Definitely worth going to an outdoor store like REI, or even better, a local shop, to get advice on this. They can help you figure out the right kind of shoe/boot, recommend proper socks that have cushioning in the right areas, and help you try on several options to find the best match.
If you continue to have issues even after getting proper footwear, look into having some custom insoles made. I haven’t had to go that far, but I have had several pairs of boots where I needed to replace the stock insole with one from Superfeet for an increase in long-term comfort.
As someone who wore Vans daily for years then stopped when I realized they were making my knee and ankle problems worse, glad to see you’re looking at alternatives. Also not surprised you’re experiencing pain with them on the trail. They are truly not suited for that task.
For brand recommendations: Keen boots typically run a little wide, particularly in the toe box if that’s something you need. They also tend to hold up fairly well (the work boots I own front them didn’t, but few work boots of mine have held up, they get absolutely thrashed) and have solid waterproofing. I personally use Salomons now, love how lightweight they are, though they do run narrow so finding the right fit was difficult. Merrill Moabs are probably a good starting point if you don’t know what you need or want and can’t get in-person advice. There’s a reason they’ve been around as long as they have.
Again, try some on in-store and get feedback from experienced employees.
Hope this helps!
Sure thing!
I’ve found running/walking shoes to be the best for me personally.
Was a big fan of the Adidas boost lineup for a long time and still find them to be the most comfortable and therapeutic shows I’ve ever owned (I occasionally did 30,000+ steps in a day with them and my feet wouldn’t hurt when I took them off) but, anecdotally, it seems their durability has gone down in recent years if that’s a concern to you at all. I regularly have extremely active days for work where I’m putting in a ton of steps and also stressing shoes in odd ways (sidewalls and toes especially) so durability is a big concern for me.
I’ve recently bought a few pairs of Saucony Ride 15s and couldn’t be happier with them. Comfortable, cool, lightweight, and they seem to be lasting the hard use I’ve put on them very well. Only had one pair where a small piece of sole came unglued but a bit of Shoe-Fix-It glue (basically flexible super glue) fixed it right up and it hasn’t been an issue since.
I’m in the upper Midwest, so winter means boots most days, but that mostly follows my previous advice.
I still own a few pairs of Vans that I really like for casual but kinda nice looking shoes. Good for trivia nights and barbecues, that’s sort of thing.
Hope that helps!