[at-l] needed: boot fit expert

[paulers@ix.netcom.com (Paula)]

ok, I know these guys are a bit out of your area, but I'd highly
recommend them as excellent bootfitters.  Mast General Store in Boone NC
( just east on 321 from Hampton TN, south from the VA border )  They are
experts at that Phil Orens fit system; (their people staffed the boot
fit booth @ Trail Days) make custom superfeet, have a great boot
selection, what brands they don't carry, footsloggers around the corner
does and Mast will work on the fit w/ you.  I got boots there last year
and they spent almost 2 hours on this stinky thru-hiker-attempter and
really did an outstanding job.

on my thru-attempt this year, I had oodles and boodles of foot / boot
troubles.  I got a new pair at neels gap; but they started falling apart
on the inside heel around Hot Springs and I had horrible bottom of the
foot pain with them.   They did heal up my blisters and never caused
more, but the bottom of the feet were ruined - these boots caused my
plantar fascitis & neuromas which pulled me off trail in VA.  They just
didn't have the support or stiff enough sole to handle my high arches
and were too large so my feet moved too much inside the footbed. 
Because they were way oversized, any insert I put in to try and support
the arch either floated or hit my foot wrong.

At trail days in Damascus, I did the bootfitting booth and they hooted
at teh boots I got @ neels gap - they were 1.5 sizes too big for me in
an attempt to handle my wide feet vs finding a wide boot as well as
other stuff that didn't match my feet.  Granted, the person who did my
boots @ neels gap wasn't one of their regular staff but someone from a
diff outfitters there for the hordes of march... but I didn't know that
and went on blind trust.  N-E-ways... the folks in the booth from Mast,
and Phil himself, recommended specific brands / models based on my
foot.   I had trouble finding wide boots so I eventually got a ride to
their store, got the boots, went back to the trail & slackpacked for a
few days.  The stiffer boot needed more break-in but I did feel the
difference right away, it was just too late.

And ole sloetoe may have something there with the soaking... I got
lowa's, they are all leather but extremely light.  They felt pretty
broken in, enough for me to try a 16 mile day, but then I got caught in
a huge rainstorm that turned the trail into a deep stream.  I didn't
have my gaitors so the water just ran down my legs and my feet were
swimming so I stopped trying to keep dry and just slogged down the
middle of the stream.. oops, trail... they were SOAKED thru and oddly
started feeling oh so good and custom fitting ish as they squished and
dried while walking.  I really feel the deep soaking & walking them for
miles really put the finishing touch on the break in process.  i
absolutely love these boots, they feel soooo good.

Sorry for the long post, but if you cant drive down to GA and be fitted
personally by Jeff or Dorothy, I think these guys are second best.  i
live near the REI at college park, it has lots of inventory, but i've
not found the staff to be extremely knowledgable when i've had detailed
questions about stuff.  Pretty much if it wasn't on the label or printed
on a tech sheet, they didn't know it.  I'd rather have a great fit I
don't have to worry about vs a great return policy!  ( but mast has a
good one also! )

by the way - i just treated myself to your book and read it yesterday. 
Great Job!!  I loved your book and you told your story well.  Thanks for
the enjoyable read on 1-1-01.  It was a nice way to bring in the new
year.

Paula
Cheerio GA-VA 2000

rhymworm@mindspring.com wrote:
> 
> Hey, folks,
> 
> Anyone know of a bp store/outfitter in the northern VA/MD/Southern PA region where they REALLY know how to fit boots--
> 
> Any recommendations would be welcome.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> --Rhymin' Worm