Bought a $120 pair of hiking boots because a stranger told me to, zero regrets

Ran into this older guy at the trailhead near Boulder Creek last month. He saw me tying up my sneakers and just said, “those will ruin your knees by mile 4.” I laughed it off, but he pointed to his own boots and told me the brand, the model, everything. I figured why not, grabbed a pair on sale for $120. Wore them every weekend since. My feet feel way more planted on the rocks and I dont get that burning ache after hiking. Kinda weird to let a random person change my whole setup, but honestly his confidence sold me. Anyone else ever swap brands based on a stranger’s unsolicited advice?

1 comments

1 Comment

oliviat175d ago

The only thing I’d gently push back on is the idea that good boots alone fix everything. I bought the same pair after a friend swore by them, but I still had knee pain until I also changed how I stepped downhill. The boots help a ton with grip and ankle support, but your stride and pace matter just as much. That stranger gave you a solid start, just don’t skip the leg strengthening work either.