When I was in the service, boot fit was never a problem for me. I was a12 ½ Wide. I don’t know how many pairs I had bought over my tenure. They probably lasted 10 years before I had to buy a civvy pair. Recently, I had been looking for a pair of hunting boots and was excited to try some new ones. The brand had a great reputation for being one of the best. As I slid my foot into the boot it was apparent they were too tight. It seems my foot has grown. I emailed the boot rep and asked about getting a bigger and wider pair. Once again when they arrived, they also were too tight. They were 13 extra wide. How could this be?

The Search for Proper Boot Fit

Dejected, I dropped the boot back into the box and proceeded to send them back. I have always been a bit difficult to fit for footwear, but now I can’t even get a pair of decent boots to fit.

I spoke with James Lathrop of Lathrop & Sons, who builds custom hunting boots for hunters, hikers and mountain climbers. James and his brother Steven have been fitting boots with more than 50 years combined experience. 

“An injury can cause your foot to change size and as we get older our foot may change, but what we see more often is the customer was not sized properly from the beginning. I see this all the time. A customer will say I am a size 11 and we find him to be a 13. Most people associate this with being two inches difference when in reality it is more like a 1/4-inch difference,” explains Lathrop.

Lathrop & Sons manufacture their own line of boots. When they began their journey, they asked themselves how are they going to eliminate the problems that hunters have with their boots. Even small problems such as blisters on the heel or painful joints. 

“It all starts at the foundation,” says Lathrop. “A lot of people size their hunting boots the same way they size their tennis shoes, and even if you got sized last week that doesn’t mean the Brannock device (device used to determine shoe size) is correct with every boot model.”

Manufacturer Differences Afoot

Adding another layer, every shoe or boot manufacturer uses a different last or “form” to design and build each boot around. For this reason, one boot may feel tighter than another manufacturer, even though they are both a size 12.

The Lathrop brothers approach boot fitting differently than any other mail order or brick and mortar shoe store I have ever come across. First off, they are hunters and sportsmen. They know the struggles we have. Secondly, they offer custom boot fitting, not just a box of boots. “There’s more to apple pie than just apples. The same goes with having a pair of boots fit properly. There’s more than just the boots; it’s a complete system,” shared Lathrop. 

The first step in their system begins with a 3-D mapping of your foot. This is done in the comfort of your home. The 3-D mapping kit includes a pressure sensitive film used by foot care professionals to determine peak pressure of the foot while the foot is under load. While standing on the film, an outline of the foot is traced with a pencil as the pressure areas transfer onto the film. This gives Lathrop and his team a starting point to produce your boots.

Talk it Through

The second step involves a phone consultation to continue the process of compiling the information needed to construct boots that meet your personal needs and wants. They delve into past boot failures and any foot related issues which may have caused you from having proper fitting boots. They want to know how you intend to use the boot or what you hunt with the boots. A mountain goat hunter has different needs than a Kansas whitetail hunter. While Lathrop generally agrees with that statement, he also suggests a properly constructed and well-fitted boot can be worn nearly everywhere.

“If you have the proper heel height and toe spring value along with the remaining design elements for a good boot, you can stand and walk on concrete all day and be comfortable. I do it every day,” claims Lathrop.

Your feet are like the footing of a building. If the footing isn’t sound the entire foundation could shift. The walls begin to crack and warp. The ceiling then begins to sag. When your foot isn’t stable or in alignment other problems arise. Unsupported arches, misalignment of your toes and your knees and back could feel the effects.

The Lathrop Way

Lathrop & Sons comprise more than off-the-shelf boots. Instead, they fit to each individual, ensuring the correct fit no matter your style of hunting, from mountain hunting to sitting for whitetails.

The cost of these boots are in line with other top-quality boots; however, the custom fitting does increase the cost substantially. But if you are going on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt and are spending thousands of dollars on it, the price of these boots is minuscule knowing your feet will not put you out of commission and ruin the hunt. 

“It’s an investment to get your boots ‘dialed’ in the first time.” says Lathrop. Once you are fitted for a pair of boots you don’t pay to have them refitted. The information used to build your first pair of boots will carry over for subsequent boots.

For more information, visit lathropandsons.com.