Boots to walk in?

Got some Grisport Fuse on the recommendation of a local independent bootmonger. They sell online too,

also needing a wide boot, I bought 'Brasher' ones, You do need to try them on. Find a good walking supplies shop.

I buy the cheap and cheerful Karrimor walking boots from Sports Direct (I know, I know...) The last ones I bought cost £32.99 and I always buy the ones that include a fake-Gortex waterproof barrier inside. I reckon on buying the equivalent of one pair a year and don't figure that's a bad price to cover all my everyday use and more serious walking (though nowadays, with my knees in the condition they are, I don't do so much of the latter). They really suit my feet which is why I wear them whenever I can.

I say "equivalent" because I have three pairs. One pair is still in the box, one pair is almost completely knackered and only good for taking the dog over the fields and one pair is for everyday use. When I chuck the knackered pair in the bin I demote the everyday pair to dogwalking and the new pair to everyday. And so on.

Nick

Have you tried half-height wellies? Lidl had them on offer once and I prefer them for muddy rambling as they don't rub my legs at the top. Best if they're a big enough size to wear thick walking socks to cushion the feet and absorb sweat.

Workboots tend to have safety features like protected toecaps and strong soles. You can walk in them, and they can be good for wearing all day all week, but they aren't walking boots.

I used to use leather walking boots but I find the fabric trainer type walking boots to be better now. Needn't be expensive. I don't know if it makes much difference where you get them from or what brand but this type of thing, either shoes or ankle boots:

I don't know what you mean by fairly wide? Do you need wide fittings, or are you just looking for standard boots 'that come up a bit wide'?

Altberg make boots in genuinely wide fittings. Also, New Balance do trainers plus a small selection of boots in wide fittings. Neither is cheap, but both are well made and will last a long time.

Consider some Aldidl work boots. I find these very comfortable (I have wide feet and a bunion to accommodate) to wear all day in the workshop and out walking for a couple of miles - not needed to try further. Good grippy sole and steel plate and toecap.

They are usually in the middle aisle a couple of times a year and from memory are in the £15-20 range so not a great deal lost if they done suit you.

You *don't* want rigger boots or any sort of safety boots IMHO. As you say you do not need the toecap, it is extra weight and I always think you lose a bit of flexibility in the sole.

I'm a big fan of Hoggs (traditional leather) boots as used to be sold by Countrywide, some of the branches are now Mole Valley Farmers, but I havn't checked their stock. Not particularly expensive, very well made and comfortable in my experience. These days the fabric/gore-tex boots are almost as durable and waterproof, and a bit lighter (but more expensive). There are also plenty of cheaper versions in outdoor shops, since you are not walking all day they don't need to be so waterproof. You might find you need a couple of pairs if you walk in very wet and muddy conditions so that you can alternate. On balance I would try Hoggs first, this is what I still use although I don't to the distances any more.

My current ones are similar to these. I like the hook-over eyelets at the top.

Current issue British Army boots from eBay or your local surplus store. They come in three widths, are dead comfy and last for years. I used to wear the old style black ones, which were also really comfy but they succumbed to the infamous crumbly sole disease. The "new" style ones I have now just go on and on - and I have another couple of pairs still unworn. Of course these conceivably could suffer from a long-term defect that hasn't yet been uncovered, so far the worst is that they'll turn pink if you use the wrong sort of polish. :-) So use a colourless leather dressing suitable for breathable membranes. I only did mine a couple of times, to soften the leather when new.

I wear 'walking shoes' (google that phrase). Usually I get Brasher. I make sure the ones I buy are all leather except for the soles. Expect to pay £60 to £90. I bought some of these last week.

Bill

PS don't get work boots.

But I buy £35 cheap walking shoes/trainers from Millets.

They are a bit stiff and hard for a week or so but once they adapt to the shape of your foot they are ok and the heels seem to wear more evenly than thex £100+ nonsense. I have destroyed 'walking shoes' in as little as 4 months before the heels start wearing at an angle (inwards) then the rate of wear just accelerates.

Don't buy anything made by Clarks. Utter junk.

Caravan types like them to walk to the shower block in the morning when there is dew on the grass. Not sure where you can buy sensible proced ones, since a pair of cheap Dunlop green wellies is only about £15 and a Stanley knife soon shortens them.

Why not ?. They are VAT free if the height from the ground to the top is at least 7 inches (or something like that, and they are safety boots).

I can work all day in good safety boots or even in rigger boots but I would *not* want to walk any distance in them. I sometimes end up walking a few km in a day to and from car parks or between different parts of a site and I'm uncomfortable at the end of it. (Currently using nice soft suede Amblers from the late lamented Countrywide, they look rather like slightly chunky trainers). I think it is the fact that the flex doesn't extend to the toe. Some of them have steel insoles which also adds to the stiffness.

I walk in safety shoes with a steel toe cap and anti-nail plate in the sole and find them quite comfortable. I have wide feet and normally take a size 9 wide fitting[1] a shoe size and found a size 10 in safety shoes with a thicker "working" socks are ideal. I not gone for anything fancy. Mine a just a standard lace up costing under £20.and similar to

The one thing that I've had problems with are the laces (including replacement laces) which don't appear strong enough and soon fail/break. I now make my own laces from a thicker non stretching cord (tent guy rope type cord).

Once cut to length I put a lighted match to the end to melt/seal the end and roll still soft ends in my gloved fingers to make them thin enough for the lace holes. I also coat the laces in a leather protection grease (dubbin) which helps them stop coming undone.

In message snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com, T i m snipped-for-privacy@spaced.me.uk> writes

I have the same requirement, and use a pair of North West Teslin boots which have lasted well (9 years) and still going strong, if a little tatty now.

They are called hiking boots rather than serious walking boots, and are used daily for more than half the year. Very comfortable, waterproof and, perhaps most importantly, warm - I never come home with cold feet, and that includes snowy days like today (Aberdeenshire). I'm no mountaineer, so usage is pavement, fields, riverbank, park, golf course and minor hills. Never suffered cold or wet feet however long/wet the grass, or deep the snow.

My feet are a fairly wide size 11, and I regard these boots as fifty quid well spent.

Safety boots are hopeless for walking. The toe cap gives you blisters and the steel plate in the sole stops it bending well and wears out the sole much quicker.