How to fit your hiking boots

[@xBobby]

By far the best mountain boot purchasing guide on KZbin

[@OutsideHathersage]

Thank you! 😊

[@OverlandTT]

@@OutsideHathersagethe store is fantastic. Not been out that way since my partner passed four years ago.

[@horbulewicz]

It is such a comprehensive, understandable, passionate and simply very practical tutorial. Thank you.

[@OutsideHathersage]

Very kind if you to say. Thank you 😁

[@marcosmonteiro2091]

I believe it's my first ever comment on a video in somewhat 20 years of youtube .... Thank you!

[@OutsideHathersage]

You're very welcome - to the information and to the comments section!

[@GT-fx8fd]

Didn't just find out how to fit my boots but got life advice found within fitting boots. Outstanding stuff haha. Cheers for the vid and thanks for the effort putting out QUALITY and HONEST content to help people. Much love.

[@chrisjackson3587]

i must thank you for this video. after 15 years it was time for a new pair of boots, and i spoiled myself with an expensive pair of lowas. everything about the boot was perfect, except for a tiny bit of heel lift that i couldnt rectify. your third tip for the 'more difficult' cases worked a charm on me and my boots. they fit tremendously. with the lacing technique shown here i cant even get my heel out of the heel cup if i try to, and the boot is free to do its job and feel snug and comfortable. i would surely visit your shop, however i live across the pond in Canada so it is unlikely i will be able to pop by for a quick visit. but please accept my deepest thanks for taking the time to make this video, you made an almost perfect pair of boots into a perfect pair of boots. i really appreciate it. thank you.

[@OutsideHathersage]

So glad we were able to help - hope your new boots give you another happy 15 years!

[@SolidGoldHedgehog]

Dude, I'm in the same boat. I've been in a rising panic since buying my otherwise great, but €€€ Lowa Santiagos. Tried putting a spare insole I had lying around in, and I'm still slipping. Tried wearing thicker socks, still slipping. Tried putting in a thicker insole, and I'm still slipping, and now squishing my toes. Been trying to tie my laces so tightly I'll totally crease the leather upper and deform the instep area. Nearly at my wit's-end.But these tips, and in particular the third give me a bit of hope. Will have to try and see.I think they might still be a bit too big, but as long as the heel gets snugly locked in place and my feet don't slip, and aren't swimming, a bit more volume shouldn't be an issue. And could help with breathability, and give me extra room for when temps really plunge. I hadn't thought of arch supports, but it's an interesting idea. Makes sense too. I was also worrying that the mere fact I was needing insoles was a sign they're too big; hopefully that's unfounded, and using insoles is not per-se bad. Will report back.

[@petercollins7848]

Absolutely brilliant video, particularly the lacing options. I have used an alternative lacing system for years and have never had a problem with my boots.

[@OutsideHathersage]

@@petercollins7848 thank you 😊

[@Sool101]

You made a brilliant point about 'finding faults' and over thinking it. I made an investment in a pair of really really nice boots and of course, they weren't all that after all. But after some really minor adjustments and a lot of walking in, they have now become so well adjusted and they fit so incredibly well, I can throw anything at them in almost any environment and my feet hardly ever feel very tired. Can't keep them off my feet. So indeed, don't over think. Boots can take time to walk in, even when the leather feels nice and soft, it takes time.

[@zachmiller9175]

The two big eureka moments for me in terms of boot comfort were liners and leather laces, on super padded boots it's not as much of an issue but I've been wearing Jim green African rangers lately and leather laces let you get them really good and tight, more securely holds that pressure in each individual row of lacing without slipping through the eyelets, and very significantly reduces the amount of pressure the laces put on the top of the foot. Finding quality leather laces can be kind of hard though, I get mine from Nick's, a custom boot maker over herre in the US who source some really top quality leather laces.

[@worldtoday9244]

I had to put in my Scarpa Delta, volume reducers and also in tongue depresors. I got bigger laces 210cm. I tied around the ankle of the boot. Breaking the boots in, soften leather had all helped.

[@danceswithbadgers]

Old-school liner plus two for me, mainly because my feet are very low volume and flap around inside boots otherwise. Size charts aren't much use as they all suggest from my foot length (with my sock setup) that I'm a 43 but I'm a 44 in some brands ands a 43 1/2 in others, so a 9 1/2 imperial. 43's are always too short. Volume reducers change the shape of the boot inside but leaving the internal width unaffected so more sock has been my favoured way of adjusting fit. The final fit solution is gel insoles, such as Alt-Berg's Svartz Absorber - much more forgiving than hard insoles like Superfeet and a more stable fit, particularly noticeable upon foot placement when jumping a ditch, say - again, stopping my feet from flapping/sliding around inside the boots. Conventional lacing, apart from doing the first knot the 'wrong' way round, which locks the first bow in place. The second bow is then really only taking up excess lace length rather than really being needed to secure the first.

[@jeffreyalmond7376]

Great video with good practical advice. Makes me want to buy a pair of boots just for the hell of it, but my missus says I’ve got enough 😢.

[@unclebob8419]

What a useful video. Thanks

[@karlford5782]

Hi there - can’t find the chart on your website as advertised?

[@beelzebub5286]

I will use the second lacing technikue on my new akkus

[@OutsideHathersage]

Hope it works 👍

[@nellatrab]

Nice work...thanks!

[@saswotdhakal4818]

Very informative clip...Thank you!

[@DB-me3jt]

Great lacing advise 👍@ 6:00

[@jamesblaser5329]

Good advice

[@MS_249]

Super helpfull video! Thank you.

[@OutsideHathersage]

Glad you liked it. Thank you 👍

[@wsiddiqi]

thank you - very helpful for me trying to figure out how to fit a mountaineering boot. Did anyone catch what he said in the end if the heel is still lifting - use a "volume reducer" or ?? What is a volume reducer? Never heard of this. Did he mean just cut down a sole into a small heel part and just slide that in?

[@OutsideHathersage]

You're on the right track - have a look at these www.outside.co.uk/sidas-volume-reducer-2mm-insole.html

[@MsDenver2]

Hi , I live in Wolverhampton, do you stock all the German boots and should I have a size bigger as I like to wear two pairs of socks?

[@OutsideHathersage]

@@MsDenver2 hiya, we do a few German brands. If adding an extra pair of socks you may need half a size higher, but as always we would recommend coming to try. If you measure your boot like in the video while wearing the socks we and let me know in cm I could make a guess at your size. We still recommend coming in for a full trial

[@bhargavjoshi8067]

What Model of Scarpa is shown in this video? Thanks.

[@OutsideHathersage]

It's the Scarpa Ranger.

[@paulhogger8126]

Which model Salomon boot are you using in the video please?

[@OutsideHathersage]

They are the mega popular Salomon X-ultra mid. Nice and light www.outside.co.uk/brands/p-s/salomon/salomon-x-ultra-4-mid-gtx-m.html

[@MsDenver2]

What’s your advice in keeping your feet warm ?

[@OutsideHathersage]

@@MsDenver2 I prefer 1 pair of well fitted thick socks but most important is to have space to wiggle your toes. Moving them is key to blood flow and dry air space around the toes is insulating. As long as not too movement else where in the boot. Hope this helps

[@MsDenver2]

It’s not easy , certainly a good start is a good pair of boots, I favour the German Hagwan with gortex , but there are many other good boots these days. Next I use a Marino base layer socks with the separate toes , these help keep your feet warm as the separate toes hold more heat in and your toes can move more freely. Then a thicker pair of Marino socks not separated toes for these , can I just say that I like 100% Marino for base socks and 87% for the thick socks. Good maintenance of boots is vital , spare socks and separate foot wear for sleeping if your camping. On my motorcycle I have heated socks gloves and base top , these can easily be used off the bike for hiking extremes. This is what I’ve never understood about climbers who have frost bite ? Why don’t they use heated socks and gloves etc . Yes they would have to carry batteries but the extra weight can be mitigated by using other much lighter gear? Well you could go on , of course the heated gear I’m talking about was not available just a few years ago but now it is ?

[@ColoradoGooner]

Thanks so much for the detailed video. Quick question, which boots are you using to demonstrate? I see scarpa but also altberg on the tongue. Are these not two brands?

[@OutsideHathersage]

Well spotted. One is the Altberg Tethera boot and one is the Scarpa Ranger. I hope this helps 👍

[@BODGE71]

Is it best to come as late in the day as possible/go for a walk first so that the feet swell before trying on boots?

[@DavidBrown-cb8qi]

I’m usually a size 41 in Scarpas . Should I order the same size in La sportiva. Some reports have said to order a half size bigger💁‍♂️

[@effectivemelody]

My wife bought a pair of Altberg Fremington Lights a few year ago from your shop. Your employee explained about how a boot should fit and selected a boot that he said was the correct size and assured her that was the size. After putting them on, She told your employee that they didn't feel right and they were hard and uncomfortable but he assured her they just needed wearing in. We trusted in his so called expertise and bought the boots.The boots did not wear in and were uncomfortable if not painful.She suffered years of pain with these boots. She recently took her boots to an outdoor shop in yorkshire who measured her feet and informed her that your boots were a size too small. Due to you selling her the wrong size she suffered years of foot pain.

[@OutsideHathersage]

I'm so sorry to hear that, we generally receive great feedback about fitting and Altberg. It apperears this time we have let you down and can't apologise enough. Please email the shop if you would like to discuss further. Thank you

[@effectivemelody]

@@OutsideHathersage Thank you for your reply- it has made me feel better. I'll leave it for now as we have given the boots away and the receipt is long lost and we now live 2 hours away from Hathersage. I will just put it down to experience. I love your shop and we used to LOVE coming to your cafe. I would still recommend your shop as I have bought many things there and the staff are very knowledgeable.

[@OutsideHathersage]

@@effectivemelody OK, thank you for your understanding. We hope we can help you in the future and thanks for your kind words. Happy walking

[@petercollins7848]

You waited ‘years’ to look into the problem? Sounds a bit odd!

[@syedatifhussainin]

What brand shoe is it at 4.30? And whats it called. Want to buy

[@OutsideHathersage]

It's the Scarpa Ranager, a total classic!

[@equadorthewizard1925]

Where is your shop please? I want to come in to get fitted

[@OutsideHathersage]

Hathersage in the Peak District, near Sheffield. Hooe you can come!

[@michaelnedsmar9106]

I walk around 40 miles a week , in Brashers ,that last me around 2 years , wearing them in 3 seasons , walking the dogs through fields ,forests as well as the beach , my last pair I bought were in a sale at £79 .( I never pay full price ) If I was to buy a pair of boots £200 plus , how much longer would they last .? How long would a

[@OutsideHathersage]

Unfortunately there are so many variables that this question is all but unanswerable! If you are anywhere near us, maybe come in and have a chat with one of our boot fitting experts and have a try on?

[@michaelnedsmar9106]

I buy 2nd hand, worn a few times Brashers boots , which I find come up a little small . As im a 12 and they dont make 13 I swop the insole for much slimmer ones. Problem solved !

[@soundknight]

Great information but the backing audio is WAY TOO LOUD. I couldn't hear you at times. It's called background music for a reason ;)

[@darkphotographer]

your system of measuring dose not work , measure foot 30 cm , and say is 47 , have be waring all my life 43-44

[@torqueofthedevil8145]

Who has a slope inside their house?

[@OutsideHathersage]

That's true! 🤣