Mountain Logic™ Guides Mountain Footwear | Page 8

Mountaineering Boot Fit How a boot fits is without question the most important factor of boot selection. While trekking boots and hiking shoes should fit the same as your street shoes, general and high alpine mountaineering boots are fit a little differently. A good fit correctly addresses the three dimensions of your foot:

1) Length - Toes should wiggle easily inside the footwear. If you have hammertoes or some kind of toe sensitivity such as a neuroma, pay special attention to choosing a boot with the right length (depth) for your foot.

2) Width - Feet should not slide around inside footwear; nor should they be compressed from side to side.

3) Volume - The "bulk" of your foot should fit securely inside a boot’s interior. Matching the volume of a boot to your foot is the most critical part of getting a good fit. It has everything to do with controlling heel slip (blisters) and toe bang on downhill hiking (black toenails). When a boot fits properly it should feel like a big hand is holding your foot over the instep where the laces are. Your foot should feel very “quiet” in the boot as you walk.

“The fit should be roomy in the toe box -– this lets your toes stay warmer. Make sure there's enough length so that your toes don't jam forward on long descents, but not so much that your heels slide up and down, causing blisters. Also make sure to size the boots to allow room for the thicker socks that you'll wear.” -Ed Viesturs

Break In Period Be sure to test out your boots and break them in before you head out on a climb. Take them out as much as you can on short hikes and hills. This is where you will notice awkward pressure points and hot spots. Wear the same sock combination you plan to wear on your climb. The more time you log in your boots in conditions similar to what you will find on your climb (hills, trails, snow) the more comfortable you will be on the mountain.

WATCH: Shin Bang with Peter Whittaker, Melissa Arnot and Ed Viesturs

mountain. If you can't get to these surfaces near your house wear you boots wherever you can - streets, a local track, stadium stairs - everything helps you get used to them. Just be cautious, on hard ground the rigid sole of a climbing boot may cause more blisters or pain than when used on softer surfaces.

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