As its been so hot and dry recently I decided to buy a pair of 'cheap' walking boots (£40) from Decathlon and then walk a few days along the Beacon Way and Offas Dyke path. The boots proved to be very comfortable and easy to live with, except in one place on each boot, right on the outer toenail edge of each little toe! I did not get blisters at all, just two bruised toenails.
Following the theme about 'why are boots/shoes not human foot shaped?' I can sort of agree with the writer. Why would boot manufactures decide that the curve on the outer side of each boot should start exactly where for example, my little toes are most likely to be touching the boot itself? I've had this problem before, except with the Keen Targee's and its rather boring to have to keep breaking then in, even having to do this with the type of boots that are advertised as not needed to be broken in.
I consider that I have very normal feet, lovely feet in fact, with no bent toes, no odd shaped areas and so on. I'm a size 7 but I bought a size 8 and they still pressed on my little toes. If I put my feet on a large piece of paper and draw around them and then draw around the shape of the sole of the boot I can see why some people might suggest that boots and shoes are 'not human foot shaped!' I wonder who decides these things, or is it just tradition?
The Decathlon boots are now very comfortable, I walked in them today and my little toes did not hurt at all. I'm sure they will last me well throughout the autumn and winter.