Walking Boots

I could spend all day looking at boots and reading reviews...

I'm currently most woo'ed by Meindl Bhutans and Alt-berg Fremingtons. Blacks stock the Meindls and I've emailed a shop regarding the Alt-bergs, so they are short-listed for trying on.

RE: boots vs shoes, I do the whole camping/camp stove thing, so the bags are heavy, thus justifying boots. However, one concern is the warmth of the boot, as I do tend to do most of my miles at an average of 20*C I'd estimate.

Thanks Diddums, will watch that video later - I'm sure it will prove useful for my research.
 
The wife spent a hideous amount of money on all these walking boots. Berghaus, Altberg, Danner, Meindl, and a few I'd not even heard of. Went round all the camping shops (and probably a couple of the camp shops!), doing all the computer testing/matching thing and walking over in-store mini-mountains, buiying all the fancy junk... her feet were always knackered.

Eventually she shut up and let me buy her a used pair of army surplus boots (even in her specific half-size and with wide fitment, just like she asked).... not heard a peep out of her since.... well, not about her feet, anyway!!
 
Fremingtons are superbly comfortable. I have some Mallerstangs, which are also comfortable, and have been with very little breaking in required. Leather is mostly looked after when I remember, with Leder Gris. But not religiously - they're often left a bit muddy and to dry out. Still in tip top condition, afaik.
 
I've given up buying expensive boots as I walk so much the soles wear out quickly - gets pricey real quick.

I now only buy northwest territory inuvik boots - waterproof, comfy, light and cheap.
 
bobbyspangles said:
Top quality, gore-tex lined fabric boots shouldn't leak for a very long time and have the advantages over leather of being lighter and cooler, both important considerations if you're mainly doing long distance trails in the summer months.

If you're not carrying very heavy packs or walking over lots of rough, unpathed terrain then you could even consider a mid height boot or shoe, combined with short gaiters when it's particularly wet.
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This.

I rarely wear my leather hiking boots as a decent pair of shoes are much nicer to hike in. Unless i'm doing something particularly rough or wet (lots of streams and puddles) I'll usually wear either a pair of non waterproof Salomon XA Pros or a pair of Goretex XA Pros (when it's just muddy and a bit wet).

For most people the majority of the time doing trails like the above you don't need a pair of heavy duty walking boots.

EDIT: I'll regularly wear my shoes when wild camping as well - a decent set of kit shouldn't weight more than 12-15kg wet and that's being generous.

As mentioned though fit is most important, buy the pair that fit the best.
 
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amigafan2003 said:
I've given up buying expensive boots as I walk so much the soles wear out quickly - gets pricey real quick.

I now only buy northwest territory inuvik boots - waterproof, comfy, light and cheap.
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Out of interest do you use them for hiking or everyday wear? A decent set of boots will take thousands of miles to wear the sole out. The sides and stitching less IME - that's where superglue comes in.:o
 
Amp34 said:
Out of interest do you use them for hiking or everyday wear? A decent set of boots will take thousands of miles to wear the sole out. The sides and stitching less IME - that's where superglue comes in.:o
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I basically live in my walking boots and I walk at least 50 miles a week.

I've found even with Vibram soles, I rarely get more than 6 months wear out of them. The soles always go before the stitching except on some rubbish Vango boots I tried a year ago and some Karrimors (rubbish since they went into receivership and became just another Chinese manufacturer).
 
ttaskmaster said:
The wife spent a hideous amount of money on all these walking boots. Berghaus, Altberg, Danner, Meindl, and a few I'd not even heard of. Went round all the camping shops (and probably a couple of the camp shops!), doing all the computer testing/matching thing and walking over in-store mini-mountains, buiying all the fancy junk... her feet were always knackered.

Eventually she shut up and let me buy her a used pair of army surplus boots (even in her specific half-size and with wide fitment, just like she asked).... not heard a peep out of her since.... well, not about her feet, anyway!!
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My biggest regret is that I can't get hold of Soldier 95 standard issue boots anymore :(

Loved those boots to death, nothing I've found yet fits anywhere near as good.

The only advice I can give is to find boots that are comfortable for you in long-term use, cheap or expensive really doesn't matter.
Different boots fit different feet, and what is comfortable for one won't be comfortable for another,

-Leezer-
 
After deciding on leather versus fabric the most important factor is whether the boot fits your feet.
There are no standards for shape, some boots will be broader than others and some will be deeper in the toe box. Likewise people with narrow feet will have to avoid the more spacious boots.
Sounds obvious I know but I was amazed how this was often ignored in favour of reviews regarding performance or longevity.
As far as buying on the web, I recently bought a pair of Meindl fabric boots from Cotswolds and they happily matched the web price.
 
Metalface Mark said:
I love my Salomon GTX II - kept me dry as a bone on a few munro's now when my old boots would have my feet soaking wet.
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I had a pair of these fitted last year and just to re-iterate what some have said, get the boots professionally fitted and pair them with quality hiking socks. Think mine are from a brand called x-socks with additional padding in critical places and are fantastically comfortable on long walks.
 
I've got a pair of Scarpa Mistral GTX boots and I love them, very comfortable fit and I've got quite wide feet. I looked at leather ones before but then chose these, been up and down some reasonably challenging terrain with no issues except the universal downhill toebox squeeze. Don't overlook the hybrid boots if they're goretex lined.
 
I have been struggling to decide on which boots to buy for Almost a month.
I have tried to do as much research as possible, without being ocd, and the prevailing message <seems > to be pretty much 'all manufacturers have outsourced production to the usual countries to save money and quality has greatly suffered'

people are saying they have spent £140 on a pair of scarpa, salomon or Merrill (eg) and 9 months later they practically disintegrate.

luckily I'm not a hardcore hiker, just do the peak district most weekends, only in the 15 mile range so I'm just going to buy the comfiest I can get for under £150 this weekend.

Already have quite a few pairs of bridgedale socks so fingers crossed for happy trails.
 
Mittens said:
I have been struggling to decide on which boots to buy for Almost a month.
I have tried to do as much research as possible, without being ocd, and the prevailing message <seems > to be pretty much 'all manufacturers have outsourced production to the usual countries to save money and quality has greatly suffered'

people are saying they have spent £140 on a pair of scarpa, salomon or Merrill (eg) and 9 months later they practically disintegrate.

luckily I'm not a hardcore hiker, just do the peak district most weekends, only in the 15 mile range so I'm just going to buy the comfiest I can get for under £150 this weekend.

Already have quite a few pairs of bridgedale socks so fingers crossed for happy trails.
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Good luck - let us know what you settle on.

Meindl and Altberg seem to be the only two makes which seem to retain the image of years and years of longevity. I want to just upgrade to leather Berghaus, but I don't want to be spending that sort of money every 3 years - I want my next pair to last.
 
leezer3 said:
My biggest regret is that I can't get hold of Soldier 95 standard issue boots anymore :(
Loved those boots to death, nothing I've found yet fits anywhere near as good.
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You must be able to - I still have my Falklands issue Boots Combat High, but recently bought another two pairs of them (one for dress, one for biking).

CS95 is a bit after my time - Which are the boots you want? Pro-Boots or Assault Boots?
Long as you don't mind 2nd hand surplus ones they are both readily available, for £30 and £20 respectively...
 
CS95 assault boots, size 7L :)

Not such a fan of the Pro-Boots (Purple / red-ish lined ones made my feet sweat to hell), but they're practically impossible to find in decent nick after the military moved to the brown boots. The size doesn't help either, most about the place seem to be 10-12.

I also had sole issues with the last couple of pairs I tried distance ordering (Crumbled), and the local surplus place reckons they've got a ~5 year after manufacture shelf life.

-Leezer-
 
Being ex-army I get the whole Altberg/Lowa thing, yes they make the best boots for tabbing (speed hiking with weight) but for what the OP needs? Pure overkill.

Why you would want a heavy, frigid and irrespirable boot for leisurely hill walking is beyond me. The boots being recommended here are great boots, but they are working boots, not what you want OP.

I would ditch the leather too. The best boots these days are fully synthetic, they require no polishing, next to no maintenance at all in fact, are harder wearing, much lighter, more flexible and most important of all, far, far more breathable. And of-course just as waterproof thanks to a Gore-Tex Pro or Surround lining.

OP take a look at these:

https://www.mammut.ch/GB/en_GB/B2C-...fort-High-GTX®-SURROUND-Men/p/3020-04370-0040

http://www.sportiva.com/products/footwear/hikingbackpacking/core-high-gtx

I have had Issue boots, Altberg, Adidas and Lowa's - nothing compares to the La Sportiva's in terms of nimbleness, comfort and breath-ability.

The Mammut's however are more available in the UK and are technically, nearly identical. If you're after something about half the price but with similar performance I would consider the Salomon X Ultra 2 GTX.
 
Closing said:
I have had Issue boots, Altberg, Adidas and Lowa's - nothing compares to the La Sportiva's in terms of nimbleness, comfort and breath-ability.
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I agree with that! I've got a few pairs of La Sportiva boots from hiking through to B3 winter climbing boots and they've all been great. Luckily I have feet that fit their shape well though.

I always see loads of people out in heavy great leather boots clomping around. Most of the time in the summer, I just wear Scarpa Crux approach shoes, these do me for anything from walking the dog to easier climbs as long as it's not wet. Light is right!
 
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