Outbound Homing Boots \u2014 Full Guide
How to get them, how the auto-track arrow works, and why some players think they\u2019re broken (they\u2019re not).
What Homing Boots do
Homing Boots are an exploration aid. They display an on-screen arrow that points to your currently pinned landmark, updating as you move. They do not replace the map \u2014 they replace the constant pause-to-check-map cycle.
How to get them
- Story drop: complete the introduction beacon objective in Starting Area. You receive one free pair.
- Crafting: Workshop Tier 2 unlocks the recipe. Cost: 2 Strong Weave + 1 Casing + 1 Electronics. Useful if you want a backup pair stored on a different chassis.
How to use them
- Equip from the gear menu (Boots slot).
- Open the map and pin a landmark (signal tower, ruin, NPC, custom marker).
- Toggle the boots on with B (keyboard) or LB (gamepad).
- An arrow appears on the lower-screen edge pointing to the pinned landmark. Follow it.
- Toggle off with the same key when not needed (saves a small amount of battery for late-game players running low-power builds).
When the arrow disappears
- You\u2019re in a cave/tunnel \u2014 the boots use line-of-signal; arrow grey-outs.
- You haven\u2019t pinned a landmark \u2014 open the map and pin first.
- You\u2019re driving \u2014 in-vehicle arrow uses the van dashboard instead.
- Boots durability hit zero \u2014 repair at Workshop (1 Strong Weave).
Common Homing Boots questions
How do you use Homing Boots in Outbound?
Equip them from the gear menu, then toggle on with B (keyboard) or LB (gamepad). An on-screen arrow snaps to your current pinned landmark. The arrow updates in real time as you move. Toggle off with the same key when you don’t need them.
Where do you get Homing Boots?
First pair drops as a quest reward in the Starting Area, completing the introduction beacon objective. Additional pairs can be crafted at Workshop Tier 2 — cost: 2 Strong Weave + 1 Casing + 1 Electronics.
Why is the Homing Boots arrow not showing?
Three causes: (1) you have no active pinned landmark — open the map and pin one; (2) you are inside a structure that blocks signal — the arrow grey-outs in caves and tunnels; (3) the boots are not equipped to the active gear slot — check the gear menu.
Can I use Homing Boots while driving the van?
No — the arrow disables in vehicle. The van has its own waypoint indicator on the dashboard which fulfils the same role for driving.
Do Homing Boots have durability?
Yes, but slowly — ~25 in-game days of constant use. Repair at the Workshop with a single Strong Weave.