I have recently started walking and once I've built up some level of fitness, will be doing walks around Britain (Chilterns, Snowdonia, Peak district, etc) as well as attempting Kilimanjaro in the next year or so.
I am looking for some boots that will cope with above and have been into a few stores (Cotswolds, Ellis Brigham, Snow and Rock) to get some advice. I am a little confused as a result as all the people I saw seemed to know what they were talking about, but suggested different things.
Anyway, my main dilemma is: should the fit be be snug or loose when fitted in the store? FYI - I was measured up as a 10.5 on my left foot, 10.0 on my right, but have fairly slim feet. The 10's seemed to fit nice and snug, but I was a little concerned about length being too tight after a few hours. The 10.5s felt better regarding length, but there was more width and room around the front of the foot. Should I be looking for a snug fit around the foot, or a get the looser fit to allow for spread after having walked a few hours?
I did try on the boots in the afternoon, with Bridgedale Summit Endurance socks (as the guy in Cotswolds suggested for cold temperatures), but my concern is that the boots remain comfortable after walking for a few hours (how much do feet spread and expand?) and also when walking downhill. Should I err on the side of the larger boots? (Obviously, the boots will fit a lot larger when used with lighter, thinner socks for hot weather, but I guess there's nothing I do about that, right?!)
Also, I was getting a wide variety of suggestions from Meindl Burma Pro (but they were too broad, so I ruled them out), to Salomon Cosmic, to Asolo (cant remember the name), to some to Hi Tec Altitude Vlite Ultra Luxe. I actually liked the Hi Tec as they were nice and light(they were also a lot cheaper!), but are they considered suitable for doing Kilimanjaro (I will not be doing any rock climbing, just walking on trails)?
From much experience go for what is comfortable, but be sure the shop has a slope to test the boots on.
Cotswolds have let me walk round the shop for 30 minutes to be sure a boot has fitted before I bought them.
Unless you are lucky you are unlikely to get the perfect boot first time. After a long day out your feet will swell so you don't want them too tight, but too loose and they'll rub or your toes will bang against the end. I'm lucky boot wise despite being female I have a perfect size 8 male fitting.
Walks in Britain generally only require a lighter boot I have used Meindl (can't remember whether borneo or burma) for years but for winter stuff and scrambling I have a pair of La Sportiva Trango which are slightly stiffer and will take a 12 point crampon (not suitable for ice climbing though). These are still not classed as winter boots, my point being unless you are doing anything serious you generally don't need 4 season boots 2-3 season boot will be fine.
At the end of the day buy a decent pair of socks and the boots that feel the most comfortable when you put them on. I wear the same loop stitched socks all year round. Anything even slightly uncomfortable in the shop is likely to become a problem on the hill.
Ensure you use a reputable outdoor and boot retailer. Be prepared to spend some time trying different boots on, using the ramp to check the fit.
Don't worry about the different size feet, we all have one foot slightly larger than the other.
Also, when trying new boots, find a pair od socks that are comfortable, stick with them, because even different socks can have an impact on boot fit comfort.
It took me about four weeks visiting the same outdoor shop, trying on different boots, even when I felt I'd found the most comfortable fit, I still tried others on to be sure.
Another tip, if you can avoid weekends or busy times when sahopping for boots, go during the week when the shop should be quieter, you'll get a more individual service and the assistant won't be trying to look after too many customers at once.
If you get good service, but the boots can be bought cheaper elsewhere, its your decision, but I stayed with the shop, bought the boots and since then, though it was a good few years ago, I've built up an extremly good raport with the staff and managers there, who make sure I get the level of service, no matter what I expect without question.
Good luck and remember, there is no second best with boots. I also feel that applies with rucksacks and many other items of kit.
If you liked the Meindl's have a look at Scarpa's, I liked them but went for the Burma pro's as they were slightly wider for me. There are various things that can be done to dial in the fitting, I have custom orthotics in mine, and volume adjusters can help.
I also use a different lacing system to tighten up across the instep but reduce, to some extent, pressure higher up. I sometimes change the lacing slightly when doing long down hill sections to secure the foot a bit better.
I'm sure some boots must get returned because the purchaser has found them not to be comfortable for what they need.
So some of the larger stores, like Cotswold, Go-outdoors and others, may do something where any boots returned very soon after purchase, but not resellable as new because they have been worn outside a few times, are sold on as seconds or used.
Regarding boot comfort, I found my Scarpa SL's to be the best fit and still getting a lot of comfy use and wear out of them.
As far as I'm aware with shops like Cotswold and Go if you wear them outside that's it unless they're faulty.
I'd have thought you'd be better off finding a comfortable pair of shoes or boots and wearing them in yourself, smithy, presumably you'll be doing some training walks?
FT - sound advice above. I, too, have one foot half a size bigger than the other. I get boots/shoes to fit my bigger foot. As for Kilimanjaro - lightweight boots or shoes would be suitable - summit day can be cold when you are probably starting out around midnight.
OK, guys - thanks for all the advice, it is really appreciated.
I think I am going to go with the larger size boots that fit my longer foot and find some way to reduce the extra width/space (either using a better lacing system and/or footbed, if really needed).
If the lighter boots would be suitable for Kilimanjaro, then I may just get the Hi Tecs, as I'm not flush with cash at the moment.
I will be the one to ask why boots? A large percentage of walkers are now in approach shoes or running shoes. If the answer is I carry a heavy back pack I would think about that as well.
On fitting my top learned tip is to take out the inner sole and put your feet on them-should at least a quarter inch space all round.
Use the shop slope.
If you are on multi week walk your foot muscles will grow and spread and your shoe size will increase by at least a size
I did not know my shoe size would increase with more walking, but your logic seems sound.
I guess I thought boots, as they would be better in wet/snowy/cold conditions, but you are right - I did not really consider shoes at all. Will the soles on shoes offer enough stiffness for walking over stony/rocky ground? What shoes would you initially suggest I look at?
The main thing to think about with shoes is ankle support, whilst they suit many people there are also equally as many who find they do not provide enough stability. If you are fairly new to walking I would recommend boots until you've worked out how you cope with uneven ground.
Fat Tony, as has been said most of us have funny feet and I have taken hours / days / weeks to find a pair that I really like. I climbed Kili in a pair of low ankle lightweight goretex boots and they were great, and we summited in an ice blizzard.
Boots are generally better at keeping the snow / rain / bog water / scree off your socks / feet, but its a marginal call to be honest.
Get something that fits you and you are comfortable in, preferably lightweight as there are a lot of new lightweights around at the moment, and if the Hi Tech fit you then go for it.
i think there is litte actiual ankle support given by something around your ankle. the support is provided by the sole and heel cup. the main difference between a b0, b1 and b2 boot is in the stiffness of the sole and not what goes about the ankle.
running and walking shoes offer good ankle support.
the main comfort is personal preference and that boots can protect your ankels from being bashed against rocks.
if you want "support" about the ankles you could wear shoes and a "support" bandage for the same feeling.
i've come to this conclusion after a bored afternoon trying all my various footwear on with different lacing and with no laces. i found no difference in trying to turn my ankle over between shoes and boots. the differences were in how good the sole/heel cup configuration was which makes getting footwear that fits well even more important and knowing ow to lace to keep your heel in place.
the american military found no difference in injury rates (an injury that stops you moving type injury like sprains) using shoes and boots. they found boots actually reduced mobility in an obstacle course. naturally, the military's use of boots is different to ours as they are there to protect the foot and lower leg.
That's really interesting, Parky Again. What does b0, b1 and b2 mean?
When Pandas go Bad - Thanks for that. I think I'm going to stick with the Hi Tec boots as they seemed comfortable, light and they were relatively cheap so if they end up being the wrong boot, then I will not have lost a huge investment.
the b ratings are stiffness of the shank running through the sole, or not, if there is no shank - the reason for having stiffer boots is partly to provide support for your foot on uneven ground but also to take crampons for various degrees of walking / climbing.
b0 = little or no shank, all the way up in increasing shank length to b3 = longer shank hardly any flex so you can balance on a small ledge or crampon point with your whole foot rather than just your toe
The 'b' rating is not just for crampon use, a stiffer boot makes walking on snow easier all round, kicking steps etc. My boots are on the soft side of 3 season and I find that using them on their own in snow is tiring whereas attaching flexible crampons stiffens the whole thing up, which is much better. I am often the first to 'crampon up' because I find it easier. Having said that I know of folk that just use trail shoes in snow, each to his own.
I think you will be a very lucky guy to find the right solution from day one, I dread to think how much I have spent over the years on footwear, some more successfull than others!
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