Walking boots short list and avoid list?

[Ayahuasca]

sparkythecat said:

I thought the soles on jungle boots had a widelt spaced treads designed for mud, rather than deap lugs for grip on loose surfaces.

They have very deep lugs around the edges and the heel for grip, and wide treads in the middle that do not clog up with mud. The heel height makes downhill grip amazing.



I really, really wanted to prefer the UK Altberg jungle boots, but one pair of Altamas outlasted two pairs of Altbergs.


Here is a Brasher hill boot. Check out the low heel compared to the Altama heel. Downhill in the Brasher and there is not much to stop you sliding.

[Tom_Spotley_When]

Ayahuasca said:

sparkythecat said:

I thought the soles on jungle boots had a widelt spaced treads designed for mud, rather than deap lugs for grip on loose surfaces.

They have very deep lugs around the edges and the heel for grip, and wide treads in the middle that do not clog up with mud. The heel height makes downhill grip amazing.



I really, really wanted to prefer the UK Altberg jungle boots, but one pair of Altamas outlasted two pairs of Altbergs.


Here is a Brasher hill boot. Check out the low heel compared to the Altama heel. Downhill in the Brasher and there is not much to stop you sliding.

Don't you look a bit "tactical" if you're wearing Military Spec combat boots to walk the dog? What's the rest of your outfit?

I'm also massively confused about how many people on PH are wearing through so many pairs of shoes, so quickly, when they're walking the dog.

I alternate between:

A pair of Hunter Wellies with a neoprene liner and vibram sole that I bought at a sample sale for £50 about 5 years ago. I wear them when it's muddy.

A pair of Oliver Sweeney brogue boots that I wear when I'm walking on the pavement/the mile and a half each way to the pub.

A pair of North Face Gore-tex shoe things that I bought to go on a stag-do in the Lake District when I didn't own any hiking boots about 4 years ago. I wear them when it's wet or when we're in the Great Outdoors.

An old pair of Nike Presto's that are incredibly comfortable and can be worn sock-less. Unfortunately, the sole's hanging off them at the moment and I really need a new pair, but in summer I wear them pretty much all the time, unless I'm wearing flip-flops or sandals.

I'm out for 3 - 5 miles a day with ours, through fields, disused railway tracks, pavements, quiet country lanes - the usual places - and I've never worn a pair of shoes out in 6 months.

[PositronicRay]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

Ayahuasca said:

sparkythecat said:

I thought the soles on jungle boots had a widelt spaced treads designed for mud, rather than deap lugs for grip on loose surfaces.

They have very deep lugs around the edges and the heel for grip, and wide treads in the middle that do not clog up with mud. The heel height makes downhill grip amazing.



I really, really wanted to prefer the UK Altberg jungle boots, but one pair of Altamas outlasted two pairs of Altbergs.


Here is a Brasher hill boot. Check out the low heel compared to the Altama heel. Downhill in the Brasher and there is not much to stop you sliding.

Don't you look a bit "tactical" if you're wearing Military Spec combat boots to walk the dog? What's the rest of your outfit?

I'm also massively confused about how many people on PH are wearing through so many pairs of shoes, so quickly, when they're walking the dog.

I alternate between:

A pair of Hunter Wellies with a neoprene liner and vibram sole that I bought at a sample sale for £50 about 5 years ago. I wear them when it's muddy.

A pair of Oliver Sweeney brogue boots that I wear when I'm walking on the pavement/the mile and a half each way to the pub.

A pair of North Face Gore-tex shoe things that I bought to go on a stag-do in the Lake District when I didn't own any hiking boots about 4 years ago. I wear them when it's wet or when we're in the Great Outdoors.

An old pair of Nike Presto's that are incredibly comfortable and can be worn sock-less. Unfortunately, the sole's hanging off them at the moment and I really need a new pair, but in summer I wear them pretty much all the time, unless I'm wearing flip-flops or sandals.

I'm out for 3 - 5 miles a day with ours, through fields, disused railway tracks, pavements, quiet country lanes - the usual places - and I've never worn a pair of shoes out in 6 months.

Yes but you've listed 4 pairs. Over 6 months that's only 6 weeks per pair.

[popeyewhite]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

Don't you look a bit "tactical" if you're wearing Military Spec combat boots to walk the dog?

Depends on the dog.

[Ayahuasca]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

Don't you look a bit "tactical" if you're wearing Military Spec combat boots to walk the dog? What's the rest of your outfit?

Lol. I wear them in the jungle. Not too many onlookers see them.

[Tom_Spotley_When]

PositronicRay said:

Yes but you've listed 4 pairs. Over 6 months that's only 6 weeks per pair.

Yeah, but over a year, it's still 12 weeks/pair.

I'm fairly sure other people might own more than one pair of shoes that are appropriate for dog-walking?

Unless in almost peak PH style, everyone who owns a dog is bagging a Munro each time they leave the house.

[sparkythecat]

Tom_Spotley said:

I'm also massively confused about how many people on PH are wearing through so many pairs of shoes, so quickly, when they're walking the dog.

Perhaps it's because we stride out instead of mincing.

[PositronicRay]

sparkythecat said:

Tom_Spotley said:

I'm also massively confused about how many people on PH are wearing through so many pairs of shoes, so quickly, when they're walking the dog.

Perhaps it's because we stride out instead of mincing.

I think I have a funny walk, one invariably wears out 1st.

[ATG]

sparkythecat said:

Tom_Spotley said:

I'm also massively confused about how many people on PH are wearing through so many pairs of shoes, so quickly, when they're walking the dog.

Perhaps it's because we stride out instead of mincing.

Maybe the dog's a bit bitey?

Mothersruin is dead right about trying a load on at a good shop. If you're lucky you'll get served by someone who is an enthusiast and isn't mental.

Some useless advice: I bought some Scarpa M3s and they have been great for me. Because they fit my feet and are appropriate for the type of walking I do. And because they're great I haven't had to replace them for 10 years. So my recommendation is, if your feet are like mine and you do the sort of walking I do and you have a time machine to go back and buy the models that were on sale 10 years ago, you should at least consider Scarpa M3s.

[PositronicRay]

ATG said:

sparkythecat said:

Tom_Spotley said:

I'm also massively confused about how many people on PH are wearing through so many pairs of shoes, so quickly, when they're walking the dog.

Perhaps it's because we stride out instead of mincing.

Maybe the dog's a bit bitey?

Mothersruin is dead right about trying a load on at a good shop. If you're lucky you'll get served by someone who is an enthusiast and isn't mental.

Some useless advice: I bought some Scarpa M3s and they have been great for me. Because they fit my feet and are appropriate for the type of walking I do. And because they're great I haven't had to replace them for 10 years. So my recommendation is, if your feet are like mine and you do the sort of walking I do and you have a time machine to go back and buy the models that were on sale 10 years ago, you should at least consider Scarpa M3s.

10 yrs is a good innings, how many miles do do each week?

[dhutch]

Cant fault the gist of whats already been said.

I've got a pair of Scapa boots I bought must be 4-5years ago for £65 odd when I started doing a bit more walking than trainers allowed, never heard of the brand at the time but the fitted nicely and had gortex and vibram logos on them. Cant fault them at all. No bed-in, no leaks, no noticeable wear even and I must do 5x5 hour walks a year, dozens of shorter walks, and over winter do 20 mins with the dog twice a day most days. Sometimes I get a bit through after long spell it wet grass, then I wash them for the first time in 6months and give them a spray of waterproofer.

Bought my partner a pair of Soloman boots for here birthday 2.5 years ago as the colour was nice and she had the walking shoes and really liked them, cant fault them at all either. There where more like £80 down from £125 or something.


Daniel

[ATG]

PositronicRay said:

10 yrs is a good innings, how many miles do do each week?

I've no idea. As I said, my advice is useless :-) I use them 4 seasons in the UK. Since my kid's been around for the last 3.5 yrs, I've probably only managed four or five proper hill walks a year and bashed around the lanes with my MIL's dogs about once a week and up the hills behind the house for a couple of miles maybe once a week. Before sprog, quite a bit more.

Soles get a bit knackered by tarmac and the leather is now cracking at the back of the toe box from flexing and that'll eventually let water in. Rest of the boot virtually as new, but it's only as good as its weakest part. I'm beginning to think about a replacement. If the new model M3 is as good as the old one, I'll probably go for them.

[Hashtaggggg]

boxedin said:

Go to cotswolds outdoors, outside ( hathersage ) a decent outdoor shop etc.

Try on everything.

Foothills are better, Sheffield based.

Independent and look at everything, including the footbeds.

My first purchase involved 3 hours trying on boots footbed etc

[niva441]

These are a bit of a left field choice as they are technically safety boots, but despite their lack of cost I'm finding them both waterproof and more comfortable than my Zamberlans and Scarpas. I've spent a lot more money on worse boots. About the only problem with them is they aren't available in half sizes, I need to wear a thick sock with them.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/site-ironstone-safety-boots-brown-size-11/1150v

I've found with the soft sole of the Scarpas my walking style was wearing the flexible sole out in no time - not cheap. Fortunately although not officially repairable my local shoe repairer was able to grind them down and fit replacement heels.

[StanleyT]

Piha said:

I'm quite impressed with my Zamberlans.

Leather uppers with Gortex liners and a good Vibram sole. They were comfy straight out of the box but this might have more to do with my foot shape than any perceived quality. I few friends have them and they are very happy with theirs. I did send my first pair back due to the leather cracking after a month but no problems with my current boots.

In my late teens I had a gorgeous pair of Zamberlan Mountainlites. 200 miles to break in (wore them to school and back) then they did the Pennine Way, all 214 Wainwrights and 45 Munros. Washed and Dubbined to buggerry after every walk. Think I had about 4 sets of new vibram soles and the water proof rands replaced but the uppers stayed perfect. As did the laces. Heavy bds but good, even took a light winter crampon.

Now, a pair of Hanwags and Vuede socks, like floating along over the moors and gliding up the mountains. Don't think I'll get the same total mileage though.

[StanleyT]

StanleyT said:

Piha said:

I'm quite impressed with my Zamberlans.

Leather uppers with Gortex liners and a good Vibram sole. They were comfy straight out of the box but this might have more to do with my foot shape than any perceived quality. I few friends have them and they are very happy with theirs. I did send my first pair back due to the leather cracking after a month but no problems with my current boots.

In my late teens I had a gorgeous pair of Zamberlan Mountainlites. 200 miles to break in (wore them to school and back) then they did the Pennine Way, all 214 Wainwrights and 45 Munros. Washed and Dubbined to buggerry after every walk. Think I had about 4 sets of new vibram soles and the water proof rands replaced but the uppers stayed perfect. As did the laces. Heavy bds but good, even took a light winter crampon.

Now, a pair of Hanwags and Vuede socks, like floating along over the moors and gliding up the mountains. Don't think I'll get the same total mileage though.

Oh, and them Mountainlites weekly stamping ground was the corrosive peat bogs of Kinder, Bleaklow, Standege, the hill one cannot mention and heavy White Peak Clay. Thinking about it that probably dictated the harsh cleaning regime and that made them last. Can't believe people are getting only a few hundred miles out a boot.

My Hanwags are on 2,300 miles, my Karrimor KSBs 1,800 miles and whilst Triggers broom, I them dem Mountainlites did 5,000+ miles. Certainly don't make boots like they used to.

[Don't try and drive in Mountainlites.........a gentle tap on the brake turns into a violent heavy footed "Farmer on Rememberance day" side to side slide when leaving Seathwaite on a cold December night when you think you can't be bothered to change your boots].

Edited by StanleyT on Monday 18th February 22:08

[smifffymoto]

I have Meindl and Technica,both very rigid,mountain boots.I had Brasher when we were in the UK.My boots for walking the rolling hills of Dordogne are a 45€ pair of Quechua from Decathlon,supremely comfortable and not very waterproof.

[Squadrone Rosso]

I’ve used all sorts over the years but keep coming back to Hi Tec.

They seem to fit my wide size 10 feet perfectly where all others have felt compromised.

My duty boots / shoes are Magnum.

I bought a lightweight pair of Tresspass DLX boots & trainers last year. Very comfortable but despite being badged as waterproof & breathable, neither truly applies.

[PositronicRay]

StanleyT said:

Piha said:

I'm quite impressed with my Zamberlans.

Leather uppers with Gortex liners and a good Vibram sole. They were comfy straight out of the box but this might have more to do with my foot shape than any perceived quality. I few friends have them and they are very happy with theirs. I did send my first pair back due to the leather cracking after a month but no problems with my current boots.

In my late teens I had a gorgeous pair of Zamberlan Mountainlites. 200 miles to break in (wore them to school and back) then they did the Pennine Way, all 214 Wainwrights and 45 Munros. Washed and Dubbined to buggerry after every walk. Think I had about 4 sets of new vibram soles and the water proof rands replaced but the uppers stayed perfect. As did the laces. Heavy bds but good, even took a light winter crampon.

Now, a pair of Hanwags and Vuede socks, like floating along over the moors and gliding up the mountains. Don't think I'll get the same total mileage though.

Karrimor ksb on offer £55 from sports direct, I may pop in to try a pair.

[Chicken Chaser]

I have Altberg Field & Fell and Salomon 4d GTX. The Altbergs take a bit of breaking in but once theyre done, theyre mega comfortable and warm. Soles I find fairly soft and wear down quicker. I'm not sure if they are still re-soling boots but for a winter pair, theyre very good. Yorkshire made.
Salomons are instantly comfortable, last for ages with just a change in in-soles every so often. I have a pair I now garden in which I bought in 2006. They were upgraded after 9 years use. Still waterproof too. I had a pair that fell to bits during a walking hol in Spain before that, 2 years old. I took them back to the store and Salomon sent me a new pair. Great company.