Today's hiking boots are more lightweight and more flexible than the traditional all-leather boots that were popular ten or twenty years ago. Boots today also have more high-tech features, including different kinds of soles and shanks, as well as waterproof and durable fabrics.
But the most important criterion for choosing a boot is fit. All the high-tech features on display at the Outdoor Retailers Trade Show won't help a hiker who has a badly fitting boot that causes pain and blisters.
How to Buy Boots That Fit
Shop for boots late in the day, when feet tend to be a little swollen. It's better for a boot to be too big than too small.
- Don't use street-shoe size as a guide. Hiking boots from different manufacturers (especially European brands) may be sized slightly differently, so it's a good idea to have foot size confirmed by a trained salesperson. Pay attention to width as well as length, because under the weight of a heavy pack, feet will spread out a bit.
- Be aware that fluctuations among manufacturers include not only sizes and widths, but also whether the boot is suited to "high-volume" feet versus "low-volume" feet. To have a "high volume:" foot means just what it suggests: The foot takes up more space in the boot. The opposite is true of "low volume" feet, which take up less space. People with high volume feet may find that some boots rub more than others, or feel tight and uncomfortable, even though the boots are the right length and width. People with low volume feet may feel their feet swimming around inside a boot that seems to lack support. Salespeople can help direct buyers to boot manufacturers whose boots are best suited to different foot shapes.
- To try on boots, bring socks – one light wicking layer, and one heavier cushioning layer – because a thick pair of socks can make a half-size worth of difference. The same is true of orthotic devices such as extra insoles or partial insoles.
How to Tell if a Hiking Boot Fits
First, check the boot while standing and walking on a level floor.
- Toes should move freely in the toe box.
- The heel should have enough room that if you push your foot toward the front of your boot, you can squeeze a finger down the back of the boot.
- There should be no rubbing or uncomfortable pressure. People with wide feet should pay special attention to the outside front of the foot, near the big toe, which are subject to blisters if the boots aren't wide enough. Hikers with high-volume feet and high arches also need to be sure that the boot fits across the top of the foot. Hikers with flat feet or fallen arches need to check to see that there is comfortable arch support, or that the orthotics they use will do the job.
- Then, check how the boot fits and flexes on uphills and downhills. Reputable outfitting stores all have little ramps and steps where customers can check the fit on an incline.
- Facing downward, the boot should be held in place and the toes should not slide to the front of the boot or jam against the toe box.
- Facing upwards, with the ankle flexed, the heel should not slide up more than about a half inch. if it does, the boot is too big, or too wide in the heel.
Fixing Boot Fitting Problems
The best-laid plans sometimes go amok: Sometimes, even a carefully fitted boot doesn't feel right on the trail. Worn boots can't be returned (except if they are defective), so the only option is to fiddle with the fit,.
- Shoemakers can sometime stretch a too-small boot but putting a softening solution on it and leaving it on a stretching device overnight. Shoe stretchers for home use are also available.
- Using thinner socks will give a bit more space in a too-small boot
- Using thicker socks and insoles will fill out space in a too-large boot. Partial insoles (heels or toes) are also available, and can be used if the problem is limited to just the heel area or the toe area.
- If a small part of the boot rubs against the foot, take the blunt rounded end of a pocket knife, and rub it hard against the area, trying to stretch the leather a bit. Sometimes it only takes a millimeter of space to make a difference.
Finally, realize that boots break in and become more flexible over time. So wear them around before a hike. Even a boot that fits perfectly can cause blisters if it isn't broken in.
Karen Berger - Karen Berger is the author of 15 books. Please click on her name to read her full bio.
