Outdoor Blog

How to Fix / Prevent Heel Slippage in Boots

Published

4 years ago

June 22, 2021

New boots can be a blessing and a curse. All hikers are familiar with the process.

You get a new pair of hiking boots, they feel awful for a bit, maybe give you blisters, and before you know it, they’re your favorite pair of boots. The bad news is that discomfort and adjustment are part of the natural hiking boot cycle. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to make the process of breaking in hiking boots easier.

Insoles can help prevent the development of foot disorders such as plantar fasciitis.

Parts of a Boot

Before we get started, however, it’s important to know some basic boot parts so you can orient yourself. Boots are not all that complicated, but you may not realize just how many of these pieces can contribute to heel slippage! Here are some of the boot parts we’ll be discussing:

Insoles: The insole is the soft, internal part of the shoe where your foot rests. Properly fitted and shaped insoles are essential to a good fit. Many hikers and runners use additional insertable insoles to boost arch support, add cushion, and more.
Tongue: The flap on top of the shoe or boot that goes underneath the laces. A worn-out tongue is an often-overlooked cause of heel slippage. If your boots are old, you may need to reinforce the tongue.
Instep: Technically, the instep is the part of your foot that goes in the shoe. This is what’s generally referred to as the “arch” of your foot, although there are three arches total.
Outsole: The rough, outer sole that touches the ground. Outsoles don’t have much of an effect on heel slippage, but an outsole that’s too heavy can exacerbate the problem.
Eyelets: These are the metal circles that cover and protect the holes for the laces.
Collar: The top edge of the back of the shoe. This is where you would attach a heel grip or insert a heel liner to alleviate heel slippage.

What is Heel Slipping / Heel Slippage?

Heel slipping, or heel slippage is one of the main reasons that a good pair of boots is essential for any hiker or camper. Not only can heel slippage be an uncomfortable experience, but it can also contribute to medical issues such as plantar fasciitis.

So what exactly is a heel slippage? To put it simply, heel slipping is when your foot slips out the back of your shoe or boot while walking. Often, the culprit is the heel area of your boot not being tight, worn-in, or well-fitted enough.

Thankfully, this can be fairly easy to fix, either by wearing the boots in more or by using some common tips and tricks as outlined below. First, however, let’s look into what causes heel slippage and why it’s so common with newly-purchased shoes.

What Causes Heel Slippage?

Heel slippage is an annoying problem that you can run into with any pair of new shoes. It’s more common, however, with stiffer shoes such as work boots, high heels, and cowboy boots. It can be especially annoying when this happens with your hiking boots!

After all, you’re relying on your boots to keep your feet safe and healthy, and a heel slip on the trail can be dangerous. So why do some shoes cause heel slippage? Essentially, the problem is that there’s not enough traction or pressure from the shoe around your heel.

This can be because the shoe doesn’t fit right, isn’t laced tightly enough, is made of low-traction materials, or even just because the boots need to be broken in.

11 Tips To Prevent and Fix Heel Slippage in Boots

Depending on the source of your heel slippage problem, the fix will be a little bit different. Thankfully, there are some easy tips and tricks to prevent your heel from slipping even while you wear a new pair of boots. You should rule out a few common shoe and boot problems first. To start with, check the sizing of your boots and consider adjusting your walking style.

1. Make sure you have the right size

The first and foremost thing to check if you start to experience heel slippage is to make sure you have the right size boot. It’s essential when buying a new pair of boots to get an accurate and snug fit. Not only will this prevent your heel from slipping out, but it can also prevent foot and ankle issues like plantar fasciitis as well.

It can be tricky to find the perfect fit! Different boots are shaped differently and your feet grow and change with different environmental conditions as well. One way to improve your chances, however, is to pay attention to both the length and width of your shoe size. If you need narrow soled shoes and end up with wide soles, you’re going to run into some heel slippage.

2. Adjust your walking style

This can be a good way to make wearing in a new pair of boots less of a pain. Simply try to walk heel-first rather than ball-first and this should alleviate some of the slipping. You should also pay attention to your walking style when buying new boots. Test them out by walking a bit to make sure they work well with your walking style.

3. Use a boot dryer

Not only will keeping your boots nice and dry help to prevent wear, mold, and the breakdown of the interior of your boot, it can also help them fit better. Just like putting certain clothes through the dryer to shrink them, drying your boots will tighten them up a bit.

It’s always better to use a purpose-built boot dryer to get the best results. You can, however, use a fan to dry out the inside of your boots if they get wet. Or, fill them with absorbent material such as balls of newspaper. Fully drying your boots will prevent the wear that can lead to heel slippage, so make sure it’s on your post-hike to-do list!

4. Use heel grips

If you’re sure you have the right size boot, and you’ve tried adjusting your gait and drying your boots, it’s time to get serious about tackling heel slippage. One easy-to-use option is a heel grip. This product, used in everything from work boots to high heels, attaches to the top of your shoe, providing a buffer between your heel and the back of the shoe.

Heel grips can also be used to correct for shoes that are too large for you if you’ve already made the purchase. This is similar to what a cobbler would call a “distance” but rather than being inserted into the shoe itself, the heel grip just attaches to the back.

Some people find them to be irritating and difficult to use, but a lot of people find them very comfortable.

5. Get non-slip insoles

You can also use insertable insoles designed to prevent your foot from sliding around in the boot. In fact, insoles can be great for a lot of purposes including arch support, cushioning, and gait correction. Be careful to understand the limitations of consumer products.

Only a podiatrist can address medical problems with orthotics. But the insoles available over the counter are great for simple fixes. Heel slippage is a great example. Just search for non-slip insoles, and make sure to get the right size.

6. Put in heel liners

You can also buy a similar product called a heel liner, which fits in the back of your shoe rather than at the bottom. Much like a heel grip, a heel liner creates a cushion between your heel and the back of the shoe.

This improves the traction and prevents slippage, and it also can help with blisters from too much foot movement inside the shoe. If you don’t want to buy heel liners or heel grips, you can use thick socks to a similar effect! More in socks in a moment.

7. Use lace anchors or better boot lacing.

One surprising source of heel slippage is loose shoelaces. You may not even realize the laces are loose, but if your heel keeps slipping out the back, finding a way to lace your boots more tightly can help a lot. Or, you can buy lace anchors to keep your laces from loosening as you walk.

There are many different versions of lace anchors, but they all attach to your laces and keep them from slipping through the eyelets. There are many different methods for lacing boots. Some, like the rabbit hole method, are especially good for stopping slippage.

Everyone has their own preferences, so try out a few different lacing styles to see which is the most comfortable for you. The rabbit hole method is relatively simple, so it’s a good place to start if you’re trying to adjust your lacing. Here’s what to do:

Lace up the boots as you normally would, stopping before the top / extra holes.
Then, pull both lace ends through one top hole.
Take both laces and lace them through the other top hole.
Finally, tie a bow as you normally would.

8. Get tongue pads

The tongue of your shoe or boot is one of the top spots for wear and tear. As the tongue gets loose and worn out, it won’t hold your foot quite as tightly to the bottom and back of the shoe. Tongue pads are a great solution to the problem.

You simply attach them to the bottom side of the tongue, and they push the heel backward and down. This can help prevent heel slippage by holding the wheel closer to the back of the shoe, but it’s also good for reinforcing a worn-out tongue generally.

You can buy tongue pads in a variety of styles and thicknesses depending on how much cushion you need.

9. Switch to non-slip socks

Despite what you might be thinking, it’s not always necessary to mod out your boots to solve a problem with heel slippage. Sometimes, it can be as easy as switching out your socks. Thicker socks can help provide more traction (just like a heel liner, heel grip, or any of the other inserts above) as well as cushioning to take up some space in the shoe.

So, if your boot or shoe is a little too big and you’re sliding around in there, get some thicker pairs of socks and see if they solve the problem before you try anything more involved.

10. Use double-sided tape

Here’s where the list gets a little weirder. For hikers and campers especially, you’re not always in a place where buying a heel liner would be easy. So these last couple of tips are for DIY solutions when you can’t get to the real thing. Still, it can be surprising how well some of these hacks work!

Double-sided tape is the first to try. If you have double-sided tape (especially the thicker kind for posters), just put a strip or two along the back wall of your shoe or boot. It will add some traction and cushioning to separate your heel from the back of the shoe. You can also buy purpose-made blister tape to add cushioning or prevent rubbing in your boots.

Hand using a hairspray bottle

11.Use a little hairspray!

Finally, you can also use hair spray to increase the amount of traction between your foot and the shoe. Just spray a little on your foot or on the inside of the back of the shoe and you’re good to go! It may feel a little weird at first, but this really does work.

It was developed first by people who wear high heels, but it works just as well for hiking boots, work boots, and just about any shoe with a heel slipping problem.

How to Fix Heel Slip in Boots

With a little luck, the tips above will solve your heel slippage problem. If you need more than a quick fix, however, there are some ways to adjust boots or shoes to fit you better. Of course, it’s better to make sure you’re sizing boots accurately in the first place, but if you do end up with a pair that you’d rather adjust, you can have a cobbler install “distances” in the shoe.

You can sometimes get this type of repair performed at a shoe store, but not all of them have repair services available, so you may need to find a cobbler. In this case, the cobbler will install leather spacers in the back of the boot or shoe in order to push your foot forward. If you have very well-made boots and want to preserve the quality, working with a cobbler may be a good idea.

Final Verdict

The most effective way to prevent heel slippage is to make sure your hiking boots fit right in the first place. It can be tempting to buy a pair of boots before you do all your homework, but make sure to have your foot measured, test the boots, and consider getting custom inserts to fit the boot to your foot.

All of this can help prevent heel slippage, but sometimes it’s just a necessary part of the boot break-in process. If you find yourself in the position, just try the tips above, and your boots will be secure in no time.

Bonus tip: Here are a few different ways to lace your boots for a snug and secure fit!

Outdoor Blog

How to Take Your Own Internet to Outdoor Events

Published

2 weeks ago

October 18, 2025

Jonas Muthoni

You’ve got the permits, the lineup, the stage design, and the crowd — but when it comes to WiFi, outdoor events can turn from dream festivals to data dead zones in minutes. Reliable connectivity is now as essential as power or sound. Whether it’s a music festival streaming to TikTok, a food fair using mobile POS systems, or a corporate brand activation relying on live dashboards, the internet connection is what keeps the gears turning.

But the truth is this: counting on venue WiFi at a large outdoor event is a gamble. Hundreds of devices fighting for the same bandwidth can jam up the signal before the headliner gets on stage. Public networks only have one backhaul connection, so your production crew, security cameras, and vendors could all be fighting with concert-goers streaming YouTube in the crowd.

So, if your aspiration is to keep the event chugging along like clockwork, the genius move is to bring your own internet — designed specifically for the occasion, private, and controlled by your event staff.

Why Venue WiFi Fails When Crowds Arrive

Let’s start with the numbers. According to Cisco’s 2024 Annual Internet Report, the average person now connects four to six devices at live events — phones, wearables, tablets, scanners, and streaming gear. Multiply that by 5,000 or 50,000 people, and you’re looking at a digital traffic jam.

Outdoor locations have a very minimal amount of wired infrastructure. The majority utilize older systems or common fiber links, which were not designed for thousands of users at once. When the signal is over-stretched, latency increases, access points fail, and the network grinds to a halt.

For event organizers, this is not only inconvenient — it’s a safety and revenue gamble. POS terminals won’t work. QR ticket scanners crawl. Even backup communication programs freeze.

The Smarter Solution: Creating Your Own Network

Constructing a stand-alone network for an outside event may seem daunting, but technology has made it relatively achievable. Instead of relying on one provider or tower, professional crews now use several sources of the internet to deliver redundancy and stability.

Outdoor WiFi specialists use multi-carrier cellular bonding, satellite uplinks, and WAN smoothing to keep traffic consistent even when one source is down. It’s a lot like having several water pipes feed one tank — if one pipe gets stopped up, others keep the flow consistent.

The best configuration depends on three variables:

Location: Urban park, remote valley, rooftop, or open desert all have different signal profiles and line-of-sight challenges.
Bandwidth Demand: Are you providing power to a 50-person AV crew or streaming to a million online viewers?
Duration: A day-long music festival versus a week-long brand tour will change the way you plan power, cooling, and redundancy.

Professional crews will often pre-deploy with site surveys — gauging carrier strength, spectrum congestion, and potential sources of interference such as LED walls or nearby broadcast towers.

Lessons from the Field

Outdoor WiFi would be a niche specialty, but in today’s world it’s simply part and parcel of modern event production. In the last decade, TradeShowInternet’s teams have helped support hundreds of big outdoor festivals and corporate activations, and there have been a few hard-won lessons along the way.

There was the time crews climbed a half mile up the flank of a Santa Fe mountain with over 200 pounds of gear to put in a solar-powered relay antenna for Red Bull’s Guinness World Record truck jump. A second assignment involved digging cable trenches through snake country in Los Angeles for Christian Dior’s fashion show.

When Univision taped La Banda on the beach in Miami, technicians climbed a 20-foot truss into a lightning storm to raise antennas. These are probably war stories, but they represent reality: each outdoor location introduces its own wildcards. Wind, weather, terrain, and local RF noise all push the limits of planning.

The lesson? Experience is as important as gear. Knowing when to use additional directional antennas, when to flip to satellite failover, or how to protect a router from 100-degree heat isn’t something you can read in a manual.

The Technical Side: How Redundant Networks Keep Events Alive

This is how seasoned outdoor internet crews engineer reliability into temporary networks:

Multi-Carrier Bonding: Equipment stitches together data from multiple cellular carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) to maximize bandwidth and fill signal gaps.

WAN Smoothing: Packets are duplicated and relayed on secondary paths to prevent noticeable drops or hiccups in live streams.
Satellite Integration: Especially when out at remote sites or in mountain events where cell phone reception is spotty.
5G + LTE Hybrid Units: Combining newer high-bandwidth 5G networks with more predictable LTE offers well-rounded throughput.
Portable Mesh Access Points: Create overlapping areas of WiFi that eliminate dead spots across vast grounds or over tented locations.
Power & Weather Protection: Ranging from Pelican case enclosures to solar power solutions, all of which ensure uptime regardless of adverse weather conditions.

It’s a multi-layer strategy — not one device straining the load, but several working in tandem to handle bandwidth, robustness, and coverage.

Why Your Vendors, AV Staff, and Guests All Need Their Own Network Layer

External events normally have three distinct user communities that require the internet:

Production and AV Personnel – operation of live feeds, mixing panels, lighting, and communications programs.
Vendors and POS Devices – card transaction processing, QR menus, and inventory software.
Guests and Media – posting, uploading, or taking part in brand interaction activity.

Mixing them all on one open WiFi is risky. It provides security vulnerabilities and causes too much congestion. The preferred method is network segmentation, creating separate virtual networks that prioritize mission-critical traffic (production, POS, security cameras) and restrict non-mission-critical use like social browsing.

This is exactly how professional outdoor WiFi & Internet solution companies like TradeShowInternet build event systems. They design bespoke topologies that match the unique demands of every event, whether a food festival, marathon, or big corporate activation.

Budgeting and Planning: What Organizers Should Know

According to EventMB’s 2024 Event Technology Report, 73% of event planners say maintaining a reliable connection is important to attendee happiness, yet less than half have a standalone internet budget in place upfront while planning. That’s a recipe for last-minute scrambling.

For all to run smoothly, the network plan needs to be created alongside stage design and power planning — not an afterthought.

Some planning advice:

Start early: Conduct site surveys at least 30 days ahead of the event.
Prioritize wired backbones: Use fiber or Ethernet in production areas whenever possible.
Segregate guest WiFi: Utilize bandwidth caps or sponsored captive portals to control usage.
Redundancy: Cellular + satellite bonding is well worth the investment for mission-critical space.
Post-event review: Collect performance data to inform next year’s plan.

Real-World Use Cases

Outdoor connectivity is not just for music festivals. It’s a necessity for:

Marathons and triathlons – for timing chips, live maps, and emergency co-ordination.
Outdoor conferences or summits – where executives require office-grade internet to make presentations.
Food truck festivals and markets – all vendors need POS access.
Film and TV productions – production villages rely on low-latency connections for uploads.
Races and motorsport events – telemetry, live scoring, and media streaming.

Each of these environments needs a different trade-off among coverage area, upload speed, and mobility.

Why Experience Matters for Outdoor Internet Installations

Each outdoor location is unique. Trees, humidity, metal buildings, even bodies of water can affect wireless performance. Having individuals who’ve done hundreds of installations means fewer surprises and faster repairs when something unexpected happens.

That’s where TradeShowInternet, a leading outdoor WiFi & Internet solution company, comes in. The company has built up networks on deserts, beaches, helipads, mountain ridges, and pop-up brand villages — keeping organizers, vendors, and AV teams connected wherever the event is hosted.

Outdoor Blog

Outdoor Event WiFi: The New Backbone of Open-Air Experiences

Published

2 weeks ago

October 17, 2025

Jonas Muthoni

A concert in the canyon. A film night under desert stars. A bustling waterfront food festival with 10,000 guests. Across the country, outdoor events are turning parks, coastlines, forests, and fields into memorable destinations. But there’s one service now as essential as power, permits, and porta-potties: outdoor event WiFi.

Whether for ticket scanning, mobile POS systems, sponsor activations, or live-streaming performances, WiFi for outdoor events has become the invisible support that keeps everything running. Without it, payments stall, communication falters, and digital engagement stops.

Why Outdoor Event WiFi Is Mission-Critical

The outdoor events sector, from farmers’ markets to endurance races, is growing quickly. Allied Market Research predicts global festival revenues will exceed $50B by 2030. These venues offer unique charm, but they also pose a challenge: a lack of built-in internet infrastructure.

“Outside doesn’t mean offline,” says Emma Castillo, a production manager for festivals, film nights, and open-air corporate launches. “We rely on temporary internet for outdoor events to manage our security communications, allow vendors to keep selling, and ensure our livestreams don’t drop.”

Cellular service can struggle with the demands of thousands of devices. Some remote locations may not have any service at all. That’s where outdoor event WiFi solutions come in—portable, scalable, and designed for unpredictable weather.

How Outdoor Internet Keeps Events Moving

Today’s outdoor events rely on connectivity in ways that go far beyond letting guests post on social media:

Mobile POS & Cashless Payments – No signal means lost revenue for vendors.
RFID & Access Control – Real-time validation at gates and VIP areas.
Streaming & Social Content – From TikTok reels to sponsor livestreams.
Sponsor Engagement – QR contests, AR activations, and digital signage updates.
Safety & Logistics – Staff communication, emergency alerts, GPS tracking.

A recent Event Manager Blog study found 63% of sponsors now require guaranteed internet access before committing. Attendees want it too; more than half say connectivity is a key factor in their event satisfaction.

Outdoor Event WiFi Solutions in Action: “Lights on the Lake”

In June, the lakeside town of Lakeshore hosted a three-day open-air film festival. The views were stunning, but no wired internet was available, and mobile service barely worked.

The technical crew set up:

Multi-carrier 5G bonding for vendor and guest networks
Long-range weatherproof access points covering the pier and food court
A private secure network for organizers and emergency staff
A satellite uplink for backup

The festival processed thousands of transactions, streamed Q&A sessions with international filmmakers, and even operated a live voting app without a single connectivity failure.

Industry Perspective: Connectivity as a Core Utility

According to WiFit founder Matt Cicek, changes in event technology priorities have been significant:

“Five years ago, internet at an outdoor event was seen as a nice-to-have. Now, it’s as essential as running water and electricity. From safety coordination to sponsor returns, there’s too much at stake to leave it to chance.”

The Future of Temporary Internet for Outdoor Events

As events become more complex, WiFi for outdoor events from service providers like WiFit will play an even larger role. Expect advancements like:

Solar-powered network kits for sustainable operations
AI-managed bandwidth that adjusts to real-time crowd size
Edge computing for instant AR and interactive attractions

For event planners, the message is clear: the quality of your internet connection is as important as your stage, lighting, or sound system. The next time you’re booking a venue, remember—the crowd may be watching the performers, but they’re also looking at their screens. They expect both to work perfectly.

Outdoor Blog

Gear You Should Snag for the Great Outdoors This Season

Published

1 year ago

September 25, 2024

Caleb Cole

Outdoor enthusiasts know that having the right gear can make all the difference. Whether you’re hiking, camping, hunting, or engaging in any other outdoor activity, quality equipment ensures not only safety but also a better overall experience. As we head into a new season, it’s time to refresh your gear collection with essential items that will enhance your adventures. In this article, we’ll explore five pieces of must-have outdoor gear, focusing on both practicality and comfort.

Shooting Glasses Are Essential for Outdoor Adventures

If you’re heading out for a shooting range session or a hunting trip, investing in a quality pair of shooting glasses is non-negotiable. Eye protection is critical when engaging in any activity involving firearms, and shooting glasses are designed to keep your eyes safe from potential hazards like debris, shell casings, and even harmful UV rays.

Shooting glasses are a key safety measure that helps shield your eyes from impact and glare. The lenses are typically made from high-impact resistant materials that can endure tough conditions, making them a must-have for hunters, target shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Beyond safety, these glasses often come with polarized lenses to improve visibility in various lighting conditions. By incorporating shooting glasses into your outdoor gear, you’re ensuring not only better safety but also improved performance during your time in the wilderness.

What Should You Look For During Black Friday Hunting Gear Deals?

One of the best times to stock up on essential outdoor gear is during Black Friday. Black Friday hunting gear deals provide an opportunity for hunters to snag high-quality items at significantly reduced prices. Whether you’re after apparel, backpacks, or specialized equipment, Black Friday sales often feature steep discounts on top brands that every outdoor enthusiast should take advantage of.

This sale season is ideal for upgrading your hunting wardrobe and stocking up on essential gear that may normally be out of your price range. From weather-resistant jackets to durable boots and base layers, hunting gear can be pricey, and Black Friday is the perfect time to invest in the best equipment. By keeping an eye out for deals during this shopping period, you can save money while ensuring you’re well-prepared for your next big adventure.

Multi-Tools Are a Must-Have

Want to know the most versatile pieces of gear you can carry? It is a multi-tool. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or hunting, having a tool that can serve multiple functions is a game-changer. Multi-tools come equipped with a variety of features such as knives, screwdrivers, pliers, and scissors, all compactly housed in a single device that easily fits in your pocket or pack.

The practicality of a multi-tool is hard to beat. It allows you to tackle unexpected tasks, from cutting rope to repairing gear, all without needing to carry a full toolbox. When you’re out in the wild, you want to be prepared for anything, and a multi-tool ensures you’re ready to handle small emergencies or make quick fixes with ease.

Insulated Water Bottles Can Improve Your Outdoor Experience

Staying hydrated is one of the most important aspects of any outdoor activity. Whether you’re embarking on a long hike or spending hours in a hunting blind, having an insulated water bottle can make a difference. Insulated bottles have features that help to keep your drinks at the desired temperature for a long time, which is especially useful during extreme weather conditions.

These bottles maintain the temperature of your beverage—whether cold or hot—so you can enjoy refreshing water in the summer or a warm drink during chilly morning hunts. Insulated water bottles are also typically made from durable materials, meaning they can withstand the rigors of outdoor use without breaking or leaking. Investing in a high-quality insulated bottle ensures that you stay hydrated and comfortable throughout your outdoor excursions.

Durable Backpacks Can Enhance Your Outdoor Experience

A good backpack is the cornerstone of any successful outdoor trip. When you’re out in nature, you need a reliable, durable pack to carry all of your gear comfortably. Look for backpacks that are built to withstand harsh conditions, provide ample storage, and have ergonomic designs that distribute weight evenly to prevent strain on your back and shoulders.

Modern outdoor backpacks come equipped with multiple compartments to help you stay organized, as well as specialized features like hydration bladder compatibility, rain covers, and reinforced straps. By investing in a durable, well-designed backpack, you’ll have the capacity to carry everything you need—whether it’s extra clothing, food, or hunting gear—while maintaining comfort during long treks.