estrange03

I went on a 4 day backpacking trip and bought a good quality hiking boot (in the middle price range). They were comfortable and I could wiggle my toes even with thick wool socks. Problem is after hiking 5 miles into camp my feet swelled so much that my toes were jammed in the top of my shoe. I thought I had enough room for swelling but I never have hiked so far and they have never swelled that much. Since I used them the store won't let me exchange them. Is there a way to stretch hiking boots enough to allow more room for swelling feet? ( I ended up with numerous blisters and am losing 3 toenails from the trip)

Willie D

If it is a full-grain or nubuck leather boot, it can be stretched. The store I used to work at did such a thing, but not on mid-grade boots with nylon. The boot will usually tear. However, it sound to me as though you tried to hike before they were properly broken in. In that case, you just need to wear them around for shorter periods of time, more often. Get them wet, that will help a bit too.

You could go back to the store and tell them you don't think you were properly fitted. Unless you were one of these people who didn't bother to spend the time with a clerk and just rushed out of the store with the boots, they really shouldn't give you a problem. I used to take back stuff all the time, provided they had a receipt. I usually had to sell the old boots at a loss, but sometimes the manufacturers would take them back and issue me credit. So unless you were an a-hole to the guys at the store, they should be willing to help you.

ghost

All leather hiking boots can be stretched, up to one size I've heard, but not if they're made with cloth, and a shoe store should do it as a courtesy but since they won't even take returns I doubt they'd offer that service so you'll have to go elsewhere and probably pay a small fee. You can also do it yourself apparently: http://www.ehow.com/how_2123064_stretch-boots.html or like this: http://shoes.about.com/od/fitcomfort/a/shoe_stretchers.htm

But I really must say, the blisters, lost toenails, and probably some of the swelling were due to the boots themselves and the only solution is to get rid of them, cut your losses and sell them on eBay, but whatever you do don't wear them again! Toss in the thick wools socks while you're at it. What works for me, my family, and many others is backpacking in shoes with a pair of thin nylon socks. Our hiking shoes, mine made by Salomon and my wife's by New Balance, are light, comfortable, dry quickly and thus can be worn during stream and river crossings, eliminate the need for us to carry camp shoes or sandals, and most importantly they don't give us blisters, not fewer blisters, but no blisters ever. I don't own moleskin or duct tape my toes or worry about my feet or do anything to my feet except rinse them in a creek and change my socks every day.

I'm sure you weren't carrying over 40 lbs of gear nor that you have a history of twisted and broken ankles that would lead you to assume you have genetically weak ankles that need high booted protection, so I recommend switching to shoes.