rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,683
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 27, 2015 22:47:16 GMT -8
Loaded question for me. I have trouble getting any shoe, boot or runner (and forget about dress shoes) that is truly comfortable. But I need a boot that I can wear all day and hike 10 or 12 miles without pain, so I'm pretty persistent in finding the right fit. Then I add my custom orthotics, which takes care of most of the rest. I usually get a boot with a stiffer sole than my running shoes, but haven't worn a heavy leather boot for at least 15 years.
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Nov 28, 2015 17:17:31 GMT -8
Not so good right now. I wore Solomons for years, and I love them! I have strong ankles and prefer light-weight low hikers. I hate heavy high boots. But now I can't find a similar pair. So I bought some Merrells but they're giving me a blister on the inside of my heel every time I wear them. If I put duct tape there I can fend them off fairly well, but I hope to find a pair of Solomon's again soon so I won't have to fuss with that. I have a wide toe box but narrow heels.
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Post by kev138 on Dec 2, 2015 1:47:09 GMT -8
I had a pair of merills for over 20 years that were the most comfortable boots i have ever owned. I think i spent about $200 on them at rei at a time in my life when i had some disposable income. I didn't do a lot of hiking back then, but i also didn't own a car so my feet and public transportation were my means of transport. Over the years those boots saw plenty of trail time in north Georgia and later here in Florida. I was actually almost through the second set of souls on the boots by the time the leather on the inside was so worn out that they were unwearable ( duct tape only gos so far). You definatly get what you pay for.
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speacock
Trail Wise!
I'm here for the food...
Posts: 378
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Post by speacock on Dec 3, 2015 12:48:43 GMT -8
I have a 5+(?+) year old pair of Asolo 520 GV Wide. They are probably the most comfortable footwear (for the occasion) I have ever had. Well ok, except for a pair of 30 yo Vasque (somethings) that have had innumerable resoles. These are just for wearing on anything but a hike that needs any edging. They simply rotate around my foot if i try to edge. Grand work shoes tho. Slip on by stepping into them. Wait, I had a pair of plastic Koflack that felt like clouds with the right inserts. They supported my lower leg like a plaster cast. By the time you strapped overboots, crampons and OR gaiters on, the foot weighed in at just under a tonne.
The Asolo's were fitted by and REI employee who wanted to make sure I had the best she could provide. Not taking my word for it, she started out with the Brannock with me seated, standing with both feet and on one foot. She says most people tell you the size they would like to have or think they have. We went through several different lasts (the thing that forms a boot into what your foot is expecting). She picked out a few different boots and had me try on each for size and width. I ended up with longer and wider than I expected. Once we settled on the Asolo, she started poking and pushing to see where there would be rub spots or miss fits. On these she put tape and disappeared behind the 'magic' employee only curtain. Shortly returned and I put them on again and told to spend more money at the store while walking around for at least 20 minutes.
When I returned she asked for me to take off the boots, trade socks and then SHE laced them and again pushed and prodded asking questions if it hurt or just pressure. I followed her back to the Boot Anvil that looks like a large 'S' attached to the floor so it doesn't move. Slipping the boot in she massaged from the inside out and pounded the outside with a mallet. She put some kind of a liquid on the spots she had tagged.
Then I walked around again in the store. She asked if any of the places she marked were now an issue.
I have never had a hot spot let alone a blister. I only wear the Asolos leaving camp (and creek wadding) shoes behind. For the first two weeks I wore them except for sleeping and returned for a check up. She pushed and prodded a few times whacked them with the mallet and massaged them with the anvil. (NOTE: this is to the boots without me in them.)
The best fitting foot wear other than socks I have ever had.
The one thing she and I both were concerned over was the toe room. I was told by a doc that the toes should have enough wiggle room to be able to play a piano in the boot. The support to hold the boot on has to be in the instep and ankle area and not cinched up tight around the toe box. I have never had a case of black toe since either.
Cinching up fabric or soft shoes too tightly so they fit properly (like the old fit-like-skin trad climbing shoes) can (in my case) provide you with a nasty case of Mortons Neuroma. I've had both feet 'repaired'. Women wearing very high heels are prone to it too. The metatarsals get schmushed up and rub against the main nerve leading from the foot to the toes. Mainly between ring and middle toe. Supposedly the defense is to not lace the lower couple of eyelets.
I will be changing out to lighter weight shoes next year, but will keep the Asolos for when I need something a bit more than just hiking on trails. Your nose, ears and feet continue to grow for your entire life.
Your feet will hurt if they have not been 'hardened' to take the thousands of poundings you will put them through. If I don't spend a good part of my spare time running, my lower body just isn't ready for a long heavy duty hike without complaining.
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 3, 2015 13:35:02 GMT -8
I gave up boots 2 years ago and wish I had sooner. Did 75 miles in trail shoes in September. Only issue is that your feet get wet easily walking through wet grass or ferns or in the rain. But I no longer get blisters and my feet don't feel like they've been beat up at the end of the day.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Dec 4, 2015 10:01:59 GMT -8
I literally tried on everything in sporting good store shoe departments, after horrible blistering with trail shoes. I wear almost two sizes larger than street shoes in hiking shoes -- I have issues with bunions and the forefoot needs to have adequate width and room for my stupidly-long toes, and it results in a men's shoe, usually (if the brand has it) a size wider than average, in which I can insert the orthotics that are needed to address the bunions.
At the moment I am using Hoka trail runners, for reasons related to neurological issues that require a ton of cushion.
I got rid of all but my winter boots. I refuse to bother with Goretex - they exacerbated my foot fungus issues by being not-breathable-at-all and causing too much sweating.
I no longer trust shoe salesmen. That's led to shoe problems - I don't measure out correctly to get a comfortable enough fit in hiking shoes.
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Post by williamh4 on Dec 4, 2015 12:48:43 GMT -8
I literally tried on everything in sporting good store shoe departments, after horrible blistering with trail shoes. I wear almost two sizes larger than street shoes in hiking shoes -- I have issues with bunions and the forefoot needs to have adequate width and room for my stupidly-long toes, and it results in a men's shoe, usually (if the brand has it) a size wider than average, in which I can insert the orthotics that are needed to address the bunions. At the moment I am using Hoka trail runners, for reasons related to neurological issues that require a ton of cushion. I got rid of all but my winter boots. I refuse to bother with Goretex - they exacerbated my foot fungus issues by being not-breathable-at-all and causing too much sweating. I no longer trust shoe salesmen. That's led to shoe problems - I don't measure out correctly to get a comfortable enough fit in hiking shoes. Wow! Me, trying to find the correct size of shoes is no comparison to what you have to deal with.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Dec 6, 2015 18:14:17 GMT -8
Considering that I might wear them 16 or more hours in a day, and might be walking as many as 10 of those hours, my boots have to be really comfortable.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,683
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 6, 2015 19:14:03 GMT -8
literally tried on everything in sporting good store shoe departments, after horrible blistering with trail shoes. I wear almost two sizes larger than street shoes in hiking shoes -- I have issues with bunions and the forefoot needs to have adequate width and room for my stupidly-long toes, and it results in a men's shoe, usually (if the brand has it) a size wider than average, in which I can insert the orthotics that are needed to address the bunions. I might have actually found someone who has a harder time than I do getting shoes that fit! I struggle with different sized feet, a fairly wide forefoot that can't tolerate any pinching (especially on the longer foot, which is the one I had surgery on), a narrow heel, and over-all low volume (scrawny feet). If I find a pair of shoes that fit, I will wear them until they crumble to dust.
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Post by williamh4 on Dec 6, 2015 20:54:28 GMT -8
Obviously, I want the correct size of boots right off the top, but REI is willing to take boots back if you decide they don't fit properly (I believe someone pointed that out previously). The time frame allotted is very generous. I forget the span of time, but it was quite a while. I've only been there 3 times, but each time the staff was very helpful and knowledgeable.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 6, 2015 22:01:19 GMT -8
Obviously, I want the correct size of boots right off the top, but REI is willing to take boots back if you decide they don't fit properly (I believe someone pointed that out previously). The time frame allotted is very generous. I forget the span of time, but it was quite a while. I've only been there 3 times, but each time the staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. For satisfaction returns the timeframe for REI is now a year, manufacturing defects remain at any time. m.rei.com/help/return-policy.html
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Post by dayhiker on Dec 7, 2015 5:06:24 GMT -8
It used to be REI did not have wide sizes, I think they are still limited in the store. (Zappos has free shipping both ways, and you can even get multiple sizes and return the ones that don't fit if you don't wear them outside etc. But if you want a really stiff boot I am not sure where to tell you to go, as I just got lucky at a local store) [EDIT Not as generous as I now read as REI above. Allot of places won't take them back once they have been outside]
Heel slip is one problem I have trouble figuring out in the store, as they all have to give somewhat. I do know I need a large toe box to keep my Morton Neuroma from complaining, and I have read that if you wear wide shoes your feet will actually spread out more (so you will need even wider shoes).
NB made (makes?) some that felt like moccasins to me! Did not even want to get out of them in camp. Not as much support and the tread wore quickly and did not grip in mud too well. SO my latest are from LLBean, but my first pair was not all leather and for some reason they were not waterproof for very long , but they let me return them! I wear NB for tennis shoes too but their toe box can be narrow even in a wide size for some models. They used to disclose their last (that Franco mentioned) but I don't see that on their website anymore.
I do have a few that I try to wear out hiking around town (Portland has a 30 mile trail, with others that cross it), that did not work out for longer distances, so it has been hit and miss for me. One pair actually feels better after a bit of hiking, not sure now why they did not work out for longer hikes. I tend toward those that don't need to be broken in.
But I got a pair of Garmont Broncos for off trail scrambling, and I was surprised how well they worked, but the next pair of Garmonts did not work that well (different model from a different store, as Franco said different lasts?). I still have the Broncos, but keep them just for harder stuff as I have a weak ankle and need those for that. They are only good for about 10 miles, I used to day hike much further. I just have to watch the trail with my other boots.
You did not say in what way they were uncomfortable? I would not want them if too tight. And if they are really uncomfortable they will most likely be horrible after a few miles.
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Post by williamh4 on Dec 7, 2015 8:49:44 GMT -8
I'd have to try them on again and walk around a while to decide exactly what wasn't comfortable. I just thought as I walked out in my Skechers, the boots weren't really, comparably comfortable. I already picked out my backpack for Christmas. Birthday coming up soon, so I think I'll wait on boots so I can take time to try on more sizes/brands. Also, the area where I need to try on boots is starting to get congested for holiday shopping. I really don't like getting in the middle of all that chaos.
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johnnyray
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Argle-Bargle, Jiggery-Pokery, and Applesauce
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Post by johnnyray on Dec 7, 2015 10:11:23 GMT -8
Took the 520s out a couple weeks ago when it snowed, did about 8 miles no pain or other issues during or after hike.
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Post by williamh4 on Dec 7, 2015 11:05:25 GMT -8
Took the 520s out a couple weeks ago when it snowed, did about 8 miles no pain or other issues during or after hike. I didn't try on the 520s. I see they come in wide too. I'll have to take them for a test run around REI.
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