Garmont Dakota Hiking Boots (For Women)

I can't say enough great things about these boots! Been him-hawing around about buying them and was in Denver last week and decided to try them on at the new store. Best decision I ever made! These boots are extremely comfortable, like another reviewer said, you feel like you can walk anywhere in them. I was looking for a boot with strong ankle support after having ankle surgery last year, and these definitely fit the bill and then some. The great thing is that my lace up ankle brace that I still have to wear from time to time fits well inside of the boot.
For those of us blessed with large calves, these boots are awesome because there is no separation between the tongue and the rest of the boot when you go to lace them up. The tread is awesome and I really can't wait to try them out on our backpacking trips this summer. As the guy in the store recommended, you definitely want to break these in. They are a little stiff at first, but I have been wearing mine nearly every day all day long for a week since I bought them, and the more I wear them, the more comfortable they get. It is really hard not to want to strap them on every day! They are definitely worth every penny!
I have found that they are true to size as I am a 7.5 and they fit perfectly. The awesome guy who helped me out at the store suggested that they be treated with nikwax which I am definitely going to do soon. However, he did say that Garmont does put a built in waterproofer into the leather, but I'm going to treat them anyway just to be better safe than sorry.
My only negative comment is for those also blessed with high arches, be careful. Nothing wrong with the boot, just be careful when lacing them up. Sometimes I have laced mine too tight and killed my instep. I have found that if I don't lace them too tight, they are still comfortable and my foot doesn't slide around. I really only had instep problems when I was sitting, though. When up and moving around, to include some light hiking in them, they didn't bother my instep at all. Like I said, not a design flaw in the boot at all and not knocking the boot in that respect, because it's not a boot issue, it's a foot issue. I have yet to find a boot or shoe that doesn't cause problems for me and my high insteps! I just wanted to offer this advise for those out there like me who have that problem.
I really could go on and on about these boots because they are the best pair of hiking boots that I have owned so far! I only hope that they hold up to a weeklong backpacking trip this summer to a fourteener in southwest Colorado! I have done some workouts in them to see how they perform on inclines and climbing and so far I haven't had a problem. Just as comfortable as ever and so far have been worth the $95 I spent on them when they were on super sale last week!
Garmont is my new go-to boot! Here's to many years in these boots and my hope is that they outlast my Keens that I have had for nearly 10 years!