Boot pain tips

Ok all - here is your chance to rain down free tips and advice on a newbie.  I went out this weekend for a backcountry trip and had an awesome time.  However, once we got down out of the snow and were hiking back through the brush/woods to the car, I experienced some of the most painful "hiking" I've experienced.  I was hiking out in my ski boots and it was just painful.  I had them loosened and in "walk" mode, but it every step just hurt my feet.  I don't think my boots are that poor fitting, and maybe this is just an unspoken about issue that everyone deals with.  Any thoughts/tips/advice?  Or does everyone go through this?  thanks in advance!

Where did your feet hurt?

I would say...repeat the process but walk out in running shoes...and see if the pain is the same. If the pain is the same...then it is your feet. Otherwise, it is the boots. Just narrowing it down. But maybe you already thought of that....and given the choice...1lb on your back is equal to 5lbs on your feet...so it is always easier to carry boots and walk in running shoes for energy efficiency.

Yeah -- hike on dirt in trail runners...

but what part of your feet hurt?

I recall my first pair of AT boots -- which I got used and cheap -- but ended up being a 1/2 size too large -- my toes would get beat up -- because the sides of the boot didn't grip my feet tightly enough to keep my foot from sliding forward and my toes smashing into the end of the boot.

Sometimes it helps to actually keep the boots moderately tight to keep your foot from moving around. Also, experiment with different sock thicknesses. I have a 3 year old pair of boots that are usually pretty comfortable but occasionally I wear a slightly thicker pair of socks and experience more foot pain. I seem to have to re-learn this lesson about once every six months.

My best advise is to bring running shoes for hiking out. Anything more than a mile or so and I wear running shoes. Happy feet are key!

Thanks all for your thoughts! The "pain" was in the ball of my foot and I think was a result the hard plastic sole/little cushioning of my ski boots. I think it's probably best to just bring a pair of old runners with me next time. It was just a classic problem of hiking through the woods on a mostly snow base but dirt/brush mixed in. I haven't hiked/climbed in plastic boots in while (my climbing boots are leather) so it may be that as well.