Evening all,
I’m looking at replacing my walking boots so would like some recommendations please.
I’m after -
Mid height - may consider shoes if they’re amazing.
Brown.
Decent grip.
Comfy - I have feet as soft as a new born baby.
Seen these that I like as a guide to style.
https://www.blacks.co.uk/15897221/sc...-boot-15897221
Thanks in advance.
Dave
This may sound rude, but it isn"t meant to be.
A bit like "the best camera in the world is the one that you have with you when you need it", the best boots are the ones that fit.
Try loads on, if you can.
Scarpa make great boots. I loved my SLs, but my feet got too fat for them. I'm now on Meindl 'comfort fits', Bernina and Antaleo.
Alt-Berg have five width options for some of their boots, although limited number of stockists.
Apologies if that hasn't been helpful, but happy walking!
Alt-berg if you can find a local stockist. I’ve 3 pairs and wouldn’t buy anything else. It’s a good excuse to visit Richmond, the one in North Yorkshire not London.
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Waterproof, breathable, affordable are boot specific.
Comfort and fit will be specific to you.
I have a robust pair of Beretta gortex hunting / shooting boots I got cheap in a closing down sale. RRP was £260, but they are rarely used (too bulky)
I prefer my £32 Dewalt safety boots from Costco for comfort, ankle flexability, easy to lace up, good grippy soles, and I don't mind getting them filthy dirty.
It's a personal choice depending on the day, and the conditions.
If shoes would work, the options are wide open.
I assume that you won't be fording streams or scaling loose gravel skrees up to Scafell pike or Helvellyn.
My best advice is not to get hung up on Brand, colour or look of Boot/Mid/Shoe
Find a really goood specialist outdoor footwear shop near to you, go in get a foot assesment from the staff and try some different ones on. Finding out about your foot shape and any other issues (gait, pronation etc) will be a great help in choosing the right one for you. Do it on a day that you can allow plenty of time to do this
No recomendation from anybody here about what they have, like and works for them will be right for anyone else
20+ years of selling Ski Boots & Outdoor footwear and clothing has taught me that
If you want some recommendations on retailer to try let me know which area you live in and I'll give you some names of the best ones (in my opinion)
I know very little about watches but this is a subject I can help with
John
That's what I meant to say.
As mentioned by Tony and John, your feet will be the best judge of what will work for you.
If you are anywhere in the north west head over to Whalley Warm and Dry. Book a fitting appointment and spend 2 hours there …. It might be expensive but you will end up with a boot that will serve you for 10 years. They have customers that travel 300 miles for the experience
And also there is a lovely wine shop opposite which does tastings. I am only 40 mins away so pretty local but otherwise have no affiliation
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Life is too short.
-45% at the moment, and about as cheap as it gets for a great pair of light, supremely comfortable, waterproof boots. Well, that is my experience.
Don’t fit? The next half size will be at your front door the next day FOC.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Hi...5ce&th=1&psc=1
Can’t even buy a pair of half decent leather shoes for £88 these days never mind a pair off leather breathable Goretex lined walking boots. Here’s mine.
.
Same boots are £155 is Blacks/Millets.
Last edited by noTAGlove; 16th May 2024 at 08:01.
Have a look on SportsPursuit, loads on there.
I'd mention the Adidas Terrex range as a bit of a wildcard. Different to the normal offerings but I think they have some good products.
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Where are you walking? Low level, mountains, hills??
How far do you walk??
Do you walk in the winter or just milder seasons.
I wear Addidas Terrex mainly, Scarpa for when it’s really wet and muddy and ASICS or Terrex shoes in summer. Those aren’t recommendations by the way as you need to decide what you want them for and then try various styles/makes on.
Another thumbs up for Altberg
If you can get to the factory shop in Richmond, it's well worth it, took my brother there when he was visiting a few years ago and they spent ages with him trying different models and sizes on, he ended buying a completely different model to the one he went in for based on how they fit. They also had a sale rail of seconds and samples and i picked up a pair of Defender military boots for £50 which are perfect for winter dog walking for me
At the risk of sounding like a fan club
Altberg are great as are AKU and Lowa
Silvermans are London stockists for all three brands and you can have a gander at CWCs whilst you are there.
Another fanboy here, Altberg with the G (wide) fitting.
If you like the look of these why not go try them on, Scarpa are a top brand, as said fit is the most important, take some decent socks with you.Originally Posted by Dave O'Sullivan
I use Scarpa, no idea which model, with IceBreaker merino socks ...
I hate buying boots because you never really know when you try them on in the shop how they will feel after hours of walking down hill ...
What 's the max amount they may cost?
Try a pair of Redback Chelsea boots, indestructible and very comfy, when my R.M. Williams are spared I use those, higly recommended.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
These are the only pair of boots I’ve ever taken back. They split at the seams on the toe protector after four months.
Look at the reviews on your link!
Iowa for leather boots for me. I'm currently using innov8 for lightweight stuff. I've had asolo in the past and while very comfy for me the soles are very soft and wore out pretty quickly.
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As others have said, the only good walking boots are ones that fit you. I have my favourite brands but even some of their offerings don’t work for me.
Find a really good boot fitter (another vote for Whalley Warm and Dry from me), who will spend time making sure what you get is not only a good fit but also suitable for what kind of walking you’re going to be doing. A boot for high fell use is very different to what you’d use for wandering along a canal tow path.
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Very happy with Alt-Bergs, and well worth the trip to Richmond to not only get a fitting, but then try the different options on: I ended up an entire size larger than the fitting suggested, and very happy with them - my third pair now.
You can also book-in for an eye test in nearby Barnard Castle while you're in the area...
Maybe Alt-Berg would have been a better excuse.
To the OP: Go to one of the recommended places above, tell them what you didn't tell us (type of walking, budget,...) and try as many as you can. But I would certainly avoid the like of Blacks until you know exactly the model you want, in the size and width you want, and they happen to have it.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
The wife has just bought me a pair of these; I’ll let you know how they are after the weekend.
Thanks all for the advice and thank you John for the offer - I’m based in Middlesex.
From what I seen a lot of people now seem to use trail runners for long walks like the Altra brand. Lighter and more comfortable it seems. I guess the waterproof bit is less but they probably dry quickly
My last ones were a pair of Salewa. Really comfortable and lasted a few years.
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My go-to have been Salomon for many years.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Scarpa Terra. Got them on sale at Black's. Great fit and have been great performers keeping my feet dry in challenging conditions.
John, you’re exactly the reason I saved a great expense & extremely happy to have interacted with an expert like you. My boots weren’t doing me any favours, visited a pro, assessed my boots & my feet.
Was ready to spend on some wide premium boots & they suggested proper walking socks, night and day difference and never looked back vs the couple of hundred they could have easily had me spend. Purchased more outdoor gear from them since, not the cheapest but respect them for the knowledge.
But you are tight as f*ck, and behaviour like this destroys actual retailers of expertise into closing the doors forever. You earn enough, allegedly, to pay it back by supporting local & national shops who offer these services.
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What size are you Dave as there are often brown Altberg (british army issued) for sale on UKGSER forum.
Happy to make the sync if you wish??
Jim
Pendle by Lanx
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Good experience to share, but not sure the last para was really necessary
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Last edited by xxnick1975; 16th May 2024 at 22:18.
Fed up with his penny pinching tbh, the buy / free return model is something that needs stamping out. He won’t buy on risk to himself, or too lazy to go to Richmond and shop. Your view may vary, but he’s shown time & again his MO.
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They look worse than jimp's Cornish pasty shoes!Life is too short.
-45% at the moment, and about as cheap as it gets for a great pair of light, supremely comfortable, waterproof boots. Well, that is my experience.
Don’t fit? The next half size will be at your front door the next day FOC.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Hi...5ce&th=1&psc=1
Can’t even buy a pair of half decent leather shoes for £88 these days never mind a pair off leather breathable Goretex lined walking boots. Here’s mine.
Same boots are £155 is Blacks/Millets.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
When it's raining. I put on my Ugg Felton boots with light socks to prevent sweat. Comfortable.
Previous was Grebb Kodiak. Heavy and not great for walking
They are one hell of a change from the original Ugg boots! Reviews on them have been very good indeed though.
They look like traditional walking boots.
I'm familiar with his penny-pinching but, TBF, Richmond is a bit of a trek for many of us in the South.
Not if you've got the right comfy boots on
Just up the road on the 65 bus from Kingston, for me :)
I bought a different brand before these as they fit OK in the store. Went for a walk and they rubbed a red ring around my leg. Cleaned them up and took them back. Bought the UGGS as they felt better
Would never have bought the original ones
Lowa offer a 100 day money back scheme, my last pair of Lowa I did 23 miles straight out of the box, without an issue.
The Berghaus are not as good as they used to be when they were Brasher I killed a pair in a few months. But they were comfortable.
Currently using Lowa, Haix and Mammut. The Haix are a little narrow for me but were on offer, still wore them for three days walking across Dartmoor last month without an issue.
Indeed as I meant to type Kingston lol. Never can get the two correct!
Thought you meant Richmond, Yorkshire the home(?) of Alt-Berg...
+1 for the Meindl CF I have them in mid boots and walking shoes.
Or maybe Richmond, California.
If there is one thing I have learned from this thread is some go to extraordinary lengths to get the perfect fit.
I just match them with the right thickness of socks.
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