Walking Forum
Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: GracieLiz on 21:03:50, 01/01/19
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Hi all,
I walk with a cheap pair of Karrimor boots which are ok but not waterproof and not massively comfortable on a long hike. I tens to get a bit of numbness in my big toe or at the end of my middle toe.
I'm looking for a good all-weather boot for hiking the SWCP this year for less than £100. Any suggestions or advicemany thanks!
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That feeling in your toes sounds like the boots you have just do not fit properly. Usually get your boots fitted by a qualified fitter. Do so in the afternoon after a good walk wear two pairs of socks when trying your new boots. The reason is that your feet swell when walkng a long way. ( That Isaac Newton has a lot to answer for, inventing gravity😀) I wear Karrimor in the allotment and clean them then spray them with waterproofer weekly, they don't ever leak.Look out you tube videos on how to lace boots so your toes don't bang against the toe box.
Then search for articles in this forum on boot recomendations. After complaints about spam postings that subject is probably the next highest in frequency. The member Kinky Boots is a huge fount of knowledge on all things boot wise as well as notifying us on bargains.
Have fun on the forum it is a very interesting place to spend your interweb time.
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I'm looking for a good all-weather boot for hiking the SWCP this year for less than £100. Any suggestions or advicemany thanks!
Hi GracieLiz
I'm very pleased with my all leather Grisport Peaklander boots that I bought in October for £80.
https://www.grisport.co.uk/walking-boots-c78/peaklander-brown-p927 (https://www.grisport.co.uk/walking-boots-c78/peaklander-brown-p927)
They do Ladies versions too.
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If you could stretch your budget you could look at these https://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/scarpa-r-evo-gtx-walking-boots-p304782&gclid=Cj0KCQiA37HhBRC8ARIsAPWoO0yL4COGsNhIMS-5gHdjg_T9WArk7oNOmLMgThzW-ckUYVzGrFj-wR8aAnKrEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
But always try boots on first cotswolds are great for fittings too
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Hi.
Try Salomon X All Mid Ltr GTX in a sale somewhere they are amazing for around your budget.
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Recommendations for boots is largely pointless as everyone's feet suit different boots. Personally I prefer shoes anyway. Better to recommend a good shop than a good boot. Of the big chains, IMO Cotswold Outdoor is the best. Helpful patient knowledgable staff. Try and go mid week when they're quiet and have more time to give you. Or go to a good independent. I live in Birmingham and will happily go down to Trekkit in Hereford because their stuff is good and so are their staff.
I'd also concur that your toe problem isn't necessarily because of the boots per se, it's because you have the wrong size.
When I buy boots, breathability and keeping my feet cool is paramount because I run hot. Hot sweaty feet lead to blisters. So I go for very lightweight approach/trail shoes and very thin socks. This clearly doesn't work for many people so I would never recommend my choices to others.
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Thank you to everyone who has commented so far! What I know now, is of course, that I knew very little indeed! Boots are not just boots and my mind is blown!
I began reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed on the plane back from Guatemala last month and by the time I was on home turf I was googling how and whether I could walk the SWCP this year. Having made the decision to do it, and on reading about the importance of good footwear (not wanting to end up like Cheryl and lose most of my toenails or skin) I have realised a little more time needs to be spent!
I did go to Go Outdoors yesterday afternoon: I walked 2 miles to get there in order to warm up my feet (Thank you jimbob) and although I had some assistance, I quickly realised the knowledge base was basic, but that my boots are probably the wrong fit. I am also very aware of the difference in personal preference, and the importance of a good fitting and advice, so the rush is called off as I need to spend a little more time trying on and researching. I also tried on some Scarpas, a brand I had never heard of (thanks Dank86) but they are a little over budget as there are other provisions I need too.
I have scrubbed my old Karrimors and will rewaterproof them, thanks again Jimbob and to the other suggestions. Very grateful - this is much more helpful than the questions I asked various "ramblers" in the area on Twitter.
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Hi GracieLiz
I'm very pleased with my all leather Grisport Peaklander boots that I bought in October for £80.
https://www.grisport.co.uk/walking-boots-c78/peaklander-brown-p927 (https://www.grisport.co.uk/walking-boots-c78/peaklander-brown-p927)
They do Ladies versions too.
Thanks these look good I may buy some as the delivery is free and return refund is cheap... Perhaps I will order two sizes. Apparently I am between sizes... adding to the problem!
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I hope you get round to finding the boots the fit just right 😊
As long as returns are no quibble I can't see an issue ordering and wearing around the house to check the fit
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Thanks these look good I may buy some as the delivery is free and return refund is cheap... Perhaps I will order two sizes. Apparently I am between sizes... adding to the problem!
The better brands usually offer half-sizes.
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Another point about Cotswold is that if you sign up with an account you get a standard 2 year, no quibble guarantee. I took my last pair of trail shoes back after 15 months of hard use and the seams were splitting slightly. I felt a bit cheeky even trying but they exchanged them with no issues at all. You don't even need a receipt as the original sale is recorded on their system.
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Berghaus have a decent range of boots, very good value for money with many sellers giving decent discounts. You should be sble to easily find someting to suit well within your budget.
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Some general 'boot thoughts':
Whilst many walker are still seen in heavy leather boots with thick wool socks, even in summer, over the last 10-20 years there has been a gradual move away from this thinking. It's part of a general move towards lighter kit in general, not just boots. However, keeping things light is especially beneficial with footwear as the pendulum motion when walking makes those grams weigh a lot more on your feet than when carried on your back. I still have a pair of Scarpa leather boots, and although they're pretty light for what they are, I still hardly ever wear them. An ideal boot or shoe for any person is one which is comfortable over long distances. Many things contribute to that, including; fit, cushioning, weight, breathability, warmth, support and waterproofness. It's often tricky to get all of those things into one boot/shoe. For example, a shoe will usually sacrifice warmth and support for breathability and lightness. Many walkers are even sacrificing waterproofing after watching fell runners skipping past them on the mountains, and there is an argument that extremely light and thin shoes are fine to walk in when it's wet because they're so breathable and they dry so quickly. If you're prone to turning an ankle, then you might not want to go down that route though.
On the South-west coast path you'll be basically going up and down, then up and down for over 600 miles. But the path is generally in good conditions and you're unlikely to encounter any serious deep mud. I'd want very light shoes for that type of walk. Goretex is helpful if waterproofing is important to have (beware cheap alternative membranes though, they often don't breathe well at all). Salomon make some decent light shoes, as do Scarpa with their Oxygen and Zodiac ranges. Meindl are good for those with wider feet, as are Merrell. But don't completely rule out some very lightweight trail-runners like the ones made by Innov8 - they're not waterproof but they'll dry really quick and you can always take a couple of pairs of spare socks to change into.
I remember sitting and chatting with a guy in Scotland last May. The weather was baking and his feet had gotten into a right state. I wasn't surprised since he was wearing heavy leather boots with a pair of thick wool walking socks and liners inside them. His feet had swollen because they were so hot and were rubbing inside his boots. I noticed he kept glancing down at my footwear - basically a rugged version of a pair of trainers and a pair of very thin merino socks.
Sorry for rambling...but that's what we do, isn't it?
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To add my tuppence...
Pay particular attention to the toe box. Boots may be wide, but still have a narrow toe box or may start angling inwards too soon, squeezing your toes together. The rest of a boot will loosen up, but unless you've got the most powerful toe splay ever, you won't stretch out a toe box.
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My experience is very different. I usually walk all the year round in boots (Tetheras) with one pair of socks and don't have a hot foot problem. I find the the support boots provide enable me to go further and faster than I can in trainers. In fact, I tried my favourite trainers again for my first New Year walk this year as I was confined to lanes. I found I was much slower and less comfortable round the ankles and, although my trainers are well fitting, the lack of a decent toe box allowed one toe to draw blood on its neighbour. The day after I did twice the distance on hillier lanes in boots with no problem at a steady rhythmic 5kph.
There is no one size fits all solution.
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The so called "sales" have been a major disappointment this year with very little if anything on special offer which aren't available all year round. Any special offers tend to be either models they can't sell or need to get rid of to make way for new models or in sizes that the vast majority of people just don't want.
Living where you do I would recommend you visit Taunton Leisure (who are an Altberg stockist) and at least get properly measured to use as a starting point. https://www.tauntonleisure.com/our-stores/ (https://www.tauntonleisure.com/our-stores/) I would recommend that you have a look at and try on the Altberg Malham, Altberg Fremington, Altberg Tethera and Altberg Nordkapp any of which will suit your needs.
In my opinion in the current market your £100 budget is very low and severely restricts the quality of the boots available to you. Under £100 and the materials used in the construction and the build quality become questionable at best as does the time they will last before they will need replacing.
If you are a size 4 or 4½ these Altberg Malham boots which have a normal RRP of £184.99 are probably the best bargain available at the moment @ £85
https://www.startfitness.co.uk/alt-berg-malham-walking-boots-brown-alt-berg-malham.html (https://www.startfitness.co.uk/alt-berg-malham-walking-boots-brown-alt-berg-malham.html)
I would suggest you review and revise your budget so you are not so limited in your choice (save up if necessary) but without knowing what size you are looking for it's impossble to help further. Once you've been properly measured and know the size and width fitting you need second hand boots from eBay or Gumtree become another possibility worth considering and there are definitely occasional hardly used bargains to be had. The Altberg Defender (army boot) from eBay is another option which may be worth considering.
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My experience is very different. I usually walk all the year round in boots (Tetheras) with one pair of socks and don't have a hot foot problem. I find the the support boots provide enable me to go further and faster than I can in trainers. In fact, I tried my favourite trainers again for my first New Year walk this year as I was confined to lanes. I found I was much slower and less comfortable round the ankles and, although my trainers are well fitting, the lack of a decent toe box allowed one toe to draw blood on its neighbour. The day after I did twice the distance on hillier lanes in boots with no problem at a steady rhythmic 5kph.
There is no one size fits all solution.
To be clear, I would not advocate walking any distance in trainers. They are not designed for that. But there are excellent walking shoes which are designed for long distances which look, to the untrained eye, like trainers.
I'd agree that everyone is different so I would take any specific boot suggestions with a pinch of salt. Go and get a proper fitting, try on lots of different footwear types, talk to a knowledgeable shop assistant. Then consider buying something.
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There is a way that I have used to make trainers into a more robust hiking shoe. I always buy cheap, I have a £30 pair of Nike off road shoes and have had them for nearly three years. I inserted a solid plastic type insert (not the foam Sorbothane type) into them which stiffened them up and since then they have performed like an expensive pair. I used them across rocky terrain for a week when my actual walking boots failed en route and I just had to throw them away. The only disadvantage that I can see is that as a trainer my toes are not protected by a rubber bumper as on 'normal' hiking shoes. As I am still nimble of foot I have never yet kicked my toes onto a rock when wearing them.
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........and at least get properly measured to use as a starting point.....
I completely agree about getting a proper fitting /measuring, but I would just highlight that because you are (say) a 10M in one brand doesn't mean you are a 10M in another brand.
You do need to try on each boot brand / size as they all manufacture to very different physical sizes (particularly width and toe-box size)
If you happen to have 'wide' feet then you cannot get better than Meindl (but you are looking at probably 2x your budget.
I bought an excellent (comfortable) pair of Boots from Aldi (I can already hear the howls of horror) not leather and not very water RESISTANT, they were perfect for walking the 'lanes & farm tracks' around me, for 8-10-12 miles 'day walks' but I'm not sure I'd have wanted to take them out onto 'the hill'.
They only lasted about 300 miles before the soles were worn out and developed a squeaking-crack, but at a price of £19 they could be considered as disposable.
I then purchased another pair (different style) from Aldi but these were agony after just a couple of miles - they now just sit on the boot-shelf looking miserable.
I replaced them with Meindl Merans at 10x the price and yes - they are probably more comfortable and better made and will last longer than 300 miles but at 10x the price is it justified ???
You pretty much do get what you pay for, but the important thing is to try them on and then walk around the house with them on for 10-12 hours per day for a few days, if they don't hurt then they'll be OK - If they hurt then take them back. No guarantee how long they'll last, but if you have a limited budget you can only do what you can do.
Once you have taken them outside you cannot return them
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FWIW my Altberg Tetheras lasted over 2000 miles before they had to be resoled. The cost of resoling was substantially less than new boots and now they are probably good for another 2000. Looking at it that way, cheap boots are a false economy especially taking into account the risk of buying a pair that prove to be ill fitting after you have done 50 miles in them.