Making mistakes is common in this world, and when it comes to something like choosing big or unfit hiking boots then it’s very common. The most common cases are with big hiking boots because people buy big boots because they don’t know how big is good, on the other hand, analyzing the small boot is way easy because you simply get uncomfortable and your boot doesn’t fit. So, today we cover how to tell if your hiking boots are too big?
How to tell if hiking boots are too big?
Heel cups are sliding more
The reason that makes a hiking boot big for you is the heels are sliding more than average. If your heels are lifting or sliding at every step of walking then it is a sign that your hiking boots are big. But don’t consider the little sliding an issue, it is good if your heels are comfortable and move with the movement of boots.
Sides of boots don’t fit
The side front of your foot is the widest area of the foot, if your foot is not touching the shoes from the right then it is a sign that the boot is big enough for you. But make sure that the foot is not pushing the boot from the side because that will create a curl in your foot or cause foot squizzing which is an uncomfortable, intolerable, and non-stable movement of feet on high altitude incline trails.
Toe- shoe end space
Hiking boots are usually made of very thick material and sometimes we get confused about the size or toe space in the front. The sign that shows your hiking boots are big is if the distance between your toe and shoes inner wall is more than 1 cm. You can check this by placing your finger on the boot and check your foot thumb, now if the distance is more than your finger width then those boots are big for you.
No ankle support
Big hiking boots prevent or limiting the boots to provide ankle support. No ankle support will cause less movement of ankles up and down and in some cases, you may feel pain in your lower legs and ankle joint.
You are getting less grip
If you are wearing a new hiking boot and you get less soal grip on the incline or lain surface then that’s a sign that you are wearing a bigger size. Not only that but in some way you also find yourself pushing hard on boots to find the grip.
You are getting foot blisters
Foot blisters are common and the major reason for these is unfitted shoes. Blisters are fluid-filled bubbles that are caused due to too loose or too tight shoes. The foot sliding up and back causes rubbing against the shoes which creates friction which in turn leads to blisters. If you are pairing up your hiking boots the first time then there is a high chance of getting blisters but that is common, but if you are getting blisters again and again that that is a sign that your hiking boots are big or small.
Less stability on rough areas
When walking uphill or on a rough surface you find no stability in your boots than that’s a sign that your shoes are too big. Big boots make your foot move here and there on the rough surface thus cause the imbalance. Walking on high altitude rocky trail in big hiking can become dangerous because you lose stability, and perfect grip which is the most important factor in hiking boots.
Pain in toes when walking downhill
Pain in toes is one common issue that can be caused because of too big or too small boots. If your hiking boots are big then the toe of your feet will hit the wall of the boot again and again, which will cause toe pain. Pain in toes is usually common when you walk downhill because of unfit boots.
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Can I do anything for big hiking boots?
If you bought big hiking boots than don’t worry, there are some ways to make them fit for your feet, but before, making this sure I must say that these options are not the full solution for that but if you are not a hiker or hiking is not your profession and you just go once or twice for hiking then you can use these option. But still, if you can I recommend changing your boots and get the perfect fit for yourself. In case you don’t know how to select the right pair of hiking boots don’t worry below is full information on how to select the right fitting pair of hiking boots.
- First is to place foam or pads in your boots. This may or may not work for you but you can give it a try.
- Try to wear double-thick long socks, this will cover up a lot of space inside the boot. This doesn’t work if the boot is too big.
How to choose the right fitting hiking boots?
Measure your foot size after
Measure your foot size accurately. To do so first walk for a few minutes and then measure the size of your every foot by placing your one foot on plane paper and marking its border with chalk or pen. Now do the same for the other feet. You may know the size of your foot but still, you need accurate measurements because 1 cm can make the difference in making any hiking boot uncomfortable on incline trails.
First, know the brand size
After you have measured your foot size. Now, you should know the brand size if you are buying boots from an online store because all brands have different measurements for specific no. In my recommendation, if you are buying for the first time, you should buy directly from the store to get the right fit. If you already know about the brand and already have their shoes then buying online is not a risk.
Do fitting experiment
The fitting experiment is very important in hiking boots to check the stability and comfortability of the boot. There are a few things you should look for when you are selecting hiking boots.
- First, try shoes on both feet because sometimes one foot has a bigger number than the other. So, always make your choice after looking and analyzing both feet.
- Check the heel gap from behind. This is very important, you have to check the space left behind your heel in the boot. To test this, stand on your toes and see if the hells are lifting up. If it is lifting all the way up then the shoes are too big, But you have to make sure that there is at least some space left behind for foot movement. Avoid boots with heel space that makes your heel lift up because this causes rubbing and thus leads to blisters.
- Check the toe length. If the toe length of the boot is more than 1 cm then it is big for you. You also don’t need a boot that touches your toe because that will lead to pain in your toes and a sign of tight hiking boots.
- Check the sides of your boots. While selecting the perfect fit, you should also make sure that the sides of your shoes are not so tight that makes the foot curl or squash.
