Sizing, Fit, Break In, Care, Warranty
Your Limmer boots should fit like a firm handshake.
Please capture your foot measurements by using the Limmer Stock Boots/Shoes – Measurement and Sizing Form.
It is helpful for us to understand the following.
1. Length - The length of your feet from front to the back of the heel.
2. Big Toe or Second Toe - Which is longer, your big toe or second toe?
We call every customer to confirm your sizing once the order has been placed.
A. Dialing in Your Fit – Following the steps below will help us dial in the length measurement for most everyone.
- Step 1 – Place a piece of paper next to a wall or flat surface at the bottom of a door frame.
- Use 8.5x11 if possible.
- If larger than 11 inches, turn diagonal and place corner at the bottom of the door frame, or use larger sheet of paper.
- Step 2 – Wearing the socks you will use with your boots, slide your heel down the wall or door frame until it lands on the paper, while still contacting the wall or door frame.
- Step 3 – Take a photo of your foot on the piece of paper.
- Step 4 – Bend over and trace the tops of your toe with a pen.
- Step 5 – Measure from the bottom of the page to the longest point of your toes/feet.
- Step 6 – Order boot and share your measurement details in the "background information box" just before placing in cart.
- Step 7 – All of our boots are measured, we will add 1 cm to your foot measurements, and provide recommendation for the corresponding size based on your foot shape, sock preferences, and information about any foot issues.
OR
B. Based on your Brannock Device measurements, we recommend you size down related to your fit and sock preference.
- Midweight to Thick Sock - Order 1/2 Size down (Brannock 11.0 - Limmer 10.5).
- Lightweight Sock - Order 1 Full Size down (Brannock 11.0 - Limmer 10.0).
Foot Considerations - If you are accustomed to wearing boots with glued on outsoles and polyurethane midsoles, wearing Limmer boots will be a different experience. Our recommendation is that you wear a midweight to thick sock to provide a little additional padding in the boot, as we use leather insoles.
Boot Conditioned Foot - If your feet are accustomed to wearing a heavier weight boot, and prefer a lightweight sock for your specific type of use, you may prefer to size down a full size.
- Note - We find that our boots can run a size down from what you would typically wear in a running shoe when wearing a lightweight sock. The customer in the above photo wears a size 11 in a New Balance running shoe and wears a Limmer size 10.0 with a lightweight sock, and size 10.5 with a heavyweight sock. Sizing down a full to half size is true for both Men's and Women's sizing.
Upon Receipt - Initial Fit Process
1. Socks - Begin by wearing the sock combination you will eventually use with your boots. We recommend a range of options from a single, medium to heavy weight sock, to a medium weight combined with a liner sock.
2. Toe Slide to the Front - Insert your foot into the boot. Before lacing, slide your foot forward so that your toes barely touch the front of the boot.
3. .08cm - 1.5 cm - With your toes touching the front of the boot, you should be able to insert your pointer finger (roughly 1cm) between your heel and the back of the boot.
4. Heel Jam - Tilt the back of your boot at a 30 degree angle and slide your heel back as far as you can into the heel pocket.
5. Tongue - Position the tongue and fold the tongue bellows, so that they are perfectly even on both sides.
6. Lacing - There are a wide variety of lacing options, but begin by lacing for snugness, without pressure that is uncomfortable.
- Cross Lacing - Note - Be sure to pull your laces directly across from each of the hooks or eyelets. Do not pull up, for proper tension, please pull across.
- Under Hook - Some people may prefer a normal lace by hooking beneath the 4th hook.
- Over Hook (Lock Lacing) - Some people may benefit by locking the 4th hook by lacing on top of the hook and wrapping below, which makes a nice “x” before moving up to the 5th hook.
- No - Awesome, the Heel Lock will reduce your risk for blisters by keeping your foot in place, and provide an incredible amount of torque from the back of the boot while hiking.
- Yes - Not awesome, let’s do some troubleshooting. If your heel moves, but the length and width of your boots are correct, we recommend the following steps.
- Heel Jam - First, start the process over again, and really focus on sliding the boot as far as you can to the back of the boot.
- Lacing - Second, start the lacing process again. Pull the laces a little more snug, be sure to pull them across your foot, not up. If you did not try the Lock Lacing technique, try lacing over the top, and wrapping below on hooks 4 and 5.
- Sock - Second, try a slightly thicker sock combination or add a thin liner sock to take up a smidge more volume.
- Footbed - Third, take a thin footbed from a pair of shoes that your feet are accustomed to from previous use. Reducing a small amount of volume in the boot and positioning your heel slightly higher in the heel pocket may help accomplish the Heel Lock.
- Size & Width - If those small tweaks do not work, we recommend that you try a smaller size or width.
Break-In
- Indoor Use - During the initial break-in period, wear your boots for a few hours at a time indoors. If the fit is incorrect after a few days, we will be happy to exchange them for a different size, as long as they have only been worn indoors.
- Outdoor Use - Once you confirm that the fit is correct, begin to wear your boots outdoors for work, daily walks, and light hikes.
- Discomfort - If your boots fit well, it takes a little time to break in the boot. If they cause any discomfort or perhaps even a hot spot during the first few months of wear, please remove them and try again after a day of rest.
- Flex Areas - Once you have established the flex areas, you should begin to attempt light to moderate hikes, but be sure to bring along an older pair of boots or shoes to avoid any issues from wearing the boots too long before they are properly broken in.
- Leather Insole - Over time, your foot will begin to sink into the 3.5 - 4mm leather insole. Initially, it may seem a smidge different, or rigid from other boots you have worn, but the leather will mold specifically to your footprint, creating a unique comfort and unparalleled fit in comparison to other boots.
- Damp Sock - We do not recommend soaking your boots in hot or cold water during the break in process, but slightly damping your sock can help your foot settle into the leather insole.
- Invest in the Process - We do not accept the notion that discomfort and blistering must be part of the break in period, or further use of any of our boots. If you take your time, we believe our boots will mold to your feet and provide you with many years of exemplary use.
Care & Maintenance
- Love Your Limmer’s - Our boots can last 25-50 years, but like most anything, if you neglect your boots over time, they will not last as long as they are intended. Wear them hard, but continue to love them with moderate conditioning, timely resoles, and repairs when you notice unusual wear. If cared for properly, they might be the last pair of boots you ever buy.
- Limmer Boot Grease - After trying all sorts of leather conditioners and water proofers (and seeing what happens when customers use them), Peter Limmer, II developed Limmer Boot Grease. His animal based grease recipe is still made today by Peter Limmer, III and we believe it to be one of the reasons that our boots last so long. With regular, but measured use, Limmer Boot Grease will make your boots look awesome, protect your feet from the elements, and protect your investment for many years to come.
- Scuffs - When your boots appear dry or scuffed, apply Limmer Boot Grease.
- Liquid Oils - Note - Limmer does not recommend liquid oils because they can oversaturate, oversoften, and deteriorate any leather (even super thick leather) if not applied properly.
- Water Based Waxes - Some people are accustomed to water based waxes for their footwear. Treating any footwear product with a conditioner of some sort is probably better than none at all, but we recommend using an animal based grease for an animal based product.
- Water/Sweat - If your boots become saturated with water or sweat, let them air dry as slowly as possible, out of direct sunlight and with crumpled newspaper on the inside when possible. If the boot dries quickly (as a regular method of drying), it can cause the leather to crack over an extended period of time.
- Note - Do not dry your boots by heating them with a boot dryer, heat lamp, or placing them in the oven (yes this has happened), or other methods of heat treatment. Drying the boots quickly can cause damage to the inside of the boot and the midsole/sole adhesive.
- Storage - Store your boots in an area of moderate temperature and humidity. Stay away from extreme temperature changes, such as hot dry attics/garages or damp basements.
Returns
- As mentioned above, wear your boots indoors until you confirm the size is correct. If the fit is incorrect after a few days, we are happy to exchange your boots for a different size, as long as they have only been worn indoors. Similar to other small outdoor industry companies, we are unable to accept returns after a time period of 30 days.
Refunds
- If your boots do not work out, we are happy to provide you with a refund. We do not charge a restocking fee, but do not refund the credit card fee on fully cancelled orders (2.6% +.30 cents per transaction, typically between $10-13 on 1 pair of boots), as this is money that we never receive. We will ship multiple pairs of boots if the customer decides to keep the boots, but if we ship boots and they are returned and then a refund is requested, the shipping is not included in the refund.
Warranty
- We are committed to providing you with a product that is free from material and workmanship defects that impact functionality for a warranty period of 90 days from the date of purchase. The warranty is provided for the original retail customer and is void if the boots are used for rental purposes. Normal tread wear and use are not covered by the warranty, but if any unusual issues occur, we are committed to working with you to establish a constructive repair solution.
- Note - Each of our boots are constructed from the highest quality leathers and materials. There can sometimes be variations and nuances related to leather shading and stitching, but the durability is not impaired as the boot are constructed to last and soften, become more comfortable with age.