A pair of Boot is one of the most important outdoor gear you will own. The following will equip you with the knowledge to size and care for them so you can love them for as long as possible.  

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• Fitting boots

• Mail-ordering the correct size

• General boot care 

• Leather treatments

• Contact us

When trying on boots whether at home or in a shop, make sure to use the socks you would normally wear, or one of similar weight.  Replace the footbed with any orthotics or custom footbeds you use. What you are looking for is the size that holds your toes ever so slightly away from the front of the boot while the lacing system is snug across the top of your arch. 

To check the length

• Stand-up, Flex your lower leg forward and you should be able to slip one finger behind your heel while the boot is unlaced and your toes touching the front.

If the boot is too short, your toes will get smashed walking down hill. Too long, and your heel will slide up and down and give you blisters. Be patient, and make sure you've got the right size and fit before you hit the trail. Boot can stretch a little in width but not in length, if you feel uncomfortable right from the start, consider another size or model.

Width and height:
The boot must feel snug laterally and across the top of your arch as well once the boot is laced, but not so tight that it compresses your foot. If your foot can move from side to side, it is most likely that the size is either too big, or that the model is too wide for your foot.

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Mail-ordering the right size

1. To help pin-point your boot size as precisely as possible, here's a few tips:

• If you owned a pair of the same model of boot in the past, there is a good chance that your new boots will the same size. Contact us to make sure the manufacturer didn't change the boot's fit slightly since your boot was made...

• You can also look on the appropriate company size chart for comparative sizes in different sizing systems. We build these charts by taking into account the variations between the different companies and models. This will give you a good idea of your size. 

• The following is probably the closest you can get from trying out the boot at a store: Stand up on a sheet of paper and trace the contour of your feet. After this is done take the length and width measurements of this beautiful master piece. (make sure you measure both feet, they might not be the exactly same!) 

• At this point, you can contact us this information along with your name, phone number and the boot you are planning to purchase. On our end, we will match your specifications to the boots insole.

2. The only way to verify if the boots fit is to ultimately try them on! Once you receive your boots, make sure their size and shape match your feet:

• Stand up and try both boots, lace them. When standing up with your legs straight, your toes should barely brush the front of the boot. The evening is the best time to try your new boots as your feet are usually a little swollen from standing all day...

• Make sure you are comfortable in the boot and that your foot is neither compressed or "floating" in it. 

• Always stand-up when checking boots length. Flex your lower leg forward and you should be able to slip one finger behind your heel while the boot unlaced and your toes touching the front. This will give you extra hints to make sure the size is correct .

• Check for any pressure points.

• The boot must feel snug laterally and across the top of your arch as well once the boot is laced, but not so tight that it compresses your foot. If your foot can move from side to side, it is most likely that the size is either too big, or that the model is too wide for your foot.

3. What if you are still not sure?

• Contact us for extra help!

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• After each use, clean your boots with water and a clothe or, if necessary with a gentle soap and a soft brush. 

• Allow them to air dry, always away from the sun, very hot areas or heat sources. This can potentially damage the leather, stitching, welds, etc of your boots. It will most likely shorten the life of your boots. For a more efficient drying, completely unlace the boots and remove the footbed. Don't put newspaper or any other paper material in the boot as it will actually slow down the drying process!

• To minimize rust build-up on the hardware, clean and dry the eyelets of the lacing system.

• If you have a boot with calfskin lining, wipe out inside with a damp cloth after each use.

• Treat the leather on both the outside and the inside of your boots with the appropriate products. Look in your boot owners manual or contact the boot's manufacturer.

• Store your boots in a cool, dry area, away from moisture or sun. Do not stack other object over your boots to prevent deformation.

• Take your boots to a knowledgeable cobbler for repairs, contact us for a list of good boot repair shops.

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Leather treatment

Even though high quality leather boots are made of pre-treated leather and are resistant to dirt and water, they still need periodical treatment of their leather in order to withstand weathering and wear and tear without drying out and deteriorating. 

Treatment of Idro-Perw, full-grain rough-out, split-grain leathers.
Never treat leathers with oil-based products has they can adversely affect the waterproofing characteristic of the leather and the welds of the boot.

     According to some boot manufacturers like renown La Sportiva, it is important to use water and wax-based waterproofing products on these types of leathers. They generally recommend products like Nubuck Waterproofing from Nikwax. which has been tested and approved by "La Sportiva" for example. This product is suitable for models with Gore-Tex, calfskin leather and Cambrelle linings. The treatment should be applied to a wet boot to improve the penetration of the product into the leather. The treatment with this waterproofing is long lasting, but not permanent. Reapply the product as necessary or after every use in severe conditions. These products will darken the color of the leather. Read the product's instructions for details.

     If you are using a wax based product, make sure you are not over treating your boots! It has been reported that using the wax based waterproofing product too often (something like every week!) can over soften the leather which may ultimately weakens the boot's weld and deform the boot. It is probably more effective to use this product every two to four months depending on how much you use your boots.

     Contrary to the popular guideline, never heat up your boots before applying wax based waterproofing products! Room temperature is just fine. The main reason is that heat in general is not good for your boots as mentioned above, but we also heard some horror stories about heat and boots... 

     One of these interesting legends concerns a well known Canadian guide whose name will be withheld. This guide, always in the search of ways to attain the highest level of efficiency, put his brand new LaSportiva boots in the oven at a generous temperature but was inadvertently distracted by a phone call... Needless to say trying to get a warranty for his well done Nepals was an hopeless effort, but it was definitely a good laugh for the shop employees! He he he...
 
Treatment of Cordura and Gore-tex.
Use a water products like Fabric and Leather from Nikwax. This product will improve the simultaneous waterproofing of leather and nylon without affecting other technical features, such as the breathability of Gore-Tex®.

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What kind of boots do I need?

Depending on what type of activity you are getting into, you will need a boot with different features like, a crampon compatible welt or a more or less stiff sole.... Check our gear shopping list for details.

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