>>344189>Except they're so fucking expensiveBoots and maybe backpacks are the only thing you spend good money on.
But you don't do so blindly.
You have to know exactly what kind of terrain you want to go /out/ in and what kind of activities you want to do there.
Meindl has a chart on their site which helps you orient a little.
Secondly, you don't buy boots without having them tried on in a store. There are plenty of good brands and models, but some might be a bit slim or broad. You don't buy the ones that are the cheapest or the best brand, but the ones that fit your foot the best.
And lastly, footwear is a long term investment. Take good care of them (keep em clean, take care of the leather and impregnate them from time to time) and if something is wrong, take them to a shoemaker. Small things are cheap to fix (fucked seams for example), and you can get a new sole once the old one is worn out. Again and again and again.
I hike a lot (like ~15km at least once a week in alpine terrain) and I've had my Meindl MFS Vakuum for 6 years now and next year I'll need a new (the third one) sole. I'm absolutely certain they'll last another 6 years.
