Oof, yes. The Asolo Titans ($270; www.asolo.com), while an estimable boot for heavy off-trail backpacking and glacier climbing, are also stiff and perhaps a touch unforgiving, particularly on a long hike/scramble such as Long聮s Peak.
Asolo Titan Mountaineering Boot
Asolo TitanI hate to suggest that the Titans don聮t fit, but that聮s always a possibility. Poor fit tends to show up in heel or toe blisters more than sore arches, however. Still, I assume these boots are fairly new. If so, they聮ll break in a bit and become more comfortable. Also, on mountains such as Rainier and Hood聴for which these boots probably are better-suited聴you聮ll be on snow more than rock and hard trail, and that聮s a bonus for foot comfort.
Otherwise, it could be that you聮re having some arch issues in the stiff Titans. You might swap out the stock footbeds for something else. There are several models of Superfeet, all about $34 (www.superfeet.com), and you might find that one of those gives the sole of your feet more support and cushioning, so you don聮t get that nasty two-by-four feeling. I聮ve found that Superfeet or other after-market insoles (Spenco makes good ones as well) almost always improve a boot聮s comfort level.
For all that, make no mistake: These are not dancing shoes, or trail-runners. They certainly shouldn聮t cause you pain after a half-day聮s walk. But you聮re never going to swap them out for your bedroom slippers when you聮re at home.
Check out this year聮s more than 400 must-have gear items, including , in the 2006 Buyer聮s Guide.