Buying Boots and Shoes

By / May 2nd, 2014 / There are currently 0 comments

Choosing your outdoor footwear can be a lengthy process, whether your venturing out for the first time or a veteran of the hills. The variety of styles, materials and fits available can be overwhelming when you see a wall of shoes in an outdoor shop. Knowing the style of footwear that your looking for will help to narrow down these choices. Whatever type of shoe you go for, you will likely cover a fair few miles in them, so its worth taking  your time before making your purchase.

 

Boot or Shoe?

The debate we often have with our customers in persuading them to consider a walking boot over an approach shoe. Shoes will normally seem like the comfortable option, especially if you’ve not worn walking boots before. They are lighter, they’re easier to get on and off and they’re usually a little cheaper too. Approach shoes are great for trail hiking, walking into a crag or as a tough trainer.

Walking boots provide much more support and stability than shoes and are generally suited to much rougher terrain. The ankle support they provide can be essential in areas where you are less sure of your footing, when your carrying a heavy pack or at the end of a long walk where you will often be stepping down more heavily and less precisely due to tiredness. Walking boots often have more support under the foot as well with stiffer soles which can take extra load. Walking boots also tend to be tougher and more durable than approach shoes, allowing the wearer to tackle more difficult terrain such as scree and boulder fields.

 

 

Walking Boots

Fit is the key when buying a walking boot and should be your first consideration. Everyone has different foot shapes and the best boot in the world might be the very worst fit for you personally. Ill fitting boots can quickly turn an exciting day in the hills to a tormenting experience.

To work out the type of boot that you need it is helpful to have an idea of what you will be using them for. The main difference between walking boots is the stiffness of the sole. For day hiking on more even terrain a softer sole is often more suitable. These are easier to walk in and allow the foot to roll more. Stiffer soled boots are normally preferred for walking on rougher surfaces , over long distances or whilst carrying a heavy pack. For winter walking and mountaineering boots with rigid soles are required. For information about these please see our guide to Winter Boots.

The common debate with boots is whether to opt for a leather or synthetic construction and both have their good and bad points.

Synthetic boots are generally lighter than full leather boots and being made of softer materials they take less time to break in and can feel more comfortable straight out of the box. They are also more breathable, allowing your feet to stay cooler on warmer days. Most synthetic boots have some leather or suede on areas likely to suffer abrasion for increased durability.

It is unlikely that you will come across a modern synthetic walking boot that is not waterproof, especially in the UK. Gore-tex is the preference for most boot manufacturers.

Leather boots are the more durable option of the two  and when buying a pair you can expect them to have a longer life. The downside to this increased life is the extra time it takes to brake them in. Though modern leather boots are far more fitted than their predecessors, the leather still requires some wear before it feels comfortable.

 

What to look for with fit

A well fitting walking boot should not feel uncomfortable when you first put it on your foot. As a rule, small discomforts will increase overtime, not decrease. Tying your walking boots up can be a science in itself with numerous methods available. The best practice we find is below.

  1. Loosen up the laces and place your foot into the boot
  2. Whilst sitting down kick the back of the boot into the ground to ensure your heel is right to the back. Keeping your foot at an angle begin to tighten the laces from the bottom up. This will ensure your foot does not slide forward in the boot.
  3. When you reach the ankle place your foot flat on the floor and tighten the upper laces. These should be firm but not exerting excessive pressure on the ankle.

The first thing to check for is that you do not feel any pressure across the forefoot, arch of your foot or toes. Over the course of a day walking your feet will swell which will increase any pressure.

Next, it is important to ensure that the boot is not loose on the foot, especially around the heel. Movement is likely to cause blistering as your foot rubs against the boot. A good method to check for heel movement is by walking up a test ramp or by walking up a flight of stairs.

Also essential is to check that the toes are not pressing on the front of the boot. Should this happen, it is likely that you will bruise your toes whilst descending down steep slopes. A good way to check for this is to walk down a test ramp or to kick the foot into the ground.

 

Improving fit

Though you want to find a boot that fits well it is often the case that you may need to make some modifications to improve the fit. Items such as volume reducers, heel lifts and insoles can all be added to a boot and make a significant difference to how a piece of footwear may feel. Certain specialist footbeds can also provide increased support or shock absorption.

In the case of leather boots it is also possible for the boot to be stretched to accommodate an irregularity such as a jutting bone or a bunion.

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