Author Topic: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.  (Read 4602 times)

alan de enfield

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #15 on: 08:59:34, 22/04/18 »

With respect I wouldn't consider Go Outdoors to be a specialist bootfitter in any shape or form.



Have a look for your nearest Altberg retailer here http://www.altberg.co.uk/stockists/ The Premier retailers (the one's marked in red on the map)


The nearest (Premier) retailers are :


Stafford 111 miles
Leamington Spa 102 miles
Sheffield 75 miles


I may just be able to fit in Sheffield between school runs at 09:00 and 15:15 hours


Thanks again.

kinkyboots

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #16 on: 09:32:08, 22/04/18 »
Of those three Foothills in Sheffield http://www.foothills.co.uk/boot_fitting.php is probably your best bet and they seem to have a decent reputation. A quick google of reviews will tell you more. I think Stafford Outdoors is currently closed as they don't have any premises at the moment

Make sure you phone before you go to check whether you need to make an appointment for fitting and that they have the boots you want to look at and try on in stock in the sizes and width fittings you may need - there's no point in travelling if not. Try to avoid the weekends if you can.

sussamb

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #17 on: 10:05:08, 22/04/18 »
Other option is Cotswold if there is a branch near you. They normally have specialist boot fitters.
Where there's a will ...

alan de enfield

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #18 on: 12:48:08, 22/04/18 »

Other option is Cotswold if there is a branch near you. They normally have specialist boot fitters.


That's a bit better Nottingham 1hr 45 min and 60 miles each way, or Peterborough 1hr 30 min 50 miles each way

alan de enfield

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #19 on: 13:20:52, 22/04/18 »


Maybe I have a low 'pain threshold' but this is getting a bit frustrating.


Looking at Cotswold web site, they do not deal with Altbergs - so they are 'out'.


Cotswold do have Salomon Quest 4D 2GTX in stock only in sizes 8 and 12 at £120


Cotswold do have Salomon Quest 4D 3GTX in stock in all sizes at £180 (Colour Blue) but they are only £129 at Go Outdoor (Colour Black) so the price match guarantee does not come into play. But My nearest Go store with them in stock is 40 miles away


Go have the Salomon Quest 4D 2GTX at £125 , but in sizes 10 / 10.5 / 11 / 11.5 they are out of stock at every branch.

Cotswold sell the Hanwag Bunion Boot (Hooray !!!) BUT only in size 12



Cotswold sell the Hanwag Tatra GTX in all sizes at £165
« Last Edit: 13:25:59, 22/04/18 by alan de enfield »

sussamb

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #20 on: 14:20:35, 22/04/18 »
Cotswold will price match provided the Go price isn't because they have stuff on sale, although if the colour is different that's enough for both Go and Cotswold to refuse a price match.
Where there's a will ...

alan de enfield

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #21 on: 14:25:48, 22/04/18 »

Cotswold will price match provided the Go price isn't because they have stuff on sale, although if the colour is different that's enough for both Go and Cotswold to refuse a price match.


Yes - unfortunate, that's why I highlighted the colour and £50 price difference.


Any thoughts on these :


Scapa Terra GTX
Meindl Gomera GTX




Mel

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #22 on: 14:47:28, 22/04/18 »
... the last ones (and the most comfortable I have ever had) were £19.99 from Aldi. They have lasted over 1000 miles ...


Out of interest, what's stopping you from getting some more from Aldi? 


1,000 miles out of a twenty quid boot that you find comfortable has a lot going for it

nesty

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #23 on: 14:54:01, 22/04/18 »

Out of interest, what's stopping you from getting some more from Aldi? 


1,000 miles out of a twenty quid boot that you find comfortable has a lot going for it


Probably no longer available. I find that a lot of models/styles only produced for 18 months or so then deleted.


To the original OP, I didn't have my feet measure for my Altberg Tethera. I took a chance on size and knew my width wasn't a Medium, so the correct size in wide width fitted great. Tho, it was a chance bargain buy on ebay. 

kinkyboots

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #24 on: 15:23:35, 22/04/18 »
Any thoughts on these :

Scapa Terra GTX
Meindl Gomera GTX

Scarpa are an Italian brand and their footwear tends to be built on a fairly narrow fitting last.
Meindl are a German brand which tend to be wider fitting than Italian brands however Meindl's build quality has suffered recently with quite a few complaints reported of leaking liners and soles either separating or wearing out prematurely.

The less stitching you have on any boot the less likely you are to suffer from leaking problems - every line of stitching is potential point of weakness in the build of a boot.

Given the problems you had with blisters on little toes it suggests to me that those particular boots are definitely not wide enough for your feet. The reason I was pointing you towards Altberg is that they are one of very few, if not the only, manufacturer which make some of their boots in 5 width fittings - so one of the width fittings is likely to fit your feet properly and the reason for pointing you towards a specialist bootfitter is that they can measure your feet properly and provide the advice and guidance you require and they should also be able to custom shape and fit the boots to take care of your bunion problem.


Out of interest, what's stopping you from getting some more from Aldi? 

1,000 miles out of a twenty quid boot that you find comfortable has a lot going for it

A very good point however like most things which are any good some bright spark usually changes the design and ruins what was a perfectly good product to save a penny or two on production costs!  ;D ;D ;D

alan de enfield

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #25 on: 17:51:38, 22/04/18 »


Out of interest, what's stopping you from getting some more from Aldi? 


1,000 miles out of a twenty quid boot that you find comfortable has a lot going for it


Very good question.
Answer - they stopped doing them - in fact mine were the last ones and reduced to £15, I thought they would be a size to big but they were worth the risk and fitted perfectly.


Later last year they came out with another range of £19.99 boots (same manufacturer - Ten-Tex) and I bought the same size as the last ones. These are the ones that have given me a 'warm spot' on my right little toe after 5 or 6 miles. Wore them today and did 4 miles with no problems.


If I cannot get sorted with 'quality' boots I may just live with having a 'round' of Zinc-Oxide tape on my little toe and stick with the Aldi's for now.


I'll go up to Go tomorrow and see what these Scapa & Meindl are like, but if they don't fit then they aren't coming home.




nesty

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #26 on: 19:32:04, 22/04/18 »

Very good question.
Answer - they stopped doing them - in fact mine were the last ones and reduced to £15, I thought they would be a size to big but they were worth the risk and fitted perfectly.


Later last year they came out with another range of £19.99 boots (same manufacturer - Ten-Tex) and I bought the same size as the last ones. These are the ones that have given me a 'warm spot' on my right little toe after 5 or 6 miles. Wore them today and did 4 miles with no problems.


If I cannot get sorted with 'quality' boots I may just live with having a 'round' of Zinc-Oxide tape on my little toe and stick with the Aldi's for now.


I'll go up to Go tomorrow and see what these Scapa & Meindl are like, but if they don't fit then they aren't coming home.


Have you looked on ebay for the same design? If you look at one of my previous threads. I discovered 3 walking shoes all named differently, but all the same. Sometimes, the blueprints of design are made under different names. 


Btw was it these Aldi boots?
https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/aldi/

alan de enfield

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #27 on: 11:29:39, 23/04/18 »

Well - again - many thanks for all the inputs.


Job Done !!!


Was waiting at Go Outdoors when they opened at 09:00. Spent an hour + with the boot fitter and tried a number of different brands & sizes of boots.


My foot size & shape made the selection almost self-limiting.


I am a 9 or 10 in shoes and generally a 10 or 11 in boots, but trying on a number of Salomon and Scapa boot models, even including size 12 with inserts to take up the length, I just could not get the width.


I think the Salomon Quest 4D 3GTX must be about the most uncomfortable boots I have ever tried on.


The Meindl range were certainly a bit wider but on a couple of the models one of the lace rivets fell exactly above my Bunion and as my foot flexed walking up the 'hill' I could feel it.


Eventually got to the Meindl Meran GTX (£215 RRP) which fitted superbly in size 11 (but as my right foot is only a size 10, I did need a 'filler' insert.
Comfortable, no pinching or rubbing and toes certainly not hitting the end, toe-box large enough for my Bunion.


So - The Meran it was to be.
'Go' price £193, so did a price match and found several other suppliers at a bit less with Trekitt.co.uk quoting £178.49.


Informed Go and they did their price match + 10% and I ended up paying £160.


With so much variation in shape and sizes, even amongst the 'premium' brands I could never just buy on-line.


Thanks again for all your suggestions.

kinkyboots

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #28 on: 12:53:53, 23/04/18 »
Glad you got sorted out.

The only decision you need to make now is whether to spray or wax them.  ;)

Dyffryn Ardudwy

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Re: New Walking Boot Suggestions Please.
« Reply #29 on: 12:56:07, 23/04/18 »
Plenty of possibilities, but the number one thing to do, is visit a decent stockist, and try on various boots for comfort and fit.
Possibly you might even grab yourself a bargain, as there are one or two dealers in Bettws Y Coed that have some very keen prices at the moment.
Not that i needed them, but there were a magnificent pair of Scarpa approach shoes in size 11, reduced from a silly £160 to £53.
They were the only pair reduced to clear in the shop, and they fitted me like slippers.

Cotswolds Rock Bottom shop, also had quite a few well priced bargains, but the important thing to do,  is try them all on, for fit and comfort.

Taking advice from others, on suitable boots, is fine, if the boots in question are comfortable, and a good fit, but everyones foot is different.

 

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