Why do my feet go numb in my ski boots or snowboard boots?

When talking with customers in the Profeet Ski Lab a question we often get asked is ‘why do my feet go numb in my ski boots (or snowboard boots)?’

Be wary of nerve damage
Numbness of the foot is a condition to be very wary of because once the nerve is damaged it is can take weeks or even months to repair depending on the severity.

In ski boots it is often pressure to the top of the foot – where you have many nerves running – that causes the problems. If the boot is the wrong shape for your foot and doesn’t provide enough space in that area, it will apply pressure down onto these dorsal nerves.

Wear thin socks and don’t do boots up too tight
Firstly, ensure you are wearing a thin ski sock that allows maximum space in the forefoot. Secondly, make sure there is very little tension on the instep buckle.

If the boot still compresses the top of the foot, I recommend you visit a specialist ski boot fitter who will often be able to lower you down in the boot by grinding the top of the boot board.

In a specialist boot fit store, they will also be able to stretch the instep of the boots and remove excess materials from the liner to allow extra volume across the top of your foot.

Pressure on the ankle bone
Another area where the nerve can be compressed is behind the outside ankle bone where the sural nerve runs. Many boots provide a lot of padding around the heel and ankles to secure the foot, but too much can create cause numbness.

It is important to remember that compression to the nerve can occur at any point along its path and so in certain cases we have to trace further up the leg to find the compression point.

A version of this article first appeared in Fall Line Magazine, where Profeet’s Ski Manager, Janine Winter, is the Fall Line ‘Boot Doctor’