Walking shoes

[Coco H]

Not sure if this should be here or in Sports.

I do a lot of walking - mostly short walks of a couple of miles - to and from school, walking with the children etc.

I need some advice on suitable footwear.In the winter quagmire I use wellies. The rest of the year I need something to walk in that will protect my feet, is comfy and won't mind getting a little bit muddy.

I am currently using an old leather pair of riding boots with steel toecaps. The ball of my foot is getting badly rubbed and aches. The fields are very bumpy so I do need ankle support.

I just don't know where to start and am on very limited budget

[Neil H]

Have you considered visiting a shoe shop and seeing what they have?

If not you really must, it's an enriching experience, they let you try them on and everything.

[Ozone]

Coco H said:

I am currently using an old leather pair of riding boots.

Pics of you in them?

[Coco H]

Neil H said:

Have you considered visiting a shoe shop and seeing what they have?

If not you really must, it's an enriching experience, they let you try them on and everything.

Apart from the fact I don't go shopping ... I don't know what type of shoe shop I want - Clarks, Startrite or a camping shop!

[Alec]

If you dont mind spending a little anything with Meindl on is good for this sort of thing.

[ewenm]

Salomon and North Face have been fine for me.

I'd go to any outdoor pursuits shop like Blacks or Millets but preferably a local independent and try some on.

[RobM77]

Pop into an outdoor store like Blacks or Millets; they'll all stock the same ones. Try on a few different pairs to see which fit your feet best. It's a bit like buying a crash helmet - some makes will fit like a glove and some will feel awkward. Go for comfort mainly, and obviously solidity for the sort of ground you walk on. Look out for are waterproof outers (Gortex I think), which stop your feet getting wet (a must in my opinion); I used mine to trudge through a foot of snow in the winter and had dry socks when I got to work, and last week in the Lake District it absolutely poured but my feet were dry.

I walk 5 miles a day, often do walks at weekends and usually go on at least one walking holiday a year, and I use walking shoes such as you're thinking of buying. My last two pairs have been Salomon, and then two lots of Timberlands before that. The Salomons have been the best, and with the sort of use I've described above a pair will last two or three years without an issue, maybe longer. My girlfriend's shoes are Merrell and she's very happy with them. Those are the three main makes you'll probably come across.

HTH

PS - Your joints are going to thank you for getting a proper pair of walking shoes if you walk a lot.

[Odie]

try sports direct

Hi-tec
Karrimor
Regatta

are all pretty budget makes but do the job

[Penny-lope]

Sketchers...Not walking shoes, but certainly lasted, and were very very comfy.

I am looking for a new pair at the mo, as my old ones have finally give up the ghost after 3 years.

[Arese]

Merrell

[Odie]

http://www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-corrie-ladies...

karrimor and £20

Edited by Odie on Wednesday 16th June 17:13

[itsnotarace]

Would normally suggest a goretex lined shoe from someone like

http://www.merrell.com/UK/en-GB/Home.mvc.aspx
http://www.meindl.de/english/

However, on a "very limited budget" puts you in the market for Karrimor at sub £30.

http://www.sportsdirect.com/footwear/outdoor-footw...

[RobM77]

I highly recommend a) getting proper walking shoes with a goretex outer (probably only about £60-£80), and b) going into a shop to try them on and find a pair that fits you best. It's best not to settle on a particular make till you've tried them. My feet don't fit Merrell shoes very well for instance, but my girlfriend's do.

[theironduke]

Definitely go to a proper shoe shop with people who know their onions. I bought my running shoes from a proper running shoe shop and so glad i did. I spent 45 minutes trying on different shoes, going on a treadmill and having everything explained to me. Also from the outset no prices were mentioned (to stop the inbuilt Scotsman taking over i guess) Only at the end did the chap tell me how much my final two were, in the end i got the slightly dearer pair. They did cost a bit more than the same shoes online but i dont begrudge it at all, worth every extra penny.

[RobM77]

theironduke said:

Definitely go to a proper shoe shop with people who know their onions. I bought my running shoes from a proper running shoe shop and so glad i did. I spent 45 minutes trying on different shoes, going on a treadmill and having everything explained to me. Also from the outset no prices were mentioned (to stop the inbuilt Scotsman taking over i guess) Only at the end did the chap tell me how much my final two were, in the end i got the slightly dearer pair. They did cost a bit more than the same shoes online but i dont begrudge it at all, worth every extra penny.

I did the same for my running shoes. I've not gone to these lengths for walking shoes, but if you can then why not

[hifihigh]

Arese said:

Merrell

Yes these are pretty good. I bought a pair of Merrell walking boots from the local hiking/outdoorsy type place a couple of years ago for about £50. They are waterproof, very comfortable and so far not showing any signs of wear.

[sadako]

£30 for half leather patrol boots from an army/police/etc surplus shop in Waterloo for me. They have been going for years hiking in the QE for me, give good ankle support and grip well in mud.

[Ayahuasca]

You need something comfortable, with good support and grip.

[Mobile Chicane]

Try a few pairs on in somewhere like Cotswold Outdoor, get all the free advice from the staff about what you should be looking for, then see if you can buy similar in TK Maxx.

Job's an orange tap root.

[TotalControl]

MBT's?