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Guy at REI told me my hiking boots were too stiff for long distance, he was right | Outdoor Gear Swap - Free To Speak

umar49•1mo ago

Guy at REI told me my hiking boots were too stiff for long distance, he was right

I was buying new insoles in Seattle last month and this older hiker just straight up told me my boots were too stiff. I had these heavy leather ones I thought were great for ankle support. He said if I'm doing 15+ miles I need something flexible that lets my foot bend naturally. Swapped to a lightweight trail runner style boot and my feet stopped hurting after mile 10. Anyone else get gear advice from a random stranger that actually worked out better than what you planned?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretramirez1mo ago

Seattle REI employees are a different breed though, did you check his backpack patch count before taking his advice? People act like foot pain is some deep philosophical crisis when you can just buy different socks and call it a day. Maybe your boots were too stiff, maybe you just needed to break them in properly instead of blaming the gear.

samflores1mo ago

And that kind of hits on something bigger I've noticed in life. People get real attached to the gear they bought or the plan they made and don't want to hear that it might not be the best fit for what they're actually doing. I see it with my students all the time, they'll stick with a study method that doesn't work just because it's what they've always done. It takes a random stranger or a bad result to shake them loose and try something different. Sometimes the best advice comes from someone who has no reason to sugarcoat it for you.

jamief671mo ago

@gretchenramirez you're totally right about breaking boots in but hear me out - sometimes stiff boots are exactly what you need. I switched to lightweight trail runners last year and my ankles rolled twice on rocky terrain. That "natural foot bend" people preach about works great on flat groomed trails but try doing 15 miles on the Wonderland Trail with a 30lb pack and tell me your flexible shoes are saving you. I went back to my stiff Asolos and my feet feel way more supported. Random guy at REI doesn't know your specific terrain or if you carry a heavy pack or have weak ankles from old injuries. You gotta match the boot to your actual use case not just some trend.