Dog walking boots/shoes

[PositronicRay]

Needs to be waterproof, I don't find boots give me that much more support so happy with shoes.

My Brashers have given up the ghost @ only 2 yrs old so what to replace them with? I only do 1-2hrs per day usually.
I've some trainer type walking shoes for when it's not too bad and wellies for when it really gets sticky, prefer leather any recommendations?.

[PositronicRay]

tonyb1968 said:

PositronicRay said:

Needs to be waterproof, I don't find boots give me that much more support so happy with shoes.

My Brashers have given up the ghost @ only 2 yrs old so what to replace them with? I only do 1-2hrs per day usually.
I've some trainer type walking shoes for when it's not too bad and wellies for when it really gets sticky, prefer leather any recommendations?.

If you are sticking to paths then walking shoes are fine, if you are going off road then you really do need a boot, a good one will support you ankle far better than any shoe (my friend found this out when he slipped and really knackered his ankle up on a path, pins, plate etc later.....)

I would look at Alt Berg, based up in Richmond, North Yorkshire, you can either visit their shop and get some made or go off the shelf there, you can also pick up a good pair at recommended retailers, spare laces a must as is the wax to go with them.
They can be re soled which saves you having to throw them out once worn, but they are not the cheapest but they are very good, I have 3 pairs for various scenario's (hiking, dog walking etc), or if you are lucky, you may be able to pick a pair up from your local army surplus store

http://www.altberg.co.uk/

They sound the business, localish stockist as well!

[PositronicRay]

After a disappointing shopping trip

a) High prices
b) Sizes out of stock
c) Lines not carried

I wound up ordering another pair of Berghaus, but Hillmaster instead of the previous Hillwalker though.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Hillmaster-Hikin...

[PositronicRay]

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.

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.

[PositronicRay]

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.

I find the 25yr thing a bit of a stretch, even my wife's boots, (she's very light on footwear, always cleaned and only worn 15-20 times PA for 5 miles a pop) don't last that long.