If somebody had told me a few months ago that the above photo would constitute as my fall boot shopping this year, I would have told them they were on drugs. Kate McClafferty does not buy hideous looking hiking boots in September, she buys gorgeous new leather boots for christ’s sake. But I guess the universe has rearranged itself or something, because I could be found shopping for hiking boots Wednesday night at REI. Totally against brand, as my friend Alison would say.
Ever since we booked the trip to Nepal, Brian has been telling me that I needed to get a pair of serious hiking boots for the trip, ones with better support, especially for my ankles. I kept telling him I could do the trek in my tennis shoes and he just kept giving me a look. Yes, that look, the look that tells you somebody thinks you are insane. I was putting up a good fight regarding my tennis shoes until I started reading the memoir, “Wild”, about a woman who hikes the Pacific Coast Trail by herself and the way in which she describes the state of her feet during the trek has left me with a deep sense of appreciation for my feet, as well as a deep sense of fear. She gets more blisters than she knows what to do with, her feet bleed and her toenails fall off. HER TOENAILS FALL OFF? Ummmm…count me out of that whole situation. I like my toenails and have no desire to lose any. With that being said, I finally agreed to get serious hiking boots and off to REI we went.
When we got to the women’s shoe section I walked up to the boots and almost started laughing when I noticed that some of the boots where 350 dollars- 350 dollars for hiking boots?! That’s crazy talk. I’d rather buy that buttery leather jacket at Club Monaco I’d been eyeing for the last week. So I grabbed the cutest looking boot I could find on the lowest shelf and asked the sweet, goofy REI employee named David, to grab me a size 9. David asked me what I was “looking for in a hiking boot” (still don’t know how to answer this question) and “where will you be hiking”. While holding the cheapest boot to my chest I meekly replied, “I’m going on a 10 day trek in Nepal”. David gave me that look, that same look Brian’s been giving me recently. So I put the boot back down and asked what he would suggest.
Ten minutes later, I was climbing on fake rocks in the middle of the REI store in 350 dollar hiking boots while David asked me how my toes where feeling…
…yes the universe has most definitely rearranged itself.
365til30.com 
Tough choice, but somebody’s got to make it! The biggest issue is- you don’t want the boots falling apart on Day 5 or on Day 8. This is where the price monsters have us over a barrel.
The price monsters most definitely have us over the barrel! Ha!
but you look so natural on those fake rocks in your hikiing boots – are purple laces a saving grace
Size 9?! I love you even more now (and will feel way less self conscious about my big feet)! This post is hysterical! Your humor in writing is my favorite! Just pretend you’re a gazelle when you have your hiking boots on….
Hilarious! And I can totally relate, having been through the exact same experience a few years ago.. Well, in TN, not exactly Nepal.. The good news for you is that (hopefully) you’ll never have to buy another pair! And keeping your toenails is a bit of a bonus too, right? 🙂
A little shuffle keeps life interesting! There is no doubt that an adventure like this is going to change and re-shape you. P.S. don’t suddenly take up running marathons… that’s another sport that claims toenails (personal experience!).
Well , how are your toes feeling?
you’re a brave woman, in more ways than one!