Recommend Me: A Boot?

I'm 200 pounds hoofing it around the city. I often find that I'm collapsing boot heels and soles every few months. Hard to find decent boots or dress shoes for women with solid enough heels and toes to weather the stress.

Men's size 8, Women's size 10. Prefer men's. Weak arches, bunions, hammer toes, so nothing too slim or binding across the ball of the foot. Waterproof would be bonus!

Any brands you've tried and swear by? Others that are too much hype and too little substance? Do you just happen to have a pair you like and would like to play fashion show? (Pics please). Maybe some you had to get for work that turned out to be awesome?

Trying to read reviews, but I like you opinions more.

Corcorans and Danners were my go-to boots in the Army. Comfortable, durable, and very sharp.

For hiking, I usually wear North Face Hedgehogs trail shoes. They are very durable, quite comfotable, breath well, and you can get them gore-tex lined.

I have been wearing Keen boots in the winter for years now and they last multiple years for me. A little pricey and not the most stylish, but they are comfortable and practical.

Wirecutter just did a boot recommendation but that may have just been winter boots. Otherwise check their other footware recommendations as they may have covered this.

LeapingGnome wrote:

I have been wearing Keen boots in the winter for years now and they last multiple years for me. A little pricey and not the most stylish, but they are comfortable and practical.

My advice echos this. What's the Canadian version of REI? Go there and (if your budget will support it) get a pair of proper hiking boots. My last two pairs have been Keens, and they're the sh*t. Warm, comfortable, breathable, and wade-through-alpine-streams-with-dry-socks kind of waterproof. And goddamn bombproof.

Additional recommendation from my girlfriend, who basically lives in hiking boots, urban-hikes 30+ miles a week, (and subsequently wears out a pair in about 9-12 months). She swears by Vasque.

I also have a pair of plain black leather ankle-high boots from Bogs that I've been impressed with. Work just as well with jeans or with dress pants. But again, pricey.

Solovair. They used to be the manufacturer for doc Martin's before they outsourced. I swear by the quality.

What are you looking for?

I can recommend staying away from the lower end Canadian Tire stuff. I had winter boots collapse on me last year. MEC hiking boots would probably be decent, but I have never used them before.

Also if you're looking to shave a few bucks off I really like sierra trading post down in the states to find a solid deal on quality equipment.