[Erickmo]

I'll drink to that. Otherwise they'll be as bad as anything else. I plan to get them streched by a shoe maker and break them in around town, maybe even do short day hikes in them before I go out for a multiple day outting.

[AlpineZone]

Originally Posted by cowgirlup

New boots are great but you have to break them in before you take off.

Exactly CG and if there leather or codura treat them with the proper conditioner as well and let them dry before taking them out a full 48 hours. Nikwax, aquaseal make very good products for both.

Here is some tips on fitting.

Whatever you choose for a boot make sure that the fit is snug enough so you have just a slight amount of heal lift and no forward/backward sliding movement of your foot while going uphill or downhill. ( This is what creates blisters ). Essentially make sure they snug up tight at the top to keep foot in place. But if there 10 inch boots or higher make sure they don't snug so tight that your shins will pay for it from the tongue of the boot.

Make sure you have no pressure on the sides of your feet because if your a wide footed person most hiking/mountaineering boots don't come but in medium width. Toe crush sucks. I use meindl because I have wide feet.

Also make sure you have a full "thumbnail" of room from your big toe to the front of your boot and you can wiggle all toes on both feet so you can wear thicker socks and not have pressure caluces from your toes being squished. This also creates trench foot (or rot), athletes foot, etc because your feet cannot breathe.

Hope this helps. Good luck ericko!

[AlpineZone]

Originally Posted by Erickmo

I'll drink to that. Otherwise they'll be as bad as anything else. I plan to get them streched by a shoe maker and break them in around town, maybe even do short day hikes in them before I go out for a multiple day outting.

Try wearing thick socks and use your home stairs,local building stairs,stadium stairs,car garage stairs to break them in.

[Ron Fontaine]

Your observations about hiking in mountainous terrain vs flat areas is dead on.

Many people believe that hiking downhill is easier than hiking uphill. Experience will often show otherwise.

On long steep downhill stretches in uneven terrain especially if it is rocky and carrying heavy loads, going downhill for mile after mile can become agony itself with all the pounding and friction.

Force = weight x speed. Going downhill will pound the joints and test your muscles to the extreme with far greater forces than when hiking uphill.

For this reason, properly fit and well broken in boots are a key piece of gear when mountain hiking.

One trick that helps is to wear two pairs of regular socks instead of one thick pair. This seems to keep the friction between the socks instead of between your foot and socks.

[LaRemnant]

Dude, get the military Rocky boots with Vibram soles! Nuff'sed.

[LaRemnant]

Originally Posted by Ron Fontaine

Many people believe that hiking downhill is easier than hiking uphill. Experience will often show otherwise.

On long steep downhill stretches in uneven terrain especially if it is rocky and carrying heavy loads, going downhill for mile after mile can become agony itself with all the pounding and friction.

I sometimes walk slightly sideways down hills to alleviate and distribute the weight obliquely instead of dead on when I start to sense stress. I am not getting any younger, and who am I trying to impress being tough? I already know I am cool because I have a smoke green Windmill Trekker!

Originally Posted by Ron Fontaine

For this reason, properly fit and well broken in boots are a key piece of gear when mountain hiking.

One trick that helps is to wear two pairs of regular socks instead of one thick pair. This seems to keep the friction between the socks instead of between your foot and socks.

WELL broken in! The sock suggestion sounds really wise, so I think I will definitely keep that in mind. ThanX!

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Brand and type of footgear are not as important in my experience as FIT and design. When I was in the military the boots we used then were not all that great, they weren't junk, but they weren't all that great either. I bought a pair of Danners before I got out,and honestly they were no better because of price tag than the military boots. The most important thing was FIT and being "Broke in" properly before any "Road Marches" or hikes.
Something else that will help, believe it or not is Vaseline on your feet before hiking. Running shoes are really good for "camp shoes", giving your feet a break and you will appreciate them in camp.

[Solar Geek]

I too have timberland boots bought at a regular shoe store and have had many blisters. Now, after 5 years they are finally comfy (paid too much to toss) but I noticed they are wearing out all over. Yikes, glad to get the recommendations here!

[trainedtosave]

I got a pair of Merell trail runners when I was hiking the AT. I will never go back to boots. These shoes are really light, and comfortable. I wear them all the time, not just hiking. I did 37 miles in 13 hours at LBL. The only gripe I had with them was the lace system. If I was not good at sewing and able to improvise things, they would have been junk long ago. With my modifications, they are good shoes that will last a long time.

[Mephistopheles]

Worn out dozens of boots...best way to buy boots is to sit down and have the salesperson bring out EVERY boot available in two sizes each...and just start trying them on with silk or other synthetic liner and wool socks over those....buy the ones that offer ZERO pressure points. and make dang sure your toes are no where near the end of the boot otherwise you will be in serious pain and probably end up with stress fractured toe(s) or at least a bunch of toenails falling off. Stand on a 45 or greater slope with toes pointing down and test that your toes do not bottom out or even get close...otherwise walking downhill will be painfully worse than walking uphill.


Last few years I buy Bates combat boots on ebay...fit like a glove, cheap and gortex keeps from getting dew damp socks and they come in all kinds of widths. Exospeed combat tact boots are great also and very light weight.