Boots-Wilderness Tires

    It's hard to find a comfortable pair of boots, the tires of the wilderness.  I always am drawn to the jungle boots.  The military black hard leather boot with the laces that zigzag up the front so many times you become cross eyed.  You yank the last lace tight, tie them off and those jungle boots are not coming off!  But two hours later a blister is forming on the back of your heel and soon every time you walk pain shoots up from your ankles.  Then you try sneakers but the hard rocks slice into them and you worry you might need foot insurance.  You find the perfect boot that zips up the side and has lots of cushion only to realize now your feet feel like lead weights. When you cross a stream the water rushes to soak your aching feet.
   Eventually if you stand at work all day you will find almost any shoe or boot becomes bearable.  Recently I hiked several miles with dress/work shoes on; leather shoes with heavy soles and I did fine.  But I do have a favorite boot.  It probably is the cheapest shoe I ever bought weighing in at a cost of only twenty-five cents at a yard sale.  It's called the Mickey Mouse boot and its ugly!  The boot looks like an obese rubber balloon designed for midget clown feet, and then the boots must get scurried off and painted black.  They have this port on the back that looks like it's for an air mattress.  Could the boots double as a pillow or some other magical object?  No, rather these boots are military issue boots once worn by pilots.  As pilots travel in high altitudes the boots could change pressure protecting the feet.  In real world terrain I found my foot nestled almost perfectly in these clumsy looking objects.  I felt I could walk for days with nothing worse than warm feet!  The rubber is hard enough that one can clamber over sharp outcroppings without serious fear of the boot getting compromised.
   Some time ago I invested over a hundred dollars of credit card points into some Bates boots.  I was thrilled.  I would finally get a high quality brand new product.  For what seemed like only half a year I wore them to work and watched in horror as they denigrated before my eyes.  I loved the side zipper for ease of egress but the quick wear time was disappointing.  Just recently I pulled them back out and with super glue melted the ripped seam on the side of the boot back together.  I will still attempt to get a bit more wear out of them, but I expected more for the high price paid.
   Perhaps again the morale of the story is test the boots and shoes on short hikes and find your perfect fit.  Remember the adage that a tightly tied boot won't cause blisters.  I'm not sure if that's true but it's worth a try.  If you happen to see a boot balloon for cheap at a yard sale near you snatch it quick.  Maybe clowns wear those boots for a reason other than well..to clown around!