Hiking boots are a necessity for anyone who wants to take on the challenge of a strenuous hike. You must get the right size so your feet don’t slide around and cause potential blisters or worse! There are a few things to watch out for when trying hiking boots, from how they fit in length to how long it takes them to break in. Let’s explore how you can tell if your hiking boots are too big – and what you should do about it!
How to tell if hiking boots are too big
The main thing you want to check when fitting hiking boots is how comfortable they are. This may seem like a no-brainer, but how do you know how much pain you can stand in your feet? It’s a good idea to take on a short, easy hike the first time you wear them to make sure they feel right before committing to an arduous trek. Hiking boots should fit snugly without compressing any feet or toes and have ample breathing room around your ankles and heel.
Before buying new hiking boots online, check how high they come up on your leg: this will help assure that the height is what you need so that there is plenty of space for shin guards while not allowing for any slippage. If you are shopping at a local store, try on a variety of hiking boots with different pants and socks to get a good idea of how they fit with your ensemble. Ensure that the heels don’t slip to one side when standing or walking around, as this can create blisters and numbness in toes or even lead to an ankle sprain!
Your hiking boots must be stretchy without being overly tight: apparently, there is such thing as having too much room for circulation inside the boot – which may lead to frostbite during colder hikes! They should be easy enough to put on but not so loose as to cause blisters from friction on the skin.
One good way to test how much the boot will stretch is to check how easily you can slip a finger between your heel and the back of the shoe – this should take a little bit of force but not be so difficult that you’ll have trouble getting them on or taking them off after they’ve been broken in! If it takes excessive force, the boots may be too small; if there’s no room for your finger at all, they are probably too large.
How long it takes for them to break-in
It’s a good idea to take your shoes on a short, easy hike the first time you wear them to make sure they feel right before committing to an arduous trek. It can be especially frustrating if you have to spend hours of your time hiking through rough terrain only to find out that the boots are too big and your feet slide around inside.
When checking how much break-in time your boots will need, try to predict how long it will take for them to form around the contours of your feet. Do this by tracing how they are currently feeling with your fingers – how much give does there seem to be between the shoe and your toes? How stiff is the leather on top? If there is little give and stiffness, this might make the hiking boots too big for you.
If there is already a lot of giving and your feet are sliding around, it could indicate that they are too small! When you buy online, read how long buyers take to break in their hiking boots – this can be a good indicator of how long you will need to wait before they feel more comfortable.
How do I know when my new hiking boots are too big?
You’ll definitely want to check how comfortable your shoes are when buying new hiking boots. It’s a good idea to take them on a short hike first so you can see how well they fit with your outfit and try out how much breaking in time they’ll need as well as pinpoint how quickly blisters will form
How they fit in length
You want to make sure that your hiking boots are the right length. You don’t want them too long or too short as this will lead to the wrong kind of blisters – blisters on the top of the foot from sliding around in the shoe and blisters on the heel from not having enough space at the back of the shoe. Make sure you get a good idea of how much room they’re going to take up by wearing them with various pants and socks when shopping for them.
How tight they feel on your feet
If you have a hard time going through the motions of making your bed how well your hiking boots feel on your feet, it’s probably too small for you. The last thing you want is for your feet to be sliding around, which can lead to blistering and other painful conditions.
Make sure that they are easy enough to put on but not so loose that they cause friction injuries on the skin when they’re off. You can test how much the boot will stretch by how easy it was to slip your finger in between your heel and the back of the shoe. If it took excessive effort, they might be too small; if there’s no room for them at all, they are probably too large.
Remember that these aren’t sneakers…
While you may get used to wearing sneakers, they should not be considered equal in quality of support as hiking boots and other types of sturdy shoes that provide ankle support. Hiking boots provide far more stability than any sneaker can offer.
While sneakers can be comfortable when worn casually, they will invariably cause more injuries while engaging in physical activities or working outside. If you want to go hiking or backpacking with friends, it is important to wear proper footwear such as sturdy hiking boots instead of the trendy-looking sneakers that so many people are attracted to these days.
You will find you have more stability and a much safer foot if you wear quality hiking boots that are made of leather, as opposed to sneakers that can feel good on your feet when they’re new but may cause a blister or other injury after just a few hours of wear.
Summary
Buying new hiking boots can be a daunting task. It is important to know how they will feel on your feet and how much space you need for them, but the best way to find out how well they fit is by taking them on a short hike first.
You’ll want to wear them with different types of socks so that you have an idea how long it might take for break-in time before committing to more strenuous hikes or buying online where there may not be as many reviews about how quickly buyers broke in their boots.
When checking if the boot fits correctly, make sure that it’s easy enough to put on without being too loose but not so tight as when friction injuries occur from sliding around inside! Keep these tips in mind when you’re trying on your hiking boots before taking them out on the trail, and ensure a safe and comfortable experience for how long they will last.