What walking boots

Do they need to be warm etc for winter use & serious hiking too?
 
I got a decent set of Karamors from sports direct. Various items on the website I believe. Discounted down as last year's stock.
 
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for water poof ones look for any gore tex one. I have a pair of Beghaus Explorer Trek GORE-TEX® Walking Boots. I used the year round only adding a fleece in sole this year as I was finding I was getting cold transmission from the sole when spending a long time stood still on ice and frozen ground. When paired with a good pair of socks my feet are toasty so these are now my 2 season boots and I brought a pair of XA PRO 3D ULTRA 2 GTX fore the warmer half.

you dont need to spend a spend a huge amount on the boots if you get the socks right I do recommend http://www.bridgedale.com/ sock's great quality great for colder months if you want an extra level of dryness you can always add a pair of seal skinz
 
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I have a pair of Meindl.
They're not exactly cheap but have withstood some pretty rugged terrain while I've been using them in various locations.
Extremely comfortable too ;)
 
The best boots are the ones that fit you properly. Everything else (manufacturer, materials etc.) is secondary to the fit. The best boots in the world for one person may be the worst boots in the world for you. There's little point asking advice until you know what fits you. I'd suggest finding a decent outdoor shop that knows how to fit boots and paying them a visit.
 
I have a cheap pair of Karrimor boots that the soles are wearing down on (too quick for my liking) - otherwise they have been surprisingly good for the price but I have bought £20+ footbeds for them to replace the ones they came with.

For everyday use (I walk 5 or 7 miles most days and keep the same shoes on all day), after going through several brands/models, I have settled on a pair of Brasher Countrymaster shoes and I won't hesitate in getting a pair of Brasher boots when the Karrimors need replacing.

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gcogger said:
The best boots are the ones that fit you properly. Everything else (manufacturer, materials etc.) is secondary to the fit. The best boots in the world for one person may be the worst boots in the world for you. There's little point asking advice until you know what fits you. I'd suggest finding a decent outdoor shop that knows how to fit boots and paying them a visit.
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^^^definitely this - also best to have done a bit of walking and go to the shop later in the day rather than earlier - your feet swell during the day and what is snug on fresh feet will be tight later on.
 
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gcogger said:
The best boots are the ones that fit you properly. Everything else (manufacturer, materials etc.) is secondary to the fit. The best boots in the world for one person may be the worst boots in the world for you. There's little point asking advice until you know what fits you. I'd suggest finding a decent outdoor shop that knows how to fit boots and paying them a visit.
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I tend to agree with this however there are brands which use cheaper materials to keep costs down and in using cheaper materials then they arent up to some rugged use and thats the info as i want to have a pair that will last several years of abuse like my current Raichle boots have.Of course i will do test fitting and walking etc to see how compatible they are for me but dont want something that will last a few months...
 
markyboy.1967 said:
I tend to agree with this however there are brands which use cheaper materials to keep costs down and in using cheaper materials then they arent up to some rugged use and thats the info as i want to have a pair that will last several years of abuse like my current Raichle boots have.Of course i will do test fitting and walking etc to see how compatible they are for me but dont want something that will last a few months...
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Brasher have a couple of licensed repairers in the UK that will (amongst other things) resole boots. That'd definitely prolong the life-span.
 
Meindl, Scarpa, Solomon, Karimoor, Berghaus are all good makes, also Trezeta I've been using a pair for years and find them great.

I know some folks don't like boots with Gortex linings because they make their feet sweaty. I have never found this to be a problem and I would not buy a new pair now without a Gortex liner.

From the uses you have mentioned you don't need anything more than 3 season boots and maybe even 2 season, though there is a fair bit of overlap between the two.

Go to a shop and tell them what you want to do with the boots, but not your budget, and see what they come up with.

£130 and probably a good bit less will get you a boot for your uses.

There are plenty of stores around but as you are in Scotland, TISO would be a reasonable place to start.

Dave
 
I've got 2 pairs of Meindl boots and they are so comfortable and still going strong after 3 years of daily use. It's good to find a good local independent stockist where the staff are keen hikers. I normally use Taunton Leisure who have a few local stores plus nationwide mail order and are very good.
 
I'm doing the Caledonian Challenge in June (54 mile hikein <24hrs) and bought some Salomon Cosmic 4D 2 GTX boots to train and do the actual hike in. I'm really pleased with them - 21 miles in them last Saturday and my feet still felt pretty fresh (the rest of my body was a wreck though). They're pretty light and feel more like trainers than boots.

Oh, if anyone in a fit of madness or in an act of random kindness would like to sponsor me... click here
 
I have a pair of Solomons and they've treated me very well over the years, so much so my old man bought a pair after going through a few pairs of boots.

I remember probably the wettest day I've ever been walking, it was during the coast to coast and the only thing that were dry were my feet! :lol:

They must 7 or 8 years old now too, had a couple of new inner soles fitted and they are still doing me well!! :)
 
James Thomas 75 said:
I have a pair of Meindl.
They're not exactly cheap but have withstood some pretty rugged terrain while I've been using them in various locations.
Extremely comfortable too ;)
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+1 for meindl's...

Have 2 pairs of them - wear a pair every day. Very comfortable and very supportive.
 
gcogger said:
The best boots are the ones that fit you properly. Everything else (manufacturer, materials etc.) is secondary to the fit. The best boots in the world for one person may be the worst boots in the world for you. There's little point asking advice until you know what fits you. I'd suggest finding a decent outdoor shop that knows how to fit boots and paying them a visit.
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:plusone: Actually, plus 100!

Set an absolute maximum you're prepared to pay then visit a good outdoor type shop and start trying some on. If you already have suitable socks, take them, if not, get some at the same time. Once you get them home, wear them on carpet for as long as possible to make sure they fit properly and are comfortable for extended wear - check with the shop but many will let you upgrade if necessary as long as the boots don't look worn.
 
Yeah they are very good.

I have the Meindl Burma Pro MFS I believe they're called?
They were recommended to me by my boss who is a keen mountain hiker.

Probably a bit too scuffed and abused for their own good from where I've been sliding down rocky surfaces taking shots during my trips to WRC events... But I think that goes to show just how well made they are! :)
 
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