I do buy most of my wardrobe pre-owned/used. But, on occasion, I really do need to buy new based on availability of used in my size. I discovered that my Sorel winter boots are not exactly what I want after the deeper snow melts. Because of the snow melt and rain I need water shedding footwear that’s lightweight, and comfortable for longer hikes.
Re-sale Sites
I began by looking at Poshmark and ThreadUp. Since I love my Keen sandals for comfort, durability, and sustainability I wanted to buy this brand. Keen is PFC (the forever chemicals) free; and my original Keen hiking sandals held up for more than 5 years of very regular wear. I found a couple of their Terradora II waterproof lightweight hiking shoes on Poshmark in size 9. I thought that I better try them on in a store before assuming they were my size. I learned the hard way that there is no return shipping on Poshmark.
Local, Small Business Shopping
Shopping all over my new hometown of Duluth we first hit the national chain stores; Dicks, DSW, and Famous Footwear. Previously, we were in Duluth Trading Company and I knew they carried some Keen styles. I figured we’d stop there on our way home if needed since they’re close to the RV park. None of the national stores had what I was looking for (not really a surprise).
Finally, we made our way over to Bender’s new location on W Central Entrance. What a great local store! They had Patagonia, Keen, and a number of other excellent outdoor gear brands. The selection of shoes for women is really nice. I was able to try on both the Terradora II shoes and the boots. Good thing I didn’t buy the shoes on Poshmark; they wouldn’t have fit (not the correct length and too wide). For the first time in my life, I found the high tops to be comfortable on my ankles. So I decided to purchase the new Keen hiking boots.
New Hiking Boots
I wanted to try them out on a hike right away! First we hiked along the beach on Minnesota Point and then at Bagley Nature Center. They were pretty good on the packed snow patches at the nature center.
I love this area for all the local hiking, and now I have comfortable hiking boots that keep my feet dry and comfortable. I don’t love buying new but I am happy I made the choice I did this time!
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