Hiking Boot Fitting Near Sydney & Wollongong | PAST Outdoors
The best hiking boot is the one that fits your foot. At our Helensburgh store, between Sydney and Wollongong, Dave and the PAST Outdoors team will measure your feet, check your length and width, and help you try on the full LOWA range, including wide fits, so you leave with boots that feel right from the first kilometre to the last.
What happens at a hiking boot fitting
A fitting takes the guesswork out of buying boots. Here's what we do with every customer:
Talk about your walking. Day hikes, multi-day treks with a heavy pack and alpine trips each need a different boot, so we start with where you're headed.
Measure both feet. We check length and width, and fit to your larger foot.
Try boots on with your hiking socks. We compare models side by side, including standard and wide fits.
Check heel, toes and width. Your heel should stay put, your toes should have room on a downhill, and the ball of your foot should feel held, not squeezed.
Lace for your feet. We'll show you lacing techniques like heel lock lacing to stop heel slip and toe bang.
Watch: How to fit hiking boots
Prefer to read? Our step-by-step guide on how to fit hiking boots covers sizing, width, heel lock lacing and breaking in.
Meet Dave Parker, CEO PAST Outdoors
Dave founded PAST Outdoors in 2020 to help more people get into the outdoors and enjoy it in any season, weather or terrain. Before that, he spent almost 20 years conducting Special Operations in the Australian Army, where good boots and healthy feet weren't optional. He also completed an MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW.
Today Dave and the team fit hikers for everything from Royal National Park day walks to the Overland Track, Three Capes and New Zealand's Great Walks. Read more about the PAST Outdoors team.
What to bring to your fitting
Your hiking socks: the ones you'll actually walk in. Thin everyday socks give a false fit. Need a pair? Browse our hiking socks.
Orthotics or insoles if you use them.
Your current boots, so we can see how they've worn.
Come in the afternoon if you can. Feet swell through the day, just as they do on a long walk.
Boots we fit
We stock the LOWA range for men and women, with GORE-TEX waterproof linings and dedicated wide fits in the Renegade, Ranger and Tibet. Browse before you visit:
Fill in the form and we'll get back to you to confirm a time. Fittings run during opening hours, and on Sundays by appointment. Prefer to talk? Call us on (02) 4294 2810.
Where can I get hiking boots fitted near Sydney and Wollongong?
At our store at 10/177 Princes Highway, Helensburgh NSW 2508, next to the Royal National Park, between Sydney and Wollongong. It's an easy trip from the Sutherland Shire, Sydney's south and the northern Illawarra, and you can try on our full LOWA range in one visit.
Is hiking boot fitting free?
Yes. Our boot fitting is free and there's no obligation to buy. We'll measure your feet, check your length and width, and help you compare boots for the walking you have planned.
Do I need to book a fitting?
Booking is the best way to make sure a fitter is free when you arrive, especially on weekends. Contact us or call (02) 4294 2810 to arrange a time.
What should I bring to a boot fitting?
Bring the socks you'll actually hike in, plus any orthotics or insoles you use, and your current boots if you have them, so we can see how they've worn. If you can, come in the afternoon, when your feet have swollen a little, as they do on a long walk. Read more in our guide on how to fit hiking boots.
Can you fit hiking boots for wide feet?
Yes. We stock LOWA's wide fit hiking boots, including the Renegade, Ranger and Tibet Wide, which give more room through the forefoot and toes while still holding your heel in place. Trying wide and standard fits side by side is the quickest way to know which suits you. Browse our wide fit hiking boots.
Do you offer discounts?
We do not discount our products, instead we offer a brilliant rewards system, so our customers receive discounts almost every time they purchase.
Our rewards program means you can earn reward points on every purchase and redeem for discounts on future purchases. Learn more about our rewards program and how you can save now.
Having been to New Zealand a couple of times, and namely the South ISland, I knew when I booked this trip I was in for something special. For me the journey and the gear prep to get to the trailhead is one of the most exciting bits. Thankfully I'd picked up some LOWA boots, Fjallraven trousers, and an Exped mat in the lead up to this trip. Knowing that the trip was guided by the very team that kitted me out wiuth my gear gave me confidence I'd be comfortable for a few days on the trails. The pokey trails rambling amongst tree roots, occasionaly crossing creeks and rivers then opening up into stunning grassy basins sitting below snow capped mountains, what more could you ask for. We got it all on this trip (except snowfall). Dave and Seth knew the countryside well and ensured an enjoyable hike for us all. Would I do it again? Of course, in a heartbeat.
The kit is well setup for its purpose,nice and compact in its case. Hopefully I will never need to use it but comforting knowing itโs there if I need it.
