Gear Guides - Outdoor Outlet Footwear
A guide to the selection and fit of outdoor footwear
Boots can generally be divided into 3 broad categories -:
1) Lightweight Walking – Designed for shorter walks on easy terrain, manufacturers concentrate on “step-in” comfort and responsive cushioning.
2) Trek Footwear – When carrying rucksacks on multi-day trips it is essential that your footwear can support the additional weight and pressure. Enhanced durability and support means the user can tackle steep rugged terrain over long periods.
3) Mountain Footwear – Designed for extended trips or specialist activities in harsh environments. Such boots tend to be heavier and rigid being suitable for crampon use.
Please appreciate that different brands use different lasts (the 3 dimensional form that dictates the shape and volume of the footwear), furthermore the last is manipulated by manufacturers dependent upon proposed end use for each model hence you maybe a size 9 in a Karrimor KSB300 (Trek footwear) but a size 8.5 in a Karrimor Shuttle (Lightweight walking)..
Furthermore a ladies foot is inherently different in shape to a man’s so ensure the ladies walking footwear you select is constructed on a gender specific last. This is more likely to deliver a comfortable performance fit.
FACT: Your feet expand considerably during the day, wearing heavy loads can accelerate such expansion, so ensure your footwear is snug but ensure you can curl your toes without restriction.
TIP: Select and fit your boots later in the day to better mimic the foot swell that occurs naturally during the day.
Finding the Right Fit
Ensure the fit is comfortable, don’t worry about minor heel lift as when the boots break-in and mould to your foot this will decrease and ultimately disappear. Remember a boot that is too large can be adjusted with a thicker sock, volume reducer or footbed, but a boot that is too small will ultimately cause blisters and discomfort.
Even the way boots are laced can have a dramatic impact on fit.
Having purchased the footwear wear them inside for a couple of hours, if any discomfort is experienced return them to the store and we can try a different size, different model or both!
After Care
More footwear is damaged by rapid drying than any other single cause. After returning from your walk, remove the footbeds and stuff the wet footwear with newspaper. Allow the footwear to dry slowly in warm airy place away from any direct heat source. Regularly condition and re-proof your footwear, look after them and they’ll look after you – for longer!
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All outdoor activities are potentially dangerous. These article's offer guidelines only, every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.
If the reader follows any of the advice given then they accept personal responsibility for their actions. North North East LTD.