Are you going to be having a winter ski holiday this year and enjoy the exhilarating thrill of flying down the snowy slopes on skis, feel the wind against your face whilst enjoying the stunning mountainous scenery around you? As well as wearing appropriate clothing to keep your core body warm (which will help to keep your feet warm too), one of the most essential things to think about before going on your adventure is to consider looking after your feet by wearing the correct sized ski boots and the right type of socks. If your feet are cold and uncomfortable, it’ll be more difficult to stay in control of your skiing manoeuvres and you’re not going to enjoy your day on the slopes!
You may think that to keep your feet warm you need to wear thick socks, but it’s better to wear thin long knee-high socks made from merino wool, nylon and elastic that are specifically made for skiing. These type of socks will wick away moisture and keep the heat in, as opposed to cotton socks which will trap moisture causing your feet to get wet and cold. Wearing thin socks allows the feet to breathe giving a little space inside the boot, which lets the air circulate helping to keep your feet warm. Your feet need to be fairly snug inside your ski boots, but not cramped by wearing thick socks, as this will result in sweaty feet making them get cold. Socks being too thick and tight within the boots will also restrict blood flow. Ski specific socks will be more comfortable than everyday socks as they have padding for the shins, are ergonomically shaped to the foot and have a seamless construction. Socks that are too loose and baggy will be uncomfortable and could cause you to get blisters. If you’re having a full day of skiing, consider taking a fresh dry pair of socks to change into whilst on your lunch break!
Along with wearing the correct type of socks, another way to ensure that you’re taking care of your feet is to make sure your ski boots are a good fit too! Ski boots are considered the most important part of your ski gear – if they don’t fit properly, they can cause a multitude of issues. If too tight, they’ll restrict the blood flow to your toes, and if they are fitting too big, your feet could potentially result in bruising and blisters, be cold, and limit your ability to ski correctly, possibly causing injury. The wrong fit ski boot will make life uncomfortable, so your boots need to have a fairly snug fit!
Top Tips and Useful Information:
· Ski boots are measured in centimetres, known as Mondo sizing.
o Draw round your feet on a piece of paper and measure from the top of the big toe to the heel to work out your size.
· The upper section of your ski boot needs to fit securely around your shin and calf.
· Your feet need to feel fairly snug within the boot, with just enough room for your toes to be able to wiggle.
· Your heels and ankles need to be secure, with no internal movement.
· The ankle buckle is the most important buckle on your boot – it must be fastened tightly to ensure that your heels don’t lift within the boots whilst you’re skiing.
o Start buckling from the bottom of the boot to the top.
o The foot buckles can be slightly looser to ensure airflow and reduce pressure on your feet.
· When trying ski boots on in an upright standing position your toes should almost touch the ends – crucially, make sure once you push your knees forward into a skiing stance flexing the tongue of the boot, so that your heel will be pushed back into the boot.
o This is to ensure your boots are not too big in length and that you enable movement in your toes.
· When having a break, unbuckle your boots to take the pressure off your feet, allowing trapped moisture to escape and your feet to warm up.
· Don’t leave your ski boots in a cold place or in your car overnight – make sure they’re dry and kept at room temperature before you put them on.
Our foot shape changes as we age, getting longer and wider. Also, damage, trauma and arthritis will affect the foot shape too. If you’ve not used your ski boots for a while, check their condition and also review the size of your feet, as they may have changed since you last wore your ski boots!
For advice from our Podiatrists about looking after your feet, book an appointment at www.yorkpodiatry.co.uk
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