How Should Boots Fit?
Whatever your personal fashion or wearing occasion, boots are some of the most durable and stylish footwear around. To make sure you feel comfortable mile after mile on any terrain, it's important that your boots fit correctly. So whether you prefer a 6-inch design or a lightweight hiker, here's some advice on how to find a boot with the ideal fit for your feet.
HOW ARE BOOTS SUPPOSED TO FIT?
Boots should not be too loose or too tight on your foot. The best fit should be snug (but not tight) around the whole of your foot, with enough room to move your toes and a maximum of a quarter to a half-inch of slippage at the heel.
It's also worth remembering that some new boots may take a bit of breaking in before they become completely comfortable, but they should never be painful or restrictive on the movement of your foot.
To make sure that the fit is correct, ensure that you can wiggle your toes at the end of your boots, that they feel comfortable around the widest of your foot and that the flex point between your heel and toe doesn't feel too stiff as you walk. If you're planning on wearing your boots with thick socks, make sure you try them on together to make sure your boots won't be too tight. That's especially important when you're shopping for hiking boots or winter boots!
HOW TO TELL IF BOOTS FIT PROPERLY
To tell if your boots fit properly, you need to focus on how it feels in three areas of your foot: at the heel, around your toes and at the widest point of your foot, the ball. Around these areas, there should be enough room to feel comfortable without having too much movement.
At the heel, there should be a little bit of room for some movement. If the rest of your foot feels comfortable, it's recommended that you have around a quarter to a half-inch of slippage to give your foot room to move and flex as you walk. At the front of the boot, you should have enough room to wiggle and move your toes without them slipping around too much. Similarly, around the ball of your foot (the widest part), the boot should fit snugly (but not tightly) without slipping as you move your foot.
As you try on new boots, be conscious of the fact that your feet will expand during the day, so you need to allow enough room to allow this to happen without feeling restricted. It's also key to make sure that the flex point between your heel and toe isn't too stiff and is comfortable as you move your foot.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BOOT SIZE
The shoe size you use when buying sneakers or other types of shoes might not be right when you're looking for a new pair of boots. By measuring your feet along their length and width, you should be able to match up your measurements to a manufacturer's boot size guide.
However, it's also recommended that you try on different sizes of a boot before you buy them to make sure they're completely comfortable. Depending on the style of the boots you're buying, you may even find that different sizes fit you best across the same collection. For example, with hiking boots, you might find that a larger size fits you best with your thick walking socks, while getting ankle boots that are a size smaller may suit you best for every day.
HOW DO TIMBERLAND® BOOTS FIT?
Timberland® boots fit comfortably, but it's key that you choose the right style and size to find the best possible pair. When buying a new pair, we'd recommend taking a look at our Shoe Size Guide to help you find the right fit.
To make sure that your work boots, hiking boots or winter boots are true to size, we'd also recommend measuring your foot along its length and width to ensure that you can find the most comfortable fit.
If you have any questions about our sizing, then our customer service team are available to help you. Plus, if you aren't happy with the fit of your Timberland® boots, you have 30 days to return them to us!