Walking Boots

[furrybean]

Any advise on buying a set of boots to use in all but the wettest of weather?

Cheers

[Dan]

I've got a set of Berghaus Explorer II GTXs that I've had years. They're mainly textile based but with suede bits too, Gore-Tex membrane.

They're still waterproof and very comfortable for all day use, and they weren't ridiculously expensive, I only paid £90 for them back in about 2002 or something.

[furrybean]

Nice one thanks!

There are so many different makes that must be particular to boots

[Richie]

I've got a set of Berghaus Explorer II GTXs that I've had years. They're mainly textile based but with suede bits too, Gore-Tex membrane.

They're still waterproof and very comfortable for all day use, and they weren't ridiculously expensive, I only paid £90 for them back in about 2002 or something.


agreed, got mine pair in 2001 for £110, and still going strong... They seen action in Bosina, Kosovo, Canada, Germany, and a few times in England and Scotland....
next week hill walking in Cornwall..... (I know, I know ! maybe coastal walks, in and around Newquay pubs hopefully.)

[Samnooshka]

I've got a set of Berghaus Explorer II GTXs that I've had years. They're mainly textile based but with suede bits too, Gore-Tex membrane.

They're still waterproof and very comfortable for all day use, and they weren't ridiculously expensive, I only paid £90 for them back in about 2002 or something.


Get these or similar :D fantastic boots. I had the womens ones and lasted me years of walking through mud and crappy weather during my geology degree.

[embee]

I've got some Altberg boots. I needed a narrow fitting and they made them for me with a "hard surface" sole since I don't do much off-track walking. After breaking in they are excellent, totally comfortable with no hard spots anywhere. My feet are the last things to say "enough" !

I think there are a lot of great boots around, most of the well known makes, Meindl, Lowe, etc. are going to be decent. The most important thing is to get something which is the right shape for your feet, and skilled advice at the fitting stage is invaluable. A bit like helmets really................

[rob13]

The Berghaus boots were a keen choice when i went to buy a new pair however I ended up buying a pair of Salomon Alp 6 boots. Theyre excellent for hill walking, and i havent found them too warm when just forest trailing in summer. All depends on how often you use them and what you want them for really.
If its just a few forest trails, rather than rugged stuff, you maybe want a lightweight boot with a flexi sole, however if you're looking to hit the trail and get on the rough stuff, then a stiffer sole, possibly leather uppers would suit you better. Loads of choices anyway

[philipMac]

I find thick, one piece, full grain leather boots, with a GoreTex liner to be the best. I am not that picky about who makes them, you can tell a decent boot by looking at them.
They are generally not cheap, but I have only gone through three pairs of decent ones.
And they took a phenomenal amount of beating.
The full grain leather can just take sharp scree, and rocks better than anything more or less.

They are getting harder and harder to find though...

[Steve H]

Any advise on buying a set of boots to use in all but the wettest of weather?

Cheers

Wellington Boots? :rolleyes:

[Viney]

Whatever you do, best way to break them in, is get them very wet and walk around in them. then let to dry, then do it again. Once done, then smother in dubbin and put in a plastic bag in a warm place for a couple of days, then repeat. I have found this the best way for me to break in boots.

Cant recomned any as i havent bought any for a long while.

[gettin2dizzy]

If its really boggy- perhaps a CRF250 :)

[stewie]

There,s two trains of thought on this one, get non waterproof boots cos your gonna get wet feet whatever you do and non waterproof boots dry out quicker or get something like a goretex lined boot which will slow down the egress of water but tend to be heavier, hotter and slower to dry out when wet. Ive gone for the goretex route and have pair of 3-4 season Meindl Llotshe boots that are crampon compatible, which is ironic really cos I havent been near a hill in a while. One other thing, boots made by europeans tend to be narrower than british built boots so you may have to get a size larger if you have normal width or slightly wider feet, and dont forget to wear a pair of walking socks when you are trying then on. Hope this helps.
Stew

[minifun]

I bought a pair of Berghaus a couple ofr weeks ago - no idea what model! £70. Just had a week walking in the lakes, no blister, really comfortable and they kept my feet dry!

[neio79]

I agree that full grain leather with Gor-tex or equivilent are best for being waterproof, although the down side is that if they get wet inside fr whatever reason they take an age to dry out.

Hi-Tec do some nice ones in their Magnum range, obviously the more you pay the better you get, forget the basic ones they are all thin material.

the berghaus ones are good as well. Lowa do comfy full grain ones but are expensive.

[philipMac]

So, when I am doing fairly hard core week long plus treks, I bring a couple of proper walking socks, say three pairs. But, I also bring a load of those little coolMax ankle socklet things.

I will change those inner socks every couple of hours, or when ever I get wet, and just keep rotating through them. I hate walking in sopping wet shoes. Using this method I can keep cycling through socks, and keep my feet fairly dry no matter how bad things get.

Edit, i mean, when you are walking all day, in the p!ssings of rain, and it starts running down your leg, you will get wet. But, there are tricks that you can play to make your life as pleasant as possible.