Buying and fitting advice
Try on both boots, standing up, with the socks worn for hiking.
Try several models and various sizes if necessary.
Check two comfort points: the base of the heel and the front part of the foot going down. Avoid all pressure points when trying shoes on.
Don't hesitate to walk around the store. Gradually start using you shoes during your first few hiking trips to break them in.
What size should I choose?
For hiking, do not hesitate to buy one size larger than the usual size to guarantee excellent comfort on the descent and to avoid toes rubbing at the tip of the shoe. Tip: keep your toenails short, and before going downhill at any time, check that your laces are tight enough to stop your feet slipping down towards the front of the shoes.
Design - what we know best
Our Quechua global design centre is based in Passy, at the foot of Mont-Blanc in Haute Savoie. This location makes it a real meeting place for our teams (designers, product managers, engineers, etc) and outdoor sports enthusiasts. A great asset for designing your mountain walking products and providing you with all our expertise.
SOLE WITH GRIP
The grip of our soles is certified.
To be awarded certification, the boots must pass laboratory tests to assess the grip rate on different surfaces (Smooth, Rugged, Dry, Wet). To validate these tests, we assess the quality of our soles in the field, in the mountains, by a panel of representative testers over 500 km
Waterproofing test
In a laboratory, the boot is immersed in water to mid-height on a mechanical arm that flexes to simulates a number of steps. With this test we can determine a time and number of km that the boot can walk while staying dry.
Then we confirm in the field or under the rain, that the shoe meets its promises.
Making waterproofing last longer
To keep your feet dry, we advise you to use a waterproof gaiter or mini-gaiter to protect the top of your boots and prevent water, pebbles and sand from getting in.
We advise re-waterproofing your boots twice a year using a re-waterproofing agent (search for ‘waterproofing’ on our Decathlon website) which will help you restore the original water-repellent qualities and help prevent stains on the outside.
How to avoid blisters
Blisters generally develop when the skin is weakened by friction. In order to prevent them from occurring, we recommend the following:
- Choose a boot in your size (consult the size guide)
- Wear the right type of socks
- Lace up and tighten your boots properly
- When you wear your boots for the first time, keep the outing short
How should you look after your boots?
- Leave to air dry.
- Remove dry mud with a stiff brush.
- Clean marks using a brush and some warm water
- Leave to dry
- Spray with a re-waterproofing product to restore the water-resistance to the upper.