[Closed] Skiing - protecting shins?

The hems on long johns can dig in if you tuck them into the boot. I get the hems off so they are a bit smoother. Obviously more likely to fray but I only wear them a few times a year. Some ski socks have thicker front padding too.

First time we went skiing the Mrs had problems with her shins hurting.

She bought some shin length medium density foam type inserts, put them inside her socks. All rubbing and movement was sock on foam and a happy time was had by all.

At least the shins hurting/rubbing show that you are getting forward over the front of your skis well! As you move away from snow plough the pressure on the shins will reduce a bit.

It might be worth getting some 3/4 length long johns so you don't need them under your socks. Unless it is very cold I tend not to use long johns as I get far too hot anyway.

Nothing inside your boot other than your leg, foot and sock. Anything other clothing is likely to end up very uncomfortable.

A quick fix can be to shave your shin. Ski Angel pad things work for some. Putting the very top strap of the boot (the Velcro one) so that it is only wrapping around the inner boot can help a lot too

Also don't fall in to the trap of trying to do your boot buckles up too tight. Your heel shouldn't be able to lift, but that is it. Closing your buckles shouldn't be akin to a weights session down the gym where you are straining so much to get them ever tighter.

This becomes much easier to do when you are in your own properly fitted boots rather than hire boots, which might or might not fit very well.

3/4 pants :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helly-Hansen-Mens-Lifa-Pant/dp/B002JTWGEI

Chamois cream?

I would say long johns should go over socks, not under.

Don't trick yourself into stiff boots because you're big, fit, fast, hard, etc. Soft boots are perfectly adequate for non-competitive skiing, are more comfortable, rub less and encourage you to get your weight forward giving better control.

As your technique improves your shins should not hurt so much (possibly you are pressing forward with your shins too much or ricking backwards and forwards). Also I suspect the boots at the snowdome aren't great, perhaps the padding is a bit worn or hard. I prefer thin ski socks but maybe you should look at some thicker ones, they are quite sophisticated these days and maybe you can get some with more padding/material at the front. I think also there is an element of ski fit, its like new mtb-ers complaining about how uncomforable the saddle is all the time

Long Johns at the snow dome MTFU, January at Val Thorens now thats cold 🙂

Thanks all.

Long johns, as I won't be wearing proper Salopettes - my softshell walking/climbing trousers fit over the boots OK, but are uninsulated. I'm also a skinny bugger so run cold.

I'd rather not hack stuff down as it's all kit I wear at other times for other purposes. I guess my Endura bib 3/4s could work...

Boot fit was less than ideal - I did have to wrestle to get the boots to close, then after 10 minutes they were loose again - in particular there was maybe 1/2" of fore/aft play around the top cuff with the fastner done as tight as it would go.

Long Johns in a snow dome?

You're doing something wrong.

The first thing as mentioned above is get the long Johns out of the boots, you could roll them up I guess or just buy a couple of pairs of cheap running 2/4's from Decathlon or the like.

Second, get some good, not too thick socks, not the thick tube things that are often sold, thin, Merino wool work for me.

Thirdly, shin shaving (and Chamois cream I guess) can work, though I image stubble would be even worse so you'll need to do it every morning.

Finally, accept that some hire boots are better than others, if they hurt/don't fit just ask for another pair to try, when on holiday try lots and don't be afraid to go back and change them after a day or 2.

OP don't be obsessed with boots being too tight including at the top cuff. If you have thin legs you may find no boots (and not cheapo snowdome ones) will be snug. In the old days ( 😳 ) we used to do ski lesson drills with boots pretty much undone - to demonstrate that with good technique and balance you'd don't need them over tight.

Smart move going to the dome as it gives you a headstart for the holiday. I do believe your shins will toughen up.

Also when you say proper socks do you mean tube socks? As proper ski socks are more fitted and not like tube socks at all. They are more expensive but worth the extra.

My wife had blisters on her legs the first year with crappy tube socks, next year decent socks and no such injuries.

Jon - the boots might be a bit stiff when you first try them on, especially if they haven't been on boot warmers. When doing the buckles up you should be able to close the buckles by pushing firmly with two fingers. Any more force and they're probably too tight.

By the time you have managed to get up the drag lift or after your first run they should have warmed up and your movement should have loosened them. In which case tighten them up a bit, but don't use too much force, you should be able to still close them with two fingers.

It was a bit of a revelation when I realised this. I'd been skiing in hire boots done up too tightly and spent my first couple of weeks skiing with frozen feet. Turns out it wasn't the -C temps, it was a lack of blood supply getting to my feet. My own boots end up and stinking mess of sweatiness now - but they're very comfortable!

slowoldman - Member
Soft boots are perfectly adequate for non-competitive skiing, are more comfortable, rub less and encourage you to get your weight forward giving better control.

boot stiffness has nothing to do with being competitive. A good skier in boots that are too soft is the equivalent of riding an mtb with the suspension too soft. You lose responsiveness, the ability to power through turns, the support you need at speed, you can damage the boot as it will over flex (top mould hitting the second buckle is never a good thing), you can damage yourself as the boot isn't supportive enough.

Choosing boots appropriate to your skillz is pretty important

Socks are nice Bridgedale ones.

I had to use a hell of a lot more force than 2 fingers to close them! It mostly seemed to be plastic binding on plastic that was the issue. I did try a couple of pairs on but the only ones that were wide enough for my toes AND stopped massive heel lift required both hands at limit of strength to fight shut. Bar the shins (which don't hurt as the nerves are f'cked)- no major comfort issues though.

Better fitting boots and socks should sort it. Definitely keep long johns out of the way, just tuck them into the top of the socks once the boot is fastened.

If it's just down to rubbing then it might be worth wrapping with some sort of tape? Then the movement ought to be between tape and sock/boot, rather than skin and boot? Or a large pre-emptive hydrocolloid dressing? Similar to what you do to stop blisters.

The OP has never been skiing before and the Snow Dome was his first session (?) It really is like recommending a new saddle to a novice cyclist who got a sore @rse after his first 2 hour ride.

OP you'll be fine, enjoy it

The OP has never been skiing before and the Snow Dome was his first session

Agreed..... he still has time to repent and take-up snowboarding instead. The boots are comfier, if nothing else.

Go roadie and shave your lower legs, and maybe a layer of zinc oxide if you're still having problems...

Snowboard boots are comfier 😉

Snowboards are just for having strapped to your feet while you sit on the slopes though 😉

Your boots are too tight at the top. Loosen off completely anytime you are mot actually skiing..

"the pressure on them from the ski boots is simply rubbing the skin off." - sounds like friction. Try a pair of cheap thin nylon socks over proper skis socks (I like Falke but see what suits you). The nylon socks will take any friction burns rather than your shins.

Definitely worth trying different boots and as said above don't obsess with cranking the buckles down (especially the one over the ankle) but do make sure the power strap is tight (but not super tight).

Don't use Salomon rear-entry boots, they are the Ford Ka of the ski boot world.

Shave the hairs off your shins.

Cover the shins with wide Micropore tape.

Get proper ski socks.

I would also suggest getting a cheap pair of salopettes - Aldi ones are fine (IMHO). They (should) eliminate the need for the long-johns unless it's *really* cold, stop you getting a cold bum and save you from getting a bucket load of snow down your waist band [s]if[/s] when you go fast enough to slide along after a fall.

Are the socks ribbed ie walking socks?

Avoid like the plague. Get good quality, tube ski socks with no ribbing and avoid under socks, long johns and the like.

Amazing how much damage a traditional ribbed sock can do to your shins in a ski boot. 🙁

Best ski socks are the Smartwool ones - SportPursuit were selling some recently. You can even get a couple of days use out of them, although maybe not with hire boots...

They also do snowboard socks which have a different pattern of padding over the shin, can't remember which is more padded.

If you have any of those insoles with good arch support, like the green Superfeet, take them with you as they will be better than what you will have in hire boots. Your foot takes a different position in ski boots and strong arch support helps your foot placement.

The boot should fit as close as you can manage around the foot - cut your toe nails snug before you go. I also think shaving the hairs from the top of your feet helps, makes getting the boot on less painful.

The boot shouldn't be so stiff that you can't get some ankle flex relatively easily.

If you are just taking shell trousers then something like those HH 3/4s and some fleece trousers will do you fine for warmth - I used to ski layered up like that.

http://www.simplypiste.com/manufacturers/SmartWool.aspx

Point6 > Smartwool

#sockwars

I just wear a pair of Ron Hills under my salopettes, rolled up to the knees like climbing britches.

I still struggle with skiing. How hard can it be? I'm completely useless. My two boys have long since zoomed past me and the younger one was 6 on our last trip. It's just embarrassing. I also suffer from sore feet. Tried everything even have my own boots with moulded liner. Maybe I should get another pair. Let's face it that's what I'd do with bikes!

In the old days ( ) we used to do ski lesson drills with boots pretty much undone - to demo

Light weight, we used to run gates with boots completely undone. I still make a point of doing it now every so often to make sure I'm not relying on force over technique.

To be fair in my 30 yrs of skiing, rubbed shins is the result of a poor fitting boot, bad technique, poor quality socks, or combination of the 3.

Some trips I've had bleeding shins, some trips just lost the hairs on my shins, and other times nothing at all.

Get some reasonable fitted socks (not tube) and get boots that fit. Take them back if they don't and try another pair. The bit you can't change is technique and that will come with time

snowboarding instead. The boots are comfier, if nothing else.