I bought some Salomon boots a week ago and after two days of skiing my heels and the sides of my feet hurt like crazy. I've tried adjusting the closures but it still hurts. Is it something that'll get better as they break in, or should I swap them out?
New ski boots always hurt a bit at first, but if after two days and several adjustments your heels and sides are still hurting, it's probably more than just a break-in issue. They normally mold to your feet in a week or two, but that kind of intense pain in those areas could mean the boot's shape isn't ideal for your foot or the closures aren't distributed right. Before returning them, try going to a specialty shop where they can help you adjust the closures properly or maybe you'll need custom insoles. If it still hurts a lot after a few more days, it's better to swap them out than end up with chronic discomfort.
Don't tough it out waiting for them to break in, because if your heels and sides hurt after two days of skiing, it means the boot's just not your size and that's that. Before you return them, try this: put the boots in an oven on low heat (like 60-70 degrees) for a few minutes so the material softens up a bit, then put them on with the ski socks you normally wear and tighten them well while they're hot, and let them cool down while you're wearing them. If they're still killing your feet after that, return them without hesitation, because skiing in pain is a bad idea and you'll end up with blisters that ruin the rest of your season anyway.
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