Random pic thread.

[kaiser715]

Dang. That sounds like the kind of thing that has to be done at least I need in a life time.

Do it!

Not cowboy boots, but.... I used to do a lot of backpacking. And have long, skinny, flat feet. Always had foot pain and issues when hiking, and went thru a lot of boots trying to find something better. In 1993, I went out to Utah and got a pair of hiking boots made. Randy Merrell, after he sold the boot company, went back to making custom boots. Spent ten days in Utah, getting fitted and watched from start to finish. Whole trip, motel, rental car, and boots, cost me about $4k in 1993, which is about 9k in today's dollars, and it was worth every penny.

Absolutely the best pair of hiking boots I have ever worn. Had them resoled twice. I quit carrying camp shoes -- my feet still felt great at the end of the day.

If you ever get a chance for a pair of one-off boots, cowboy or other, do it. You won't regret it.


Interesting side note that Randy has had so much tragedy in his life -- his dad got killed in front of him while building his house (earth-covered, dozer fell thru the roof), his son got killed in 2004 in a climbing accident, his wife and grandson got killed (and he was there) in a flash flood in the Grand Canyon in 2017.