Hiking boots recommendations?

[Denman John]

Thanks again to everyone who replied to this thread. Your input has been very helpful and I’m truly grateful for this community! I went to my local outfitters today which is surprisingly good for a town of its size. I feel fortunate to live where I do as it’s very outdoorsy and @goosehd is right when talking about the number good shops on the west coast and Vancouver Island. Being a Tuesday afternoon, the shop was quiet and I spent a good 1.5 hours talking and trying on different boots. When I told the salesman what I was looking for, the first boot he handed me was a Salomon Quest 4. No question it was a very nice pair of boots - surprisingly light and very cushy. I also tried on Aku, Keen Targhee 4 and a pair of Oboz Bridger. They were all nice boots but lacked the stiffness in the sole that I’m looking for. Next came out the Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX, which is their top of the line all leather traditional hiking boots. We were both surprised that my Vibergs felt heavier. Very nice boots that had a good stiff sole, but felt bulky on foot and when walking around the store. I tried on a couple of pairs of trail shoes but didn’t jive with them. Out of all the boots I tried on, the Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX were the ones that I like the most and felt best on my feet. They felt light on the foot and were the most comfortable with a nice stiff grippy sole. I have E width feet and the toe box fit is great with room to wiggle the toes. The lacing system is straight forward and easy to adjust. Sizing up to avoid toe jamb on descents, I was able to lock my heel in place with no slip first try. I definitely like them.

I told them that I was going down to Victoria this weekend and they said to go to their store there and try on a pair of Scarpa Rush TRK, which they think I’ll like. I also wanted to try them (from reviews) so I’m excited to try them and compare. Conveniently MEC is very close by and is a mecca for all things outdoor gear related. I am feeling much better now after trying on different boots and figuring out what I want, need and like in a pair of hiking boots. So far the Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX are at the top of the list, which I wasn’t expecting from online reviews - so there ya go. I’m tired and rambling so I’ll tie this up. Thanks again for all your insight and I’ll be sure to let you know how the weekend goes.