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Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots


Postby camy » Tue May 20, 2014 9:19 pm

Hi am looking to get a new pair of walking/hiking boots. Am willing to spend £150 tops. I actually had bought a pair of scarpa charmoz boots thinking they were walking boots oooops just as well i never got round to wearing them just sold them now that i know a little bit more about boots.
Anyway what am looking for is suggestions for a descent pair of boots and should they be GTX or not.
I was thinking about scarpa ranger 11 GTX ????? After reading reviews on them :crazy:
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby rockhopper » Tue May 20, 2014 11:05 pm

Suggest you'd be best to get into a shop and try some on. Boots which are good for some won't be for others and vice versa. If you're looking for ideas, I think Meindl are changing their range and the Burma Pro GTX are discounted in some places to around your price range. However, although I like them and, touch wood, they've been fine for me, I'm sure others will have different views. I don't know about the Scarpa Ranger but I've also been very happy with Scarpa SL M3s (which aren't GTX) though they've been replaced by Scarpa - cheers :)
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby jmarkb » Wed May 21, 2014 8:47 am

Rockhopper is spot on: a good fit is the most important thing. The best review in the world is worth nothing if your feet are the wrong shape for the boot. I recommend you go and try on as many pairs as you can in your local gear shops and don't rush into a decision.

Goretex liners seem to divide opinion: personally I like them, but others find them too hot and sweaty. You might want to avoid them if you have a "run hot" physiology!
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby cmarcol » Wed May 21, 2014 10:47 am

Re the Rangers I've had a ladies pair for about 6years now which are only just starting to look a bit worse for wear. Never once treated them as the gtx held up brilliantly (although I really should have done it anyway.) The sole is still in good nick and when I replace them next summer I will be buying the same again (provided the fit of the new ones hasn't changed too much). Great pair of boots!
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby weaselmaster » Wed May 21, 2014 2:56 pm

My personal favourites are Salomon 4D quest - the most comfortable general walking boot i've tried, not the best for scrambling however as they tend to be a bit slippy and;
Salewa Mountain GTX - comfortable and good on rock.

But yes, as others have said, you need to try different types out.
You may also find that an approach shoe style, rather than boot, is preferable - certainly lighter on the toes
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby camy » Wed May 21, 2014 3:37 pm

Hi thanks for the feedback, you's are all saying the same thing get to a shop and try boots on :D
will do Thanks
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby xpfloyd » Thu May 22, 2014 12:47 pm

Ive been using these since I started doing munros - http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/trango-alp-gtx-p164842?gclid=CJCUpcW5v74CFSGWtAod22UAUw - and love them. Into my 4th season now and I havent re-waterproofed them once and they still keep my feet dry on the wettest of hill days, They are a stiff boot though but once they are well broke in they are great and they also take a crampon so I wear these all year round. You might prefer a less stiff boot though especially in summer and they are not that light but as I say waterproof with zero maintenance.

I bought a pair of these once - http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/salomon-cosmic-4d-2-gtx-boots-p204075 - for summer use (had the idea of ditching the boot above for lighter ones when conditions allowed). They were the lightest and comfiest boots I have ever wore, However - The first day I wore them I done 5 munros and by the end of the day my toes were soaked as they had leaked at the point where the boot creases. I got my full money back from gooutdoors after salomon confirmed the leak. Further internet searching shows that they have a weak point at the crease but if you are looking for a lightweight, comfortable boot for fair weather then this would be a good choice.
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby CharlesT » Thu May 22, 2014 2:56 pm

Depends on your foot type really, so trying on in a competent outdoor store is your best bet. Fishers of Keswick rate highly in this regard if you can get there. The Scarpa last happens to suit my feet and I bought a pair of Scarpa Kinesis GTX boots for summer use. Wore them first time to walk in to and up the western Fisherfield munros from Poolewe and back. 32 miles round trip and they troubled me not at all, comfortable and strong from the first step. Good boots.
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby spiderwebb » Thu May 22, 2014 9:22 pm

Had Salomon 4 GTX and as previous comment they were extremely comfortable boots, but 2 years 6 months sole came off one boot, returned via Go Outdoors to Salomon and got a refund, I would have got them repaired myself but they never came back. That said they were not waterproof for long, a common theme with every fabric boot (Goretex) I have ever had.

So decided to return to leather and bought a pair of Meindl Bhutan, price matched at Go Outdoors. Straight out the box about 5 miles, then my next walk was the Fisherfields, 7 mile walk in and out with full pack plus the round itself, boots gave me no problem at all.

tried North Ridge Corrie Event after hearing about them on a forum for £89 but they felt like bricks. tend to find your'll know as soon as you slip your foot in whether they will be comfy or not.

Very comfy boots, recommended. Proof them with Nikwax after each outing.
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby BobMcBob » Thu May 22, 2014 11:05 pm

Definitely the only solution is to go to a decent shop and try on as many pairs as possible, make sure they have stairs or a slope you can test them on. Scarpas are really comfy but the pair I bought kill my toes when going downhill. I find Zamberlans fit my feet best and there's the thing - it's all about your foot shape. Personally I like GTX linings as I don't like walking with damp feet (though note that nothing will prevent water getting in if it's deeper than your boot!) but they are hotter than unlined boots.
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby JanD » Mon May 26, 2014 9:28 am

At the end of the day it's all about the fit, and socks are as important as the boots. Many a time I've seen people bemoan their once comfortable boots and I've suggested buying some new socks (socks do not last long) and it's saved them a fortune on new boots they didn't need.

However, personally, I hate goretex lined boots but it's hard to find any that aren't now. With that in mind I've a pair of high ranked salewa boots for scrambling routes and days with loose and heavy rocks, but I've also just ordered a pair of Inov-8 terroc 308 shoes for backpacking and general trail use. After abandoning a backpacking trip due to saturated (failed) goretex lined Salomon boots not so long ago, I am moving towards the theory of if you're going to get wet at least a, enjoy it in light shoes, and b, get something that doesn't take four days to dry!

Having wet feet I didn't find unpleasant at the time, but I did the following morning when nothing was anywhere near dry. Trench foot resulted :crazy:

At the end of day all I can really recommend is that you go to a specialist shop, preferably more than one, and tell them what you want them for and get your feet measured. Then try on lots of boots, preferably in the afternoon after a good five mile walk (your feet will be a different shape and size)
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Re: Looking for a GOOD pair of walking boots

Postby beeperman » Mon May 26, 2014 1:44 pm

Having just returned to hillwalking after a couple of years off due to knee problems I recently bought a pair of these:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/renegade-gore-tex-waterproof-mens-hiking-boots-brown-id_8127214.html

Not from decathlon, from a high end gear shop in Aviemore for about £145. I've only worn them for a few shortish (5 hours or so) trips so far but they are the most comfortable and lightweight boots I've had. Kept my feet dry yesterday up Ben Lomond in wettish conditions. I've got broad feet with high arches and these were recommended as a possibility by the gear shop guy. He was spot on.

Anyway, so far so good and I'm almost tempted to go and buy a second pair from Decathlon given the fantastic price. Only thing stopping me is they're still very new so I'd really want to know they're going to last for a reasonable time. I checked a few reviews before buying and they were mostly very positive on this point.

Anyway, maybe worth seeing if they're a good fit for you if you've got a store reasonably handy.

Cheers
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