In late February, I went boot shopping:
After trying on the boots at a local store, I decided to order my boots from Zappos.com since I have a gift card. Even though I’ve used Zappos numerous times, I’m always surprised how fast they arrived. I ordered on a Sunday, and Monday afternoon they were on my porch!
I decided on a Keen brand boot. The model is Voyaguer and they are mid hiking boots, which were recommended by everyone at REI and several friends. There are plenty of great customer reviews about shoes on the web, too. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure how I would “do my research” about equipment without the internet. Equipment, including shoes and hiking boots have really changed since the late 1970’s! Everything is so light weight and much more comfortable. Can you imagine what pilgrims from the Middle Ages would think if they could see the kind of gear we have nowadays?
Now I’ll just need some nice cushy socks to wear. The socks will need to wick away moisture, and because I’ve suffered from foot pain in the past, I’m not skimping on the socks or shoes. From the first person accounts of pilgrims on the web, foot care is top priority!
The more we plan, the more I realize that we’ll need to be committed to training for this adventure. Unfortunately, the nice sunny and warm weather we enjoyed in early February at del Valle Regional Park (near Pleasanton) is gone and the rain has returned. We’re anxious to start taking long walks, but the weather just isn’t cooperating.
