walking boots, my recommendation...

[christopher watson]

Today me and my dad have been shopping for walking boots, and of all the boots the best i found were these....
http://www.blacks.co.uk/blacks.storefront/EN/Product/082202341

these are even better than the £150 scarpa SL boots

 

[AppleSei]

Not a big name brand.

Sympatex is ok, it is not as good as gore-tex.

Looks quite low cut so wont offer as gooder ankle support as the SL boots

Vibram sole is good though. They are the best soles you can get for walking boots

However you cant compare these 60 quid boots with Scarpa SL. They are 150 quid and are aimed at a completely different market.

SL are for serious hillwalking and mountaineering boots, they are designed to take crampons with ease hence the amount of rigidity in SL boots, and the notable difference in height. Although the scarpa manta is the ultimate :yum:

These ones are more designed for light hill walking and fell walking.

You should have had a word chris, i could have offered you some advice, i have experience in the trade

 

[MATT 68]

Sympatex is ok, it is not as good as gore-tex.Vibram sole is good though. However you can compare these 60 quid boots with Scarpa SL. SL are for serious hillwalking and mountaineering boots, they are designed to take crampons with ease hence the amount of rigidity in SL boots, and the notable difference in height. Although the scarpa manta is the ultimate :yum:

EHH? YOU WHAT? NAHH, YOUVE LOST ME MATE!

Ill GET MY COAT & CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE WAY OUT!

 

[Helz]

I got some £150 walking boots three years ago and have never broken them in, my feet get too sore and they still don't bend and I remember an old flatmate of mine who was really into walking having bleeding feet from breaking her expensive pair in Any tips Applesei apart from wearing them until your feet bleed?

Three years on I'm still wearing the (admittedly rather fabby) £25 pair I bought them to replace

 

[christopher watson]

I just felt the Blacks boots were very good, and better than some so called better makes, also i got the name wrong with the Scarpa boots, i meant to say the ranger wasnt very good. I also tried the Brasher hillwalker (£99), and thought there was no support.

 

[chaos]

Whatever pair you get, make sure they fit well. I had a pair that didn't fit all that well which caused huge problems...............

 

[AppleSei]

I just felt the Blacks boots were very good, and better than some so called better makes, also i got the name wrong with the Scarpa boots, i meant to say the ranger wasnt very good. I also tried the Brasher hillwalker (£99), and thought there was no support.

You were right. Brasher are crap. The soles are ****, they are their own sole and wear out dead quick, so you go back and buy another pair cos they are one of the comfiest boots on the market.

Scarpa ranger - voted best 3 season walking boot 2001, 2002, 2004. Quite suprised you didnt get on with them, they were a good seller for me. Nice boot but not waterproof, but a thicker leather

 

[AppleSei]

I got some £150 walking boots three years ago and have never broken them in, my feet get too sore and they still don't bend and I remember an old flatmate of mine who was really into walking having bleeding feet from breaking her expensive pair in Any tips Applesei apart from wearing them until your feet bleed?

Three years on I'm still wearing the (admittedly rather fabby) £25 pair I bought them to replace

The only way to break a pair in is to wear them, to my customers i always used to say wear them round the house. It might seem daft but if you dont get on with them you could always bring them back if you didnt get on with them and try something else, if they touch outside there was no way back unless they were faulty.

a 25 quid pair of boots will break in quicker than a pair at 150, but wont last as long. What did you get helz? what is the brand?

 

[Helz]

You're right, the 'Original Gripfast Dalesman' £25 pair are starting to leak now which is no good in the mud The £150 Karrimor ones are still just about as solid as the day I bought them, I guess I need to persist, I do wear them round the house but I don't walk very far and if I do wear them say for shopping, feet get too sore - I'm probably just a wimp going by my friend Nikki's experience

 

[Hellcat]

John...

Berghaus Yeti Attack - any good? Bought them about 4 or 5 years ago before Berghaus became popular

 

[AppleSei]

You're right, the 'Original Gripfast Dalesman' £25 pair are starting to leak now which is no good in the mud The £150 Karrimor ones are still just about as solid as the day I bought them, I guess I need to persist, I do wear them round the house but I don't walk very far and if I do wear them say for shopping, feet get too sore - I'm probably just a wimp going by my friend Nikki's experience

Well karrimor were always very small fitting boots. It sounds to me from what you have said that they may say your shoe size on the box, but they sound like they are too small or too narrow for you.

The easiest way to tell is to put them on, push you foot right to the front and see if you can get your pointing finger down the back.

Ideally a fingers width of room is needed, this allows for the foot swelling during the summer. If you can get your finger down the back, they are the right size, if not then they are too small.

That goes for any footwear, so if you are unaware of that fact above, be aware next time you purchase some shoes, trainers etc Its a nice little tip, and will make sure you dont return with the shoes a few days later

 

[Helz]

Nah it's not the sizing, I had thick socks on when buying and went through heaps. They just don't move with my feet, still rock solid

 

[christopher watson]

With the scarpa's, it might have been that the boots felt a little bit small (next size up were too big), and dont even get me started with fabric (crap) boots (i think i am a traditionalist ). I tried salomon boots, and thought they were very poorly made

 

[AppleSei]

John...

Berghaus Yeti Attack - any good? Bought them about 4 or 5 years ago before Berghaus became popular

By all accounts they are well good, i never sold a pair though as they were a bit too serious boot for what the market in our area was, they are in top end 3 season boots IIRC

Have experience with berghaus - great boots great aftersales, deliveries were always spot on a good company, a wise choice

 

[charmed103]

well i am off to oz in a few weeks and am looking for a decent pair for my trip, I have broken both my ankles, three times, and need a pair that will support them with all the walking etc I have planned, any ideas

plus i want them really tight so no creepy things can invade my feet!!!!

 

[Jai]

not strictly walkers, but dammit so comfy, warm in winter, cool in summer, always dry, my best friend on a crappy night on cordon:

magnum elites

 

[AppleSei]

With the scarpa's, it might have been that the boots felt a little bit small (next size up were too big), and dont even get me started with fabric (crap) boots (i think i am a traditionalist ). I tried salomon boots, and thought they were very poorly made

You should have got the half size, scarpa do do half sizes throughout the range IIRC one of a few comapnies to do so.

Fabric boots are ok, they are better in the summer as they are lighterweight and breathe a lot better. Not as good admittidly in the winter unless you went top end.

Adidas own Salamon...says it all really They did ok, they were also very small fitting boots and did get a fair few returns

Salomon approach shoes/trainers sold loads better than the boots

 

[Hellcat]

By all accounts they are well good, i never sold a pair though as they were a bit too serious boot for what the market in our area was, they are in top end 3 season boots IIRC

Have experience with berghaus - great boots great aftersales, deliveries were always spot on a good company, a wise choice

Woohoo! Cost me just shy of £200 or should that be cost my parents Been all over in them and they fit like a dream. One of them has developed a kinda creak/squeek which can be annoying. Can anything be done with the sole as its starting to look a bit worn?

 

[chaos]

I got a pair of cheap steel toe capped wellies - you can walk a fair few miles fairly comfortably with them

 

[AppleSei]

well i am off to oz in a few weeks and am looking for a decent pair for my trip, I have broken both my ankles, three times, and need a pair that will support them with all the walking etc I have planned, any ideas

plus i want them really tight so no creepy things can invade my feet!!!!

Depends on your budget and type of walking you will be doing. you can get waterproof boots from 30 quid up to 300 quid.

If im honest ladies preferred the boots not as high, around the ankles as this caused it to be uncomfortable. I always used to say dont tie them all the way to the top instead tie them up to the second last one, which seemed to help. Ladies are well hard to sell to.

How much ypu willing to spend and ill give you some ideas

Going to OZ i reckon you should get fabric boots as it is their summer isnt it?