Breathless Hikers

Walking boots.  What can I say about them really.  It’s an important piece of a walkers kit, probably the most important as well.  They can make or break a walk because it doesn’t matter how good the scenery is, if you have blisters and sore feet, that walk is going to suck!

I’ve been going through a pair of walking boots every 6 months.  And I’ve been paying around the £150 price mark, so not cheap but not top of the line either (go outdoors live me).  Last week my boots rubbed my feet and I’m still not recovered. I would normally add a photo here but not sure anybody would really want a feet pic.  When I got home it had transpired that I’d worn the inside liner of the boot out and it was a piece of something hard that had hurt my heel.  Time for more boots.  So I thought it was time I’d start to review my boots. 

Brasher country walker.

These boots started off very comfortable for me.  They are a suede type upper and I just slapped on wax to keep them waterproofed.  I never had a problem with the boots leaking.  These lasted me 6 months before I wore out the inner liner.  In that 6 months though I had walked up about 22 small Dales mountains, but I still expected them to last a little longer. 

Louise also bought a pair of these boots.  She never got on with them though and kept getting blisters. 

Hi tec summit waterproof shoe.

These boots were very comfortable and didn’t need breaking in.  The first time I wore them I walked right up a mountain and had no bother.  They are D of E recommended kit but they are heavy as hell.  Never had a problem with wet feet.  They lasted me 6 months before the liner on the inside wore out. 

I think this is also the boot that Louise is wearing now.

Merrell west rim gore Tex boots.

Zara wore these for 2-3 months.  The left boot had some serious problems and split.  They ended up being returned as they were very poor quality.  I don’t think I’d buy Merrell again.  It may have just been bad luck though as the right boot was ok.

Berghaus hill walker 2

Zara likes these boots.  They are lightweight and her feet have never got wet.  She is still wearing them so I’ll update the post when she needs new ones.

Meindl Meran GTX

So with me going through boots so quickly I figured I had 2 options.  Go get some boots properly fitted and of top quality or just buy cheap ones knowing they’d be disposed of every few months.

I went with the option of getting a decent pair properly fitted.  I had my size and width checked out.  Turns out I needed a wide fitting toe box.  I also have high arches and I have good alignment and not over pronating when walking.  These were the best fitting boots in the shop for my needs.  Not cheap but if they last a year then I’ll have been in no worse situation than buying my previous pairs of boots.  I am hopeful though that these boots will be the answer to my boot problems.  I will keep you posted.

So that’s a year’s worth of boots for me and Zara.  I’ll ask Rachel and Louise to add to the post.  Maybe we’ll end up with reviews on all boots eventually?