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[slipstreamborne]

Whoever's bright idea it was to make it so that even women's hiking and hunting boots have a goddamn built-in heel, forcing more of your weight forward onto your toes, I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND YOU WILL KNOW MY WRATH.

WE SHALL PLAY A GAME OF CHUBBY BUNNY WITH YOU AS THE SOLE PARTICIPANT AND LIFTS/SHOE INSERTS IN THE PLACE OF MARSHMALLOWS BECAUSE

Comments

[rocza]

Do those not come in your size?

I got my hiking boots years ago at REI - have you checked them? I know there probably isn't a store nearby, but they at least are serious about real and healthy hiking shoes.

[slipstreamborne]

They come as low as an 8, which might fit, but haven't found anywhere yet that stocks them to try. :/ Went to a Bass Pro Shop today and they had one fluke pair of size 7 Timberlands but after that it jumped up to 9.5.

Don't have an REI close, alas. Next step is to plot out some options I might pass on my drive over to my parents' next week.

[rocza]

These are very similar to the ones I have; even without an REI nearby, they may give you an idea of brands to look out for. (FWIW, a quick glance thru all the REI women's hiking boots showed not-a-one in pastel.)

Depending on how tiny your feet are, it might be something where you have to order online and return ones that don't fit - but for good hiking boots, it's SO worth it.

[ook]

Just buy men's shoes. Men's shoes are better-made anyway and tend to last longer. I've worn men's shoes for the past 25 years.

[slipstreamborne]

Yep, I've officially made the switch over (got a pair of leather casual sneakers that were so comfortable and cheap it blew my mind and converted on the spot), it's just harder finding them in the right size for boots. :/

Plus men's shoes actually come in colors other than pastel.

[ook]

Pastel colors. :|

[trilobites]

...and while a lot of the styles in men's that I really like do come in small enough sizes, no place I've been yet actually stocks those sizes. >:(

I'm curious as to what your 'men's's size is. I haven't worn a so-labelled 'women's shoe' in... quite a few years, at this point, less because of the heel issue and more because footwear manufacturers apparently think that female = OMGnarrow feet NO EXCEPTIONS, which, haha no (my body consists of men's shapes on a women's scale - finding garments that fit me makes the twelve tasks of Hercules look like amateur-hour party tricks).

At M6.5, I know I'm at the smaller end of the shoe size range, but I've never been unable to find a replacement for an old pair when I need it (although I wear a basic combat boot for everything but formal occasions, admittedly)... surely the stores that offer the too-big shoes in the models you like can special-order smaller-sized versions?

[slipstreamborne]

I'm about a M7.5/8, which is partially why I'm so incredulous about the stores I visited not stocking those sizes. That isn't unheard of for a men's, especially for hiking/hunting/work boots that are neutral enough in design to have appeal for teens. And looking up the models I was trying on at the manufacturer's website, they actually make most of them as small as a M6, but if you try to order them from a store's website or catalog the smallest they offer is an 8, sometimes just a 10.

And I'm one of those people who needs to try it on in person, alas. :/ Especially since finding the right level of arch support is so key.

Hoping I have more luck as I head further west on the interstate and out of the "city".