Hello. I'm new, and I'm trying to replace my faithful old leather Brashers. I've had this pair since I was 16, and that was over 25 years ago. That's a long time, but they had lots of wax, gentle dog walking use over winter and only occasional intensive use, such as two or three weeks being lived in on expeditions to silly places like Tanzania. And they did fine. But I think the clock is ticking on Lefty: I think lefty got a slightly less good piece of the cow and is creasing a lot more than Righty. It's probably only a matter of time...
So off I went to Go Outdoors, because I anticipate long dog walks over beaches, hills and nature reserves, and because I may be doing ecology stuff in fields over the next two years (no more desk jockeying), so the new boots might get slightly more intensive use.
I looked at two contenders: the Brasher Men's Country Walker and the Berghaus Supalite II GTX.
The Brashers are a bit heavier and taller. I don't think I need that level of ankle support, but they lace up better than the Berghaus.
The Berghaus are silky smooth inside and out (leather inner) and the outer may shed the wet muck better than the Nubuck of the Brashers, and I think I felt slightly better balanced in them, although I imagine the Brashers would catch up in that department after they break in.
On leather interiors: what's the view? My old pair have leather inners, and I did sometimes have cold toes despite wearing two layers of good socks on cold days. Asking as a total noob, is the leather lining intended to make it easier to wear walking socks?
The new Brashers are fabric lined, which made me um and arr a bit, but in the end I went with the Brashers... so why this question if you've already bought them, you might ask? Well, I haven't got them dirty yet. I'm having second thoughts! And I'll tell you why...
I got home and looked at my old boots, which were bought in 1995. I realised they are almost identical to the Berghaus boots I was just looking at in Go Outdoors. And on closer inspection, they are identical. It's the same boot! Right down to the Goretex liner, the location of the hooks and the 'Supalite' embossed on the sole. Then the internet told me that Berghaus took over Brasher in 1996!
Doh!
So, for what I want, should I stick with my "old" boots, just with Berghaus written on them instead? Are the Country Walkers, with their extra high ankle, intended for more serious gradients than I'm likely to be climbing with my three-legged dog?
FYI they are the same price, so nothing to choose, there.
Cheers