These Boots are Made for Walkin'

Photo Essay: Hiking the Andes with Mountain Lodges of Peru

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Finally it was time to actually try on some boots. I'd brought two pairs with me, neither of which had been worn much. To check the fit Phil used an incline board -- a 20 degree ramp -- something any good outdoor shop will have. While you stand on the incline board, the bootfitter checks heel fit and boot volume. Loose fabric around the ankle is a dead giveway that the volume is too high.

I first used the incline board without adding footbeds, volume adjusters or tongue depressors to my boots. The fitter stuck pieces of tape over the flex points of the boots and marked the exact flex point. The flex point of my foot (the head of the first metatarsal for the technically minded) was then marked as I faced uphill. It was almost the same as that of the boot.

Next I turned to face down the board and jumped up and down. The results were startling. The flex points of my feet were now an inch ahead of those of the boots and my toes were crammed into the front of the boots. If the boots had fitted properly my feet should hardly have moved at all. We fitted the boots with footbeds and volume adjusters and tried again. There was no difference."These boots just have too much volume for you," said Phil.

I tried the other pair and there was a marked change. I only slid forward an inch without any additions, and my feet hardly moved once they were in place. I had a pair of boots that fit. They felt a bit tight in the forefoot though. That's where the modification comes in, said Phil.

Modifying Boots

A boot that fits properly prevents your foot from moving inside it. To do this, however, it must fit closely, which means there are likely to be points where you can feel pressure on your feet. The temptation then is to go for a bigger boot. Loose-fitting boots may feel more comfortable but they won't support your feet very well. The solution is to manipulate the shape of the boot at those pressure points, which is done in number of ways:

1. The most basic is with a device invented by Bob Rose called a rubbing bar. The boot is placed over this bent metal rod and the blunt end is used to push out the leather at the pressure point. Only tiny modifications are needed to effect a surprisingly comfortable fit;
2. Using a rubbing bar and a convex hammer, a FitSystem bootfitter can flatten out lumps and protrusions inside the boot;
3. Toe boxes and heel counters can be altered by softening them in boiling water (inside a plastic bag) and then putting them on the rubbing bar. Phil Oren says that in one store that uses his Fitsystem, six out of every eight pairs of boots sold are modified.

Conclusion

I think Phil Oren's new and sophisticated way of fitting boots is an important and exciting development. Now there's no excuse for blisters, hammertoes and other foot maladies caused by ill-fitting boots. If you want to enjoy your walking more and avoid problems with feet and knees, it's worth seeking out stores that offer this service.