I got two new pairs of hiking boots today. The plan is to keep whichever pair is more comfortable. My expedition guide recommends boots that provide ankle protection because of snakes. I was going to take my old pair (the ones on the left), but the soles have started to disintegrate and cannot be repaired. I thought about taking them on this trip anyway, but my husband thought it would be a bad idea to have my boots fall apart in the middle of Kenya. He's got a point.

I like the pair on the right because they are the same brand as my old favorites, and they're comfortable, but they're a little too big. So the pair in the middle has just won a trip to Africa! It is never a good idea to go on a trip with a new pair of boots! But let's think about the choices... blisters from new boots or a poisonous snakebite...? Hmmmm... Okay, I'm way more likely to get the blisters than be bitten by a snake, but why risk it? I guess I needed new boots anyway!