Hiking boot recomendations

sann

Hi Folks. Just wondering if any of the more experienced hikers can recomend a boot. (Male). Climbed Carrauntoohil yesterday and really enjoyed it so planning on making it a regular thing. Parts of the mountain were wet and some snow at the top and ended up fairly wet in the feet. Would be leaning towards a leather boot. Any suggestions appreciated.

esdras

Check the Hi Tech boots on amazon, they are not dear with normally with great quality. I particularly dont like leather boots but this is very personal. Find the synthetic ones have better waterproofness and much more comfort.

kirk buttercup

I have a pair of Berghaus hiking boots I have them years and they are still in good nick. not the cheapest but last along time ( I don't do serious hiking I do a 5km - ish walk with the kids every weekend in Wicklow )

Halloween Jack

sann wrote: »

Hi Folks. Just wondering if any of the more experienced hikers can recomend a boot. (Male). Climbed Carrauntoohil yesterday and really enjoyed it so planning on making it a regular thing. Parts of the mountain were wet and some snow at the top and ended up fairly wet in the feet. Would be leaning towards a leather boot. Any suggestions appreciated.

You need to go to one or more specialist outdoor stores and try as many different boots as you can. Some brands will suit your feet, others won’t, depending on your foot shape etc.

Some general pointers though, you should be looking at a boot with a waterproof lining, of which goretex (gtx) is the industry standard. This will ensure your feet stay dry once you care for the boot correctly. I would also pick up whatever care products (wax, waterproofer) the store recommend and make sure they show you how to look after the boots. Also, make sure and buy proper hiking socks and make sure you are wearing a hiking sock while trying the boots on (the store should provide one).

Finally, be prepared to spend a few bob. They aren’t cheap but if you fit it right and look after it, a good boot will provide years of walking.

If you have any queries about brands the shop have suggested etc, by all means ask on here for more advice. Across the forum there is plenty of experience of most brands of boot
Happy hunting;)

adocholiday

I bought a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX boots for my hiking trip to Peru and they were superb. Stood up to everything thrown at them - 80km of Andes rain, snow, deep running water & rough terrain; as well as the mud & swamp of the Amazon.

My feet were comfortable, dry and blister free through the whole thing. I'd highly recommend them. A little expensive but worth it I think.

I wouldn't recommend Hi-Tec as the poster above (sorry!), they're really sub-par. When it comes to hiking boots, most of the time you get what you pay for within reason. Stick to dedicated brands like Lowa, Berghuas, Salomon and Scarpa and you can't really go wrong. Also make sure you go to an outdoor's store to get properly fitted. There are many different fits and you want to ensure you get the best for your feet. Happy hiking!

esdras

adocholiday wrote: »

I bought a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX boots for my hiking trip to Peru and they were superb. Stood up to everything thrown at them - 80km of Andes rain, snow, deep running water & rough terrain; as well as the mud & swamp of the Amazon.

My feet were comfortable, dry and blister free through the whole thing. I'd highly recommend them. A little expensive but worth it I think.

I wouldn't recommend Hi-Tec as the poster above (sorry!), they're really sub-par. When it comes to hiking boots, most of the time you get what you pay for within reason. Stick to dedicated brands like Lowa, Berghuas, Salomon and Scarpa and you can't really go wrong. Also make sure you go to an outdoor's store to get properly fitted. There are many different fits and you want to ensure you get the best for your feet. Happy hiking!

I have my current Hi Tech since 2011 and its my second one, its time for a replacement anyway, the linen is gone.
They may not be as good as the 1st tier boots but sometimes it cost 1/3 of the price.
PS. I went on several expeditions to the Arctic with mu Hi Tech and it was great really. A friend was using a leather CAT once and got his feet destroyed...
Trying a few ones before buying is a good call but if the price is substantially different than buying online I would buy on amazon without problems, you can send the item back at no cost and get a full refund in no time.

Anyway, happy hunting :-)

sann

Thanks to everyone for all their helpful suggestions. Really wanted to buy some thing from a bricks and mortar shop so hit the road today and tried a good few different types in a few specialist shops. One thing noticable across all shops was the very low stocks on most brands. I presume there have been no deliverys since before xmas. Tried all the big brands but in the finish i went for a Scarpa boot. No other boot i tried came close for comfort. Unfortunatly i would say they were the only boot that was not reduced in the sale and were not cheap but i am very happy with my purchase. Pair of merino socks that i bought probably helped with the comfort rating as well. Thanks again.

mattser

My Meindl cost €200 about 5 years ago. Great boots.

I'm curious how people can buy online. I could spend a couple of hours in the shop making sure of size, comfort, etc etc.

Do people do that in the shop, and then go home and buy online ?

delly

mattser wrote: »

My Meindl cost €200 about 5 years ago. Great boots.

I'm curious how people can buy online. I could spend a couple of hours in the shop making sure of size, comfort, etc etc.

Do people do that in the shop, and then go home and buy online ?

In my case, find a pair and stick with it. I've had the same Karrimor boots for the last 5 years, and when I say the same, I mean I buy the same pair each year, so can buy online easily. I use them most days, not just for walking/hiking, so they get well worn. Cheap enough, but I wouldn't go on serious hikes, so may not have put them beyond their limit yet.

https://ie.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-mount-mid-mens-walking-boots-182105?colcode=18210503&pr=1

Losty Dublin

adocholiday wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend Hi-Tec as the poster above (sorry!), they're really sub-par. When it comes to hiking boots, most of the time you get what you pay for within reason. Stick to dedicated brands like Lowa, Berghuas, Salomon and Scarpa and you can't really go wrong.

To be fair Hi Tec boots have had some fantastic reviews from many of the hiking and walking magazines, better even than boots from some of the more revered rival brands. I won't write them off straight away

DonJose

Have a look at this website, they review all types of gear.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/shoes-and-boots/best-hiking-boots

Masala

DonJose wrote: »

Have a look at this website, they review all types of gear.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/shoes-and-boots/best-hiking-boots

Meindl not even mentioned..... strange!

Earlsie

I'm also looking for my first pair of hiking boots and finding it hard to decide on type/ style etc. I generally trail run but want to get out in the mountains and slow things down.

Challenges like ART O Neill Challenge / Killarney 3 Peaks Challenge would be the goal I guess for me.

So I reviewed boots online and based on reviews / feedback my initial preference was the Salomon 4D GTX. I dropped into The Great Outdoors yesterday to try on some boots but it was jammers plus the range of boots have me second guessing my choice. For quicker walkers who like to scramble etc do you go with lighter more flexible boot, I have never considered a leather boot to be honest.

Cheers
Earlsie

Gonzovision

Earlsie wrote: »

So I reviewed boots online and based on reviews / feedback my initial preference was the Salomon 4D GTX. I dropped into The Great Outdoors yesterday to try on some boots but it was jammers plus the range of boots have me second guessing my choice. For quicker walkers who like to scramble etc do you go with lighter more flexible boot, I have never considered a leather boot to be honest.

Cheers
Earlsie

I have a pair of the Salomon Quest 4D 2GTX for about 6 months and have done around 100km in them. A very comfortable boot for walking and scrambling. Waterproofing has been very reliable so far. The boot themselves are nice and light and required little or no break in.... Now I did have an issue with the left boot, where the rubber around toe started to peel back in October. This was more of a cosmetic defect, but I wasn't happy, so swapped them in the store I bought them. I've checked online and there does seem to be a small percentage of people that have hit this issue.

I have a pair of Scarpas which I use for winter, so the new Salomons haven't been out too often since. Overall I'd recommend them, but durability needs to be kept in mind.

mattser

Masala wrote: »

Meindl not even mentioned..... strange!

Agreed. Best boot I've ever had.

hmmm

Meindl Vakuums are very popular Winter boots amongst the "serious" walkers in our club, but a boot is a very personal decision - recommendations from other people can count for very little. Getting to a specialist store is the best advice.

Personally I have a leather Winter boot which can be used with crampons at a push, and a lighter fabric Summer boot which I'd also use abroad.

Halloween Jack

hmmm wrote: »

Meindl Vakuums are very popular Winter boots amongst the "serious" walkers in our club, but a boot is a very personal decision - recommendations from other people can count for very little. Getting to a specialist store is the best advice.

Personally I have a leather Winter boot which can be used with crampons at a push, and a lighter fabric Summer boot which I'd also use abroad.

I have the vakuums, find them great in pretty much all conditions, have used 4 seasons here, winter walking in Scotland and summer walking in the alps.

I tried the salomon quest when I bought the vakuums and they felt great also, but I have only room for one boot so felt the vakuum was more versatile.

My girlfriend wears the salomons (and indeed just bought a second pair after leaving a single boot behind in the airport) and swears by them, they are pretty much fine in all but the very worst of winter weather here.

But as you state, no substitute for getting in to a store and trying as many as you can