Boot Shopping

“I took a friend of mine boot shopping at Campmor on Friday. She has gone hiking with me a couple of times with little slipper-like sneakers, and I thought I had convinced her to get some decent hiking boots. At Campmor we were blessed with a very patient young man by the name of Fritz. He was much more patient than me, but then I was suffering from a headcold and stomach virus.

We started with the day hiking boots with ankle support, moved on to trail shoes and then to running shoes. My friend at one point said that she thought the boots were too heavy; she wanted to be light as a feather traipsing down the trail. Then she asked this nice salesman if he had any hiking boots that were "prettier". I started to frantically look around. She asked me if I was going to throw up, and I said "No, I just need to know that no one around us is listening to you. I need a hat and dark glasses now."

We left the department without any boots because she didn't find any that fit comfortably enough, and I was exhausted from tieing her shoelaces a zillion times. She had a big issue with the padding around the ankle. Does this soften up with time, or do most people have tougher skin there? My boots, Hi-Tec Altitudes, have very soft padding around the ankle opening, but there were many brands with much thinner padding. ANy tips on more successful boot shopping? I'm thinking of just taking her shopping for decent sneakers next time. We hike on rocky trails next to creeks, which is what started the whole quest for boots.

I did get my Princeton Tec Aurora and a few other more mundane items. The Aurora is really great. THe strap is very comfortable, and the light seems plenty bright. I haven't tried it out yet outside; maybe tonight I'll go for a walk in the yard.”

“Splash,the ankle padding will soften up nicely as the boot breaks in and comforms to the foot. A partial leather lining will actually mold to foot for superb comfort if the fit is correct. You can feel this taking place as your foot heats up the leather especially in the tongue of the boot. For starters she needs to know what type of boot she wants. Low or high cut, trail or off trail and so on. Once you determine that have her try on as many boots as possible and one somewhere is bound to fit eventually. You might have to go to many different stores and it is grueling if your a hard fit like I am. I just went through it, I found what I wanted and I'm glad it's over with.”

“YAYYYY!!! i just got new Hi-Tec Altitudes yesterday after months of research and waiting. love em. i already changed the shoelaces though. seems the ones they have in there don't get tight enough. so i use army combat boot laces and between the top two lace hooks, i do an overhand knot. that seems to work well. who else has these boots and do you like them or not?”

“I'm sorry Splash, but it sounds like the only way you'll have a better boot shopping experience is to take a different friend. Good luck. Richb's advice is exactly what I was thinking so I won't post it twice.”

“Ruckman, I like my Altitudes a lot, too. No real break-in time, comfortable. The only thing is the insoles were not supportive enough, but I put Superfeet insoles in and these work great (break them in before going on a backpacking trip. I wore mine in my sneakers for a few months). I'm going to try different shoelaces as mine don't stay tied long enough either. They stay pretty waterproof, too. I use Nikwax on them occasionally.”

“I just got the Merrell Traverse's and they are great!!!!

8)

Boots take a brake in time no matter what.

It just takes time.”

“My latest effort to cushion my heels is a pair of Sorbothane Ultra Soles in my Asolo Fusion 95 GTX's. So far, so good, but the test will be next weekend in Michigan with the gang. The fit is great in these boots, so I hope this insole is the answer to the hard heel strike.

Of course I couldn't resist when I spotted a pair of Adidas Augur IV's for 40% off at our Foot Locker - last pair, and my size. My Adidas Sahale trail shoes/runners are great for low cuts, and Adidas fit me well, so we'll see how the Augurs do for mid-height, non-GTX trail boots. Seem about right for a good summer boot.”

“It sounds like that will work for ya.

And the other shoe you got good score!

8)”

“My biggest problem with boots is my right little toe. Regardless of what size I get, it blisters and hurts, even with tape on it. I have considered going to my doctor and saying, ya know, I don't really need this thing, could you just whack it off for me? Please?

Somehow I doubt if he would honor my request.”

“You don't want to do that.When you buy boots can you get them in a Wide size?

If you can try that!

Other then that you might have to get the toe cut off.

JK

8)”

“Its doesn't matter mike. The damn thing hurts no matter what size, wide or normal, or if I tape it.
It usually starts hurting the minute I strap on the boots, and doesn't ever stop. If it didn't blister so bad, I guess I'd just ignore it and suck up the pain.

It's always bothered me.”

“I finally have found boots that don't rub my heels into festering bloody blisters. I got REI Monarchs goretex, made by Merrell. LOVE them. Wore them for the first time on our trip with Buddur and fully expected to be very uncomfortable because I hadn't broken them in. They were perfect....no blisters and no hot spots. They're a mid-weight boot. I think they're ugly as sin but they feel like heaven.

I've got two pairs of size tens, one Montrail Torre, GTX and one Vasque Clarion, GTX I'd happily send off to the highest bidder.

Sounds like your friend really isn't that concerned about her tootsies. Let her wear her sneakers. Maybe if her feet hurt or get sopping wet a few times she'll look at boot shopping in a whole new light. =) I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to take her, lol.”