The highest item level boots a level 31–40 character can wear as a Mage start with Gossamer Boots (item level 45, 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 |  Gossamer Boots | 45 | 40 | 41 | Cloth | Found in Captain's Chest (Tanaris) at 0.8% (+496 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Furen's Boots | 44 | 39 | 44 | Cloth | Drops from Narillasanz (Alterac Mountains) at 0.0% (+343 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Royal Boots | 44 | 39 | 40 | Cloth | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+494 more) (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Windchaser Footpads | 44 | 39 | 40 | Cloth | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+485 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Defiler's Cloth Boots | 43 | 38 | 43 | Cloth | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 6 | Highlander's Cloth Boots | 43 | 38 | 43 | Cloth | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 7 | Mistscape Boots | 43 | 38 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Foulbelly (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+527 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Lunar Slippers | 42 | 37 | 38 | Cloth | Drops from Foulbelly (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+517 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 | Darkmist Boots | 41 | 36 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Darbel Montrose (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+467 more) (vanilla) |
| 10 | Regal Boots | 41 | 36 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Darbel Montrose (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+476 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Hellion Boots | 40 | 36 | Cloth | Quest: The Karnitol Shipwreck (vanilla) | |
| 12 | Mantis Boots | 40 | 36 | Cloth | Quest: Taretha's Gift (vanilla) | |
| 13 | Nat Pagle's Extreme Anglin' Boots | 40 | 36 | Cloth | Quest: Rare Fish - Brownell's Blue Striped Racer (vanilla) | |
| 14 | Sorcerer Slippers | 40 | 35 | 36 | Cloth | Drops from Darbel Montrose (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+476 more) (vanilla) |
| 15 | Silksand Boots | 39 | 34 | 35 | Cloth | Drops from Lost One Chieftain (Swamp of Sorrows) at 1.1% (+440 more) (vanilla) |
| 16 | Wingborne BootsCHANGED | 39 | 35 | Cloth | Quest: Malin's Request (vanilla) | |
| 17 | Aurora Boots | 38 | 33 | 35 | Cloth | Drops from Lost One Chieftain (Swamp of Sorrows) at 1.1% (+448 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Embersilk Boots | 38 | 33 | 35 | Cloth | Drops from Lost One Chieftain (Swamp of Sorrows) at 1.1% (+440 more) (vanilla) |
| 19 | Kodo Rustler Boots | 38 | 35 | Cloth | Quest: Kodo Roundup (vanilla) | |
| 20 | Geomancer's Boots | 37 | 32 | 34 | Cloth | Drops from Lost One Cook (Swamp of Sorrows) at 1.1% (+489 more) (vanilla) |
| 21 |  Junglewalker Sandals | 37 | 34 | Cloth | Quest: Report to Doren (vanilla) | |
| 22 | Twilight Boots | 37 | 32 | 34 | Cloth | Drops from Lost One Cook (Swamp of Sorrows) at 1.1% (+496 more) (vanilla) |
| 23 | Russet Boots | 37 | 32 | 32 | Cloth | Sold by Dulciea Frostmoon (+13 more) (vanilla) |
| 24 |  Durtfeet Stompers | 36 | 33 | Cloth | Quest: Hungry! (vanilla) | |
| 25 |  Earthen Silk SlippersFOREVER | 36 | 31 | 33 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
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 40 (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.