Best Boots For Travelling Europe - A Practical Guide For Men

1. Preparing the suitcase

Will you be packing to travel in warm summer, the cool winter spring or fall (autumn)? Is the country or city you are going to travel to on the coast or in the mountains? These are important questions. Why? Usually, if you go hiking you will easily walk 10-15 miles a day. Or we will spend hours and hours on foot seeing museums (Europe stands out for its number of museums and monuments) so take these tips into account:

• Comfort always comes first: a blister on your foot will ruin your trip for a couple of days. So choose boots that fit you perfectly. Not too big to avoid rubbing against the ankle or too small to be tight on your toes and cause blisters.
• Comfortable insoles:  15 miles, remember? A well-supported insole will make your boot much more comfortable to walk on and resist for the duration of that guided visit to the Palace of Versailles.
• Choose your boot according to your destination: it is not the same to walk the streets of Paris with light casual boots which will be more comfortable than hiking boots that are twice as heavy.
• Multipurpose Boots: Choose a pair of boots that naturally adapts to where you travel. Make it look good. In Italy, it is part of the etiquette to wear a good pair of cute shoes.
• Everything goes well with leather: leather is a flexible material, it breathes so you will avoid bad odor on your feet. And there are a variety of models of leather boots. You can opt for Low, high or moccasin style depending on the model. We recommend that you buy boots with a hard sole. Most of the European cities were built on hills. And they still have their cobblestones from the medieval era. You will need an anti-slip sole.
• Have style: a man is defined by his elegance, do not forget that. Some men go with their running shoes which they normally use to go shopping at home. These may produce an air of relaxation but will be out of tune as you walk on some European terrains.
• Camouflage: a quick review on the Internet will tell you that ankle-style leather boots are in fashion in Spain. You already have a reference to buy similar ones. Why? The tourist is a relatively easy target to spot for pickpockets, scammers and unscrupulous merchants who will try to sell products or services at high prices. Do you want to save some dollars on your trip? Pretend to be a local, or at least don’t look like a tourist.
• Don't wear your new boots for the first time on the trip - several men make that mistake. And then they suffer from blisters as soon as they leave the hotel. Before traveling wear your boots frequently a couple of weeks prior to get used to them.
• Exercise and prepare your body: regardless of your daily routine, this will get you physically and psychologically ready. The best way to get to know a city is to get lost in its alleys and explore it on your own as you travel. This adds mileage to your feet daily. The first day you may not feel tired, but I assure you that after 4 days walking more than 10 miles a day on uneven terrain, stairs, hills, they will wreak havoc on your feet.
• Mold Your New Boots Ahead - New boots need to mold to you on your walk. At first, they may feel a little unusual as you break into them as your feet blend with the boots. Do not leave this procedure to the last minute before you start touring any European city. Walk around your city, your neighborhood, miles, and miles. Build resistance and get used to the weight. Good boots are usually made of leather and have a relatively heavy sole, they are heavier than sneakers. Hike a bit, your biggest challenge will be walking distances you are not used to at home.

2. The best memory in Europe: Custom boots!

Do you want to bring the best memories as well as some spectacular photos? Buy yourself some stylish boots in Europe. Depending on the destination you are travelling to, you may find good men’s boots. Italy stands out in this with its handmade leather boots, which will be worth every penny. See footwear as an investment in your image, not only women can have an overwhelming passion for footwear. Men's fashion is not abundant with accessories and diverse clothing, for centuries footwear has been one of the main aspects of elegance in a man

An elegant man chooses a suitable shoe for him. You generally wouldn't dare to go to an office meeting at a conference, even if it's casual Friday, with converse or crocs! In this case, black or brown leather boots, the most classic you can find in any shoe store in Europe will do a great job.

3. Guide to buying boots abroad

Imagine that you are traveling from places like New York to Italy and in some shoe shop were your ideal boots: black, leather, hand-sewn, and with a design that suits you. Suppose your shoe size is 9 or 9 and 1/2. But the seller tells you they have them in sizes 42 and 43, what does this mean and where are my inches?

The change from inches to the metric system is often a bit confusing at first. But this has its reason. Let's review some history. Centuries ago, in England, they determined that three barley grains together meant one inch. In centimeters, it is 2.54cm and 12 inches is one foot - (30.48cm).

Conversion from centimeters to inches is somewhat complicated. And this issue is complicated when we incorporate the Paris point system, which is the European system outside the United Kingdom or the United States, which adopted the same inch system.

This means that a Paris point is 6.67 millimeters. Every three points equal 2 centimeters. As it was very large, half measures were incorporated, which is equal to 3.334 millimeters, this makes shoe size 40.5 in 27 centimeters of the foot. It is more a matter of tradition than practicality.

A true shoemaker does not look at European or American measures. He fixes directly on the size of your foot. Any experienced shoemaker could do this without a problem, but if you are a man who likes to do it on your own. Take a tape measure, a sheet of paper and a pencil or pen; it is important that this measurement is done at the end of the day or after a long walk. The feet tend to expand a little with exercise and movement. If you measure them in the morning when they are resting the boots you buy will be tight after several miles of walking. Choose the pair of socks you will wear as you travel, the thickness of the socks is also critical for your comfort. With your socks on, stand on the sheet with your feet and heels glued together. Mark with the pencil from the heel to the tip of the longest toe, both of them. You will notice that one foot is bigger than the other, it is always like this. Take this as a reference when buying your boots. Always choose the size that suits your largest foot best. The difference is a few grains of barley, but they will make a massive difference after an extensive tour and your feet cry out for rest.

4. Recommendations

To avoid blisters when you travel, avoid wearing boots that fit tightly. If you chose to buy boots  abroad, congratulations! Remember one of the steps in this guide, use them a little, to go out one night to the hotel lobby, or if you want to take a short walk, so that the boots mold to your feet. This will get your feet comfy and ready for you to go out sightseeing or to get on your next trail.

Keep your shoes dry at all times and take some pairs from home. Leave some drying in the hotel or where you’re staying and use an alternative pair of shoes. Moisture not only generates fungus and a bad odor on the feet. It also weakens the skin and makes it more prone to blisters that can ruin several days of your vacation.