Question
I hike alot but can't find hiking boots that I can tighten properly so that my feet don't slide forward (crashing into toe box)without having a paralyzing pain near the tendon on the front of my ankle when I step up/forward.  Then I am reduced to using hiking shoes but they are not providing adequate support under my arches once I put a 35 pound pack on top of my 170 pound body. What can I do?  Do you know of any hiking shoes or insoles that will provide weight bearing support while backpacking 13 to 18 miles in a single stretch? How are "super feet" insoles??? Any comments? I have tried lacing my boots up and skipping the ring on the top of the foot near the medial malleolus area and at least I can hike that way but then my feet slide forward in the boot crushing my pinky toes. I pronate quite bad anyway and use Saucony Guide for jogging to help that problem.  I have tried thick socks, two socks or one sock now I don't know what to do. If it wasn't for the streams of ice cold glacier water on our last 36 mile hike (two days) and the foot soaking in them I would not have been able to get out of the trail. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.  Thanks, Hope Rocillo

Answer
Forget the double socks-too hot and causes friction
Superfeet will not help you-only because they are over the counter and not custom made to your foot and it's problems.
The easiest thing to do is have a prescription pair of orthotics made for you and then bring them in with you when you buy your boots. They should sit flat in the boot and so if they are adjusted they feel the same in all your boots. They can also be adjusted to take up space in the shoe-if needed
There is a chance the orthotics will help with the ankle pain also. The orthotic should be able to take the pressure off the medial malleolus by supinating the rearfoot.
Recent studies have shown clearly that a prescription orthotic is effective in altering biomechanics in walking and running-while the sports shoes that claim to be supinators or pronators are minimally effective-if at all!!!! Remember the shoe doesn't see your foot-but a prescription orthotic does.
Hope this helps

Dr George Tsatsos

Not med advice-Just info for all

Additional info at AnkleNFoot.com