Hi all, Can anyone recommend a hiking boot that works well for people with knackered old arthritic feet? In recent years there's been one brand that I always turn to for trainers of various types, from casual town shoes to general purpose training shoes. Skechers let me forget that I have osteoarthritis in my feet. It's the fact that the soles sort of roll, and they have good arch support. I've realised that increasingly my leisure exercise involves long walks in the hills. My trainers have served me well for that purpose, but as the mileage increases, so does the foot pain, which leads to knee pain as I subconsciously adapt my walking style to compensate. So I'm after some decent boots. They don't have to be Skechers, but I know the brand works for me for my other activities. I just need good arch support and a rolling heel to avoid pressure on the fronts of my feet. What do we know please folks?
I wear Scarpa Vortex and have done so for well over 30 years. Never wear any other shoes even when going out (weddings, funerals etc.) as I find them the most comfortable. You need to go to a proper walking shop to try them on before buying. I go to George Fisher in Keswick to buy mine as they know what they are doing, have a walking test ramp for you to try them out on (a ramp framework, up and down, with stones/rocks built into to it so you can get a better feel of how the shoes are for you). I'm fussy about how my my shoes feel and I usually end up with a pair made up from two shoes, exactly the same model, but from different boxes. For me there is a noticeable difference between shoes that come off the same production line. I'm sure you can find a good outdoor walking shop near you. For you it may be a good idea to see a podiatrist first as you may need special insoles (now often called footpads - but in my youth those were robbers who accosted you in the street and stole your money ). It's usually fairly easy to be given an appointment on the NHS if referred by your doctor. It's likely that the doc will refer you to one at a local hospital. I get by OK with just their normal insoles but replace them every year or so (£14 per pair). The shoes last years. If you do a lot of walking I would recommend buying a spare set of laces as it's a bit of a nuisance when they break on you. They're tough laces and last well but it's handy to have them when you need them.
Definitely go and try them on if at all possible. I've got some Haglof boots which are comfy. I had some Meindl which were superb, and Merrell which were lighter weight but also very good and roomier for my toes (I have some Sketchers walking trainers and find them a bit snug around the toe area). All offered excellent support.
I saw one a few times a few years ago not long after my right foot recovered as much as it ever will after smashing it to smithereens in a martial arts training accident (a display move for an audience went somewhat pear shaped. My friend was in the audience, he told me afterwards that the sound of bones breaking was very audible and nauseating, so much so that one lady in the audience got upset and cried). I was so full of adrenaline that I didn't feel the pain and attempted to continue. It took me a few moments of puzzlement before I realised why lots of people ran forward and immediately started trying to administer first aid. Fast forward a few months, swelling gone and various X rays and an MRI revealed that my first metatarsal joint had completely smashed on both surfaces and a bone fragment had rotated almost 180 degrees and then set in that position, with the result being that joint under x-ray looks like broken glass. Other bones broke too, but not as bad. The upshot is the podiatrist worked out how to get best use of the knackered remains of my feet, and that involves custom made arch supports moulded exactly to my feet, and advice to always wear supportive footwear. My custom arch supports live in my office shoes. For leisure and training my Skechers do a similar, probably better job. Having lived with this for a few years now I've learned to adapt how I train to minimise the force on the worst part of my feet (yes, both feet, the other foot got damaged, also in a different martial arts training accident). When I'm practicing martial arts, I'm on a perfectly flat and level floor so it's easy. But since I find myself walking in the hills more than I used to, the trainers, as much as I love them, maybe don't quite cut it. I take your point about finding a specialist shop. I'd heard that such places exist but I don't know how to find them. Keswick is a fair old trek from here but I could make a day of it.
There's probably a Cotswold Outdoors nearer than Keswick. I'd pick up a monthly outdoor pursuits/ walking magazine and have a look at the ads in that for store names and locations.
I have hiked quite a few miles over the last 3 months across rough uneven terrain just completed 5 miles this morning have used two or three makes but now I am wearing Salewa Men's Ms Crow Gore-tex Trekking & Hiking Boots the problem I have is that they won't let me take the boots for a decent hike and then return them if they are no good so they usually end up down at the charity shop
