Is it true that it's better to have hiking boots that are a little too big for your feet? Mine are a little too big (in other words, they feel quite roomy in the toe area, not in length so much, just in the height.)
I heard it's better so you can pack it with socks etc and less chance of blisters.
What's the golden rules of boots??
neeky
1
exhale
I think its okey if you have a little space left in your toe area. While walking downhill you need that space for the movments .
2
daveontrek
The extra space in your boot is essential for down hill walking. If your toes are right up to the front of the boot, they are likely to get very painful after any distance where you go down hill.
Also, feet can swell during the day especially during the afternoon and after doing some walking so again the extra room in your boot can be useful.
On the other hand you don’t want it to be so roomy that you feet move too much and you don’t then get the benefit of the boot providing support and control.
Good boots make all the difference when walking in rough terrain.
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My images from treks in Nepal and Sikkim
3
trendytramp
Hello neeky,i follow the 50 mile rule,wear them around the house and when you do your usual everyday things before your trip,after a little time you will know if your boots are ok,the right footwear and how they fit are essential when hiking.there is nothing worse than blisters and crippled feet halfway through a journey,especially when in the midle of no where,hope this helps a bit.
4
harju
The problem I find with boots that are slightly too big is that your foot moves around a little bit more and you lose some support and control plus I find the movement builds up more friction and you get hotter, uncomfortable feet. I base this on my recent experience where I exchanged a pair of boots for 1/2 size smaller. My toes still had room on the downhills and the boots were a lot more comfortable and nimble.
5
smm
Put your boots on, find a steep down hill (it only needs to be a meter or two long), and walk down it. Step heavily like you would while wearing a pack. If your toes hit the ends of the boots, get another pair. If your toes are hitting the end, they'll bruise. You can lose your toenails.
If your foot is sliding around in general, you can get blisters. Your boots may not support you well over uneven terrain.
You can use alternative lacing patterns to keep your feet from sliding forward. Experiment. Someone at your local outdoors shop might be able to show you.
6
travelgirlusa
My boots are a little too big too, but that suits me really well. I wear sweat transportable inner socks and outer socks of wool (to suck up the moist) and kick of the boots during lunch break. Change socks might be nice and they will dry off hanging on a string in the tent during night...
2 good advices:
When going downhill: Tie your boots really thight from toes to ankles and there on one pair of the "shoenails" do the lacing reverse. By this I mean you tie it from topside and downwards. This will lock the shoelace and you can make it more loose in the top. better comfort and less bruiced feet. You dont want the bruices. They are nasty.
In farmacies in Denmark you can buy a sort of artificial cotton called "Artiflex" and also know as "angel skin". Cant say for other countries... You pic of a piece from the roll and put it under the sock where you usually get blisters for example on the heel. The trick is that you dont need sport tape(/bandaid) to hold it and your feet wont disintegrate the moist.
It is inexpensive and it saved my feet loads of times!
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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