Walking Boots

100% recommend Meindl. They are regarded as the best for a reason. Would suggest the Vakuums rather than the Bhutans though, as they are a fair bit lighter.

You can find them fairly cheap online (look at rutland cycling), then get GoOutdoors to do a price match, which they'll beat by 10%.
 
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Oh crikey this is hard. I want waterproof - whether that is leather or fabric, I don't mind, I think secretly I want leather because they look totally awesome. That said, fabric are lower maintenance and, with Goretex, should be guaranteed waterproof.

Some people on various fora swear that fabric + waterproof does't exist, whilst people retort saying they haven't had wet feet for decades with fabric boots.

'Closing', you make an excellent point about breathability. That is a requirement given my usage patterns. Then again, I'm potentially off to the Scottish Highlands for 8 weeks in February (where I hope to fit in lots of walking) and I don't want to be caught out with a summer boot in those conditions. Then again, I can simply put on an extra sock layer to insulate my feet on those occasions.

As for the Meindl Vakuums - they are possibly more appropriate than the Bhutans for me, although, and I'm being picky, I can't stand the orange and green-ish band they've put under the heel. Totally spoils an otherwise stunning boot.

Can't someone just sell a breathable, waterproof, zero maintenance, leather boot for £150 or less which will last me 10 years?

Think I'm gonna google some fabric Meindl's and see what comes up...
 
The Meindls are virtually zero maintenance. All you need to do is wash the muck off and give a spray with proofer or wax every once in a while to keep the leather looking nice. They have a goretex liner anyway, so even if you didn't bother I'm pretty sure they'd stay waterproof. Cant see any advantages in a fabric boot myself, especially when you can get them for £150 or less.
 
amigafan2003 said:
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).
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That explains it. :)

I've had the seams go on a pair of North Face boots before, and had over upper damage on other boots/shoes but that was after weeks of clambering over rocks and through rivers. I wouldn't expect them to go if you're walking around town though as you say. One takes a lot more beating than the other.
 
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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People say that all the time, whether it's true or not... it's doubtful large companies renowned for what they do would reduce the quality that much, people would just go elsewhere. That's the problem with online, too many people with too many opinions.

One of the best options if you want to really know is (and I don't normally say this about shops) go to a decent outdoor store (Ellis Brigham, Cotswold, a good independent) and ask which brand/boots they get least returns on. That'll probably give you a better idea than online.

And as for online opinion.... Bridgedale... I hope they're better than they used to be. Nasty, horrible socks (seriously, would always get blisters even with their best sock - they're cheap for a reason). Get a decent brand like Smartwool or Wigwam. :p
 
I wonder if the solution for me is not to get the ridiculously awesome top-of-the-range Meindls/alt-berg's etc, but just get a semi-respectable midrange fabric boot and drown it in Nikwax. I could buy a heck of a lot of Nikwax for the price difference, and I when they wear out in 3 or 4 years time, I can reassess.
 
Best advise is to buy on comfort not brand.

I have some timberland boots that were inexpensive but are really comfortable for me.

They don't last all that long (I wear them a lot)
So I bought 3 more pairs.
Should last quite a few years, and I have a smart pair and a dirty jobs pair.
 
I've tried many many boots including most Altbergs, Lowas, Mendiels, bates and such in both leather/suede/goretex etc, i'm yet to find anything more comfortable than Soloman Quest 4D goretex, proper feet huggers, feel like a prefect fit for me, done me for plenty military exercises, been up lots of Munroes including Ben Nevis, still going strong and still wear them day to day, when these wear out i'll be getting another set without hesitation.
 
I've ordered a couple of sizes of Lowa Ranger III GTX with free delivery and returns for ~£135/pair to try on at my own leisure. I'm sorting out whether my local Alt-berg stockist has anything in stock that might match my feet. I've also got a back of a couple of consistenctly recommended fabric Gore-tex boots to try when I go up to town next, too.

Thanks for the input so far all :)
 
Englander91 said:
They look very very nice indeed...
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They are!

If you can, get yourself down to a store that stocks them and try a pair.

As mentioned in one of the reviews, the Vibram soles on these boots were FAR superior to the similar priced Meindel (Bhutan) and Berghaus (Hillmaster II) boots.

..getting on for 30% more tread depth I'd say comparing them side by side in store like I did.
 
Depends on the terrain and the season? Tramping through grass and muddy fields, abrasive and rocky ~moonscapes, or snow and ice?

Hardwearing vs lightweight, waterproof vs sweaty, tread depth and grippyness (softness) of rubber, everything is a compromise.

Why boots? I can't recall the last time I used boots for hill walking, even in winter. It's very liberating to wear approach/fell running shoes and be so light on your feet, getting wet is nothing to be afraid of. You mentioned long distance walking, at ~500g less per foot you'll be faster and less fatigued.

As others have said, whatever fits you best. Certain brands have a noticeably wider last which can feel "sloppy" if you have narrow feet.
 
Just to chip in again re: salomon boots.
I have a pair of evasion m gtx boots. The come in a suade and fabric upper with a goretex liner. They are very comfortable. I take a 9.5 in trainers but had to reorder these boots in a 10. Even then there are what I'd describe as 'snug'. I can only wear a single lightweight pair of socks with them.
All of my other boots have been a 10 but with allowance for thick socks.

I'd recommend salomon as a decent mid lightweight boot for casual / summer walking. I really only wear my lowas come the wet and muddy seasons. However if I had to pick one over the other I'd still go with the lowas.
 
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