4. I need more information!
Visit your local retailer---we distribute through specialty outdoor retailers because they know your local outdoors the best, and can pick out the products that will work best for you. If a dealer is not close by or if you have a question that can't be answered locally, call or EMAIL us.

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HIKING
1.What is A.D.D?
A.D.D. stands for Anatomically Directed Design, which is that we design our boots to the shape of your feet. There are several features of our a.d.d. boots which look odd at first, but work for your feet!

2. How do I care for my boots?
The most important thing is to keep your boot clean! Over time, the grit inherent in dirt will scratch the outer surface of the boot and begin to break it down. After use, clean your boots. Often simple brushing will do the job. Tougher dirt is usually removed with just warm water and brushing or with saddle soap (a soap that is designed to clean leather) or equivalent. Then make sure the boot is thoroughly dry. Once clean and dry, there are several good options for waterproofing. We recommend wax-based waterproofing solutions with a good penetrating and nourishing agents. The wax-based compounds work into the leather and keep the leather supple without excessive softening. Therefore a small scratch in the leather will not affect the waterproofness.

Be sure to test any waterproof compound on a small section of the boot before you do the whole boot. Some compounds will change the color of the leather; others will flatten the "nap" of suede. Although specific fabric sprays are mostly commonly used to waterproof the fabric portions of a boot, if function rather than appearance is the priority, wax-based products are certainly suitable.

	Wax based	Chemical sprays & liquids
Proofing (ability to increase water resistance)	Good to great	Great
Penetration	Good to great	Usually very good
Nourishment of leather	Good to great	Medium to poor
Durability (how long between retreatments)	Good	Medium to poor
Economics	Great	Poor
User friendliness	Poor to great	Usually medium to poor
Ease of application	Good	Good

4. What is the difference between water-resistant, water proof, Gore-Tex and Maximum Vapor Transmission boots?
These are all terms referring to the degree to which water is preventing from leaving or entering the boot material.

Water resistant: Water is somewhat prevented from entering the boot

Waterproof: Water is prevented from entering the boot

Gore-Tex: Water is prevented from entering the boot, but moisture (small particles of water are allowed to leave. The boot has a membrane of Gore-Tex which allows this small miracle to occur.

Maximum Vapor Transmission: allows water and vapor to pass through the boot. Cooler, but not resistant to water!

5.What is the difference between the different types of leathers--nubuck, suede, split grain, top grain and full grain?
The leather used in a boot refers to what side is put on the outside, and its quality.

Type	Water Resistance	Breathability	Maintenance*	Heat/ Insulation	Cost
Top Grain	Excellent	Good	Good	Warm	High
Nubuck	Good	Good	Excellent	Warm	High
Split Grain	Medium/ Very Good	Excellent	Coolest	Lowest	Good
*Maintenance: performance improvement possible with this type of leather if properly maintained. Suede: the inner side of Split grain (the side with some texture to it) when it is put on the outside

4. Why doesn't Garmont offer more Gore-Tex Boot models?
Function, fashion, trends in technology, lifestyles and uses plus other factors all cause Garmont and other brands to change their line up from year to year. Garmont has had more Gore-Tex models in past seasons and will likely have more in the future. Gore-Tex and non Gore-Tex boots both offer good value in general, but a specific user may find one option more desirable than the other depending on the balance of their priorities of the factors of price, water resistance, breathability, ease of maintenance and weight.

5. What is the difference between mountaineering, trekking, backpacking and day hiking?
The terms describe the type of hiking, with each type of hiking needs specific functional features from a boot.

Mountaineering: Ascending a mountain-rock, ice and/or snow. These boots must be stiff and crampon compatible. Less emphasis on quick horizontal travel.

Trekking: Mountain hiking, with the emphasis on travel, rather than reaching peaks. Boots are built with rocker--- boot assists the foot in moving forward by building more spring as each step is taken. Generally stiff boots, since difficult, rocky terrain may be traversed.

Backpacking: Hiking with a backpack load. Shorter distances may be covered, but heavy loads on the back require a stiff, supportive boot.

Day Hiking: Hiking for the day or with a light load. More emphasis on comfort over stiffness. Some support, but less than the other hiking categories.

6. Does Garmont offer an all synthetic boot?
Yes, Garmont offers many styles of all-synthetic boots. The 2008 line consists of 6 synthetic (or Vegan boots). Click here to view the Vegan line.

7. If I need my boot repaired, who can I go to?
Your local cobbler, if experienced in hiking boot repairs, should be able to repair your hiking boot. Our dealer list also shows some cobblers that we use for our repairs.

8. Can Garmont Boots be resoled?
All our boots are made with either resoleable soles or with Midsole/sole units. In cases where the sole has worn to the midsole, the midsole can be replaced, but it is generally a more expensive repair.

9. What's the difference between Men's and Women's boots?
The main difference between Men's and Women's boots is the width. Men's are a D width, Women's are a B (Narrow). In some models, other modifications are made in the women's boots to accommodate the generally wider lower calf of a woman's and the generally lower volume of women's feet.

10. Do you sell wide widths?
We sell standard Men's D widths in all styles. The only exception is the Tactical line of footwear. Click here to view the Tactical Line.

11. What's the benefit of having Kevlar in a hiking boot?
The Kevlar Cordura we use in our Kevlar boots is a fabric, but since it contains Kevlar thread, it is highly abrasion resistant. Kevlar is also extremely light for its strength, and thus produces a lightweight boot.

12. What is StormBloc?
Stormbloc is a coating which is a breathable yet water resistent. It is less breathable than Goretex, but perhaps more water resistent. We use this in many of our Fabric boots to make them more water resistent.

13. How can I make my boots fit better?
Minor fit adjustments can be made via lacing techniques, sock weight, insoles and foam. First determine what aspect of the boot doesn't fit well. Heel lift can be corrected by changing the lacing configuration to loop the top two eyelets, and then pull the lace through that loop.


A high instep or a high volume foot can be accommodated by changing the lacing pattern as shown below. This pattern should give you the space you need in the place where you need it.


Sock combinations can be one lightweight with a mid-weight or one midweight sock. Insoles can be customized with extra pieces of foam to fill in the parts of the boot that are too loose. If the boot is leather, a cobbler can stretch the part of the boot that is tight. For more assistance, contact your local Garmont Hiking Boot dealer or any shoe store experienced in making fit modifications.

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TELEMARK
1. Why are Garmont Telemark Boots different than other plastic telemark boots?
Garmont Telemark boots achieve their flex through the durometer (or stiffness) of the plastic used to make the boot. In a very stiff boots like the Gara, the Flex zone remains somewhat soft to flex, but the tongue and cuff are very stiff to allow the skier to get top responsive from the boot. A boot designed for touring, like the Libero, is softer throughout for touring comfort. Other plastic boots use the thickness rather than the actual plastic stiffness to achieve these functional differences.

2. What is Mondo Point sizing?
Mondo Point sizing is the length of your foot in centimeters. So, if your foot is 28cm long, you are a mondo point 28. Pretty simple!

3. Why would I need a releaseable binding for Telemark skiing?
As boots have become taller and stiffer, the free heel alone of the telemark setup does not prevent the skier from torquing injuries. In addition, releasable bindings can save your life if caught in an avalanche. First, skis can make it very difficult to swim, a survival technique that helps keep the victim on top of the slide, and second, the the force of the avalanche can break your legs. Broken legs in the backcountry can be fatal. Like downhill releasable bindings, 7tm bindings release, rather than your leg bear the brunt of bad or twisting falls.

4. Are leather telemark boots history?
Garmont believes that the telemark skier is best served with a plastic boot, because our technology gives the skier the nice flex of leather, but the support and control of plastic. As a plus, plastic doesn't break down and soften to the degree leather does. Leather boots are still fine for lighter touring, but more vertically oriented skiers are better served with a plastic boot.

5. What model is best for me?
What kind of skiing do you do? (or what kind of skiing do you want to?).