The Use of a Foot Dorsal Height Model for the Design of Wellington Boots

Waterproof boots such as Wellingtons are commonly used by agricultural workers all over the world. Since this type of boot lacks laces to adjust the fit along the shoe, the design of the boot has to consider the foot height dimension besides the foot length and width dimensions. This study aims to model the height dimension of Chinese feet, so that fit and comfort of covered boots can be improved. Using 3D laser scans of the right feet of 26 Hong Kong Chinese males, an empirical model for midfoot dorsal height was developed and applied in the design of Wellington boots using a computer-aided design (CAD) system. This study shows that the midfoot dorsal height model in addition to traditional anthropometric dimensions has potential for designing and improving the fit of closed shoes such as Wellington boots.