Walking/ Hiking boots?.

[Drago]

I seem to have Salomon shaped feet so they suit me just fine, although one of the lace hooks has come off my latest pair. Does anybody know if they're replaceable?

Saloman have a very good rep in land rescue circles as effective, robust, reasonably priced footwear.

 

[winjim]

Something like this?

View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fittings-Shoelace-Buckles-Outdoor-Mountaineering/dp/B07811DT8H

Yeah but I'd need to find someone with the tools and skills to fit it. I wonder if any old cobblers will do.

 

[mudsticks]

Scarpa, but they cost bit. If you are going to be hiking/scrambling on rough mountain terrain with a fairly heavy pack, leather boots tend to give better ankle support than fabric ones...….an least, that used to be the wisdom.

Myth about ankle support I'd say..

Trail runners all the way for me for last ten years or so, even for fairly gnarly mountain backpacking Scotland Pyrenees etc.

So much lighter on your feet, more nimble, I fall over far less, than when I used boots.
Ankles have their own support.. Called ligaments. They can do their thing far better in lighter shoes.
That's why fell runners wear them.


No wp membrane either - that breaks down too quickly anyway.

Waterproof socks where necessary, otherwise yr feet get hot.

If it's going to be really soggy / wet on a long multi day walk then I wear wellies.
Nokkian bog trotters.

Big mountain boots for winter alpinism, crampons yes, otherwise its a lot of weight you're moving (unnecessarily imo) everytime you take a step. Why make life harder??

Scarpa and altberg very good if you go down the boot route.
You do get what you pay for.

But fit is everything, the last shape is the thing, find a brand that suits you.

I wear leather boots for farm work, but then tootsies need protection from tools for that.

All above is of course only a personal opinion, but backed up by quite a few years experience.

 

[vickster]

Yeah but I'd need to find someone with the tools and skills to fit it. I wonder if any old cobblers will do.

I should think so, even maybe a young one

 

[PeteXXX]

Are Brasher still good since they changed hands? Mine are 20 years old now and ready to retire. They’ve been good boots though.

I can't really compare as they're the first 'proper' boot I've bought and worn for years, apart from my work safety boots. They're certainly comfortable on a long walk, and seem as though they'll last a fair while.

 

[PaulSB]

My two issues are I have very broad, flat feet and a weak right ankle which I can easily go over on. I've always found it uncomfortable to walk for any distance which is a problem as my wife loves to walk. Following a heart attack four years ago I needed to walk more as part of my recovery while I was waiting to begin cycling again.

Initially I bought Hi-Tec from Go Outdoors. For my first experience of walking boots they were OK. I had to buy a size too large to get the width I needed. Tese were comfy enough, lasted only a year and I replaced them when they wore out. I reckoned £40pa was reasonable. When the second pair wore out I decided I should get a quality brand. Easier than it sounds if you have broad feet. My advice would be:

1. Go to a quality store and get a proper fitting. I had great service from Cotswold Outdoor and did buy a pair which had to be delivered in. The boots were great but just not quite right. I was disappointed to take them back as the lady had worked so hard to help me. I then went to Whalley Warm and Dry who offer an outstanding fitting service, the young women spent two hours measuring my feet, suggesting various brands, styles etc. till by a process of elimination we got down a single pair which really worked for me. If you live in Lancashire this is the place to go! https://www.whalleyoutdoor.co.uk/
2. A good store should allow you to take the boots home and wear round the house for a while to double check comfort
3. Buy leather and treat the boots well. Clean every walk, wash, wax etc. Always dry naturally not in front of a radiator.
4. High quality boots should be resoleable

I bought Meindl and paid £225 which really made me think hard. The key factor was the boots can be resoled and with proper care should last 5 years at the very least. This then becomes the £40/50pa I was spending on Hi Tec. When my boots are drying I insert a shoe tree which helps keep the shape and very slightly stretches the boot to give the little bit of extra room I like. Whalley Warm and Dry do offer a "stretching" service if needed and I guess other quality independents do the same.

 

[JPBoothy]

I seem to have Salomon shaped feet so they suit me just fine, although one of the lace hooks has come off my latest pair. Does anybody know if they're replaceable?

I didn't know that Salmon had feet.. I suppose it must help them get back upstream though 🦈

 

[mudsticks]

My two issues are I have very broad, flat feet and a weak right ankle which I can easily go over on. I've always found it uncomfortable to walk for any distance which is a problem as my wife loves to walk. Following a heart attack four years ago I needed to walk more as part of my recovery while I was waiting to begin cycling again.

Initially I bought Hi-Tec from Go Outdoors. For my first experience of walking boots they were OK. I had to buy a size too large to get the width I needed. Tese were comfy enough, lasted only a year and I replaced them when they wore out. I reckoned £40pa was reasonable. When the second pair wore out I decided I should get a quality brand. Easier than it sounds if you have broad feet. My advice would be:

1. Go to a quality store and get a proper fitting. I had great service from Cotswold Outdoor and did buy a pair which had to be delivered in. The boots were great but just not quite right. I was disappointed to take them back as the lady had worked so hard to help me. I then went to Whalley Warm and Dry who offer an outstanding fitting service, the young women spent two hours measuring my feet, suggesting various brands, styles etc. till by a process of elimination we got down a single pair which really worked for me. If you live in Lancashire this is the place to go! https://www.whalleyoutdoor.co.uk/
2. A good store should allow you to take the boots home and wear round the house for a while to double check comfort
3. Buy leather and treat the boots well. Clean every walk, wash, wax etc. Always dry naturally not in front of a radiator.
4. High quality boots should be resoleable

I bought Meindl and paid £225 which really made me think hard. The key factor was the boots can be resoled and with proper care should last 5 years at the very least. This then becomes the £40/50pa I was spending on Hi Tec. When my boots are drying I insert a shoe tree which helps keep the shape and very slightly stretches the boot to give the little bit of extra room I like. Whalley Warm and Dry do offer a "stretching" service if needed and I guess other quality independents do the same.

Also do some strengthening exercises for that ankle.

With my yoga teaching hat on I've lately prescribed some for my son who was having knee problems, caused by flattened arches.
Things are improving for him already.

Use it or lose it, and so forth.

 

[Salar]

What about heavy duty trail running shoes?

 

[PaulSB]

Also do some strengthening exercises for that ankle.

With my yoga teaching hat on I've lately prescribed some for my son who was having knee problems, caused by flattened arches.
Things are improving for him already.

Use it or lose it, and so forth.

My ankle issue goes back +/- 35 years. I broke it but this was diagnosed as torn ligaments. Over a long period when playing squash I would go over, probably break it again in the same spot, and be in agony. The same thing would happen stepping off a kerb in to a hole in the pavement etc. The break was only discovered 20 years later during an Xray for a suspected broken ankle. The consultant on that occassion told me of the old break.

I still get the odd occassion, especially when walking, when I feel it might go. Would yoga exercise help this? I'm now 65.

 

[JPBoothy]

What about heavy duty trail running shoes?

Yes, a few of you have mentioned shoes over boots so I'll take a look. I only walk, not climb or scramble, so probably no need for specialist gear really. Thanks for the advice and knowledge though everybody 👍

 

[Smudge]

If you dont need top quality expensive walking shoes, then these are pretty good for under £30 with discount code. I bought a pair myself recently.
https://www.millets.co.uk/mens/165219-peter-storm-mens-camborne-low-walking-shoe.html
Good quality soles with decent tread and none of that hollow crap. Real suede in the uppers and waterproof membrane.

 

[mudsticks]

My ankle issue goes back +/- 35 years. I broke it but this was diagnosed as torn ligaments. Over a long period when playing squash I would go over, probably break it again in the same spot, and be in agony. The same thing would happen stepping off a kerb in to a hole in the pavement etc. The break was only discovered 20 years later during an Xray for a suspected broken ankle. The consultant on that occassion told me of the old break.

I still get the odd occassion, especially when walking, when I feel it might go. Would yoga exercise help this? I'm now 65.

Pah, 65 that's nothing..
Yoga helps at any age.. I've got one class attendee who started with me when she 70 yrs old.. Now she's a very strong and sprightly 86.

But it's getting a good teacher who knows their stuff about alignment, bio mechanics, understands how you ned to work and all that.

There's quite a lot of wafty, unhelpful stuff out there on tinternet, and elsewhere right now, with yoga having a 'fashionable' moment.


You'll have to use your discernment to assess what's going to work for you, but with application you'll see some benefit.

 

[slowmotion]

Ankles have their own support.. Called ligaments.

That's like claiming that you can't break your leg because it's got bones.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Innov8 have some great lightweight trail running shoes suitable for your purposes. Good sole units to stop slipping on steep terrain.