Love is complex and finding true love is difficult and rare. However when you find a partnership that will last there is nothing more fulfilling. It finally happened for me; I am in love with a wonderful new pair of hiking boots! 
Hiking boots are your companion on the trails. They should be supportive, comfortable, and lasting. The first step in finding the right boots is knowing what you want from your boots. Are you looking for something that’s light and fun or are you looking for long-term (and long-range) commitment? Will you be hiking every weekend and facing arduous switchbacks or will you be hiking once or twice during the summer on relatively flat terrain?
With my Half Dome challenge I was ready for the commitment. After trying on a variety of boots I found that the light trail-hoppers were not what I was in the market for. Once I slipped into my new pair of leather Godzilla boots I felt like there was no terrain I could not conquer. With these boots I can climb the sheer face of the Dome with grip and confidence.
Here are some tips I discovered in my search:
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When lacing up a boot do so with your heel on the ground and your toes pointing up. This will help you to get a good sense of the heel comfort and where your toe aligns with the toe of the boot.
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If possible, walk down a slope when trying on hiking boots. A true test of good boots is whether or not your toes will rub when walking downhill.
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Determine what weight is right for you. Leather shoes will be a few ounces heavier and on a steep incline you may feel every one of those ounces. If you are a casual hiker a lighter shoe may be more preferable.
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Be on the lookout for deals and steals! Second Ascent and Market Street Athlete both have awesome coupons in the current edition of Chinook Book. Joe’s is currently liquidating its stock as they’re going out of business. REI is holding a store-wide sale May 1st – May 10th and offering 20% off one item for all members.
My new love and I will be hitting the trails this weekend. We’ll be taking it slow, getting to know how we work together. I wish you the best of luck in your search and hope you will be as ecstatic as I am - happy hiking!