The highest item level boots a level 1–10 character can wear as a Mage start with Barbaric Cloth Boots (item level 15, uncommon). 97 items fit the slot and band; the top 25 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Barbaric Cloth Boots | 15 | 10 | 19 | Cloth | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+390 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Willow Boots | 15 | 10 | 19 | Cloth | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+396 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Spellbinder Boots | 14 | 9 | 17 | Cloth | Drops from Felweaver Scornn (Durotar) at 14.3% (+138 more) (vanilla) |
| 4 | Linen BootsCHANGED | 13 | 8 | 17 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 5 | Native Sandals | 13 | 8 | 16 | Cloth | Drops from Burning Blade Crusher at 2.8% (+118 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 | Calico Shoes | 13 | 8 | 15 | Cloth | Found in Hidden Strongbox (Alterac Mountains) at 0.5% (+228 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 | Simple Shoes | 12 | 7 | 15 | Cloth | Drops from Gorefang (Silverpine Forest) at 4.1% (+159 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Azure Stormsewn ShoesFOREVER | 11 | 6 | 14 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 9 | Cloudy Stormsewn ShoesFOREVER | 11 | 6 | 14 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 10 | Ancestral Boots | 11 | 6 | 14 | Cloth | Drops from Death Flayer (Durotar) at 0.7% (+107 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 | Disciple's Boots | 11 | 6 | 14 | Cloth | Drops from Death Flayer (Durotar) at 8.1% (+137 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 | Beaded Sandals | 10 | 5 | 13 | Cloth | Drops from The Rake (Mulgore) at 1.0% (+88 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 | Farmer's Boots | 10 | 13 | Cloth | Quest: Princess Must Die! | |
| 14 |  Knitted Sandals | 10 | 5 | 13 | Cloth | Drops from Hillsbrad Tailor (Hillsbrad Foothills) at 25.0% (vanilla) Sold by Aeolynn (+13 more) |
| 15 | Web-covered Boots | 10 | 5 | 13 | Cloth | Drops from Mother Fang (Elwynn Forest) |
| 16 | Woven Boots | 10 | 5 | 13 | Cloth | Sold by Constance Brisboise (+4 more) (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Patchwork Shoes | 10 | 5 | 12 | Cloth | Found in Battered Chest (Elwynn Forest) at 1.3% (+227 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Bog Boots | 9 | 4 | 11 | Cloth | Drops from Timberling Mire Beast (Teldrassil) at 1.8% (vanilla) |
| 19 | Journeyman's Boots | 9 | 4 | 11 | Cloth | Drops from Snagglespear (Mulgore) at 4.2% (+78 more) (vanilla) |
| 20 | Simple Linen Boots | 9 | 4 | 11 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 21 |  Dirt-trodden Boots | 8 | 10 | Cloth | Quest: From The Wreckage.... (vanilla) | |
| 22 | Viny Wrappings | 7 | 9 | Cloth | Quest: Twisted Hatred (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Flax Boots | 5 | 7 | Cloth | Quest: Rattling the Rattlecages (vanilla) | |
| 24 | Snow Boots | 5 | 7 | Cloth | Quest: A New Threat (vanilla) | |
| 25 | Soft Fur-lined Shoes | 5 | 7 | Cloth | Quest: Wolves Across the Border |
Ranked by item level, then quality, among items with a known source: gear nothing drops, sells, rewards or makes yet (raids not yet open, the client's test items) is left out. The class filter keeps what the class can equip at level 10 (armor type, weapon skill, Dual Wield, the item's own class limit); the side filter drops items that only the other side's vendors and quests offer. Source: the best known drop first (a Forever rate at 10+ loots, else the vanilla 1.12 chance), then vendors, quest rewards and the profession that makes it. Reviewed picks: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Chest, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs. Every slot and level.