How to choose the right hiking boot size
When buying hiking boots, most mistakes happen with size selection
Even the finest hiking boot won’t live up to expectations if you pick the wrong size. For a stride that stays comfortable and relaxed over the long haul, pay close attention to fit and stability while trying boots on. Hiking boots need to fit just right — never too tight.
Golden rules for trying on boots
For a worry-free purchase and the right size, follow these steps:
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Try boots on in the afternoon or evening: Feet naturally swell slightly over the course of the day due to activity. Trying boots on in the evening means picking a size that will still fit comfortably on a longer mountain trip.
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Wear your hiking socks: Always try boots on with the socks you’ll actually wear on the trail — only then will you get an accurate feel for the fit inside the boot.
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Do the “one finger” test: Put the boot on and push your unlaced foot all the way forward to the tip. There should be enough room behind the heel for roughly the width of one index finger (about 1 cm).
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Check toe room with the boot laced: Once you’ve properly laced the boot, your toes shouldn’t touch the tip. This matters most for comfortable walking downhill.
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Make sure your foot stays stable: Under any load — standing, walking, or stepping downhill — your foot should stay stable and not shift or slide inside the boot. The heel, too, shouldn’t lift with each step.
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Trust your first impression: Pay attention to every small pressure point. If a boot pinches or feels tight anywhere in the store, it will feel far worse out on the trail.
Buying online? Measure your feet at home
- Place a blank sheet of paper on the floor against a wall. Stand on the paper so that your heels touch the wall.
- On the paper, mark where the big toe of your left foot ends and where the big toe of your right foot ends.
- Step off the paper and measure the distance from the edge of the paper to the marks you made for both toes.
- Check the size chart to see which shoe size corresponds to the length of your feet.
Note:
The size chart is for informational purposes only. Shoe size depends on the selected model and brand. Due to the specific characteristics of your feet, certain sizes and models may differ in comfort and may vary from one another. The size of your feet may differ from one another, so we recommend always measuring both feet and choosing the size that fits the larger foot.
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