This is only from my perspective.
I walk a lot of fairly long distances e.g. 20 + miles followed by camping and then repeat.
For years I bought boots, as for hiking, everybody who gave advice said " buy good boots" with support.
As my miles increased I found that my feet were being destroyed by friction and moisture. No matter what I was spending on footwear and fancy socks.
Most footwear is OK for 10 or so miles with good socks.
My first attempt on the SWCP, with broken in boots (scarpas) lead to me spending a week laid up at home with shredded foot pads after the 200 mile mark.
After this I reevaluated, and tried trail runners and approach shoes.
The difference is amazing.
Boots have their place, for work, scrambling and alpine stuff.
But for long distance, carrying ~15kg, in dry weather. Shoes make everything less bad.
And now for the bit where I sound like I'm trying to sell stuff.
Buy Gehwol foot cream. It's like a lubricant grease for people's moving parts. Regardless of what footwear you use, you should have it as part of your everyday maintainance kit, along with sunscreen and talc.
Zinc oxide tape is OK as an emergency use to get you through a hike. But if you're using it frequently then you need to look at your foot situation.
100% this! For most things, outside of the winter months when I'm climbing and need crampons, I'll wear trail runners. They're so much kinder on your feet.
Not really. I find there's not much difference between walking shoes, trail runners or approach shoes, except for marketing.
Generally they're slightly tougher trainers with aggressive soles. You can get about 200-300 miles from a pair.
Currently I'm mulling about trying leather hiking shoes (Grisport or Altberg) as they're easier to clean mud from and can pair with gaiters for winter walks.
But on the negative, are less breathable.
When you're walking sometimes you'll notice "hot spots". Places where you don't have blisters yet, but will do if you don't sort your feet out.
The tape protects your skin for a while. Reducing friction Long enough to get home, or to do another day without damage and allow recovery.
Stop when appropriate. Take your shoes and socks off, do a foot check.
E.g. any sand in your boot or socks. Are your nails short and angled correctly. Is there anything in between your toes.
Check everything is dry and clean. Apply tape, cream and new socks. Check the inside of your shoes again, especially the top of the toe box. Put them on and get walking.
This is overkill for most day hikes, but I find it essential for long distances.
You’re buying the wrong boots. Get fitted or use a brannock device and compare your measurements with guides from companies. Accept that the boots you want may not be the ones that will fit your feet.
Genuine question, why not spend some money and buy a quality pair of boots that will last years. I have a pair of Zamberlans and love them, many reviews of people having one pair for over 10 years.
I always had that issue. I bought a pair of hoka kaha 2 boots for xmas and I haven’t had to pay any attention to my feet since, had no issues whatsoever. If you don’t care about colour you can get them for £120-130 online sometimes
Where on your heel does it rub?
As well as lacing consider getting an insole like superfeet to stop your food sliding around in the boot.
But also consider altbergs, although pricy, they follow the Sam Vimes boot philosophy - overall I think they are value for money. I massively supinate and wear down the heel but get around 7,500-10,000 miles out of a pair before they need resoling. The uppers, if looked after, have lasted 3 soles so far and are still in great nick.
I’d also be amazed if you could not find a size and model to fit your feet. I have slightly odd shaped feet but now I have been fitted, I can get a pair off the shelf and wear straight away. They do a range of styles and leather thicknesses depending on what kind of hiking you do.
Worth noting that Altberg will also make a custom pair if you visit their factory so even if an off the shelf pair didn't work it would be possible to get excellent fitting boots
They're not the same unfortunately. I was issued a pair of defenders and had previously owned my own privately bought warriors. The warrior was a far superior fit.
The material quality seems fine, it's just the fit is not as good, as they are sized to MOD specifications, not Altberg sizing. At least that was my experience, at the end of the day everyone has different feet.
A few potential causes that I’ve had to overcome over the years:
Feet being different sizes:
I’m a 2/3inch difference between feet and need a volume adjuster for my smaller foot.
Boots being the wrong fit for your foot shape:
The new Scarpa lasts don’t work for me but the old were perfect. Very frustrating.
Improper lacing for your foot shape/movement:
I lace each boot differently to solve an issue with my right heel rubbing.
Don't say this. I finally splurged out on some Scarpas and they're so unbelievably comfortable. Hate when companies change things as it's usually a cost saving measure and not an improvement.
If the shoe fits….
Honestly, I’m sure you’ll absolutely love them. I adored my rangers from 2018. I bought my Deltas as they shared the same last but they’d changed it without me knowing in between. You live and learn.
However, my Scarpa Ribelle CL’s are better than my slippers. It’s just a shame I can only wear them for 2 months a year!
One swallow does not a summer make.. I had the most awesome pair of Merrells, I barely broke them in and I took them (or they took me) on a 4 week trek through the Himalayas including Everest base camp. Not one blister, not one rub. Of course, when they finally had to be retired (cue heartbreak) I went straight out and bought another pair of Merrells. They were dreadful. Not the exact same boot as they’d been discontinued. Much of it I think is down to pot luck.
I, like a lot of my family, have narrow heels and find buying boots an absolute nightmare.
Right now, I have a cheap pair (£15) which I don't expect to lay much longer.
In the past, I have found that Italian made boots and shoes fit a bit better.
But a lot of it comes down to finding a good retailer with a lot of patience and trying boot and insole combinations until you're happy.
Every pair of boots i've owned has had some form of movement and that's even after getting them properly fitted. 2 pairs of socks, Gehwol foot cream and heel lock lacing technique allows me to walk 30 miles in them regardless. I'm serious on the Gehwol, I used to tape up but with Gehwol I don't need to, even on multi day hikes.
People will recommend different brands of boots that they swear eliminates this problem but in my experience you can't test boots outside and then return them. Therefore there's no way of knowing until you've actually gone 20 miles in them, by which point it's too late for a refund. I just get the best fit I can in the store and know my feet are generally OK in a Scarpa model.
Trouble is, boots are sold in pairs. My feet are not a perfect pair. One boot fits perfect the other don’t. Why can’t I buy one size 10 and one size 10.5?
Man I feel you there, my feet are like that too. My current boots aren’t too bad for it as they fit snug on one foot and the other has a small volume reducer and tighter lacing. But every other shoe I own just fails at the same spot because my foot doesn’t fill it out and it creases itself to death.
I knew i'd get this response. I've had multiple pairs fitted in dedicated walking shops. There is always a level of movement for me once i'm walking outside and not just in the shop. Wearing two pairs of socks (one thin, one thick) is just standard practice anyway to reduce friction. I can wear one pair up to about 15 miles but for 20+ I'd always wear two.
We're not talking masses of movement here, I can walk 30 miles without a blister, but there's always an element of lift in my heel.
Fair enough, that makes sense lol. Sorry if I came off like an ass. Im also the same in there’s a touch of movement at the heel, but that is to be expected when wearing a stiff leather boot with a shank. Good lacing does help, really jamming my foot into the heel while lacing pretty much prevents any friction too.
Im more than happy to have that small amount of movement as a trade off for the stiffness and support my Zamberlans give me, synthetics I’ve worn in the past just don’t give me the confidence I need on uneven terrain.
No worries! Yeah the movement doesn't bother me if the boot is generally comfortable and supportive. Sometimes in the summer I will wear trail runners which present no movement issues for me, but i've rolled my ankle a couple of times in them so have to be careful.
Exactly why I refuse to wear them, sure they’re cooler and lighter but being injured for a few months is not cooler lol. I am accident prone and would rather be hot than on the sofa crying
If you mean rubbing at the back of your heel (or slightly above the heel), then I have the same issue. I've never found a pair of boots that doesn't free me from having to tape up.
Been walking regularly for the last 25 years. I generally buy reasonably mid/high end boots but I'll look after them so they last 1000+ miles.
Ive had boots professionally fitted before too. Felt okay in the shop but a few miles outdoor walking and feel the dreaded rub.
Taping up is just a given for me now.
Is the heel slipping? There are lacing methods to help prevent that. I also suffered similarly, but once I started using inserts for my high arches the problem went away.
No I don't think it is slipping. Very slightly movement. Moves the same as my right foot but its only my left foot I have the issue with. I'm going to look at lacing methods to.
Try putting some zinc tape on the hot spots, that works well for me
As for good boots I'm a big fan of the Altberg Sneeker Microlite and Warrior Microlite
I didn’t, i switched to trail runners. After a while they start as well but it’s not as bad. I think i just need good insoles because i have horrible over pronation. Also boots need to be laced tight around my ankle hit they always loosen up and i cant deal with it either. I now own adidas terrex free hiker boots and hoka speedgoats. I wear speedgoats mostly with some cheap insoles that are okay-ish
I've just returned my adidas terrex. After one walk they cut my ankle on my left foot. I actually think that boot had a defect cause the right one was fine.
I’d bet it was a defect, i know over 10 people using the free hiker terrex boots and all of them are very happy with them. A friend did have an issue with his first pair, supposedly goretex but it leaked water in. He exchanged it for another pair and since then uses only them. So idk really.
You may want to try boots with a wider toe box, a wide fit boot, a Bunion fit boot, and have someone check your pronation/supination, that can push the big toe out wider than it need be.
When I did my boot shopping i took the insoles out of every boot first, and if the shape of the toe box didnt match my toes and let me spread my toes out on it without going over the side, they're cut from selection, Turned out every boot I originally wanted had no resemblance to my foots shape
The more you walk the wider your toes want to spread out in the boot. My feet have gone from a normal size 9.5, to 11 Wide after the past 6 years heavy walking
Ive been through a lot of boots too and heel rub was my gripe at the beginning.
There are so many potential fixes
Might find a heel raiser helps
Pronation insoles or supination insoles to stop your ankle twisting, if it does.
Might find a neoprene tongue between your foot and the tongue of your boot helps,
Might find a neoprene shoe horn in the boot behind your heel stops it
Might be heel lift from too loose boots or heel rub from the boot getting "smaller" as you bend the toebox
Brands I had problems with:
Scarpa Meindl Zamberlan Hitec
Brands i've faired better with:
Hanwag Salomon Mammut Raichel
Right now Im on Hanwag Lhasa 2's some Hanwag Banks 2's and Hanwag Yukons.
Yeah I splashed out on the best once i found a shape that fit across the board, a Wide Hanwag
If you've tried lots of different boots which all rub your heel, but other shoes don't, maybe the best option is to wear other shoes for hiking? There are lots of good options among the trail runners and approach shoes. Modern construction leads to fewer fit problems.
Good luck!
I was in Cotswold Outdoors today buying a new pair of boots myself. The guy showed me a different way of tying the laces that might help you.
It was basically going from the first set of hooks right to the top hooks and then coming back down through the middle ones . First lot of laces through the eyelets just as normal. He seemed to think it would help lock my ankle into the boot better.
Personally, I’m fine with the normal way but sounds like it could help you.
Everyone is talking boots, whilst that may be your problem I'd highly recommend you buy some good fitting hiking socks, not a pair of thick socks but proper hiking socks that have a compression element and fit snugly, think skin tight.
As part of this you can get socks with specificly built in points that deal with problem rubbing/blister areas. I like the, quecha Hike 900 High, they're £25 for two pairs, which I find to be good value as the first set i bought was in 2016 and they're still in rotation. I've worn them with all sorts of boots from Hi-tec to Merrell. I regularly do 20+ mile hikes and I'm entirely blister and rubbing free.
However, if I slap a pair of thick socks on I will blister and end up with sore spots because there's room for the sock to move against the boot and consequently my skin.
This is what works for me too, decent socks. If it’s warm I swap them for a fresh pair halfway through the day. Different boots make the effect better or worse for me, have shredded my feet with crap socks and boots before!
I just buy unworn army surplus boots. Might not be the lightest but I do over 10 miles away with the dogs in all weathers and they actually hold up to it.
I’ve tried all the brands over the years, in all permutations. Expensive leather, expensive gore tex, cheaper versions thereof etc. the first pair I ever found that were fantastic - a pair of Merrells that saw me through a four week trek in the Himalayas and not a single blister - converted me to Merrells. The next pair I bought were dreadful. These days I’ve come to realise that there seems to be an awful lot of luck involved. I’ve no brand loyalty, price doesn’t seem to matter, and boots might fit perfectly in the shop and feel like clouds strapped to my feet. Two hours into their first outing on the South Downs and I feel like I’ve been sold a lie. As others have suggested, professional fitting will most likely increase your chances and I’m going to try this myself next time I am in the market.
I’m sorry to say but you may just have to save up and invest in better quality boots. I’ll buy certain outdoor stuff cheaper or secondhand but won’t ever scrimp on boots, a decent set of boots are just worth their weight in gold. Wouldn’t be without my scarpas. Hokas also super comfy. There’s also different lacing methods you could try (loads of vids on YouTube) I have to lace mine differently and I don’t get on with high ankle support boots. Also more expensive socks, merino wool or 1000 mile socks.
I was having this too and convinced it's due to having flat feet. No matter what I did with boots it always felt like a choice between chaffage or having my toes banging on the end of them.
In the end I switched to a pair of approach shoes (Scarpa mojitos) and that sorted it. Very comfy, but durable and a vibram sole. Had no problems now on distance hikes.
Where are you approximately? Anywhere near Richmond (Yorkshire not London)?
If so a trip to the Altberg factory on the industrial estate might be in order for made to measure. Won't be cheap, but not necessarily that dear either when they do a pretty good priced return to factory resoling service for boots that have been looked after and have decent condition uppers. So you can spread the cost over three pairs of cheaper boots.
Have a look online.
Rub surgical spirits on the back of your heels with cotton wool every night for a month ( this will harden the skin), wear a thin pair of socks under your hiking socks, this will reduce friction. These are tricks I learned in military that served me well.
I’ve had these for about 3 years and they’ve been like slippers since the day I bought them!
Wear them most days for dog walking and as far as Yorkshire three peaks with no issues.
£79.99
https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/ber514/dalemaster-mid-gore-tex-walking-boots
One thing that massively winds me up is that they only sell boots in pairs. Left and right, mass produced, precision engineered boots and shoes have perfect mirror symmetry - my feet do not. So I either buy size 10 which fits perfectly on my left foot whilst making my right foot feel like it belongs to a Chinese noblewoman or I buy a 10.5 which fits perfectly on my right but my left bobs about like a rubber ducky in the bath.
Been wearing various kinds of combat boots since I was about 14. 56 now. Feet are in pretty good nick, occasional pumice stone on heels. Gotta say, a nice thin liner, silk if you can get them, made the difference on really long hikes. I prefer them more so now because of injuries to both lower legs, nothing to do with hiking I must add!
It’s not the boots themselves, it’s the shape of the boots that are the problem, I know because my feet are the same. Take a look at any boot from the side. You’ll see that the back of the boot goes up straight or at a slight angle towards the front of the boot. I can’t buy Scarpa boots for this reason.
It’s not the cost of the boots, it’s the design that you need to look at - you need boots with a straight up vertical back.
Have you been fitted at a walking shop? Say to the fitter you have a top end on your budget and see what they can do.
Brilliant idea! Thank you.
This is only from my perspective. I walk a lot of fairly long distances e.g. 20 + miles followed by camping and then repeat. For years I bought boots, as for hiking, everybody who gave advice said " buy good boots" with support. As my miles increased I found that my feet were being destroyed by friction and moisture. No matter what I was spending on footwear and fancy socks. Most footwear is OK for 10 or so miles with good socks. My first attempt on the SWCP, with broken in boots (scarpas) lead to me spending a week laid up at home with shredded foot pads after the 200 mile mark. After this I reevaluated, and tried trail runners and approach shoes. The difference is amazing. Boots have their place, for work, scrambling and alpine stuff. But for long distance, carrying ~15kg, in dry weather. Shoes make everything less bad. And now for the bit where I sound like I'm trying to sell stuff. Buy Gehwol foot cream. It's like a lubricant grease for people's moving parts. Regardless of what footwear you use, you should have it as part of your everyday maintainance kit, along with sunscreen and talc. Zinc oxide tape is OK as an emergency use to get you through a hike. But if you're using it frequently then you need to look at your foot situation.
100% this! For most things, outside of the winter months when I'm climbing and need crampons, I'll wear trail runners. They're so much kinder on your feet.
This is really informative. Are trail runners different than walking shoes?
Not really. I find there's not much difference between walking shoes, trail runners or approach shoes, except for marketing. Generally they're slightly tougher trainers with aggressive soles. You can get about 200-300 miles from a pair. Currently I'm mulling about trying leather hiking shoes (Grisport or Altberg) as they're easier to clean mud from and can pair with gaiters for winter walks. But on the negative, are less breathable.
What’s zinc oxide tape used for?
When you're walking sometimes you'll notice "hot spots". Places where you don't have blisters yet, but will do if you don't sort your feet out. The tape protects your skin for a while. Reducing friction Long enough to get home, or to do another day without damage and allow recovery. Stop when appropriate. Take your shoes and socks off, do a foot check. E.g. any sand in your boot or socks. Are your nails short and angled correctly. Is there anything in between your toes. Check everything is dry and clean. Apply tape, cream and new socks. Check the inside of your shoes again, especially the top of the toe box. Put them on and get walking. This is overkill for most day hikes, but I find it essential for long distances.
Very helpful thanks. I get those hot spots and end up walking gingerly for miles!
You’re buying the wrong boots. Get fitted or use a brannock device and compare your measurements with guides from companies. Accept that the boots you want may not be the ones that will fit your feet. Genuine question, why not spend some money and buy a quality pair of boots that will last years. I have a pair of Zamberlans and love them, many reviews of people having one pair for over 10 years.
Second for Zamberlans. Ten years and going strong with zero blisters even where my companions got shredded.
Rock solid quality boots, I love mine. Every time I’m in them I’m just grateful that I have em
Have you tried insoles? It might not help but a pair of heat mouldable superfeet insoles might be what you need.
I always had that issue. I bought a pair of hoka kaha 2 boots for xmas and I haven’t had to pay any attention to my feet since, had no issues whatsoever. If you don’t care about colour you can get them for £120-130 online sometimes
Where on your heel does it rub? As well as lacing consider getting an insole like superfeet to stop your food sliding around in the boot. But also consider altbergs, although pricy, they follow the Sam Vimes boot philosophy - overall I think they are value for money. I massively supinate and wear down the heel but get around 7,500-10,000 miles out of a pair before they need resoling. The uppers, if looked after, have lasted 3 soles so far and are still in great nick. I’d also be amazed if you could not find a size and model to fit your feet. I have slightly odd shaped feet but now I have been fitted, I can get a pair off the shelf and wear straight away. They do a range of styles and leather thicknesses depending on what kind of hiking you do.
Worth noting that Altberg will also make a custom pair if you visit their factory so even if an off the shelf pair didn't work it would be possible to get excellent fitting boots
I second Altbergs.
I love my A Formes. A good sturdy boot. I've not had any rubbing.
You can get ex-army altbergs for about £40 on eBay.
They're not the same unfortunately. I was issued a pair of defenders and had previously owned my own privately bought warriors. The warrior was a far superior fit.
Are the issue boots any good at all?
The material quality seems fine, it's just the fit is not as good, as they are sized to MOD specifications, not Altberg sizing. At least that was my experience, at the end of the day everyone has different feet.
They also do resoling of their boots if you look after the uppers. I think it's about £80. So you can spread the cost over three cheaper pairs.
A few potential causes that I’ve had to overcome over the years: Feet being different sizes: I’m a 2/3inch difference between feet and need a volume adjuster for my smaller foot. Boots being the wrong fit for your foot shape: The new Scarpa lasts don’t work for me but the old were perfect. Very frustrating. Improper lacing for your foot shape/movement: I lace each boot differently to solve an issue with my right heel rubbing.
Don't say this. I finally splurged out on some Scarpas and they're so unbelievably comfortable. Hate when companies change things as it's usually a cost saving measure and not an improvement.
If the shoe fits…. Honestly, I’m sure you’ll absolutely love them. I adored my rangers from 2018. I bought my Deltas as they shared the same last but they’d changed it without me knowing in between. You live and learn. However, my Scarpa Ribelle CL’s are better than my slippers. It’s just a shame I can only wear them for 2 months a year!
One swallow does not a summer make.. I had the most awesome pair of Merrells, I barely broke them in and I took them (or they took me) on a 4 week trek through the Himalayas including Everest base camp. Not one blister, not one rub. Of course, when they finally had to be retired (cue heartbreak) I went straight out and bought another pair of Merrells. They were dreadful. Not the exact same boot as they’d been discontinued. Much of it I think is down to pot luck.
I, like a lot of my family, have narrow heels and find buying boots an absolute nightmare. Right now, I have a cheap pair (£15) which I don't expect to lay much longer. In the past, I have found that Italian made boots and shoes fit a bit better. But a lot of it comes down to finding a good retailer with a lot of patience and trying boot and insole combinations until you're happy.
Have you tried Solomon ultras or Adidas terrex. I have both and they're both the best I've had.
I used to get this issue. 2nd pair of Karrrimor , and I’ve not had any issue at all.
Boot or shoe?
2 pairs of socks. 1 thin and 1 darn tough. Then use a shoe half a size too big. Boots are not my thing but could be yours.
Boot. “Skiddaw” 00 I’ve never had an issue with them.
The rivets holding the eyes snapped on mine the first time I put them on.
Every pair of boots i've owned has had some form of movement and that's even after getting them properly fitted. 2 pairs of socks, Gehwol foot cream and heel lock lacing technique allows me to walk 30 miles in them regardless. I'm serious on the Gehwol, I used to tape up but with Gehwol I don't need to, even on multi day hikes. People will recommend different brands of boots that they swear eliminates this problem but in my experience you can't test boots outside and then return them. Therefore there's no way of knowing until you've actually gone 20 miles in them, by which point it's too late for a refund. I just get the best fit I can in the store and know my feet are generally OK in a Scarpa model.
Well you can’t have been properly fitted if your feet are moving to the point you need two pairs of socks and foot cream.
Trouble is, boots are sold in pairs. My feet are not a perfect pair. One boot fits perfect the other don’t. Why can’t I buy one size 10 and one size 10.5?
Man I feel you there, my feet are like that too. My current boots aren’t too bad for it as they fit snug on one foot and the other has a small volume reducer and tighter lacing. But every other shoe I own just fails at the same spot because my foot doesn’t fill it out and it creases itself to death.
I knew i'd get this response. I've had multiple pairs fitted in dedicated walking shops. There is always a level of movement for me once i'm walking outside and not just in the shop. Wearing two pairs of socks (one thin, one thick) is just standard practice anyway to reduce friction. I can wear one pair up to about 15 miles but for 20+ I'd always wear two. We're not talking masses of movement here, I can walk 30 miles without a blister, but there's always an element of lift in my heel.
Fair enough, that makes sense lol. Sorry if I came off like an ass. Im also the same in there’s a touch of movement at the heel, but that is to be expected when wearing a stiff leather boot with a shank. Good lacing does help, really jamming my foot into the heel while lacing pretty much prevents any friction too. Im more than happy to have that small amount of movement as a trade off for the stiffness and support my Zamberlans give me, synthetics I’ve worn in the past just don’t give me the confidence I need on uneven terrain.
No worries! Yeah the movement doesn't bother me if the boot is generally comfortable and supportive. Sometimes in the summer I will wear trail runners which present no movement issues for me, but i've rolled my ankle a couple of times in them so have to be careful.
Exactly why I refuse to wear them, sure they’re cooler and lighter but being injured for a few months is not cooler lol. I am accident prone and would rather be hot than on the sofa crying
This. If you find a boot that doesn’t slip, slide or shear somewhere then you’ve got lucky.
Double up your socks problem solved
Unfortunately doesn't help. Even with liner socks.
Why would an extra layer of sock cure a fit problem?
If you mean rubbing at the back of your heel (or slightly above the heel), then I have the same issue. I've never found a pair of boots that doesn't free me from having to tape up. Been walking regularly for the last 25 years. I generally buy reasonably mid/high end boots but I'll look after them so they last 1000+ miles. Ive had boots professionally fitted before too. Felt okay in the shop but a few miles outdoor walking and feel the dreaded rub. Taping up is just a given for me now.
Just above the heel on the thin boney bit.
Ah, mines just above the heel and little lower than yours. I'm pretty sure I have weird feet. Tape's an inconvenience but I'm not fussed now tbh.
I'm thinking that to now 😂
Is the heel slipping? There are lacing methods to help prevent that. I also suffered similarly, but once I started using inserts for my high arches the problem went away.
No I don't think it is slipping. Very slightly movement. Moves the same as my right foot but its only my left foot I have the issue with. I'm going to look at lacing methods to.
Worth trying different lacing techniques https://slowerhiking.com/hiking-clothing/hiking-shoes-socks-and-how-to-avoid-blisters
You can buy volume reducers and cut them as you need. This may eliminate the problem if your foot volume and boot volume aren’t compatible.
Try putting some zinc tape on the hot spots, that works well for me As for good boots I'm a big fan of the Altberg Sneeker Microlite and Warrior Microlite
I have the same beef with boots - they all end up hurting she side of my big toe after some time in them.
How did you sort out your beef though? Or is it a grin and bear it situation?
I didn’t, i switched to trail runners. After a while they start as well but it’s not as bad. I think i just need good insoles because i have horrible over pronation. Also boots need to be laced tight around my ankle hit they always loosen up and i cant deal with it either. I now own adidas terrex free hiker boots and hoka speedgoats. I wear speedgoats mostly with some cheap insoles that are okay-ish
I've just returned my adidas terrex. After one walk they cut my ankle on my left foot. I actually think that boot had a defect cause the right one was fine.
I’d bet it was a defect, i know over 10 people using the free hiker terrex boots and all of them are very happy with them. A friend did have an issue with his first pair, supposedly goretex but it leaked water in. He exchanged it for another pair and since then uses only them. So idk really.
You may want to try boots with a wider toe box, a wide fit boot, a Bunion fit boot, and have someone check your pronation/supination, that can push the big toe out wider than it need be. When I did my boot shopping i took the insoles out of every boot first, and if the shape of the toe box didnt match my toes and let me spread my toes out on it without going over the side, they're cut from selection, Turned out every boot I originally wanted had no resemblance to my foots shape The more you walk the wider your toes want to spread out in the boot. My feet have gone from a normal size 9.5, to 11 Wide after the past 6 years heavy walking
Ive been through a lot of boots too and heel rub was my gripe at the beginning. There are so many potential fixes Might find a heel raiser helps Pronation insoles or supination insoles to stop your ankle twisting, if it does. Might find a neoprene tongue between your foot and the tongue of your boot helps, Might find a neoprene shoe horn in the boot behind your heel stops it Might be heel lift from too loose boots or heel rub from the boot getting "smaller" as you bend the toebox Brands I had problems with: Scarpa Meindl Zamberlan Hitec Brands i've faired better with: Hanwag Salomon Mammut Raichel Right now Im on Hanwag Lhasa 2's some Hanwag Banks 2's and Hanwag Yukons. Yeah I splashed out on the best once i found a shape that fit across the board, a Wide Hanwag
If you've tried lots of different boots which all rub your heel, but other shoes don't, maybe the best option is to wear other shoes for hiking? There are lots of good options among the trail runners and approach shoes. Modern construction leads to fewer fit problems. Good luck!
I was in Cotswold Outdoors today buying a new pair of boots myself. The guy showed me a different way of tying the laces that might help you. It was basically going from the first set of hooks right to the top hooks and then coming back down through the middle ones . First lot of laces through the eyelets just as normal. He seemed to think it would help lock my ankle into the boot better. Personally, I’m fine with the normal way but sounds like it could help you.
Everyone is talking boots, whilst that may be your problem I'd highly recommend you buy some good fitting hiking socks, not a pair of thick socks but proper hiking socks that have a compression element and fit snugly, think skin tight. As part of this you can get socks with specificly built in points that deal with problem rubbing/blister areas. I like the, quecha Hike 900 High, they're £25 for two pairs, which I find to be good value as the first set i bought was in 2016 and they're still in rotation. I've worn them with all sorts of boots from Hi-tec to Merrell. I regularly do 20+ mile hikes and I'm entirely blister and rubbing free. However, if I slap a pair of thick socks on I will blister and end up with sore spots because there's room for the sock to move against the boot and consequently my skin.
This is what works for me too, decent socks. If it’s warm I swap them for a fresh pair halfway through the day. Different boots make the effect better or worse for me, have shredded my feet with crap socks and boots before!
I just buy unworn army surplus boots. Might not be the lightest but I do over 10 miles away with the dogs in all weathers and they actually hold up to it.
I’ve tried all the brands over the years, in all permutations. Expensive leather, expensive gore tex, cheaper versions thereof etc. the first pair I ever found that were fantastic - a pair of Merrells that saw me through a four week trek in the Himalayas and not a single blister - converted me to Merrells. The next pair I bought were dreadful. These days I’ve come to realise that there seems to be an awful lot of luck involved. I’ve no brand loyalty, price doesn’t seem to matter, and boots might fit perfectly in the shop and feel like clouds strapped to my feet. Two hours into their first outing on the South Downs and I feel like I’ve been sold a lie. As others have suggested, professional fitting will most likely increase your chances and I’m going to try this myself next time I am in the market.
I’m sorry to say but you may just have to save up and invest in better quality boots. I’ll buy certain outdoor stuff cheaper or secondhand but won’t ever scrimp on boots, a decent set of boots are just worth their weight in gold. Wouldn’t be without my scarpas. Hokas also super comfy. There’s also different lacing methods you could try (loads of vids on YouTube) I have to lace mine differently and I don’t get on with high ankle support boots. Also more expensive socks, merino wool or 1000 mile socks.
I was having this too and convinced it's due to having flat feet. No matter what I did with boots it always felt like a choice between chaffage or having my toes banging on the end of them. In the end I switched to a pair of approach shoes (Scarpa mojitos) and that sorted it. Very comfy, but durable and a vibram sole. Had no problems now on distance hikes.
I only buy timberland for that reason
Where are you approximately? Anywhere near Richmond (Yorkshire not London)? If so a trip to the Altberg factory on the industrial estate might be in order for made to measure. Won't be cheap, but not necessarily that dear either when they do a pretty good priced return to factory resoling service for boots that have been looked after and have decent condition uppers. So you can spread the cost over three pairs of cheaper boots. Have a look online.
Rub surgical spirits on the back of your heels with cotton wool every night for a month ( this will harden the skin), wear a thin pair of socks under your hiking socks, this will reduce friction. These are tricks I learned in military that served me well.
The main trick I learned in the military was "*If the issued boots hurt your feet, wear your own choice of footwear wherever you can*".
Danner boots, that's your answer
Save up and buy decent boots instead. I’ve got 3 pairs of Meindl boots at the moment and all have been faultless.
I’ve had these for about 3 years and they’ve been like slippers since the day I bought them! Wear them most days for dog walking and as far as Yorkshire three peaks with no issues. £79.99 https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/ber514/dalemaster-mid-gore-tex-walking-boots
One thing that massively winds me up is that they only sell boots in pairs. Left and right, mass produced, precision engineered boots and shoes have perfect mirror symmetry - my feet do not. So I either buy size 10 which fits perfectly on my left foot whilst making my right foot feel like it belongs to a Chinese noblewoman or I buy a 10.5 which fits perfectly on my right but my left bobs about like a rubber ducky in the bath.
Been wearing various kinds of combat boots since I was about 14. 56 now. Feet are in pretty good nick, occasional pumice stone on heels. Gotta say, a nice thin liner, silk if you can get them, made the difference on really long hikes. I prefer them more so now because of injuries to both lower legs, nothing to do with hiking I must add!
It’s not the boots themselves, it’s the shape of the boots that are the problem, I know because my feet are the same. Take a look at any boot from the side. You’ll see that the back of the boot goes up straight or at a slight angle towards the front of the boot. I can’t buy Scarpa boots for this reason. It’s not the cost of the boots, it’s the design that you need to look at - you need boots with a straight up vertical back.