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[at-l] Boot fitting information (fairly long)
As you can see from my post I just bought a new pair of boots today. I
had about 3 different people working with me for over an hour. They
used the foot measuring device on me. They did everything you said in
your post, had me walking up and down stairs instead of ramps though, did
the finger behind the heel thing, etc. The one thing they all said was
that for the AT I would go through two pairs of boots (most likely) no
matter what I bought. They had several name brands in the store that
have been mentioned on this site more than once. They said they get a lot
of through hikers through there every year and a lot of them will buy a
second pair of lighter "sneaker" type shoe to wear until they get up to
Pennsylvania and the rocks then they will switch back to the hiking boot.
I actually learned a lot from those guys.
Sparrow 2001
On Tue, 02 Jan 2001 15:51:00 -0500 "Mara Factor" <m_factor@hotmail.com>
writes:
>Well, I'm not in your area so I can't go with you and I don't know the
>local
>outfitters but...
>
>Here's some of the information I present for the Footwear section of
>the
>annual AMC Spring Hiking Program in Boston:
>
>Most people's feet spread out later in the day so it's best to go boot
>
>shopping in the afternoon. Buying a boot that fits well first thing
>in the
>morning could mean boots that are uncomfortably tight by the end of
>each
>day's hike. Wear (on your feet) whatever you'll be wearing when
>hiking. A
>thick sock (how thick is personal preference), a liner if desired, and
>any
>special insoles or orthotics you expect to wear while hiking. It may
>be
>necessary to remove the boot's insole to use your own insole or
>orthotic.
>
>The boots must be long enough so that when going downhill, your toes
>do not
>jam against the toe box. This means most people usually wear boots
>about
>1/2 size longer than their normal shoe size. There's great variation
>in
>boots so you must try the boots and should never insist on a certain
>size
>because "that what I always wear."
>
>To fit the length, loosen the laces and open the boot as much as
>possible.
>Put your foot in the boot and while standing up with your toes just
>touching
>(NOT jammed against) the front of the boot, you should be able to get
>at
>least (but not much more) one finger down behind your heel.
>
>The width should be snug (but not tight) through the ball and heel but
>leave
>plenty of wiggle room for the toes. There should be no pressure
>points.
>
>The contours of the last (the shape or model on which the boot was
>built)
>should match the shape of your foot. To test the last, put your foot
>in the
>boot while wearing just a thin sock to see if the shape of the boot
>seems to
>be the same as your foot. This is also a good time to identify any
>potential pressure points that haven't already shown up.
>
>Once you've tightened the laces, walk around the store for a while.
>If
>there's a ramp available for testing boots (a sign of a potentially
>good
>outfitter) try going up the ramp. How much do your heels slip? The
>less
>slippage the better in terms of reducing blisters. Turn around and go
>down
>the ramp. Do your toes slide forward and touch the front of the boot?
> Even
>just a little touching will add up to painful pounding after a few
>hundred
>(thousand?) feet of descent. If they don't touch, try jumping up and
>down a
>little and then a lot. If they still don't touch, great! If they do,
>keep
>looking for a different boot. Either a longer one or a different fit
>where
>the heel cup and ankle hold your feet back better.
>
>If you happen to have extraordinarily narrow (or low volume) feet,
>step
>sideways onto the ramp and make sure the boot will hold your feet
>"sideways"
>too. If the boot just fits with the laces pulled all the way tight,
>you
>might want to shop in the morning. Otherwise, you may not be able to
>tighten your boots enough when starting out first thing in the
>morning.
>
>When you bring a pair of boots home, wear them around the house just a
>bit
>before taking them outside. If anything turns up (pressure points not
>
>identified in the store, etc.), you'll still be able to bring them
>back in
>new condition so the store can resell them as new. Many stores will
>not
>take back boots if they show any signs of wear.
>
>Wearing them around at home, work, and in town will not break the
>boots in
>for the trail. You really have to get out on trails to break boots in
>for
>trails. The smooth surfaces of town just do not put the same
>pressures on a
>boot as the rough footing of a trail.
>
>Heavyweight, full grain leather, Norwegian welt boots will require
>significant break-in by just about everyone. Lightweight and medium
>weight
>boots should require very little break-in. People who weigh less and
>people
>with short feet will require more effort and time to break in boots
>than
>longer footed and/or heavier people who have more leverage with which
>to
>bend the boot.
>
>Some people recommend the soak in water and wear until dry method to
>break
>in boots. That may work but only because it just speeds up the
>process of
>breaking down the boot as a whole. It will reduce the life of the
>boot
>faster than just breaking them in slowly. Besides, while I would
>never dunk
>my boots in water, they do occasionally get that soaked just from
>hiking in
>rain. Let it happen naturally. :-)
>
>Go armed with this bit of boot fitting knowledge. Go to as many
>stores as
>you can and try on whatever boots seem appropriate. Listen to
>salesperson
>at each store. Ask them which boots they've worn, where they've worn
>them,
>and for what distance. If nothing else, you'll at least find out how
>much
>practical hiking experience they have. They may come up with some
>other
>great piece of boot fitting advice. If so, please let me (and the
>list)
>know. I'm always looking for other clues for identifying the
>"perfect" boot
>before you spend the cash. If there was a boot that was "close" at
>one
>store, maybe you'll find a wizard at the next store who can work some
>magic
>and make them fit.
>
>Also, remember that the salespeople can't really tell you what's
>comfortable
>or not. If the boot is uncomfortable in the store, it's not likely to
>get
>much better on the trail. Another thing to think about... if you're
>looking for a lightweight hiking boot but can't find one that really
>fits
>well, but there's a medium weight one that fits like a dream, chances
>are
>you will be happier with the slightly heavier boot in the long run.
>But,
>only you can make that decision.
>
>If I can answer any other questions, just let me know.
>
>Happy boot fitting...
>
>Mara
>Stitches, GAME99
>
>
>>From: rhymworm@mindspring.com
>>Subject: [at-l] needed: boot fit expert
>>Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2001 11:46:37 -0500
>>
>>Hey, folks,
>>
>>Anyone know of a bp store/outfitter in the northern VA/MD/Southern PA
>
>>region where they REALLY know how to fit boots--not just sell them?
>Trying
>>to get a pair of good boots for my wife for a 120+ mile hike this
>summer,
>>including some roadwalking, and she hasn't done any long-distance
>walking
>>before. She is not one of toughing things out in blistering boots. I
>want
>>to find some place that can really fit the boots to her foot, rather
>than
>>vice-versa, before we begin our warm-up hikes to break the boots in.
>If I
>>lived in Georgia, I'd go to Neels Gap. But I live near Baltimore.
>>
>>Any recommendations would be welcome.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>--Rhymin' Worm
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