Your Grisport Guide On How To Fit Walking Boots

Have you made a New Years resolution that you would like to accomplish throughout 2020? Many people find that a brand new year is the perfect dawn to kick-start the desired hobby that they have put off for so long, improve their health or set themselves a fitness challenge.

But it is one thing yourself this new goal, and it is another trying to stick to it. However, one way that can help you see a goal through and ensure that you get as much enjoyment as possible is by kitting yourself out with the right gear. If your 2020 resolution is to walk long distance and get involved in local hikes, then the first and most essential product that you should consider investing in should be a good, sturdy pair of walking boots. 

Walking boots can often be a costly investment for you to make, therefore it is essential that you do your research to have a rough idea of what brand you would prefer to invest in, what style and features are compatible to support your activity and that they fit exactly how they should. Check out our Grisport guide on how to fit the perfect walking boot…

Your Grisport Guide: How To Fit Walking Boots

Preparation is key

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail, right? Before you try on your first pair of walking boots, there are a handful of top tips that you should prepare in order to ensure that your experience of finding the perfect pair is not limited.

1. The Time of Day – Have you ever bought a new pair of shoes that you tried on in-store to then get them home and find that they are super uncomfortable? Ask yourself what time of day you tried those shoes on in-store.  The later in the day that you try on, the warmer your feet are and therefore the more naturally swollen they will be. This is not the best time to try such a costly investment and something that you will be spending long hours of the day wearing throughout different conditions, so it is important to bear this in mind.
2. Try on with a pair of Walking Socks – It is important to consider what you will be wearing alongside your walking boots when you initially try them on. Therefore we always advise that when you try your chosen pair on, that you try them on with a pair of walking socks. There’s not much point trying them on barefoot or with thin trainer socks on as you wouldn’t go for a long hike that way, would you? A good pair of walking socks will ensure that you get the correct fit of the boot and increase comfort.
3. Insoles – It is also important to remember to consider any footbed features. For example, if you require extra foot support, will your chosen boot support this or be suitable? If you require orthotic insoles you may need to try your boots on with these. 
4. Maintain your toenails – Long toenails are going to make your boot fitting experience extremely uncomfortable, so be sure to trim your toenails prior! 
5. Try both boots on – This may sound obvious, but many do actually forget to try both boots on before purchasing a pair, to result in getting home and one not fitting quite right. Naturally, your feet can be slightly different sizing to each other, with one being slightly bigger than the other. So be sure to try both on! 

The Grisport Step By Step Guide

There are four key steps to making sure that you have got the perfect fit for your walking boots. Once you have chosen your preferred style, put your feet into both boots with your appropriate walking socks on and spread your toes before you lace up. This will ensure that your feet can move freely inside the boot, and that you have enough room for comfort. 

1. Finger test – Push your toes to the front of the boot and place your index down the back of your foot. If you can do this freely, then you have most likely got enough room to allow your toes to move comfortably without the boot slipping off. 
2. Test for sore spots – Although we mentioned earlier to always try your walking boots on with your preferred walking socks, for this step, it can be useful to try your boot on barefoot in order to get a real feel for any sore spots of the boot and detect where they may rub. 
3. Get your measurements – This will accurately measure the following dimensions of your walking boot:

• Width
• Length
• Arch 

4. It’s all in the lace-up – The way you lace your walking boots can affect the fit and comfort. Lace your boot from the bottom, taking the lace around your heel lock to prevent your heel from lifting. Try rolling forward onto the balls of your feet and walk around the room to judge the feel and level of comfort. 

Improvements you can make to the fit of your Walking Boots

There are many things that you can do to help to increase and improve the comfort that you feel in your waking boots over time, for example: 

Invest in insoles – A good, comfortable pair of insoles can increase the fit and wear of your walking boots over time. It is important to remember that your walking boots are indeed an investment, especially for a good pair that will be suitable for long trains, therefore rather than replacing the entire style once the footbed feels like it needs to be replaced, invest in a soft but secure pair of insoles instead. There are many styles that you can choose from, at a very affordable price from moulded to shock absorption. 

Change your laces – Don’t wait until your laces snap before you replace them. Over time your laces will stretch and become worn with frequent wear, therefore may not provide the best support fit for your comfort. New laces will bring back friction and provide a sturdy and secure fit on your foot. 

Break them in – Remember when your parents would take you shopping for your new school shoes, and you had to spend days wearing them around the house to ‘break them in’? Well this is similar. Wear your boots as much as you can around the house to test their comfort before you take them out. 

With boots that are made from hard materials, moisture can help to make them more flexible. A short walk in damp grass could help, however, be sure to let them dry naturally and you will find the mould to your foot shape will have started to take place!

Top Tip: Be sure to purchase your new walking boots a few weeks before you take them out for their first trip. This will allow you extra time to break them in and avoid your highly anticipated trail being ruined by sore feet! 

Shop Grisport Walking Boots Today…

Are you in the market for a new pair of walking boots? Why not take a look at our range here at Grisport? We have a wide range of styles and price points alongside a trusted Size Guide for men’s walking boots, ladies walking boots and children’s walking boots.