Looking for decent hillwalking boots

ntlbell

Hey,

I'm going to be starting to hill walk in April or so and I'm looking for a good pair of boots I was looking at these gor tex here

I wanted something with good ankle protection but also as light and comfortable as possible.

BeardyGit

Hey there,

The Sella is much more 'technical' than 'trail'. It's aimed at alpine type use with its high rand and a rigid sole making a good mate for crampon use. Not at all what you want for use on Irish peat bogs and hills. If it's the striking red and contrasting black rand that does it for you, I can understand, but they're still not a good buy for you....

I'd recommend you look at something more like the Meindl Air Revolution if you want a fair weather boot, or something like the Burma Pro MFS or the new Vakuum MFS (great review there in Trail a couple of months back) for year round reliable use. Both of these boots are built on the same last (mould) as the Sella, are LIGHTER, more durable, and will without a doubt be more comfortable to use here and abroad.

I've used a pair of Burma Pro's for many years now and still select them over my newer, more expensive and higher spec'd Himalayas when heading for the hills. Great boots altogether. I'll be picking up some Vakuum's to replace them with in the next few months.... 3k's about as much as I can put on a pair of boots before my feet ruin them.

Gil

ntlbell

Heh,

I wasn't loving the color they just looked very comfortable

I must add I've never done any hillwalking before.

Alun

Personally, and I realise I'm in a minority here, I don't like Meindl boots, I've never managed to get a good fit despite many unsuccessful attempts.

Anyway, another less well known (in Ireland at any rate) make is Hanwag whose last (foot pattern) is slightly wider than Meindl's and suits my feet straight out of the box with absolutely no 'tweaking' required. You can get them at the Outdoor Adventure Store and a few other outdoor shops in the Capel St./Mary St. 'triangle' like Capel Camping.

I have the Lima GTX which is a great boot for Irish conditions IMO, see ...

http://www.capelcamping.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecapelcamping%2ecom%2facatalog%2ffootwear%2ehtml&WD=lima&PN=footwear%2ehtml%23a23#a23

http://www.outdooradventurestore.ie/details.asp?p=FA1E0ECD-D0EA-D3D4-7E80-15952C889F7C&tt=footwear&parCat=89

but there's also a slightly higher boot called the Alaska GTX that's equally as good. EDIT: It won 'BEST IN TEST' in this (admittedly rather old) review in Outsider Magazine http://www.outsider.ie/index.php/Hiking-Boots.html

Lowa boots are also worth a look if you can find them. I had a pair of Lowa boots that I bought in the now defunct Lowe Alpine shop before I got my Hanwags, but I've not managed to find them since (actually Hanwag and Lowa are owned by two brothers who fell out with each other, Lothar and Hans Wagner).

Some people also swear by Brasher boots, but I don't like them myself. The lacing doesn't go far enough down the toe, and as a result the flex point seems too high up the foot for my liking, and they seem a bit lightweight in construction. Probably fine for walking on country lanes in rural SE England, but not really up for the bog trotting they'd be subject to here.

There are also one or two Italian makes, such as Scarpa or Zamberlan, but generally their last is even narrower IME, so I haven't any real experience of them.

ntlbell

Thanks for that

I forgot to mention i have a very "broad" foot if it helps with the reccomendations

Alun

ntlbell wrote: »

I forgot to mention i have a very "broad" foot if it helps with the reccomendations

So do I, so maybe the Hanwag's I mentioned above would be a good place to start.

joewicklow

I am looking for a new pair of Boots and was wondering how the OP got on with theirs?

Hugh_C

Alun wrote: »

Some people also swear by Brasher boots, but I don't like them myself. The lacing doesn't go far enough down the toe, and as a result the flex point seems too high up the foot for my liking, and they seem a bit lightweight in construction. Probably fine for walking on country lanes in rural SE England, but not really up for the bog trotting they'd be subject to here

I'm one of those people who swear by Brashers - I use the Supalites for bog trotting here in Ireland and have used them to trek up Kilimanjaro. Very comortable, very ugly , don't need much in the way of breaking in and a great walking boot overall. My feet are always dry and warm (but not hot) and they're available in Great Outdoors and maybe elsewhere.

dogmatix

I own two pairs of Meindls - a proper ankle boot and a walking shoe. Both are fine and comfy for me. The only complaint i have - and these relates to all boots/shows - is the crappy grip you get which makes all "rugged" footwear near-suicidal to wear in icy or slippery conditions. I wish companies would pay more attention to grip instead of devoting all to ruggedness / comfort / support.

I owned a pair of brasher boots back in 2000. I swore never to touch the brand ever again.

Same question, live on the edge of Killarney National Park, want to start heading off the trails and over the hills, so looking for something pretty light with ankle support and as waterproof as possibly cos its wet out there at the moment.

Have had Columbia boots recommended by a friend. Anyone got anything to say about them? Also, what should one expect to spend on these things, any good offers in the sales or online?

Tells

I use these things, the first ones when you open the link : http://www.meindl.de/english/technik/technik_1.asp

Great boots altogether..

Great outdoors Dublin do them for €209 but if you're a member of the MCI you get a 10% discount

BeardyGit

Tells wrote: »

I use these things, the first ones when you open the link : http://www.meindl.de/english/technik/technik_1.asp

Great boots altogether..

Great outdoors Dublin do them for €209 but if you're a member of the MCI you get a 10% discount

They're the MFS Vakuum - Great boots altogether.

Gil

Tells

Tells wrote: »

Great outdoors Dublin do them for €209

Ouch!

That's pretty rich for my blood! Was thinking of just something like Colombias reduced from 100 to 60 or thereabouts. So far I've stuck to the tracks and done those in old runners, combats and an anorak. For €209 I might stay on them!

Alun

Deleted User wrote: »

That's pretty rich for my blood! Was thinking of just something like Colombias reduced from 100 to 60 or thereabouts. So far I've stuck to the tracks and done those in old runners, combats and an anorak. For €209 I might stay on them!

That's "only" €188 with MCI discount.

I go out every weekend almost without fail, and sometimes more often. At that rate a pair of boots, even top notch ones, don't last me more than about 2 years, so that works out at a paltry €1.80 per trip. I probably use more than that in petrol getting there and back, and certainly more in the pub afterwards

irishlostboy

i have recently seen brashers in tkmax for about 100 quid. there were only one pair, and it was in sligo. but keep your eyes open for deals there if you are on a budget (and who isn't these days)
for me, i like my hanwags. pair i have are probably a little ott for the average day walker. but they do good kit.
another great thing i found are specialist insoles. i got these things called supafeet or some such. they have a plastic section that cups the heel and helps stop my heel slide around, keeping blistering to a minimum. i did my 3 day trip from 2nd-5th of this month up on benbulbin in sligo this year, and faired much better foot wise than last year.

boot choice gets brought up a lot. there are a few key factors you can take into account, but then there is also a lot of personal choice involved too. i would advise to try on the boot in the shop. seek advice (like this thread, well done) but you will gain new insights with every pair you go through. good luck in the hunt

Tells

Actually yeah.. TK Maxx sometimes have great boots for a great price.
I always pop in if i'm passing. Great for thermals and jackets too..

Alun

irishlostboy wrote: »

for me, i like my hanwags. pair i have are probably a little ott for the average day walker. but they do good kit.t

Hanwag do a complete range of "normal" boots as well, not just the army style ones, unfortunately they seem to have stopped selling them over here for some reason. I got my last pair mail-order from Germany and saved a good amount into the bargain. Note that I only did that because I could exactly the same boot style as my previous ones and exactly the same size. I wouldn't recommend buying blind off the net like that.

This is what I have ... http://www.hanwag.de/hanwag/Products/product.asp?ItemId=32774&SectionId=3095

irishlostboy

irishlostboy wrote: »

i have recently seen brashers in tkmax for about 100 quid. there were only one pair, and it was in sligo. but keep your eyes open for deals there if you are on a budget

This is more like it!

Was in to TK Maxx in Tralee and they had walking boots but can't for life of me remember the brand. Will do another check and come back for a recommendation.

Ta me anseo

I know that feet swell al ittle during the day or during excercise so therefore you should get fitted for boots or shoes late in the day if at all possible, but I'm just wondering do you notice a difference when you pull your boots on first thing in the morning?

I recently got Salomon Auth Trek 7's in the Great Outdoors. I bought them about 12 noon but had been on my feet constantly all morning. They fitted great, although I did replace the factory insole with Superfeet ones for better arch support. Nice a snug around my heel and ankles and plenty of room at the toes.

I haven't had them out and about yet, but have been wearing them around the house occassionally. If I pop them on first thing in the morning, I really need to lace them up pretty tight to prevent too much heel lift. Thankfully they have lace locks so you can have tight lacing around your ankles but still loose fitting at the top. It's been enough to make me wonder if I haven't got the wrong size!! But since I haven't been walking properly in them, I expect that when my feet swell they will fit perfectly again. Time will tell...

So how much of a difference would expect in a boots fit between early and late in the day??

P.S. I paid 145 euro for my boots only to find that Outdoor Trek in Swords have the same boot for 99 euro!! Well worth a look in there if you searching for boots. It's a small shop but they have a decent stock.

Alun

Depending on the weather on the day I often readjust my lacing half way through a walk, although usually it means tightening them up slightly rather than loosening them

Ta me anseo

Oh well. Decided to cut my losses and bring my boots back. The fit just didn't feel right after a few days at home. After some further investigation it would appear that I was deliberately sold a size 9 with an insole because they did not have any 8 1/2 in stock. 8 1/2 in another salomon model felt perfect altough I am reserving judgement for later on. Entirely my own fault and the result of my self induced time pressure which led to me not trying on as much as I shoudl have.

A lesson to all boot buyers I suppose. Try on everything in the store if you have the time and never allow a salesperson convince you of something you are unsure of.

irishlostboy

Ta me anseo wrote: »

A lesson to all boot buyers I suppose. Try on everything in the store if you have the time and never allow a salesperson convince you of something you are unsure of.

man, where did you get these? whoever swapped the insoles was bang out of line to do that. very poor behaviour.
i used to wear salomons. went through about 5 pairs over the past 12 years. every new pair was more runnerish than the last. they usually were quite comfortable though. let us know how you get on with them.

BostonB

I seems have problems with random footware that murder my arches. Wondering has anyone got help from a podiatrist or similar in getting footware like walking boots etc.

Might not be for purists, but taking budget into account went with HiTec VLites reduced from €90 to €70 in Mahers in Cork. Tried them on and they seemed fine - they surely have to be better than the old Nike Airs I used up to now!! As my first pair might give me an idea whether, if I want to go a step up in a year or two, I need something heavier/lighter/more rigid/more flexible etc.

irishlostboy

Deleted User wrote: »

Might not be for purists, but taking budget into account went with HiTec VLites reduced from €90 to €70 in Mahers in Cork. Tried them on and they seemed fine - they surely have to be better than the old Nike Airs I used up to now!! As my first pair might give me an idea whether, if I want to go a step up in a year or two, I need something heavier/lighter/more rigid/more flexible etc.

ya, there is a tendency for some people throwing loads of money at kit without really needing that grade of kit. the hi-tecs are pretty decent. especially for the money.

Carawaystick

remember boots can only be waterproof to the top, stepping in deeper water/bog/muck will get you wet feet no matter how much goretex or plastic or waterproof leather is in the boot.

SomeFool

I use Berghaus Explorers. They're comfortable and indestructable, great boot for hillwalking.

neilled

Regarding some points raised -

Alun, next time you need hanwags go to millets on mary street or outdoor adventure store on liffey street. Both stock the lima and alaska, whilst millet also used to carry the forest which was basically the lima with an alaska style rand. Not sure how much you got yours for but by the time you throw in postage it would seem with most online retailers you'd pay the same as in the above stores. Still if you know your size the uk could be an option looking at the exchange rate...................

Regarding the V-lites and berghaus explorers - both good lightweight starting boots but don't expect them to last if they're being thrashed regularly. Shortest time i seen a pair destroyed was 3 months by some MRT chap. Still both good starter boots, or even useful for casual use........

Alun

neilled wrote: »

Alun, next time you need hanwags go to millets on mary street or outdoor adventure store on liffey street. Both stock the lima and alaska, whilst millet also used to carry the forest which was basically the lima with an alaska style rand. Not sure how much you got yours for but by the time you throw in postage it would seem with most online retailers you'd pay the same as in the above stores. Still if you know your size the uk could be an option looking at the exchange rate...................

I was told towards the end of last year in the Outdoor Adventure Store that the importers of Hanwag boots were pulling out of Ireland due to lack of demand, and that they wouldn't be getting any more stock in when their current stock was exhausted, so I don't quite know what to make of that. I also now see they're advertising them on their website (again/still), not that that necessarily means a thing, really. Tried all the stores on Mary Street and couldn't find any anywhere, although I was sure I'd seen them once in one of the shops along there, could have been Millets, I'm not sure.

As far as price goes, they were €169.95 including p&p from Germany which compares well with the €190 -10% MCI discount (+€3.60 bus fare!) that the OAS are charging. On the UK front, I had a lot of difficulty finding any online retailers who both stocked Hanwag and shipped outside of the UK. In any case, once they have to re-order new stock from anywhere in the euro-zone they'll too get hit in reverse by the poor state of sterling so prices will go back up again, I'm sure.

Thanks for the info though, I'll check with those shops again in 2 years time

neilled

Alun wrote: »

I was told towards the end of last year in the Outdoor Adventure Store that the importers of Hanwag boots were pulling out of Ireland due to lack of demand, and that they wouldn't be getting any more stock in when their current stock was exhausted, so I don't quite know what to make of that. I also now see they're advertising them on their website (again/still), not that that necessarily means a thing, really. Tried all the stores on Mary Street and couldn't find any anywhere, although I was sure I'd seen them once in one of the shops along there, could have been Millets, I'm not sure.

As far as price goes, they were €169.95 including p&p from Germany which compares well with the €190 -10% MCI discount (+€3.60 bus fare!) that the OAS are charging. On the UK front, I had a lot of difficulty finding any online retailers who both stocked Hanwag and shipped outside of the UK. In any case, once they have to re-order new stock from anywhere in the euro-zone they'll too get hit in reverse by the poor state of sterling so prices will go back up again, I'm sure.

Thanks for the info though, I'll check with those shops again in 2 years time

Thats interesting. The current importer of Hanwag are Summit Sports. They are also the distributors of amongst other brands Lowe Alpine who as you may or may not know got bought up by Asolo - an Italian manufacturer of boots a few years ago. I would speculate that rather than lack of demand Summit might be dropping Hanwag quietly and are carrying Asolo as their footwear line instead to keep in with their new Italian overlords and benefit from pricing discounts for bulk quantities.

If Hanwag are being dropped its a pity, to my mind they made better boots than meindl and much better value as well. Still, perhaps someone will fill in the gap or sourcing can be done from the UK.

Gregor43

It's about €155 to order the Hanwag Limas from here:
www.outdoorgb.com/p/hanwag_lima_gtx_boots/

Capel Camping do the Bestard Mitjorn, which seem similar to the Lima. Nice boot, narrow fit.

Does anyone know anywhere in Dublin that does Zamberlan or Asolo? I see them here www.sct.ie but need to try them on in store.

I'm waiting for Outdoor Adventure Store to get more of the Berghaus Explorer in stock to try them on. Man it's a lot of work finding the right boot!!