I've always had a problem with shoes. I hate them. I hate to wear them, being much happier in bare feet. Perhaps it is ironic that my first real job outside of babysitting was working in a Stride Rite. Where I had to make kids who hated to wear shoes, wear shoes. Anyway, up until I had my kids I was always a women's size 4 1/2, which meant that I really had trouble finding shoes that fit. I either had to shop in the kids' section (which, really, wasn't so much a problem at the Stride Rite, I actually got to use my employee discount) or I had to go to Nordstrom and spend a week's salary for a single pair of shoes that made me look like a grownup. When I grew several sizes after having my kids, I was delighted that I could finally stop having to spend several limbs for shoes. But there was one pair of shoes that I actually cried over: my hiking boots.
Probably my second pair of hiking boots were the best damn boots I ever owned, maybe the best piece of footwear I ever owned. Made by Vasque, they were italian leather with goretex liners for waterproofing, and they were pretty much the only pair of shoes of any kind that I've ever owned that were immediately comfortable the second I put them on my feet. They held me in good stead through punishing backpacking trips with BigDaddyFish, despite my overloaded pack and general smallishness (I've since learned to pack lighter). I wore them for weather protection in the snow, and my feet always stayed warm and dry. When I outgrew them because of the stretching of my feet after the babies, I actually cried. I held onto them for years, even though I knew they would never fit again, but I really, really missed those boots. I didn't see them in stores and tried a variety of different boots, all not really making the grade and quickly outgrown with the addition of another child. Since I'm not having any more babies, I've been looking forward to getting a new pair of boots.
My latest pair of running shoes wore out at least two months ago, and my 3 mile walks have been really doing a number on my feet, but I really felt like I couldn't justify the expense as part of day-to-day spending. I finally told BigDaddyFish that I wanted new running shoes and a waist pack for my birthday. Knowing that we've been planning on going hiking and backpacking in the future, and having listened to me whine on our hikes because I didn't have any boots, he suggested I get a new pair of boots and wear those on my walks, and once those were broken in, then buy the running shoes. I hemmed and hawed for a while, but ultimately thought that was a capital idea. I had heard that Vasque was no longer making those boots, but a quick check on their website showed them. Last week, Little Man and I hit the local hiking store to see if they had them.
We walked in the store and I was dismayed to see very very few hiking boots on display; lots of sandals, climbing shoes, and trail running shoes, but few boots, and none by Vasque. This store is well staffed with knowledgeable people, though, so I waited and when the guy asked what I wanted I said "Womens. Vasque Sundowners. Do you have them?" He smiled as he walked to another display with a big Clearance sign above it and asked what size. I told him I didn't know and gave him an idea, and he had both sizes I thought I might take. "You know, they aren't making these anymore, haven't for about a year and half. We get so many requests for them, though. You got lucky we had your size," he said. Once again, the second my foot slid into the boot they were comfortable. AND they were on clearance, so they were a LOT cheaper than I had anticipated. Coupled with the store-wide sale on everything else, I was also able to get my running shoes for less than I would have paid for the boots. Happy Birthday to me.
Seriously, they're awesome boots. People have been known to wear the same pair for 20 years.
Please ignore the blindingly white legs. Family history of skin cancer and lots of childhood sunburns are a bear.
Awesome birthday presents. I get all excited when I find my favorite style of running shoes on sale. I wear them for days to walk around before I run in them, just because it makes me happy to.
Posted by: hokgardner | July 23, 2009 at 07:49 AM