Boot insert question

Grease

Grease

Joined
May 10, 2012
Messages
1,812
Hey guys, I'm having some trouble with an otherwise awesome pair of boots. I gambled on LAPG's sale of Bates boots and managed to score a pair that seems to be quality after a month of use (longer than the bad ones take to fall apart.)

However, they're just a bit bigger than a want length-wise. My heel rubs the inside of the boot a bit when I walk, and it rubs the skin raw after a few days of constant motion. I need some sort of insert that'll keep my foot further down inside the boot and keep my heel from rubbing. Does such a thing exist?
 
You could try some lacing strategies. Look up hiking boot lacing on YouTube if your interested. As a physical therapist, I wouldn't recommend wearing boots that are too large if they don't seem to be working. That extra motion could be bad for other parts of your body such as knees, hips and back. Better to take the hit and buy a Better fitting pair of boots.
 
The problem, many brands of boots already have inserts. You could try to replace the originals with others to see if they take up some of the extra space. I remove the stock inserts usually and replace with aftermarket inserts with stronger arch supports.

Adding another pair of socks will help in two ways. First, they'll fill some of the extra space. Second, some of the rubbing will now become sock-on-sock instead of sock-on-heal. I have a pair of mining boots that are a half-size too large (emergency purchase and I couldn't try them on ahead of time). After several rounds of horrible deep heel blisters I now wear two pairs of wool socks over a pair of polypro liners, and the problem is now mostly solved.
 
You could try some heel cups. Or maybe some adhesive moleskin or duct tape on the inside of the back of the boot.
 
Grease said:
I need some sort of insert that'll keep my foot further down inside the boot and keep my heel from rubbing.
Click to expand...

Do you wear "good" socks? Buy a pair of thick hiking socks. Go to an REI or similar store and look for "Raggler" or a similar model sock. I have found wool works much better then polyester and these thick wool socks are not overly hot even in Summer. The extra thickness really cusions my feet. I actually buy boots a 1/2 size larger in some cases to handle these thick socks.

For ~$7, it's pretty cheap to give them a "test drive".
 
+1Thalestin.

Had a GREAT pair of snake-proof boots from Cabela's brought on a trip to WY..turned out to be unwearable for me as had a heavy suede collar that rubbed my calves raw..played around with different high socks, tape, etc but no go. Put them away for a year and returned to Cabela's for full credit the following trip. While they were as new, they had been worn and I explained to Cabela's that issue was me, not the boots...I would have been happy with any credit.

Would not wreck my foot or any body part for that matter on ill-fitting gear...will just make you mad over the long haul and could do serious damage/ injury.

Not snake-bit yet buy do watch all my steps on the high plains.

Best.
 
A pair of Sorbothane insoles will reduce the internal volume of the boot. You can also get padded moleskin strips designed to adhere to the inside of the heel. Extra socks may help too. I had a pair of Hi-Tec Magnums aboout 10 years ago that somebody bought for me, really baggy at the heel. I tried everything with them, but they wouldn't stop hurting. Had to give them away in the end. Fit is the most important thing with footwear, and unfortunately there's only so much you can do to make right a badly fitting pair of boots. Good luck :thumbup:
 
Unk said:
+1Thalestin.

Had a GREAT pair of snake-proof boots from Cabela's brought on a trip to WY..turned out to be unwearable for me as had a heavy suede collar that rubbed my calves raw..played around with different high socks, tape, etc but no go. Put them away for a year and returned to Cabela's for full credit the following trip. While they were as new, they had been worn and I explained to Cabela's that issue was me, not the boots...I would have been happy with any credit.

Would not wreck my foot or any body part for that matter on ill-fitting gear...will just make you mad over the long haul and could do serious damage/ injury.

Not snake-bit yet buy do watch all my steps on the high plains.

Best.
Click to expand...

Did you try and just tough it out? Rubbing on legs is a common problem with new boots. Just about every new pair of cowboy boots I have purchased have done just that. Wear em a few days though, and they soften up... And my legs heal, lol. It is always like a carpet burn on my legs. Even takes the hair off where the boots rub. :p
 
The most annoying part of my problem is how well they fit everywhere else. Width and height are both perfect, even for my wide bigfoot feet. I actually tried feeling around inside to see how well sticking something to the heel would work, and I think I found the problem. While they are a bit big, it's really a tiny bit - less than a half size, I'd guess. But the spot that's rubbing me seems to be the contact point between the lower part of the boot made of hard rubber and the upper part made of softer goretex and leather. I can barely even feel the line with my hands, but there's a tiny stitching point that sticks out just enough to get irritating when I walk.
 
I have had success, when breaking-in new boots, by wearing a pair of polypropylene sock liners. These are ultra thin and are worn inside your regular socks. They will help to preven blisters and sore spots because these will glide with your foot and prevent rubbing against the outer socks & boot heel.
 
texas gun person, not an option then or now... old, almost diabetic and skin getting thinner and more fragile with age..when I bleed now I fix it. I know bleeding always stops....when your heart does. Was doing some serious traveling..for me at least.

But I hear you..50 years ago if your boot didn't fill up with blood you were good to go. I've worn cowboy boots from time to time for years but mostly moseying along for a day at a time.

Best.
 
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