Dog walking boots/shoes
Discussion
If you're really walking 1 to 2 hours every day, and they're regularly getting wet on the outside and humid inside, then that's actually quite a lot of punishment for a leather boot and the upper won't last forever. There are any number of manufacturers making very similar products across the entire range of "approach shoes", wellies, fabric sort-of walking boots, 3/4 season walking boots, to fully rigid mountaineering kit. One clear piece of advice; only a moron spends £100 on a pair of Hunter wellies. Beyond that though, the market is pretty competitive, so, for exampke, the difference btwn Zamberlan, Meindl, Berghaus, Brasher, Scarpa is damn all for a pair of hill boots. I'd just go to a good shop that had a wide range and try a load on.
P.s. on the boot versus shoe thing, if I'm jogging across rough ground, I'm fine in a pair of running shoes. If I walk across the same terrain in the same shoes I'll be at risk of turning an ankle and I'd wear a boot instead. Running and walking are not the same thing.
P.s. on the boot versus shoe thing, if I'm jogging across rough ground, I'm fine in a pair of running shoes. If I walk across the same terrain in the same shoes I'll be at risk of turning an ankle and I'd wear a boot instead. Running and walking are not the same thing.
ATG said:
If you're really walking 1 to 2 hours every day, and they're regularly getting wet on the outside and humid inside, then that's actually quite a lot of punishment for a leather boot and the upper won't last forever. There are any number of manufacturers making very similar products across the entire range of "approach shoes", wellies, fabric sort-of walking boots, 3/4 season walking boots, to fully rigid mountaineering kit. One clear piece of advice; only a moron spends £100 on a pair of Hunter wellies. Beyond that though, the market is pretty competitive, so, for exampke, the difference btwn Zamberlan, Meindl, Berghaus, Brasher, Scarpa is damn all for a pair of hill boots. I'd just go to a good shop that had a wide range and try a load on.
P.s. on the boot versus shoe thing, if I'm jogging across rough ground, I'm fine in a pair of running shoes. If I walk across the same terrain in the same shoes I'll be at risk of turning an ankle and I'd wear a boot instead. Running and walking are not the same thing.
P.s. on the boot versus shoe thing, if I'm jogging across rough ground, I'm fine in a pair of running shoes. If I walk across the same terrain in the same shoes I'll be at risk of turning an ankle and I'd wear a boot instead. Running and walking are not the same thing.
Winter, wet weather use, agricultural and grass, although not well trodden paths, often across ploughed fields where paths haven't been reinstated.
A pair lasts around 2 yrs, the last ones split around the toecap. As you say the leather just rots, even though treated with a propriety cream. I've a pair or trainer style Merrill shoes for the summer, Dunlop wellies for really soggy weather.
ATG said:
P.s. on the boot versus shoe thing, if I'm jogging across rough ground, I'm fine in a pair of running shoes. If I walk across the same terrain in the same shoes I'll be at risk of turning an ankle and I'd wear a boot instead. Running and walking are not the same thing.
They're not - but I'm afraid you are completely wrong - the dangers of ankle injury when running are greater due to speed and impact forces. You're far more likely to suffer serious ankle injury running as there is 4 to 8 times more impact/weight travelling through your joints at each footfall. Physics tells us you're more likely to slip/slide in any condition the faster you go. During a slip whilst running the forces pushing your ankle over can be up to (8X) bodyweight X speed than walking. I can't see how at any kind of walk you're more likely to turn an ankle than when running. Perhaps you take a snifter or two with you? 
g3rrd said:
Millets sale. Meindl Bhutan MFS boots for £140 then -15% online discount, £119. Bargain. 
Returned mine as found the fit too narrow.
I have two pairs of meindl one is a wide fitting comfort. Very comfy built like tanks though the only thing is they are heavy.Returned mine as found the fit too narrow.
Very thick leather compared to other brands.
Interesting stuff all this support/don't support the ankle.
For a year or more I've had pain in my right ankle ligament, now I'm noticing a similar pain starting in the left ligament. I've always assumed it was the use of wellies when walking the dogs twice a day so presumed I ought to wear something with more support.
Like others, I've tried normal walking boots, but tend to walk in areas where there's lots of long grass etc so want something to keep my feet & trousers dry - hence the wellies. Guess I may have to get some gaiters if I'm to use a walking shoe/boot.
For a year or more I've had pain in my right ankle ligament, now I'm noticing a similar pain starting in the left ligament. I've always assumed it was the use of wellies when walking the dogs twice a day so presumed I ought to wear something with more support.
Like others, I've tried normal walking boots, but tend to walk in areas where there's lots of long grass etc so want something to keep my feet & trousers dry - hence the wellies. Guess I may have to get some gaiters if I'm to use a walking shoe/boot.
popeyewhite said:
ATG said:
P.s. on the boot versus shoe thing, if I'm jogging across rough ground, I'm fine in a pair of running shoes. If I walk across the same terrain in the same shoes I'll be at risk of turning an ankle and I'd wear a boot instead. Running and walking are not the same thing.
They're not - but I'm afraid you are completely wrong - the dangers of ankle injury when running are greater due to speed and impact forces. You're far more likely to suffer serious ankle injury running as there is 4 to 8 times more impact/weight travelling through your joints at each footfall. Physics tells us you're more likely to slip/slide in any condition the faster you go. During a slip whilst running the forces pushing your ankle over can be up to (8X) bodyweight X speed than walking. I can't see how at any kind of walk you're more likely to turn an ankle than when running. Perhaps you take a snifter or two with you? ATG said:
The snifter thing isn't a million miles off the mark, the point being that the rather obvious physics isn't the issue. When I run off road I'm far more conscious of where I'm putting my feet than when I'm walking, I'm ready to let myself roll if my footing goes rather than fight to stay upright, muscles are tensed to hold the foot in position rather than relaxed to just let it settle onto the ground, and I'm also not running very quickly. If I was going at any speed of course it'd be riskier than walking both in terms of the likelihood and seriousness of the injury.
Actually the fact you're going faster just forces you to concentrate a bit more on what you're doing, but really most of us pay attention where we walk as well. Perhaps if you switch off you should pair your high boots with a crash helmet as well? Anyway, speed increase raises the impact force exponentially, so even if, as you say, you're "not running very quickly", any impact will still be worse. If you could explain how your "muscles are tensed to hold the foot in position", while at the same time you're "ready to let myself roll if my footing goes" I'd be quite interested - surely you'd be better with muscles relaxed - that's the way I run trails.. .. Incidentally physics are very much an issue as running speed (momentum) makes you're body want to go one way, and only the tiny patch of the front of your foot in contact with the ground has any say over change of direction, acceleration and slowing down, and the faster you go... .Popeye ... give it a rest. If you're going to try to talk Physics, don't use words like "exponentially" loosely. They have precise meaning. How is it hard to understand or indeed interesting that one can (a) have your muscles tensed so that your controlling the position of your foot (like when you're edging across a slope) and yet also being (b) ready to let yourself fall if you feel your footing go? Making passive-aggressive "jokes" and sticking a smiley at the end is a bit transparent.
I generally get a pair of military surplus boots for dog walking etc.
I have a pair of brown desert meindls (£25 on ebay) for the summer, and brown Karrimor SF gore tex (£50 ebay) boots for winter/rain. Dead cheap, good quality, not too worried about damage or loss etc.
A year ago I bought a pair of Hanwag Tatras for about £135, absolutely wonderful boots, only lasted me 4 months though until I left one behind somewhere I still keep the odd one just incase I ever find the other 
I have a pair of brown desert meindls (£25 on ebay) for the summer, and brown Karrimor SF gore tex (£50 ebay) boots for winter/rain. Dead cheap, good quality, not too worried about damage or loss etc.
A year ago I bought a pair of Hanwag Tatras for about £135, absolutely wonderful boots, only lasted me 4 months though until I left one behind somewhere
I still keep the odd one just incase I ever find the other ATG said:
Popeye ... give it a rest. If you're going to try to talk Physics, don't use words like "exponentially" loosely. They have precise meaning. How is it hard to understand or indeed interesting that one can (a) have your muscles tensed so that your controlling the position of your foot (like when you're edging across a slope) and yet also being (b) ready to let yourself fall if you feel your footing go? Making passive-aggressive "jokes" and sticking a smiley at the end is a bit transparent.
No problems with any of that. I've tried using layman's language to explain it to you but you just get the hump. My smiley doesn't signify anything passive-aggressive: you're a stranger on an internet forum, why would I waste any emotion on you? I was taking the piss, that's all 
Have a wink and chill out.Blackpuddin said:
popeyewhite said:
I had some Altberg bike boots some 15 years ago. Very good boot, hideously expensive, overkill for my biking needs.
I assumed they must be expensive as they don't have the nerve to put prices on their website. That's not going to help them get customers. Blackpuddin said:
Never you mind said:
Wife has some Meindl boots. Had them for a few years with zero problems. Meant to be really comfortable as well.
Another vote here for Meindl. Mine are at least 25 years old but apart from light wear on the heels they're as good as new and a perfect fit. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff