How do I choose walking boots?

Matching the boot to the terrain, why fit beats every other consideration, and how to try them on properly.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 45 min
Read: 4 min

Short answer

Fit matters more than brand, material or price. Try boots on in the afternoon with the socks you will wear, kick the toe of the laced boot against a slope and check your toes do not touch, and buy for the terrain you actually walk rather than the terrain you aspire to.

Walking boots are one of the few purchases where an expensive pair that does not fit is much worse than a cheap pair that does. Almost every complaint about boots is a fit or a break-in problem.

Step by step

Work out what terrain you walk.Well-maintained paths and low hills need a light flexible boot or a trail shoe. Rough mountain ground and scree need stiffer soles and more support. Very stiff mountaineering boots are uncomfortable for ordinary walking.
Understand sole stiffness.A flexible sole is comfortable on paths and tiring on rocky ground; a stiff sole supports the foot on rough terrain and feels clumpy on a towpath. Match it to where you actually go.
Go in the afternoon.Feet swell during the day and swell more when walking. Boots fitted first thing in the morning frequently turn out to be half a size too small.
Bring your walking socks.The thickness changes the fit meaningfully. Trying boots on in thin office socks gives a misleading result.
Check length with the heel-back test.Slide your foot forward until the toes touch the front, then check you can fit a finger behind the heel. That is roughly the room your foot needs when going downhill.
Test on a slope.Good shops have a ramp. Walk down it in laced boots — if your toes hit the front, the boot is too short, and you will lose toenails on long descents.
Check the heel does not lift.Laced properly and walking uphill, the heel should stay put. Heel lift is the primary cause of blisters and it cannot be fixed with socks.
Consider width, not just length.Several brands make wide fittings, and brands differ noticeably in shape. If a boot pinches across the ball of the foot it is the wrong shape for you, whatever the size says.
Weigh up leather against fabric.Leather is more durable, more supportive and heavier, and needs more looking after. Fabric and synthetic boots are lighter, cheaper and dry faster but wear out sooner.
Treat waterproof linings realistically.A membrane keeps water out and also slows drying once water gets in over the top. In hot dry conditions a non-waterproof boot that drains and dries can be more comfortable.
Learn to lace properly.Looser over the instep and firm around the ankle, using the lace hooks to lock the two zones separately. It solves a surprising number of heel lift and pressure problems.
Break them in before a big walk.Several shorter walks first. New boots on a long day is the classic way to ruin a trip, particularly with leather.

Tips

Fit beats brand, material and price. A cheap boot that fits outperforms an expensive one that does not.
Try them on in the afternoon, in your walking socks, on a slope.
Lock the laces at the ankle to stop heel lift. It fixes more blisters than any sock.

Common mistakes

Buying more boot than the terrain needs — A stiff mountaineering boot on ordinary paths is heavy, unyielding and tiring, and it takes far longer to break in. Match the boot to where you actually walk.
Wearing new boots on a long walk — Even modern boots need some breaking in, and any fit problem only reveals itself over distance. Discovering it fifteen kilometres from the car is expensive in blisters.

If it doesn't work

Toes hit the front going downhill

Cause: Boots too short — Fix: Half a size up, and try the slope test before buying.

Heel rubs and blisters

Cause: Heel lift — Fix: Relace with the ankle section locked firmly, and consider a different last if it persists.

Pressure across the ball of the foot

Cause: Boot too narrow — Fix: Try a wide fitting or a different brand — brands vary considerably in shape.

Feet always wet inside waterproof boots

Cause: Sweat, or water over the cuff — Fix: Use gaiters and thinner socks; a membrane that cannot vent will feel wet in warm conditions.

Questions people ask

Are trail shoes good enough?

For paths, low hills and dry conditions, often yes, and they are lighter and more comfortable. Rough mountain ground, heavy packs and wet ground are where boots earn their weight.

How long do walking boots last?

Typically several hundred kilometres to a couple of thousand, depending on the boot and terrain. Watch the sole tread and whether the midsole has compressed — a boot can look fine and have lost its support.