Looking for ice-climbing-boot heel-hack...

So I bought my ice climbing boots (the La Sportiva "Silver Bullets," can't remember the actual name of the boot) before I thought I'd ever get into ice, and before I knew what a good fit for an ice boot would feel like (I bought them for mountaineering purposes, and the shop owner convinced me to get ones that were compatible for ice crampons, just in case).

No matter how tight I lace (and I've experimented going tighter here, looser there), or how many pairs of socks I wear, my heal tends to pop to a degree where it can make my 'pon points feel insecure and pump my calves out prematurely. It's really frustrating. And they'll get slowly worse pitch by pitch.

Just wondering if anyone had some kind of home remedy I could try, as I'm not invested in ice climbing enough to buy a new pair of boots outright (and mine have 3 seasons worth of climbing on them, although they're in good shape I couldn't sell them for very much).

Anyone else have the same problem that they've figured out a workaround for?

Thanks, I'll check those out. Any idea if I can find those at a ski shop (so I don't have to order)?

My bet is most boot fitters will have a heel wedge or three.

Also, I'd probably try the foot care section of a drug or grocery store to see if there was a heel cup of sorts just to take up the volume in the boot. An orthotic that replaces the flimsy stock inserts might work too. Some options:

rei.com/c/insoles

These might work too:

superfeet.com/en-us/redhot-…

Anything but that stock insert in the boot will take up more volume and that could help a bunch.

Thanks for the help, Bryan. I searched MP forums and found a thread with a few videos with lacing tips, and that has taken some of the edge off. Hopefully with a new insole/heel cup I can get those durned heels locked.

I was talking with Sportiva rep and he suggested a 'tounge insert' it is this thing that velcro attaches to the tounge and takes up some of the tounge. I was going to try and buy a couple of pairs at the OR show and try it out.

My Silver Bullets and Batura's are the same. I have narrow feet and have them laced as tight as I can, so tight I blow lave loops. Adoptive has always been good and never charges for the repair. However, and to your point, a tighter fit would be nice.

Keep me posted if you find any heel lifts locally.