ankle wrap padding - a little foam that is places on your liner just
around your achilles tendon area will help keep your foot down.

http://www.tognar.com/boot_heater_wa...snowboard.html

Lacing - do not lace the forefoot laces tightly! lace them comfortable
until you get to the upper lace hooks that are above your ankle, then
tighten those a lot. If you have hooks and not eyelets you can do a
neat trick. Tighten all the way up... and then with your extra lace...
wrap the laces back around the lowest hooks and lace up the ankle area
twice.

Email me if doesn't make sense
--Arvin


He doesn't have conventional laces. He's got the boa's (hence his metal
wire laces and click dial). One thing I didn't like about those boots is
that you can't customize which part to be tight and which to be loose on
your foot.

Charles Coffin wrote:

I am repeatedly having problems with a pain that almost becomes
unbearable on the top of my front foot in a 2-straps binding. The
pain almost becomes unbearable at times, requiring me to loosen the
boot and bindings, but then I feel that I have to much movement. I

am

using the "Sanchez" boot, with metal wire laces that automatically

tie

by turning a click dial. I wear a single pair of socks designed for
Snowboarding. Any suggestions or is this just a pain that you have

to

learn to put up with when riding?





Maybe time to ditch those boas and get old school laces on a boot that fits.

stu

Good point. I don't like not being able to adjust the lacing; it's
very important.

Whatever you do, don't continue to ride in pain. That's what I did for
years, & it has really messed up my feet (I'm an old fart). I now have
permanent foot damage that cannot be "repaired" through surgery, & I
get to live w/it. Don't do what I did.

The single huge problem w/ Flow bindings is that almost no one sets
them up properly, & the mfg. rep's don't push the need for getting
them adjusted right either. They require fine tuning & adjustment to
get them set right, and it takes a long time to get it right. My
initial adjustment took me about an hour; it would take a tenth that
long if the rep's knew what to do, but they don't; they're salespeople.
Once you get it, that's it.

Actually, this goes for just about every binding. I've yet to see
anyone take the time to set their bindings up for their riding style.
Everyone just pulls them out of the box & goes. Big mistake.

Whatever you do, don't continue to ride in pain. That's what I did for
years, & it has really messed up my feet (I'm an old fart). I now have
permanent foot damage that cannot be "repaired" through surgery, & I
get to live w/it. Don't do what I did.

The single huge problem w/ Flow bindings is that almost no one sets
them up properly, & the mfg. rep's don't push the need for getting
them adjusted right either. They require fine tuning & adjustment to
get them set right, and it takes a long time to get it right. My
initial adjustment took me about an hour; it would take a tenth that
long if the rep's knew what to do, but they don't; they're salespeople.
Once you get it, that's it.

Actually, this goes for just about every binding. I've yet to see
anyone take the time to set their bindings up for their riding style.
Everyone just pulls them out of the box & goes. Big mistake.