Walking Boots

Englander91

Englander91

Englander91

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(Mods: please move to a more suitable section if necessary - I had a bit of trouble deciding where to place this).

I'm on the look out for some new walking boots. I'm quite a keen walker, and for the last few years I've also done an 8-14 day walking/camping holiday, picking a different National Trail each time - Coast to Coast, South Downs Way, Cotswold Way, and next year we are planning the Peddars Way.

I've well and truly worn out my first pair of boots - a mid-range fabric boot, just below the price rung where they start to involve Gore-tex.

Now the one thing I want is decent waterproofing. The major cause of just about all my problems on walking holidays is feet getting drenched, which in turn predisposes to blisters. Therefore, I am looking at leather boots, and I'm prepared to go quite high end, money-wise.

Any OCUK'ers au fait with leather walking boots who can offer suggestions on what models to look like?

In terms of fit, Berghaus suits me well, and I would just get their leather boots, but it seems like the most recent models over the last couple of years universally review poorly when it coms to longevity. It seems quality has really dipped.

I've been looking at the Meindl Bhutan, too, as they seem to be proclaimed as just about the best you can buy, but I'm not sure if they are just a bit over the top. It's long distance walking, with the odd mountain pass that I do, rather than full on mountaineering.
 
My advice hasn't changed from this thread:

Burnsy2023 said:
I have had Altberg duty boots for years which are great, however, I ended up buying Scarpa ones for hiking due to the fit which I highly recommend: http://www.scarpa.co.uk/trek/ranger-2-gtx-activ/

If you're close to the Altberg factory you can get them made to measure.

Also, socks are really important too, make sure you have good quality, thick socks.
Click to expand...

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18712172&highlight=hiking+boots

Also worth noting, I treat the leather every couple of months and they have stayed completely waterproof. They also get more comfortable with age (they were comfortable to start with) and are really great now. The Scarpas are one of the best investments I've made recently in kit.
 
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I've not got any advice on walking boots but when it comes to 100% waterproofness make sure to go Goretex lined.
 
I do some hillwalking. Are you buying the boots online or in a store? You need to try them on, Scarpa are very good. Proper socks are very important also.
 
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My plan is to be able to try them on in-store, make my excuses, then buy them for 25% less online.

My partner has some old GoreTex fabric boots and, to be honest, her feet were as wet as mine after a good bit of rain. Hence, I'm thinking leather, but equally, I don't want them to get too hot or stuffy, most of my walking, by its nature as an outdoor activity, is during the warmer months.

Socks are taken care of courtesy of 1000 Mile.

Anyone know how Scarpa fits compared to Berghaus? I.e. wide, narrow, neutral. As I say, Berghaus fits great, but I'm broadening my horizons due to the reports of declining quality.
 
if berghaus fit great, then get them, fit is so unbelievably important, don't sacrifice anything for fit and no two companies or even models will be the same.

which makes recommendations pointless.
 
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The Scarpa boots I tried on were too narrow in comparison to Berghaus as were the Asolo boots I tried on. I ended up with another set of Berghaus which are comfy straight from the box for me. They may however fit you, there is only one way to find out of course.
 
Read up a bit on Alt-berg - they have a heck of a lot going in their favour. I'm liking the look of the 2-3 season Fremington boots.

I note that they are lined with Sympatex vs Gore-tex... does that really make much odds with a full grain leather boot? My googling suggests that Gore-tex is more highly regarded, including by the military, apparently.

There is an Alt-berg stockist near-ish me in London which I could probably investigate, I don't think I'll be able to pick my size online considering they come in 5 different widths every half size!

Also, is it "Alt" as in "altidue" or "Alt" as in "alternative"?
 
Altberg or Lowa.

Cannot go wrong with either brand. Just make sure sure you try them on properly.

Some people struggle with vibram soles as this material can be quite slippy on smooth wet surfaces, like stone pathways worn smooth. I find it to be a great hard wearing material.

Leather is preferable to fabric even if it's heavier.

Non goretex leather boots you can use dubbin for keeping the leather supple and waterproof (don't use too much as if the leather becomes too soft it can be more prone to cracking in the flex areas of the upper, over the ball of your foot) and regular kiwi shoe polish to keep them clean.

Goretex lined boots are different in this regard. Do NOT use petroleum based waterproofing agents on the leather outer. In order for the goretx inner bootie to wick moisture away from your feet, the leather outer has to remain permeable to some degree. Companies like Lowa offer their own proprietary waterproofing and leather creams; Water Stop (spray) & a Leather cream.

Another point for goretex boots - if you get them wet on the inside, say you wade through some deep water or whatever, they will take much longer to dry out inside than boots without the goretex lining.

I have a pair of Lowa boots and they are excellent. Their cleaning w/p stuff works well too.

Generally, you get what you pay for; Lowa & Altberg boots are expensive. Rightly so imo as they will last you a long time. Both companies will re-sole you boots when they wear out.
 
Craterloads said:
Brasher hillmaster Gtx or other brasher models. Best boots you can get within a reasonable budget.

The bhutans are excellent too.
Click to expand...
Berghaus bought Brasher, hence the Brasher range is identical to the Berghaus range apart from the logo, as far as I can tell.

EDIT: Just done lots more reading - apparently the quality really dipped in terms of durability since they switched their production from Portugal to China.
 
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I've had my Berghaus Explorer GTX for about 10 years and they're still waterproof :) I'd definitely replace them with the same again when the time comes, unless when I come to look at them they are noticeably poorer quality as you suggest.

A friend bought some expensive Mammut boots which didn't last very long, so I'd avoid them.
 
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.
 
All Goretex equipped garments come with a lifetime warranty on their waterproofness as long as you haven't managed to gash a massive hole in them or similar so if they begin to leak they should be repaired or replaced.
 
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