My new favorite hiking boot is the Altra Lone Peak which isn’t a hiking boot at all. This trail running shoe has all the critical components for high performance backcountry foot wear: lightness (remember 1lb. off your feet is the same as…

Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), are a common condition in runners and cause throbbing and aching in the lower part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. The pain might strike during your run, after…

Hitting the slopes on a sunny spring day is a favorite for many skiers—who enjoy warmer temperatures and a little sunshine while zipping down slopes. Foot pain, however, can quickly put a damper on your spring skiing fun. Ill-fitting boots…

Hot Foot? Douse the Flames for Good! Many cyclists suffer from metatarsalgia or “hot foot” — a burning pain in the ball of the foot that can radiate toward the toes. Severe cases can feel like someone is actually holding…

Among the most effective treatments for heel pain is stretching, especially the posterior c compartment which includes the Achilles tendon, hamstrings, soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. Unfortunately even five minutes of stretching several times a day isn’t likely to have much impact over the…

Numbness in the toes is caused by a pinching of the nerves as they pass through the inter space between the metatarsal joints. This can be caused by a collapsing of the transverse arch as load is put on the…

The greatest benefit of carbon fiber for ski boot construction is that the carbon fiber material is unaffected by ambient temperature. This means the boot stiffness at 10* below zero is the same as it is at 40* above zero.…

Only if you want the best performance and comfort from your boots. Because the foot in a ski boot is in its unlocked and flexible condition the muscles and tendons of the foot are fighting to support the arch while…

My flight from Minn. to Boise after the American Birkibeiner race was cancelled. While stuck in a hotel overnight I ran into Steve Poulin, the President of Swix Sports. He told me that the importance of a flat ski for…