UKC

Has anyone else had this problem? The high ankle of the Reichle has caused tendon problems that meant I couldn't walk any distance for 6 months. I know its a bold statement to make, but I have decided the boots were at fault. I can now finally walk miles again in my walking shoes, but when I put back on my Mammut GTX boots my Achilles starts to ache after just 3km. The rear of the boots bends when I lift the heal, and presses on the Achilles with every step - which eventually leads to the pain. A search of the web threw up others who had had similar problems. Have you? I would just be interested.

In reply to tallsteve:
Interesting. And sorry to hear of your pains.

Both my partner and I have been using these boots the last 10 months or so because they are the only boots that DON'T hurt our achilles. My partner had severe problems from years of hill work and running, and last year needed specialist surgery to scrape out the tendon/bone muck. I've always had problem bony heels and am heading the same way.

The Monoliths are the only boot we've found (beside other Mammuts -- Cliffs, Envies -- of which we also now use) that have ample heel space so there is no contact at the achilles insertion point. That big heel bulge these boots have. Rare for a boot, with all these modern aims of heel clamping etc.

Don't quite follow where you are getting pressure, but are you sure you're not getting biomechanical stress/trigger-point type pains in your calf, due to postural problems? Where exactly is your pain? And do you also have very tender trigger points up in the top rear of your calf close to the back of the knee (feel around kneed the muscle)?

If not then might be this boot shape just isn't for you. EG, Salomon Guides kill my heels after 10 mins.

In reply to BruceM:
I don't have the problem on my right, and indeed the boots were fine for about a year. I think as they have aged the left ankle support is bending more as I lift my heal. It presses the tendon at around the mid point, whereas the right foot has no pressure. When walking its a bit like tapping your tendon with small hammer with every step. Uphill is the worst as your tendon seems to be stretched more at that point. I have no other symptoms. To be fair I haven't tried walking in my old Scarpa's yet for comparison, something I intend to try next weekend.

In reply to tallsteve: Sounds like the boots are the cause of your problem, but its not the boots fault, it is a fit problem, i.e. they dont fit.

Sorry to hear, i thought they were quite nice when I tried a pair, sell them on and try a different brand.

good luck with the new pair

In reply to tallsteve:
Hi Steve,

Sounds like a boot fitting error - possibly too large a size.

Where did you get these boots fitted?

Cheers

Tom

In reply to tallsteve:

It could just be the shape of your heel. I have a similar problem - my heels are 'too flat' so the heel doesn't fit well in certain boots. You can use chiropodists felt to pad out your heel and get a better fit. But the best thing to do is try lots of different boots on and make sure the heel doesn't slip putting a pressure point on your achilles. Everyone has different shaped feet and different styles suit different people. I am always very anxious when I try new boots on to make sure this problem doesn't happen as it can take a very long time to clear up. I used to resort to slitting the back of my road running shoes or cutting the tab off at the back for the same reason.

In reply to tallsteve: This can definitely be just a problem with wearing boots rather than a fitting issue, suggesting underlying problems with the Achilles. I've been having similar problems for the past four years after decades of (pain free) wearing boots by Scarpa, Sportiva, Meindl etc so it's not just a question of finding a boot that suits you. Have worked for the past four years in fell running shoes and, this season, approach shoes, without any Achilles pain. I can tolerate boots for a couple of days at a time but then the Achilles starts to hurt, purely on account of pressure from the back of the boot. By contrast I never get pain when wearing fell-running or approach shoes which don't press on the tendon and I'm averaging 15-20 days a month in the Cuillin between Easter and October.

In reply to tallsteve:

Ive got a pair of Scarpa Manta's that did in both achilles and 18 months later I am only just about getting right. I found the problem likely due to a combination of factors. The boots were brand new and I hadn't used stiff winter boots before and did too much. I also got a generic footbed instead of using my orthotics as I didn't think I would be doing too much milleage in them. The other possibility being I am weak in this area due to biomechanical problems that the stiffness of the boot exasparated because there was less room for them to give, unlike my less stiff 3 season boots.

Ultimately I am now wearing them about every now and again to break them and me into using this sort of boot a bit and considering getting different boots with possibly a better fit, which is gutting not only because they cost a lot of money but other than the achilles problem, I really like the boots.

Craig.