Hiking boots are the connection between your feet and the uneven, often sharp, wet, dirty and wonderful outdoors. However, your bliss on the trail will quickly fade to pain if your boots do not fit correctly. Understanding the right way to fit hiking boots will keep you happy on the trail.
Size
Choose a boot that is the correct size for your foot. Use a Brannock device, the metal foot sizing tool found in most shoe stores, to accurately measure your foot. This size will help guide your hiking boot size selection. However, among different brands is variation in size conformity. Some brands fit small and some fit large. When your foot is in the boot there should be a finger width space at the toe of the boot when your heel is flush with the back of the boot. If you have wide or narrow feet, chose a boot that is designed accordingly.
Arch Support
One of the most underrated aspects of hiking boot fit is arch support. Very few people have perfect arches and even fewer have feet that perfectly match the arch support in a given hiking boot. If you have flat feet, consider purchasing after-market insoles that add support. Proper arch support will align your foot properly along the length of the boot, creating better fit for your entire foot, not just your arch.
Preparation
As you hike on the trail, your feet swell as the result of increased blood flow, heat and sometimes, increased altitude. This swelling is significant enough to alter the fit and size of your hiking boots. If you are considering new boots, take a long walk before you try them on in a store to mimic your foot's condition on the trail. Also, wear your normal hiking socks when trying on new boots. If you want to improve the fit of boots you already own, remember to re-adjust your laces and fit once you have warmed up on the trail.
Shopping
The best precaution you can take to ensure a good fit is to shop for boots in a hiking and outdoors store. Not only does this allow you to try on several pairs, it offers you the chance to talk to trained professionals about how each boot fits you. If you have to shop online, consider purchasing brands you have worn before. Purchase several pairs of boots of different sizes, sending back those that do not fit properly.
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