Suggestions for hard wearing footwear

Droolinggimp

Droolinggimp

Droolinggimp

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Hi all. I am looking for footwear that has a long life when it comes to the soles. I walk everywhere and currently walk around 4-6 miles per day taking the kids to school and back, shopping and walking the dog etc. I usually wear smart casual trainer type footwear to go with shorts and jeans. However, I find that the soles wear out pretty much after 2 months of doing my daily walking. I purchased a pair of casual trainer things 2 months ago and they are now worn down to the point where there is literally 1mm left of rubber on the sole. I can feel everything as I walk.

I generally spend £15-£30 a time on these types of shoes which now cost me £60-120+ per year once I keep replacing them. So now I am looking to actually fork out some good money for some far better footwear that should last me.

Can anyone suggest some good hard wearing footwear for walking that is smart casual that doesn't look like hiking boots.
 
Solomon Trial Runners are great, use mine for walking/run/gym - hard wearing and super comfy.
 
peterwalkley said:
Try mountain warehouse and pick something from their range with 'Vibram' soles. I think a lot of walking/hiking boots are sold assuming you're on grass and fields, not pounding tarmac.
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I have had shoes from MW before, usually in a sale, so a £100 pair for like £40 something and I find the front sides always become unstuck after a good month or so and let in little tiny stones/grit.. Same with soles, most of those types of shoes have thick tread on the heel and toes and a thinner bit in the middle and I find they tend to split easy and let in water and stones.. Hope i'm not being too picky in finding a pair but I have had issues pretty much every time I get shoes. The only pair of anything that lasted a good amount of time were my pair of Adidas originals but even then the rubber toe/sides came unstuck and let in stones/grit.
 
Agree with the walking trainers suggestion, my last ones were 30 quid on ebay and awesome, waterproof breathable and hard wearing and errr vegan
 
Get some custom inserts, will make a big difference in supporting your feet, especially for someone like me who over pronates when I walk. Vibram soles are really hard wearing. If I was walking 6 miles a day I'd probably buy some decent walking shoes with vibram soles and moulded inserts.
 
I managed to get a pair of Salomon X Ultra 3 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes from a well known auction site, for £59. There appears to be a few pairs on at the moment for near that price. They are pretty decent.
 
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If you can find a pair in your size then a pair of Nike Manoa would be awesome. I've averaged over 7 miles a day walking the past year and these boots have done a good 50% of that without any issues.
 
I agree with Vibram soles and Gore-Tex uppers, as already suggested. Just a question of style and cost after that. I like Merrells, but there are plenty of other great options.
 
Haggisman said:
Clarks seem to be pretty durable, my current pair have lasted me 2 years and still look pretty decent
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I was going to say the same. I usually buy them on sale or the outlet site and get around the same Leslie out of a pair. The grips wear flat way before anything else goes and then I relegate them to garden shoes or the like.

My only gripes are the current styles of boots and walking shoes are no where near as nice as their old ranges, and 9 1/2 sizes on third party sellers usually go out of stock quickly when decent offers are about.
 
I haven't worked in an office regularly for over four years but when I did, I wore Clarks (Dorset Limit) brogues and would walk between five and ten miles every day in them. The uppers were still like new but I had new soles and heels every eight months or so from Timpsons. I've got three different colours of the same shoes and they work well in both formal and casual situations.

A decent pair of shoes as opposed to trainers might be a better option for you.
 
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