How to Buy Boots

Wondering what hiking boots to buy, like my friend Juan? So is everyone else.

And if you’re like Juan, you only have two minutes to read this blog.

So I won’t waste your time telling you how many hours I trained and worked as a boot fitter. I’ll just cut to the chase.

For any given use, the only thing that really matters about a good pair of boots is whether it fits your foot. And when I say fits your foot, I mean fits like a glove.

Everything else is icing on the cake.

So here’s my foolproof method for buying hiking boots. It works just as well for riding boots, running shoes or ski boots.

1. Take your favorite pair of socks on a late afternoon date to your local outfitter. (Don’t go in the morning. Human feet swell appreciably during the day. Sock feet, not so much.) Look for the teeming hordes of dazed, confused and overwhelmed customers, and you know you’ve found the footwear display.
2. Locate the specialty footbeds. Also known as premium insoles. Here’s an example from Superfeet, which are in most of my boots. Their purpose is to stabilize your foot every stride. Little known fact, but a stable heel strike is what really provides “ankle support.” And footwear manufacturers rarely sell boots with decent footbeds. The lone exceptions in my closet are my Ariat barn boots. But I digress. 
3. Match your foot size and stabilization needs (light/stiff/insulated etc.) to a pair on the rack. Buy that pair and return to the footwear section. You’re $30 poorer, but you’ve just made the most important investment in the health and comfort of your feet. 
4. Now start choosing models that appeal to you, for whatever reason. Looks, price, features, whatever. You’d be surprised how many people’s eyes go straight for the laces. 
5. Remove the factory insoles before trying them on. Replace them with your new insoles. If your new insoles don’t fit perfectly, don’t worry. The boot fitter will explain later how to trim them to fit your new boots.  
6. As you lace up, you should already be getting that magic “fits like a glove” feeling. When you stand up in the right pair, you should feel like these boots were made for your feet. It won’t matter how light or heavy they are, how supple or stiff, whether they protect your ankle or not, or whether they are lined or unlined, waterproof or mesh. You’ll just know that these feel right. 

Keep trying boots on until you get this feeling. If you and poor sock aren’t feeling the love, try a different outfitter.

Have faith. It’ll happen. It’s all in the fit.

“But they should be Gore Tex, right?”

Don’t worry about waterproof. Boots get wet from the inside, too, and the Gore Tex laminate is one of the worst offenders. When you cross a river, your feet get wet. Just walk them dry. It’s pretty simple.

“But what about problems with shoddy construction?”

People ask me this all the time. Fact is, most boots sold at specialty outdoor retailers are quite well made these days. If they delaminate or blow out, the shoemaker will probably replace them with a smile. Skeptics, keep your sales receipt.

So just get out there in your new boots and have fun. Juan, this means you!