Get new footwear :). Get some flavour from somewhere like outdoorgearlab.com, then find a proper outdoor store that'll fit you properly. You'll find that you probably won't end up in whatever reviews best, but you can use the knowledge of what to look for in those reviews to make sure your choice is right.
Basically, everyone's feet (and walking style) are different. I discovered this when I started skiing last year; I got myself a cheap pair of boots when I started and absolutely hated it. After everyone told me I'd been an idiot -- that while you can cheap out on skis, pants, gloves, poles, whatever, and that boots are the only thing worth spending money on for beginners -- I went to a boot fitters and spent a few hours getting sized properly. Suddenly, skiing became one of my favourite pastimes.
Walking's similar. If you're walking in top of the line boots that don't fit your feet or your gait, you're going to end up injured pretty quickly. If you're walking in cheap boots, it's even worse. Find a shop with a wide variety of brands and decent staff who know how to fit you up properly (they'll often squeeze in orthotics to adapt for your gait too). Since doing that this summer, I've had a much more comfortable time hiking :).
Thanks for all the comments. I have a pair of keens - https://www.rei.com/product/772930/keen-targhee-ii-mid-hikin... - probably 5 years old and I haven't replaced the soles yet and put a good amount of mileage on them. I've only actually lost one toenail once, but it took about a year to grow back and my big toes do hurt like hell after most hikes and get some small bruising on the big toes after long hikes. I've never thought about the foot swelling when hiking you all are probably right! They're too small when hiking. I'll size up.
It's not just the swelling (the swelling mostly makes your feet wider, not longer) but when you are going downhill your toes are hitting the front of the boot and this is something most of the people don't test when they are trying them out in stores.
This should not happened if you sized and laced them correctly.
Also, keeping your toenails short is an important thing to do.
Keens are a good example because they're really nice. I really wanted a pair, but their footbed just doesn't fit my foot :(. Good luck for when you head back to the store.
There's always going to be wear and tear on your foot when you're out and about (and legs -- part of my problem is that the pair of shoes I had didn't adjust for the way I stand/walk, and now I've got ITB/knee problems), so there's no miracle cure. But a properly fitted pair of shoes goes a very long way :).
Basically, everyone's feet (and walking style) are different. I discovered this when I started skiing last year; I got myself a cheap pair of boots when I started and absolutely hated it. After everyone told me I'd been an idiot -- that while you can cheap out on skis, pants, gloves, poles, whatever, and that boots are the only thing worth spending money on for beginners -- I went to a boot fitters and spent a few hours getting sized properly. Suddenly, skiing became one of my favourite pastimes.
Walking's similar. If you're walking in top of the line boots that don't fit your feet or your gait, you're going to end up injured pretty quickly. If you're walking in cheap boots, it's even worse. Find a shop with a wide variety of brands and decent staff who know how to fit you up properly (they'll often squeeze in orthotics to adapt for your gait too). Since doing that this summer, I've had a much more comfortable time hiking :).