Help needed for walking boots

[Hercules12]

Hi
We've been buying all the stuff dd needs for dd including walking boots. The problem is dd is size 6.5 but has narrow ankles so her feet slip up a little at the back even with walking socks and an extra thin pair of socks.
Can any one recommend any inserts just for the ankle that would do the job?
Thanks

Must she absolutely have walking boots? We live in the Pyrenees and both DH and DS usually prefer to wear trail running type shoes. Downside is that they are less weatherproof, so it depends if that is a consideration.

Hi. It's a requirement of d and e - boots have to be above ankle. Thanks though. Very jealous of where you live!

Have you looked at different ways of lacing the boots to get different tensions on the laces? I find an extra overhand knot above the last fixed loops, before the hooks helps keep tension in.

Thanks, yorkshirecurly. Tried this and it's made a big difference! Phew!

Dd had a pair of Karrimors from Sports Direct, about £40. You need to try various pairs and sizes to get a good fit (don't expect much staff service though!) She is also very slight of foot and ankle and they also served her well in the Alps.

Thanks, Liz - no help from staff. We bought 2 pairs so she could try again at home. Tried on a few today and these seemed the most narrow at the back.

Go somewhere and get them properly fitted properly. I always go to Cotswold Outdoor and their fitting service is brilliant

That's helpful re Cotswold. I'll see if there's one near by.

Definitely worth it. I did a 100km walk in footwear that I thought was a good fit and literally walked my feet off (ended up needing hospital treatment). Did the same walk the following year in footwear fitted and chosen by CO and not a single blister

Extreme solution here, but does she have to do a walking expedition? I speak from experience as a DofE expedition trainer at silver level, specialising in cycling. Cycling has many advantages over walking for DofE.

The difficulties would be finding enough potential cyclists to form a group, and finding a trainer/supervisor who is willing, as relatively few seem to be.

Just an idea.

I have got narrow feet. The best boot fit for me has always been Berghaus/Brasher Supalite.

They are the only boots where I don't have to faff about with the lacing. I am on my third pair in 25 years. I did venture off track with a pair of Asolo boots a few years back but they moved at the back so I went back to what I know.

Always get them fitted in a proper shop.

Seconding getting them fitted properly, please don’t get them from Sports direct unless you’ve tried the same ones on elsewhere ie they sell salomon ones for half the price but don’t get their own brand ones.

If you can’t get them tried on nearby then it can sometimes be worth trying different sizes to what she would normally wear too.

Hi. Really helpful messages. We've already paid 300 pound for d of e through company via school so can't do something different now but thanks for suggestion.
I'm going to take back the pairs we bought today and go to Cotswold outdoors. One not too far away.

Remember that Cotswold do loads of discounts, NT Membership, NUS, CTC, DofE reward card!!!

I have narrow ankles and feet with a high instep and the only walking boots for me are Berghaus.
Get your DD fitted property at Cotswold Outdoors and make sure she has 1000 mile double layer walking socks as well as a supply of Compeed blister plasters just in case.
Berghaus has been the only pair of boots that have never given me blisters in 25 years of walking and mountain trekking.

If you struggle to find a perfect fit try the half insole that goes in the front of the shoe. It will push her foot up and back gripping the heel better. Also I got jack wolf skin boots which are great for narrow ankles

Cotswold Outdoors do an excellent fitting, ime. Also, if you find the same boots cheaper online, they price match then and there - which I hadn’t expected and only knew because they told me!

I find the laces trick works well for me - looser on the foot then knot and tighter on the ankles. I also find that cheaper brands with a bit more ‘give’ are better because you can get them tighter on the ankles - though I’m only walking on tracks / fields, and if I needed to do proper mountaineering I think I might have a different preference.

Hi. Many thanks for the help. I took dd to Cotswold and got an excellent fitting service and pair of boots.

I found this thread useful. We went to Cotswold Outdoors which is a trek for us but the fitting service was excellent. Dd has one ankle narrower than the other apparently. The guy must have spent 30 mins sorting us out with insoles/checking fit etc. Did a thorough job.