Hiking and Hunting Footwear #2

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Thursday, June 8. 2017

Hiking and Hunting Footwear #2

Photo is the Meindl Burma

Our commenters to our Hiking Footwear post were well-informed, experienced, and helpful. Appreciate all of those offerings. Lots of hikers, hunters, and some field geologists among our readers.

Two basics about boot sizing: Your dress shoe or sneaker size might be small for boots. Try the boot at the end of the day when your foot is most expanded. With the heaviest socks you might wear with them, but unlaced, check to make sure you can fit your index finger down the heel.

Tips:

- What you need to know to buy Hiking Boots

- Lots of good info about hiking boots, insoles, etc.

- Good website: Cool Hiking Gear

This is useful too:

Posted by Bird Dog in Hunting, Fishing, Dogs, Guns, etc., The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation, Travelogues and Travel Ideas at 13:43 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

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re Try the boot at the end of the day when your foot is most expanded.

If I might add.

Try them on before you buy.

I have had to pull one boot out of one box and the same sized boot out of another to get a pair that fit. For some reason the manufacturers can't seem to make boots of the same size, well, the same.

It's the only article of clothing I must try on before buying. I won't purchase them online.

If your feet aren't comfortable you will be miserable.

Footwear is one place where it is worth paying extra if one gains comfort.

#1 feeblemind on 2017-06-08 14:10 (Reply)

Even more relevant if your feet are not the same size (which is the case for most people, to a degree).

E.g. in my case my left foot is almost a size wider and taller than the right one, making finding shoes that fit hell even more than me having weird size (short, wide, tall) feet in the first place.

In extreme cases I end up buying 2 pairs, one a size larger than the other, and donating the 'wrong' ones to the Salvation Army to make someone else happy who can't be as fussy as I have to be.

#1.1 JTW on 2017-06-08 14:35 (Reply)

There is some good advice here, thanks.
My life requires a lot of walking and hiking just about every day, and my feet have suffered over the years. Doc recommended I use orthotic footbeds in all my shoes and boots, and feet have got wider over the years. I used to fit a 10 D perfectly, now I need a wider width.

Over the years I have had Asolo, Vasque, Danner, Redwing, Lowa, Scarpa, Alico, Zamberlan, Meindl, Merrell, and Hanwag boots, some were better than others, and there is a lot of variability within brands, you need to select a specific boot type based upon your feet and your expected usage.

My current favorites by far are Meindl, with a thick cork insole that molds to my foot almost like a Birkenstock sandal, but firmer, the only boots I do not need to replace the footbeds with my preferred orthotics. The soles are great for traction in the rocks and wet, and for my foot the Meindls are the best. The tops allow some debris to fall in along the sock, but that is about their only downside.

Each individual will have their own needs, and boot manufacturers change over time. Years ago Vasque Sundowners were wonderful boots, but other makers caught up with better designs and Vasque moved the production from Italy to China and they are not anywhere near the same.

If you use boots hard all the time, finding the right ones makes a big difference. If you are just a casual, occasional hiker, get what you like and don't worry about it.

#2 Rob Kerr on 2017-06-08 14:24 (Reply)

For urban "hiking" I use a walking sandal. My first pair were Source sandals in a basic black-and-beige colour scheme. They were wonderful, and perfect for tramping through a heatwave in eastern Slovakia. My most recent pair are Teva's, again in a fairly neutral colour.

I find these sandals have lovely padding and great soles for sturdy walking. I have done some hiking with them, but watch the terrain. Apart from the lack of ankle support (and the open toes), they've been good where I go.

I have also seen hiking sandals with a closed toe. May look into these. Otherwise, I'm using basic walking shoes when I do the heavier stuff.

#3 Frances on 2017-06-08 20:04 (Reply)

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Thursday, June 8. 2017

Hiking and Hunting Footwear #2