Boot Lasting and Sizing
Quality boots are made on a simulated foot shaped mould called a 'Last'. Lasts come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different foot shapes. A critical point in sizing a last is the overall volume of the foot shape (not just the width). For example women tend in general to have more slender and lower volume feet than men. As a result the women's lasts we use have a lower overall volume - not just a narrower width.
Each foot has its own unique human characteristics and indeed any individuals right foot can differ considerably from their left. It is therefore impossible for a last to do any more than approximate an individual foot shape and a degree of customisation is needed for you to get a perfect fit. You should therefore be prepared for this at the time of purchase.
Socks
Correct preparation is a key component in getting comfortable performance from your boots. Socks are the 'software' that interfaces between the hardware (the boots) and your foot. Good socks can make a substantial difference to the fit and comfort of your boots. They can help cushion and protect the foot, aid good circulation, wick moisture away from the foot, help reduce blistering and help control temperature. Try to buy good performance socks such as Thorlo (www.thorlo.com) who have made the world's most extensive medical and scientific research into socks and foot health.
A few guidelines on what to look for in a good sock are:
- Get the right sock for the activity. Good socks today are specifically manufactured for specific sports and activities. Make sure that you find a sock that has been engineered for your sport/activity.
- Find a sock that uses the right blend of fibres to deliver the performance you want (e.g. Coolmax is great for wicking perspiration away whilst Thermastat is outstanding for keeping feet warm). Be wary of any brand that uses only one fibre. There is no single fibre that meets all performance needs.
- Look for a sock that has good cushioning in impact areas and which will act as a good interface between the foot and boot to minimise friction. In our view no manufacturer comes close to the dedicated work that Thorlo have made in this area of foot protection. Be wary of cotton or wool socks as they lack the resiliency to properly cushion the foot.
- Seek out a sock a with good moisture management capabilities. If possible try to use socks that wick moisture away (the foot puts out around 50ml of sweat per day) and moving this away from the foot will help your feet avoid blisters and fungal problems.
- Avoid all-wool or cotton socks as these fibres absorb moisture.|
- Check the quality of the knit - a good sock will normally be quite a smooth knit.
- Make sure there is good shaping to the sock - tube socks should be avoided in our view. Look specifically for socks that give differential shaping around the ankle, around the heel, have good arch elasticity.
- Check that the sock has good stretch and elasticity.
Socks are an ideal way of making small adjustments to the volume and fit of the boot so be prepared to experiment with combination and density of socks you use to get the best fit - but we believe that you should never wear more than two pairs (A liner and an outer sock). If you need more than two socks it is likely that you need to take the next boot size down.
| Initial Fitting of the Boot
The start point in fitting the boot is to ensure that you have the right size and remember that it is possible to customise the fit of a boot that is slightly too large but it is virtually impossible to do anything about a boot that is too small. If in doubt go for a size that is slightly large rather than one that is too small. Bear in mind that the critical size element is the length. Boots will often give or can be modified in width terms but it is virtually impossible to modify the length of a boot. When trying the boot on make sure you do so with your usual sock combination. You should also bear in mind the end use of the boot. For example if you are going to use your boots when you are likely to be carrying a heavy rucksack then this will alter the loading and shape of your foot. You should therefore try wearing the boots with a loaded sac on. Also boots used for the mountains will be used in an uphill and downhill mode. You should therefore simulate this when trying the boots on. An increasing number of specialist shops are now providing 'incline boards' for you to test boots on. The key points to bear in mind are that when testing the boots in a down hill mode, properly laced up, your toes should not be pushing against the front of the boots. Equally, there should not be as much of a finger width at the heel otherwise your boot volume is too large for you.
Lacing up the boot.
Even the best fitting boot will not give maximum performance unless it is correctly laced up. Correct lacing ensures that boot fits snugly and will prevent 'forward slip' of the foot in the boot and will reduce friction that could otherwise lead to blisters. When lacing the boot ensure that you start from the toe and gradually tension the lace between each set of hooks. Lace locks allow for the tension to be held over the fore foot whist giving a separate level of adjustment and tension around the ankle of the boot.
Be prepared to adjust your lacing as you go. It is common to find that as you need to re-tension the lacing after a short distance even in boots that have been well broken-in. Also the foot shape will adjust during the day with temperature, terrain and load carried.
Boot modifications
It is not uncommon to find that some modification to the boot is required to get an optimal fit. There are several ways to achieve this:
Footbeds
There are now a variety of high performance footbeds available to suit differing needs and with varying underfoot support levels. Scarpa offer a range of footbeds with which you can customise the fit of your boot. These include: Transpiration, High Support, Super Support and Thermo Support models.
Volume Adjusters
A Volume Adjuster which is a thin insert that can be added under the footbed can reduce the overall volume of the boot and can make up to a half size difference in fit.
Rubbing Bars
Some people have specific foot problems (e.g. swollen toe joints) which can cause problems when fitting new boots. It is worth knowing that boots can often be 'stretched' in specific areas to ease any painful rub points. Some specialist shops have rubbing bars specifically designed for this purpose. It is also possible to modify slightly heel and toe shapes to improve the fit of a boot. However this is a job best done by a trained boot fitter and we would recommend that it is done as a 'retro fit' adjustment.
Breaking Boots-In
As a general rule high performance hill and mountaineering boots are made from thicker leathers and have stiffer midsoles than do lower level walking boots. It is therefore essential to break-in higher performance boots. To do this you should start by wearing them for a short distance and progressively lengthen the walks that you do. Never be tempted to take new boots and go out for a long trip in them. Always break them in over time. It is often easier to prevent rubbing or blister problems. A piece of Elastoplast or Second Skin put on early will often prevent a blister forming. If a blister does occur in the breaking in process then there are now excellent treatments available of which Compeed is probably the best known. A good pair of boots correctly fitted will give you many miles of comfortable use but it is worth remembering that almost as much of the comfort lies in the fitting and adjustment of the boot as in the boots themselves. We hope this information is helpful to you and wish you years of comfortable use from your boots.
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