Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation - View Single Post

toejam · 01-19-2004, 07:24 AM

Feet are strange and unique pieces of equipment. I've had a lot of bad luck with boots. I'm about convinced that you have to learn by experience and be willing to keep trying things until you find something that works. Most places to buy hiking boots aren't going to have a boot fitting genius working there to help you out - you are going to know best what works for you and what feels right. Try to identify what is causing the hotspots with your current boots and avoid that with the next ones.

I'm agreeing with Tod that waterproofing is overrated and more likely to keep your feet hot & sweaty. I've hiked in wet snow all day in Vasque Superhikers and got a toe wet by the end of the afternoon - most non-gortex well built leather boots from good companies are very water resistant without adding a semi-breathable layer of gortex. The dumbest things I've seen are low-top gortex shoes. I can't figure out what good a layer of gortex does when the water runs in around your ankles.

On the other hand, my next pair of boots will probably be Vasque Zephyrs. If you are going to spend serious money on the boots you may as well get good support because inexperienced backpackers always carry packs that are too heavy.

My old Superhikers became too small for me when my arches collapsed due to middle-age. Since I spent $200 on them I kept trying to use them and lost many toenails due to toes hitting the end of the boot, especially going down hill. I swear they fit right when I bought them! I had some Montrails that had lumps in the liner at the heels that gave me awful blisters the second day on the trail. I had Technicas that fit perfectly and felt great when I first put them on but tore up my heels on long hikes. I wore them out and never figured out what the deal was with them. For the last year and a half I've been wearing the best fitting boots I've owned - they were $20 at WalMart.

Remember that your feet swell a bit on the trail - the front part, not the heel. So get plenty of toe room but make sure they cinch down tight enough to keep your feet from moving around. If they are a little too big you can correct it with inserts, but if they are too small you have to throw them away.

01-19-2004, 07:24 AM	#4
toejam Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Granbury, TX Posts: 222	Re: boots...need help. Feet are strange and unique pieces of equipment. I've had a lot of bad luck with boots. I'm about convinced that you have to learn by experience and be willing to keep trying things until you find something that works. Most places to buy hiking boots aren't going to have a boot fitting genius working there to help you out - you are going to know best what works for you and what feels right. Try to identify what is causing the hotspots with your current boots and avoid that with the next ones. I'm agreeing with Tod that waterproofing is overrated and more likely to keep your feet hot & sweaty. I've hiked in wet snow all day in Vasque Superhikers and got a toe wet by the end of the afternoon - most non-gortex well built leather boots from good companies are very water resistant without adding a semi-breathable layer of gortex. The dumbest things I've seen are low-top gortex shoes. I can't figure out what good a layer of gortex does when the water runs in around your ankles. On the other hand, my next pair of boots will probably be Vasque Zephyrs. If you are going to spend serious money on the boots you may as well get good support because inexperienced backpackers always carry packs that are too heavy. My old Superhikers became too small for me when my arches collapsed due to middle-age. Since I spent $200 on them I kept trying to use them and lost many toenails due to toes hitting the end of the boot, especially going down hill. I swear they fit right when I bought them! I had some Montrails that had lumps in the liner at the heels that gave me awful blisters the second day on the trail. I had Technicas that fit perfectly and felt great when I first put them on but tore up my heels on long hikes. I wore them out and never figured out what the deal was with them. For the last year and a half I've been wearing the best fitting boots I've owned - they were $20 at WalMart. Remember that your feet swell a bit on the trail - the front part, not the heel. So get plenty of toe room but make sure they cinch down tight enough to keep your feet from moving around. If they are a little too big you can correct it with inserts, but if they are too small you have to throw them away.