Walking Boots

Can anyone recommend a good pair of waterproof walking boots. As you all know, we have to do miles and miles of walking and this year has been particularly wet. I have now bought three pairs of gortex walking boots and despite regularly spraying them after about 3 months my feet start to get wet.

Any tried and tested would be appreciated, especially before the next soggy winter

I use Karrimor boots from sports direct, a good price and have lasted around 6 months with zero care enforce they started to really leak. Only having to replace them as I've worn them out now, a good place to go and try some is go outdoors, great range at decent prices

I Use merrell have done for years, not the cheapest but last for years..

I bought a pair ot these boots from go outdoors, was out walking Rocky one day when the heavens opened and got soaked to the skin. The only thing that was dry on me was my feet when I got home. Would highly recommend them:



http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-tec-womens-kruger-waterproof-boots-p138353





I also have a pair of Meindle Borneos which I got for hill walking some years ago but dont wear them very often now.

I have some Hi-Tec ones same as Kathys really, but recently as its been so wet I live in my Hunter Wellies

I use the Karrimor ones from Sports Direct generally , got a top notch pair of pukker boots from The lakes for 80 quid but can't remember the last time I wore them.
Got my OH a pair of ladies boots from Mountain Warehouse for £40 which seem to hold the water back well

i also wear karrimor boots from sports direct, very comfortable and cheap. but as i've heard winters in lincoln shire can get bad i have purchased the delta 43 boots from here http://www.cadetsuk.co.uk and i'm very impressed so far

I just got these .. which are my fourth pair of Salomons, there are SOOOOO many good boots to choose from, but I too rate water proofing as highly as comfort, and these are bone dry after walking ankle deep in puddles .. the water just dosent penetrate the leather or fabric full stop !!

My oh swears by salomons, has the exact same boots as above I think and they have lasted a couple of good Yorkshire winters with no problems so far.....I have a hi-tech pair (brown leather) from go outdoors which I thought were going to be rubbish as they were £20ish but they are fab, comfy, waterproof and lasting well! So either end of the price range you can get some fab boots at go outdoors lol x

Thank you all for the advice. I do quite like the look of the Salomons which are at the other end of the price scale but if they last me a couple of years would be worth it. Andy - you say these are your fourth pair. How long do you use them for before you need to change them? Do they stay waterproof even with using them every day in mostly wet grass?

saffi28 wrote:Thank you all for the advice. I do quite like the look of the Salomons which are at the other end of the price scale but if they last me a couple of years would be worth it. Andy - you say these are your fourth pair. How long do you use them for before you need to change them? Do they stay waterproof even with using them every day in mostly wet grass?

I have only actually warn out one pair that I wore 7days a week after my bike accident, they were light weight ones (still £120 tho $-) ) and they lasted me about 18mths walking around 5-6 miles a day

My old pair of mountain boots are still going strong and still water proof after about 5yrs of hiking and hill walking, tho I can no longer wear them since the accident cus I just cant get comfortable in them any more

and the third pair are "approach shoes" for when I go climbing, or walking Max in the summer

This new pair will last for years, they are somwhere between a full mountain boot, and a hiking boot .. pretty cleverly made, and more comfortable than a stiff mountain boot ... tho all breathable boots will lose there water resistance at some point by the very nature of them being breathable, but if you "Nikwax" them as soon as they start to absorb any moisture, they are fine

I tried on a pair of Meindl's when I got them, they were £165! .. fitted nicely, then the assistant said "you know those arnt water proof dont you" ... who would buy boots for that without them being water proof

This stuff should be OK for waterproofing boots with:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/nikwax-fabric-and-leather-proofer-p107785

i swear by karimor for my winter/snow boots
and tresspass for my everyday hill walking boots

I had a pair of Karrimor boots for years I was sad to throw out in the end, I got quite attached to them boots

Thanks again. I have talked my OH into treating me to a pair of Solamons, afterall it is me that walks the dogs 7 days a week .

Thank you Kathy for the link to the Nixwax. If I am spending that sort of money on a pair of boots, they will be lovingly cleaned, polished and sprayed on a regular basis

saffi28 wrote:Thanks again. I have talked my OH into treating me to a pair of Solamons, afterall it is me that walks the dogs 7 days a week .

Thank you Kathy for the link to the Nixwax. If I am spending that sort of money on a pair of boots, they will be lovingly cleaned, polished and sprayed on a regular basis

Just one last word on the water proofing .. read the Nikwax instructions .. cus you can over use it, which will stop the boots ability to breath, and you'll end up with sweaty, uncomfortable feet etc ... also give them time to break-in, some of the best boots that last years are not always that comfortable to start with .. then one day, they feel like carpet slippers

Andy wrote:

saffi28 wrote:Thanks again. I have talked my OH into treating me to a pair of Solamons, afterall it is me that walks the dogs 7 days a week .

Thank you Kathy for the link to the Nixwax. If I am spending that sort of money on a pair of boots, they will be lovingly cleaned, polished and sprayed on a regular basis

Just one last word on the water proofing .. read the Nikwax instructions .. cus you can over use it, which will stop the boots ability to breath, and you'll end up with sweaty, uncomfortable feet etc ... also give them time to break-in, some of the best boots that last years are not always that comfortable to start with .. then one day, they feel like carpet slippers

been there done that andy i normally wear my new boots unlill they start to be a bit niggly then go back to old faithfulls then back again after a few weeks there broke in and you can say a sad fairwell to your old boots.
And i second on not over water proofing as you can end up with trench foot

Very good advice from all, many thanks, especially with regard to the water proofing. I would have had a tendancy to spray a couple of times a week - whoops

iv got that nikwax stuff that i used on a pair of cheap waterproof karrimor boots, before i put the nikwax on my boots would leak even after 20 mins of drizzle, after putting the nikwax on my boots still leak just the same, my mrs also has a pair of karrimour and they still leak after the nikwax has been put on, i got my boots changed for another pair and they still leak

i also have a pair of scarpa gortex walking boots, gortex should never leak and if it does its faulty and can be taken back for either a replacement at the shop or they send them away, as far as i know the nikwax is used to stop the outside of the boots from getting too wet as when this happens the sweat doesnt get out and makes your feet damp, ivf had my scarpa boots sitting in a sink of water for 30 mins when i first got them to make sure they were waterproof and not one drop of water was inside.
as for what boots to get, i tried on quite a few different makes and they were all to narrow for my feet until i tried the scarpa, i do hear good things about brasher superlite and also anatom q2 or q3 boots, the anatom comes with 10 years of cover that the boots wont leak or fall apart, it was a pity my big toes rubbed on the inside or i would have got the anatom as they have a fluffy insole to keep your feet warm

Nikwax is for prolonging the external waterproof qualitys, its not a magical substance that will transform a pair of cheap boots to start with

and yeah, the Goretex lining is what will keep your feet dry, and breathe at the same time, the outside of the boot will eventually let moisture in somewhere (usually in the crease's where your toes bend), and thats when stuff like Nikwax will help (if applied correctly )

Altbergs, I use them in the army they are comfy and water prood and been leather they are easy to clean. also take a look at lowas. both have excellent ancle support and are waterproof, will set you back about £140 but if you walk alot theyl be worth it.

Well, guess what...............................

I had to replace my walking boots because..... yes you guessed it they started leaking.

Have now got the Karrimor ones again as in the link below:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/ksb-tour-ii-l-event-p151694

I ended up buying a pair of Berghaus boots. I have had these for about a month now. They were extremely comfortable from day one, cleaning is a dream, they are warm and I love them. I really feel these have been a good investment. I haven't been through the fields in them as yet as to be honest I think wellies is the only thing here as they are so so boggy but I go out every day come rain or shine and go to a couple of local parks which are more often than not wet and I get home everyday with lovely dry and warm feet.



http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/berghaus-womens-explorer-ridge-boots-p108002

Good choice in Berghaus they do some very good gear and it's a British company. Hope you get on well with your new boots.

Don't forget to Dub Dub Dubbin

expensive but great for walking, waterproof, comfy, warm, and great ankle support. garanteed to keep your toasies warm and dry
http://www.copshopuk.com/acatalog/Mountain_Boot_GTX.html

Have bought myself some Karrimor boots cos of this article and was thinking about treating them before I wore them. Looked up Nikwax and thought I recognised bottle, already a bottle in cupboard, OH got it for his fishing stuff. Saved me £7! (also found receipt at back of cupboard for £200 watch he never told me it cost that much lol-his watch not mine!)

Stokester wrote:expensive but great for walking, waterproof, comfy, warm, and great ankle support. garanteed to keep your toasies warm and dry
http://www.copshopuk.com/acatalog/Mountain_Boot_GTX.html

My hubby keeps going on about needing some new boots, I wish I could afford to get him these I know they would be so good for him. He has a very dodgy ankle and really needs the support there I know these would give him.

Stokester wrote:expensive but great for walking, waterproof, comfy, warm, and great ankle support. garanteed to keep your toasies warm and dry
http://www.copshopuk.com/acatalog/Mountain_Boot_GTX.html

I have these for work keep feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer and are so comfortable they never needed to be 'worn in' like some boots. They are actually quite light and easy to run in, had mine for 2.5 years now and still in excellent condition.

Will do

I have these mainly as i'm outside alot at work at night and my feet get freezing but they are brilliant for walking the dogs to

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006J7QJ7G/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00