I hike 5 to 10 miles of hilly trails, year round (even on ice with crampons). I’ve been doing this for 6 years now in rubber sole, fabric top low shoes. I wish I could tolerate boots, so I wouldn’t need to mess with gaiters, so I’d have better protection against twisting an ankle, and so I wouldn’t have to plan hikes around avoiding dewy grass.
The problem is, my left ankle gets too painful. Not inside the joint, but on the surface, on the bump. It’s too much of a pressure point on the boot. The skin and surface tissue hurts over the hard bony projection. I can’t even tolerate high shoes very well.
I have used a ball-and-ring stretcher, and have left it clamped for hours and even days, used liquids to prepare the boot to make it stretch more easily, trying to relieve the pressure over this point, but it’s never been enough. The one thing I haven’t tried is actually cutting a hole through the entire thickness of the boot, and maybe getting a cobbler to stitch the layers together to maintain some integrity. I’m not sure if this will hasten the boot falling apart. And of course that loses some of the protection against water, snow, and detritus.
Are there ANY boots that should be good for this problem? I’m not too fussy about how warm they are, as I’m replacing sneakers, and I never complain about hot feet during the summer. Lightness would be good – my right ankle is partly paralyzed and I can’t lift my toe on that side. I’m not worried about price.
Are there any vendors who are especially good at problem fittings?
I have this problem too. I put a couple of band-aids across each ankle bone, in a cross. Make sure the second band-aid is put on vertically, so it doesn’t present any edges to be scraped at by the up and down movements of the boot.
Yes, it’s a pain in the ass, but the only thing I found that works.
I assume you’ve tried the more sneaker-ish hiking boots, like the Merrell Moab series? Relative to more old-school leather boots, they’re amazingly comfortable.
They come in low and mid versions- even if you can’t get boots that work, maybe some of the Gore-Tex low-cut hiking shoes might be better than everyday sneakers.
I was going to say the Merrell’s, too. I have a different ankle issue–long story short, I ended up with a big lumpy skin graft on the back of my ankle where the achilles is. I can’t wear anything with a high top. The Merrell low rise work for me. They won’t help with the twisting problem, but they have good traction.
And some others. I’ve come to like Oboze boots. But unsure about them.
Since you say warmth is not an issue, you want something adjustable. Or, maybe not. If you are getting skin pain, mole skin or whatever is a temporary solution. IMHO, you need a boot that fits properly.
Another vote for Merrells here. I bought a pair of Moab 2s w/Gore-tex a couple of years ago and I liked them so much I got another pair–I swap them out and expect them to last for many years. Extremely comfortable right out of the box and good for any kind of terrain.
There are lots of places to get custom made boots. Don’t know where you are but a search for your location might find you a local boot maker. There are also many custom boot makers who do online fitting. Many are cowboy boots but there others. Expect $500 and up for custom boots that will last the rest of your life (with repairs, re-soles, etc.).
Just a couple examples; I have not bought from these places but have had my eye on Gokey boots for a long time:
From a AT thru hiker (myself):
Duct tape, forget bandaids. Moleskin or second skin also work, though duct tape works find and is much cheaper.
Vaseline or body glide over the duct tape or other. Actually this might be enough by itself. Don’t hold back, use plenty and bring some with you to reapply if needed (hopefully not)
Sock liners along with socks
Other then that, low top boot + gaiter works well, and ankle protection is a debated topic in hiking circles, as restricting the ankle does restrict a joint that moved to help stabilize the foot. Make say it’s only needed if one had problems with one’s ankles.
…[quote=“Spiderman, post:11, topic:954048”] Generous return policy, up to a year for members
[/quote]…
Just to add that is their satisfaction guarantee, some products also carry longer warrantees which they will take back much longer for those issues (though I doubt any shoes carry anything longer)
$20 lifetime membership, includes rebates on purchases; you’ll quickly get your membership fee back with purchases. A good pair of boots & socks & you just about pay for the membership w/o buying anything else is a better way of saying it
Thank you all so much for so many excellent leads! I really appreciate it!
I realize I should have phrased something differently. The problem isn’t friction, I’m not wearing the skin raw or creating a blister. It’s an intense pressure point, like standing on a marble but over the projection of the joint.
I’ve been swamped at work but want to pick this back up again. Any more leads would hugely be appreciated. Thanks for the REI vote; I think I already have a membership but would gladly get one if I didn’t, and I may give them a whirl. Thanks also for the Merrell recommendation. They make the low shoes I’ve been using, and I’ve gone through I think 6 pairs now very happily. I have 2 or 3 more sitting on the shelf in boxes!
I don’t think you’re going to find a boot that provides ankle support without aggravating your pain point - those are unfortunately mutually exclusive. Look for something that emphasizes stability, so you aren’t as likely to twist the ankle in the first place.
You might want to try some trail running shoes. Ask for something stable and waterproof. REI doesn’t have the best selection of running shoes, but they have enough that you could test some out side by side with more traditional hiking boots and see what feels best for you.
My experience has been that soft boots (not heavy leather wafflestompers) don’t offer any more ankle support than low hikers or trail runners. I use those for everything but winter hiking, which may save you from the ankle problem if there’s nothing over your ankle.
The gaiter suggestion worked well and I used in for the first 2 weeks of my AT thru hike where the trail was white, snow was falling and later on ice and slush. I was very happy with my choice of a low top + gaiter and it did keep the weather out as well as high tops but without the restriction and without the extra weight. Some shoes are designed to mate with gaiters to seal even better. I’ve even seen some shoes with gaiters built in.