Blisters will ruin a good day in the field or on the trail. While there are several ways to prevent blisters, sometimes it just comes down to the fit. Maybe your boots are too tight. Maybe they're too big. But how do we really know? It's not like there was ever a class offered on this in school.
Fortunately podiatrists did take that class (or something like it) and they do know.
According to Appalachian Foot & Ankle Associates, there are methods to picking the right shoe size.
- Buy shoes/boots in the afternoon, as feet tend to swell during the day.
- The space between your longest toe and the tip of your shoe should be a thumb's width apart.
- Choose a wide heel base and heel height should be no more than 1 1/2 inches.
- Remember to choose good arch support or buy inserts.
Podiatrist Tip: Outline your foot and bring it to the store. When you find the shoe or boot you like, turn it over and place your foot outline over the sole. The shoe should cover your outline. (You may look a bit odd, but blisters are serious business!) If you've got bunions, you'll want to consider soft leather shoes to stretch over the bunion.
Below is an informative video from National Outdoor Leadership School on finding the proper hiking boot fit.
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