How to Fit Boots

1. The best time to buy boots is in the afternoon or early evening when the foot is at its largest.



2. Boots constructed of all leather are the best choice compared to boots constructed of combinations of leather nylon or cordura, because they offer better support, and better protection from hand tools and have greater heat resistance.



3. Bring the socks you plan on wearing on the fireline with you when you try on boots. Two pair of socks is recommended. 



4. Decide if you need a steel toe or non‑safety toe boot. Never choose footwear on the basis of style alone.



5. Focus on boots that have aggressive lug soles. These soles provide better traction in the fire environment. A Vibram lug sole is recommended.



6. Measure your foot. Is a standard width boot going to fit? If not then think about using an insert or consider buying a boot model that offers more than one width.



7. One foot is often larger than the other - size for the larger foot.



8. Try the boot on, push your toes to the front until they touch, your index finger should fit in behind your foot. Make sure that the ball (the area of protrusion at the base of the big toe) of your foot fits well at the widest part of the shoe.



9. Lace the boot up, look at the laces, is there a bit of a bulge in the middle? There should be. If the laces progressively narrow the boot is too big.



10. Are there any areas of the boot, which seem to be tight on the foot? Snug is good, tight is bad! Don’t expect footwear to stretch to fit your feet. If it does not fit when new, it probably will not fit later.



11. Walk around the store and get a feel for how the boots feel. You should keep the boots on your feet for about 15 minutes.



12. If the store has an incline board stand on it facing up and check to see how much the boot flexes and where. If there are big folds around the ankle or at the crease of the tongue the boot may be too large. Stand facing down the incline board, have the folds moved to behind the ankle? Look for boots give support to the ankle. How much room is behind the foot, it should close to the width of a finger. How are your toes handling the down slope? Are there any areas of irritation? Squat to determine if the toecap bites into the footbridge.



13. Try the boot with no socks to see if there are any tight or rough areas. This is similar to new skates.



14. If the boot doesn't fit comfortably and provide enough room to wiggle the toes then try another model. Size may very between brands and styles, rely on the fit not the size marked inside. Footwear may even vary slightly within the same style.



15. If no boots fit then consider getting orthotics inserts or a custom fit boot.

Many of the problems with feet on the fireline are the result of poor fitting footwear. Take the time to find a quality work boots to fit your feet.