Boots

The most important piece of gear any hiker needs is a good pair of shoes. Shoes can make or break a hike. A great pair will keep you moving and a bad pair can result in weeks off the trail.


A sales person once said "Picking out the right shoes to wear can be harder than picking out the right person to marry."  Well, I'm not married, but I know getting the right shoes can take a lot of time and patience.


First, you have to decide what type of shoes you want. Boot? Trail shoe? Waterproof? Lightweight? Sturdy? Color? Brand?


For me, I'm used to hiking in high-top, water-proof, Vasque hiking boots. Living in the Pacific Northwest and hiking a lot in the snow, I tend to want to keep my feet as warm and dry as possible. I have sneakers for running around Seattle, but have stayed true to my Vasques for the last few years.


Of course, hiking up to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier is a tad different than hiking 2,650 miles across a whole variety of terrain. So, after much reading about what other hikers wear, I knew it was time to get some lighter weight trail shoes.


My first foray into the world of trail shoes started at REI where I found a wonderful pair of Keen light weight hiking boots. I went with a boot to provide a little bit more ankle support (torn a tendon a couple years ago) than a normal shoe would.


They felt great walking to and from the bus and around downtown. I took them on a slowly meandering 6 mile hike out to the Western most point on the contiguous US (Cape Alava, WA). They were great!


Then I went on a 10 mile hike. It was a great day and I was able to move at a good clip. That's when the problem started. By the time I was done with that 10 miles (4 hours), the boot had worn holes into the backs of my ankles. It's been 7 weeks since and those spots are still a bit tender.


So, the boots that fit great and worked for slow walking were sent packing back to REI.

A quick side note: I love REI's no questions asked, 100% satisfaction guaranteed return policy. As a member, I didn't need a receipt or an elaborate story as to why I was returning the boots. REI may not be the cheapest place, but for those important pieces of gear, become a member and buy it there. It's SO worth it just for that! (The 10% dividend at the end of each year doesn't hurt either).


Today I went back to REI to get another pair of trail shoes. This time, I stuck with shoes and not boots. After trying on several pairs, I bought another pair of Keens. I walked about 3 miles in them today and again, they feel great.


Time will tell how they do on a long trail hike. I'll go next weekend and see how they hold up. Wish my feet luck!