Горный туризм

A boot has to fit – everybody knows that if boots fit perfectly, they contribute greatly to the fun and enjoyment of a hiking or mountain trekking tour – and fit they don't fit, they can spoil your enjoyment. Here are a couple of tips about how to proberly try on new boots and break them in.

Your first step toward new boots takes you into a specialist shop or department. Only there will you find someone with the necessary know-how to provide you with the best advice and who offers a wide selection of differing models in all sizes. Your feet are smaller in the morning, so it is best if you shop for shoes in the afternoon, because your feet expand over the course of the day. They swell slightly – just like on a hiking tour. In addition, you should know what terrain the various kinds of boots are best suited to (see product caterories). Once you know what kind of boots you’ll need, the search is on. Our production director Lukas Meindl is also responsible for Meindl’s product development. He spends a lot of time out hiking himself, and here he explains what you should consider:

TRYING ON AND BREAKING IN TREKKING BOOTS FITS WELL AND SUPPORTS

Socks: Use the same socks that you’ll be wearing on the tour with you when shopping for boots. Functional socks are best – especially with GORE-TEX® boots – since they guarantee an optimal environment for your feet. Important: socks of varying thickness make a big difference, not only regarding a boot volume, but also regarding its length. If you don’t have tour-suitable socks, then ask for them when you try on new boots. Better still buy the proper socks with your new boots. If you wear orthopedic insoles, you should take them along whenever you shop for boots and try everything on with the insoles inside.

Boot Laces (2a): The first rule is to put the boot on “properly”: Press your heel into the back of the boot, centre the tongue, then lace the boots up. Make sure to observe the 2-zone lacing principle (2b). When hiking uphill, lace the lower zone tightly, up to the locking hooks, and leave the upper above it somewhat looser – to increase your agility. When hiking downhill, lace the upper tighter, especially around the flex point (DiGAfix®), in order to stop your foot from sliding forward within the boot.

Check the fit: Is your heel well stabilized? Are you standing well in the boots? Does the boot fit in terms of its volume? Do your toes have enough room? The rule of thumb is: in a well-fitting boot, the foot has approximstely 1 cm of extra space at the toe. Boots are often purchased a size too small. Is there pressure anywhere? A boot can be widened if necessary, or it can perhaps adjust itself during the breaking-in period – but it can never be lengthened! On the other hand, boots that are too large, and particularly boots that are too wide, aren’t good either.

Size: don’t insist on your presumed boot size. Try alternative sizes on! There are no absolutes regarding boot sizes. Your feet are smaller in the morning. And besides, as you age, the muscles slacken, the arch diminishes and the foot becomes longer and broader, i.e. larger. If in doubt, buy the larger boot. You’ll then have more room for thicker socks – especially in the winter – and this will compensate for any additional width.

Uphill test hike: always try on both boots and use the shop’s testing area. Above all take your time. The boot that apparently fits should remain on your foot for a minimum of 10 minutes, because the leather and interior warm up and mold to your foot. When walking uphill, it’s the fit of the heel that matters, and you can regulate that with proper lacing. Your feet need a little free space, but if you’re slipping back and forth, you’ll be prone to blisters.

Downhill test hike: Lace the shoes tightly, especially near the toe and over your instep. Take special care that your toes are not bumping into the front of the boot. The more difficult the terrain you’re walking in, the stiffer and more laterally stable your boots must be. You can test this in the shop’s testing area as well. If in doubt, Lukas Meindl recommends you buy the stiffer boot. In time boots become more flexible and a stable boot noticably supports your muscles, preventing not only fatigue, but also pain in the soles of your feet.

Once you’ve found your “dream boots”, you’ll look forward to your first hiking tour in them. That used to mean “blisters on blisters”. Fortunately, today’s boots are much more comfortable. Managing director Alfons Meindl nevertheless recommends that you break in your new boots before your first long tour: “Every boot needs a certain amount of time to adapt itself to the wearer.” The heavier the boots, the more important it is to break them in. But unlike hiking boots in the past, you can usually break in today’s models much faster and without blisters, even the heaviest boots.

Tips on how to break in new boot:

ü  Wear the right socks, even during the breaking-in period.

ü  It’s important that the tongue is correctly positioned from the very first time you wear the boots: it should be centred in the middle and well laced in! Don’t allow the tongue to slip to one side especially when you first wear the boots or it will stay there permanently!

ü  Lace the boot “correctly”, but not too tightly at the top during the breaking-in period. You can divide the lacing into zones using the locking hooks.

ü  Lace the upper hooks from top to bottom, so the laces come together at the bottom. This lacing method is easier and offers more freedom of movement with the same degree of stability.

ü  If you want to be on the safe side, wear your boots around the house first, then on walks or on shorter tours before you take on your “personal Everest”.

ü  If they still “pinch” a bit, just walk through dewy grass. The moisture softens the leather and it molds itself more quickly. Concerning the width, your shoemaker can also help if necessary.

As soon as you feel good in your “new skin”, you can embark on your great expedition. But since no one is so thick-skinned that they never get blisters, etc., it doesn’t hurt to carry some anti-blister bandages just in case (e.g. “Compeed”, available at your chemist).
So, have fun, wherever your legs may carry you!