Boots dilemma, advice please.. Update

[Ronin83]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F292805897210

What do people think of these boots, I'm tempted if they go for a good price as I believe meindl boots are a wider fit, was hoping to try some at Taunton tomorrow but not got my size unfortunately.

People do say theyre wide, but I don't think they are at all, at least not in general nowdays. Only meindl meran are 'comfort fit'. The vakuums seemed wider in the toe box when I tried them too

[kinkyboots]

Meindl are a German brand and their boots are generally wider fitting with more room in the toe box than Scarpa which are an Italian brand. I think the Meindl Bhutan MFS replaced the Meindl Burma Pro MFS in Meindl's range.

You will be taking a gamble on them fitting you but it's a decent boot if you can get it for the right money. Being a large size for Hobbits  there probably won't be too much competition for them but don't be too stingy if you decide to bid.....the £15 postage charges are totally OTT!

These YouTube videos might be worth a look

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiJW08GIeVI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xksXd3cgLbc

[rockhopper353]

Yes £15 does seem excessive for postage and obviously that'll have to come in to the equation on final price.


Watching the videos there's some interesting tech with the lacing system although how effective it is I wouldn't like to guess. The memory foam inside the boot sounds quite good though.

[alan de enfield]

Meindl are a German brand and their boots are generally wider fitting with more room in the toe box than Scarpa which are an Italian brand. I think the Meindl Bhutan MFS replaced the Meindl Burma Pro MFS in Meindl's range.

I tried various boots in the Meindl range, but it was ONLY the Meran that gave me the width AND the toe-box height I needed. I found that on some of the models the width and height were OK but the bottom lace rivets / holes put pressure onto the top of my foot and Bunion.



I couldn't even get my foot into a size 12 Scarpa - they were so narrow - I asked them to check that they weren't incorrectly labelled and were actually ladies, narrow, size 8s.


I was originally a little concerned about the 'nubuck' leather, but after the 1st 'coat' of wax they flattened back to 'smooth leather' they have now had 4 coats of wax and you cannot tell that they were not originally 'leather'.
I can honestly say they are the most comfortable pair of  slippers (ooops I mean boots) I have ever had


Size 12 available here :



https://www.trekitt.co.uk/777/products/meindl-mens-meran-gtx.aspx?currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAiA_ZTfBRBjEiwAN6YG4cfZW1mt6GthUNel-x3gHGwQd7oVXTYxQpflh_NF_zzP8sjOvTBOShoCR_UQAvD_BwE




Or up to size 15 here (Shop in Somerset) :


SIZES From 12 -- 20 UK.
We are the UK`s top Independent specialist retailer of Larger Sized Shoes for Men.
Larger and Wider Fittings our speciality


http://www.bigsize.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p2609.html

[Mel]

I'd agree that Meindls seem to be a wider fitting.  My slippers, oops, Meindls were the best purchase I ever made. 


When I first put them on they feel "roomy" but once my feet have got warmed up and spread out a bit after a few hours' walking, they're just right 


... as opposed to my "normal width" trail shoes which, being fabric and fresh air, feel like they're pinching across the widest part of my foot once my feet are warmed up and I have to slacken the laces right off or face pins and needles.

[rockhopper353]

I tried various boots in the Meindl range, but it was ONLY the Meran that gave me the width AND the toe-box height I needed. I found that on some of the models the width and height were OK but the bottom lace rivets / holes put pressure onto the top of my foot and Bunion.



I couldn't even get my foot into a size 12 Scarpa - they were so narrow - I asked them to check that they weren't incorrectly labelled and were actually ladies, narrow, size 8s.


I was originally a little concerned about the 'nubuck' leather, but after the 1st 'coat' of wax they flattened back to 'smooth leather' they have now had 4 coats of wax and you cannot tell that they were not originally 'leather'.
I can honestly say they are the most comfortable pair of  slippers (ooops I mean boots) I have ever had


Size 12 available here :



https://www.trekitt.co.uk/777/products/meindl-mens-meran-gtx.aspx?currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAiA_ZTfBRBjEiwAN6YG4cfZW1mt6GthUNel-x3gHGwQd7oVXTYxQpflh_NF_zzP8sjOvTBOShoCR_UQAvD_BwE




Or up to size 15 here (Shop in Somerset) :


SIZES From 12 -- 20 UK.
We are the UK`s top Independent specialist retailer of Larger Sized Shoes for Men.
Larger and Wider Fittings our speciality


http://www.bigsize.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p2609.html
[/quote]

 
 

 


Thanks for the heads up. I've scoured around and can only find them in my size in the link you provided and at £240 when in other sizes they are readily available for £170 I'm not prepared to entertain them, that's too much to pay!

[alan de enfield]

 


Thanks for the heads up. I've scoured around and can only find them in my size in the link you provided and at £240 when in other sizes they are readily available for £170 I'm not prepared to entertain them, that's too much to pay!

But size 12 at Trekitt at £178

[rockhopper353]

But size 12 at Trekitt at £178

I know it sucks being a sasquatch 

[Bigfoot_Mike]

I feel your pain. I have large and wide feet and have to spend a lot of time finding shoes and boots that don’t destroy my feet. In work shoes I take anything from an 11 extra wide up to a 13, depending on the maker and shoe design. I currently have a pair of Merrel MOAB 2 boots in size 13 UK that fit me well and don’t cause blisters. These took some finding. I couldn’t find any other fabric type boot that would fit. I have just purchased a pair of Altberg Tetheras in size 12W, but have to date only worn them inside. Weather and injury permitting,they may get their first outing on Bennachie over the weekend. The Merrels were listed at £120 and the Altbergs at £219, but I managed to get some discount on both pairs.


I hope you are successful in finding some wearable boots at a reasonable price. You have bigger feet than me, so the problem is probably worse. My wife is the other extreme and usually takes size 1, which is also very difficult to find. Many at this size are for children and the colours and design are not always suitable. They can also be very narrow.

[rockhopper353]

I feel your pain. I have large and wide feet and have to spend a lot of time finding shoes and boots that don’t destroy my feet. In work shoes I take anything from an 11 extra wide up to a 13, depending on the maker and shoe design. I currently have a pair of Merrel MOAB 2 boots in size 13 UK that fit me well and don’t cause blisters. These took some finding. I couldn’t find any other fabric type boot that would fit. I have just purchased a pair of Altberg Tetheras in size 12W, but have to date only worn them inside. Weather and injury permitting,they may get their first outing on Bennachie over the weekend. The Merrels were listed at £120 and the Altbergs at £219, but I managed to get some discount on both pairs.


I hope you are successful in finding some wearable boots at a reasonable price. You have bigger feet than me, so the problem is probably worse. My wife is the other extreme and usually takes size 1, which is also very difficult to find. Many at this size are for children and the colours and design are not always suitable. They can also be very narrow.

Cheers bigfoot lol. I've had some moab mids before and they were indeed very comfortable but only used mainly in the summer and didn't last long as the sole parted from the upper.


I was very lucky in that I purchased a pair of karrimoor ksb boots back in the 90s that must have lasted me 15 years (don't make em like they used to). Stupidly I tried some more Karrimoor leather boots last time but they've not lasted 5 minutes, hence why this time I'm looking to pay more for a good quality pair which hopefully will last a few years if looked after.


I hope your tethera boots are no e and comfy for you once you get out in them 

[Bigfoot_Mike]

[quote author=rockhopper353 link=topic=37483.msg532091#msg532091 date=1541835862

I was very lucky in that I purchased a pair of karrimoor ksb boots back in the 90s that must have lasted me 15 years (don't make em like they used to). Stupidly I tried some more Karrimoor leather boots last time but they've not lasted 5 minutes, hence why this time I'm looking to pay more for a good quality pair which hopefully will last a few years if looked after.



I wish they still did make boots like they used to. I had a pair of Scarpas in the past that also must have lasted me at least 15 years, possibly more. They supported me in sout and north Wales, Lake District, Scotland, southern England, France, Austria and Slovenia. They were good for walking, scrambling and some Louise grade climbing and I must have completed thousands of miles in them. Eventually, the sole was almost non-existent, the stitching was worn through and the colour completely changed through years of waxing. They didn’t need breaking in and never gave me blisters. There were no fancy Goretex linings, but they never leaked.


Unfortunately, when I finally needed to replace them I couldn’t get the same fit. Scarpa boots appeared to be much narrower and pretty much all others seem to pinch or slip somewhere. I am hoping that the Altbergs are as good on the hill as there are in the house, but have some comfort in the ability of premier retailers be able to adjust the fit by steaming the boot. I haven’t seen any other boots where this has been claimed.

[rockhopper353]

[quote author=rockhopper353 link=topic=37483.msg532091#msg532091 date=1541835862

I was very lucky in that I purchased a pair of karrimoor ksb boots back in the 90s that must have lasted me 15 years (don't make em like they used to). Stupidly I tried some more Karrimoor leather boots last time but they've not lasted 5 minutes, hence why this time I'm looking to pay more for a good quality pair which hopefully will last a few years if looked after.



I wish they still did make boots like they used to. I had a pair of Scarpas in the past that also must have lasted me at least 15 years, possibly more. They supported me in sout and north Wales, Lake District, Scotland, southern England, France, Austria and Slovenia. They were good for walking, scrambling and some Louise grade climbing and I must have completed thousands of miles in them. Eventually, the sole was almost non-existent, the stitching was worn through and the colour completely changed through years of waxing. They didn’t need breaking in and never gave me blisters. There were no fancy Goretex linings, but they never leaked.


Unfortunately, when I finally needed to replace them I couldn’t get the same fit. Scarpa boots appeared to be much narrower and pretty much all others seem to pinch or slip somewhere. I am hoping that the Altbergs are as good on the hill as there are in the house, but have some comfort in the ability of premier retailers be able to adjust the fit by steaming the boot. I haven’t seen any other boots where this has been claimed.

It sounds like those old Scarpas of yours enjoyed quite a few adventures with you over the years, my old karrimoor boots had years of bog trotting through the peak district and the rand around them was in bits at the end and after several gluing attempts to prolong them they were finally laid to rest when the sole eventually gave up!


Setting off now to Taunton leisure to try the Altbergs, a 140 mile round trip from Bournemouth but hopefully it'll be fruitful, wish me luck 

[rockhopper353]

So, now back from Taunton leisure and the proud owner of some Altberg Tetheras!


Wasn't easy giving up on the Scarpas as I'd got them at such a good price, I felt the lacing system on them was really smooth and like the toe protection they provided which I think stops a lot of scuffing at the front. The Tetheras though felt immediately a much better fit, no pressure around the back of my toes, they fit snug but I'm not feeling any pressure points like I did with the Scarpas.


I shall wear the new boots around the house for a while first to get my feet used to them but in all honesty I don't think they'll give me any trouble 


Many thanks to everyone who offered advice along with your experiences, special thanks to kinkyboots whom took the time to point me in the right direction more than once.
Cheers peeps 

[kinkyboots]

Glad you got sorted out. Break them in slowly and they will gradually conform to the shape of your feet and the fit will improve over time.

They will obviously feel strange at first but trust your feet to tell you when your boots fits you properly. After 15 minutes on your feet if you occasionally forget you're wearing them you definitely know they fit you properly.

Once you're 100% happy with them and have made the final decision to keep them get some wax on them as you will find the factory finish on the leather is minimal and quite a dry finish.

What size and width fitting did you end up with and did you try the Altberg Warrior military boots?

[ninthace]

Good for you.  Hope you get many miles out of them, with a bit of tlc after each trip they will last you many miles.
Don't forget, Altberg offers a resoling service when the time comes.  Had mine done, Mrs N had hers done - like getting new boots but already worn in!