Walking boots

[Checks38]

Hi all,


Looking for some help. My wife and I want to buy a comfortable, ward wearing and most of all very important waterproof pair of walking boots.
So I am looking for recommendations as I have been looking for days now and each time I find a pair I get put off by the reviews as most reviews offer little to no information when people post.
As we are just starting out with walking boots this is for walking up smaller hills in all types of weather as we go caravaning in Scotland all year round.
Looking to not pay an a lot so between £40 to £140 maximum.
Thanks for reading.

[Peak]

Worth checking out Magic Mountain site for Oboz Sawtooth boots, I've had mine for 2 years and find them extremely comfortable. Oboz are a little known brand here and you can find a few stockists online. I also have the Sawtooth shoes and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Hope this helps

[addyeddy]

At the top end of your spending preference , but have a look at Aku boots, I swear by them.


They don't need breaking in as they're comfortable from the off, I've never had any water come in, and as long as you look after them, they look good for years.


Only problem is for your first pair, I'd recommend going to a shop to try them to ensure you get the right size, as they do run small.

[gunwharfman]

My boots are simple, all leather and depending on where I buy also fairly cheap. I'd beware of believing that you will be able to buy boots that never leak, mine have always started off that way but over time I always end up with wet feet which then tends to get worse. From experience, I'm not particularly bothered with 'rain' as such, only rain that is persistent over time. If I'm going to get wet feet it is more than likely because of walking through wet vegetation, e.g. grass.

My boots are Bergause Superlights, my third pair, I like them a lot and they really suit my feet type and shape. Mine this time cost me £62 about 6 months ago. I think they are £155 if you buy them directly from Berghaus.

Other than that, there is so much choice out there!

[windyrigg]

In general, boot choices start as leather or fabric, to keep them waterproof both types would need waxed / proofed.
Leather would typically be a bit heavier, harder wearing, easier to keep waterproof (less stitches), and probably more suited when going higher/rougher.
Conversely fabric boots would generally be a bit lighter, easier on more gentle walks, and may not last / be waterproof quite as long.
The Berghaus Superlites mentioned would probably be seen as representative of the best of the 'lightweight' leather boots; some fabric boots would actually be heavier and certainly less comfortable 
Both types should be comfortable but lighter fabric boots would typically feel easier in appropriate conditions

In practice I wear fabric boots most of the time, and switch to the leather ones mainly in winter when I'm on rocky ground, snow & ice, soaking conditions etc.
There probably isn't a great price difference for decent boots, towards the upper end of your price bracket should get you good comfy boots in fabric or leather.

[Checks38]

Well finally ordered some boots this morning. Wife ordered Salamon Prime GTX and I ordered HAIX Black Eagle Athletic 2.0 V GTX. Now just hoping they will do for out getting some walking and keeping feet dry.
Has any used either of these boots?

[gunwharfman]

Yes Windyrigg like me, leather boots in winter, fabric boots in summer.

I own a pair of Salomon Ultra X boots. At the time of the first purchase, I was also considering the Prime and the Quest. I first bought the Quest but couldn't get on with them, they were too tall above my ankles and my lower shins became sore. I then had a personal debate between the Prime and the Ultra and could work really work out what was the difference between them, so I opted for the cheaper boots, the Ultra X's. I think they are really good and I'm sure the Primes are as well.

I like Salomon boots, they seem to be ideal for my feet and I always find them super comfortable to walk in. Only one drawback for me, all of my previous Salomon boots have leaked. My present ones are OK at the moment.

[fernman]

Lockdown is pushing prices of things like boots up, and not only that but the pandemic probably means that production is reduced too. It happened last summer as numbers of people took to the trails, and it will probably continue now. Even RipOff Britain: Holdays on BBC1 had a piece this morning with travel guru Simon Calder suggesting taking up walking.

Gunwharfman claimed yesterday that his current pair of Berghaus Supalites cost him £62 about 6 months ago, and he thought they are now about £155 if you buy them directly from Berghaus. Well, £155 is exactly what I paid for a pair on Amazon in November, and it was the lowest price I could find at the time.

[jimbob]

Gunwharfman claimed yesterday that his current pair of Berghaus Supalites cost him £62 about 6 months ago, and he thought they are now about £155 if you buy them directly from Berghaus. Well, £155 is exactly what I paid for a pair on Amazon in November, and it was the lowest price I could find at the time.

If that happened with the prices of say Gas or Electricity there would be questions in the House. An Ofgem enquiry and huge fines meted out to the energy companies.
These inflationary price rises, are hardly justified given the amount of cash support these companies have been given, as well as various forms of relief.
Maybe justifies letters to our MPs.
Also personally annoyed because I have spent too much time Web searching for berghaus supalites from whatever source they may have come from at that price.

[kinkyboots]

Hi all,


Looking for some help. My wife and I want to buy a comfortable, ward wearing and most of all very important waterproof pair of walking boots.
So I am looking for recommendations as I have been looking for days now and each time I find a pair I get put off by the reviews as most reviews offer little to no information when people post.
As we are just starting out with walking boots this is for walking up smaller hills in all types of weather as we go caravaning in Scotland all year round.
Looking to not pay an a lot so between £40 to £140 maximum.
Thanks for reading.

Well finally ordered some boots this morning. Wife ordered Salamon Prime GTX and I ordered HAIX Black Eagle Athletic 2.0 V GTX. Now just hoping they will do for out getting some walking and keeping feet dry.
Has any used either of these boots?

To be frank your first two posts have not gone well. 

I'm normally willing to help anybody but I won't waste my time on someone who logs on for less than 10 minutes including the time spent to post the question without spending any time trying to help themselves by reading previous posts and trying to benefit and learn from previous similar posts.

Worse still you then ignore the advice and recommendations given by those who wasted their time replying to your request for help.

If as you stated you wanted to buy "comfortable, hard wearing and most of all very important waterproof pair of walking boots" you have made two mistakes in your boot choices.

The boots you have bought are both leather/fabric combination boots. If waterproof boots was your main concern you should have spent a bit more and bought full leather boots. Salomon have a reputation for making boots which have a poor build quality and which will almost certainly leak like a sieve after a short period of time. The Haix are suede/fabric combination boot and suede soaks water up like a sponge and is difficult and time consuming to keep clean, maintain and keep waterproof. Expect to get a maximum of 6 months to 2 years out of the boots before they let water in and become totally useless in any wet weather.

You don't say but I'm also assuming that they've been ordered online without you getting properly measured or trying them on first? It's a common mistake made by many people.

Most people end up with a cupboard full of useless gear when they first start out because they think they know best. This could easily be avoided if they were willing to spend a little time to learn from other people's buying mistakes.

If you end up sending them back and given your low budget I would suggest that you look at these

Anatom Q2 Classic from around £100
https://www.anatomfootwear.co.uk/mens/14-q2-classic-hiking.html
https://www.summits.co.uk/product/anatom-mens-q2-classic-hiking-boot/ 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBu1Xj00bfQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXycy9kTG2M

Anatom Q3 Braeriach from around £115

https://www.anatomfootwear.co.uk/mens/28-q3-braeriach.html
https://www.summits.co.uk/product/anatom-mens-q3-braeriach-hiking-boots/
https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/anatom-q3-braeriach-boot-review/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn-ShzTRQeY

[Islandplodder]

As you will see from the replies everyone has their own views on boots.  KinkyBoots swears by leather boots all the way, Wildwalking on this site did Lands End to John o Groats and Dover to Cape Wrath in lightweight fabric boots, and there are all points of view in between.  And in the real world people buy boots online, put them on and walk happily for years, it's just on walking fora we are all a bit obsessive, and can argue about kit for days. 
I hope your boots suit you, and you have many happy walks in them

[watershed]

Too true.
I used to have leather boots, but got fed up with their weight, upkeep, hard soles and breaking in period.
Also their miss-leading claims of being water proof.
They can be quite good if you constantly treat them.
OK for the intermittent walker, but not ideal if doing daily walks or multi day walks, as carrying the wax/polish is a pain!
I graduated to fabric boots and have never looked back.
As for Salomons I found them the most comfortable boot I have worn, and hope you enjoy yours.
I used them for 2 crossings of Scotland 198 Miles and 238 Miles, and have walked a further 4000 miles in ones on top of that.
I have found their latest model, doesn't quite have the same feel, so I am going to upgrade again to INOV-8 Roclite pro G 400GTX's which looks like even another step ahead of Leather.

[fernman]

Wildwalking on this site did Lands End to John o Groats and Dover to Cape Wrath in lightweight fabric boots

From what I recall from following his blog, he frequently commented on having wet feet.

I used to have leather boots, but got fed up with their weight

Which is why I bought Supalite, 1304g (size 9.5 / 44) compared with my old Burmas, 1708g. That's not far short of a pound weight in Imperial. Before settling for them I bought and immediately returned a pair of Scarpa Ranger because they weighed 1808g.
I don't expect them to last as long as a top-of-the-range leather boot because they are just not the same quality, but the lighter weight makes walking more pleasurable.

Edited to add that the Altberg and Anatom models that Kinkyboots always recommends are lighter than most as well.

[gunwharfman]

When I searched for my Superlights most prices were nearer to £100 but I managed to find my pair from a garden centre in Somerset. I remember being surprised at the time so I phoned the garden centre just to check them out and they were the latest models so I made the judgement that all would go ok, so with crossed fingers I paid and they arrived a few days later.

[watershed]

Which is why I bought Supalite, 1304g (size 9.5 / 44) compared with my old Burmas, 1708g. That's not far short of a pound weight in Imperial. Before settling for them I bought and immediately returned a pair of Scarpa Ranger because they weighed 1808g.
I don't expect them to last as long as a top-of-the-range leather boot because they are just not the same quality, but the lighter weight makes walking more pleasurable.


Exactly Fernman. INOV-8 400 Grams

Edited to add that the Altberg and Anatom models that Kinkyboots always recommends are lighter than most as well.



I Note Kinky boots boot weights are quoted per boot.