Walking boot advice

Fearless Fish

Fearless Fish

Active member
Hi chaps - I know there's some keen ramblers on here, and quite a few people that love nothing more than technical details so figured I'd take a shot and ask for some advice on walking boots.

Now, the first issue is that due to some chronic foot injuries (combinations of bursitis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, heel spur) I now wear orthotics which makes it difficult to find a boot that fits comfortably. Also they need to not rub on the heel area which is quite tricky since the orthotics raise the heel by at least a centimetre.

Now I've always previously worn simple, cheap Hi-Tech waterproof leather boots and they've been spot on. Waterproof, comfy and fit well. However, the two Hi-Tec boots available to buy at the moment (Eurotrek and Summit) I just can't seem to get away with using my orthotics. I've bought a pair of each online and tested them walking to the shops and back, which is the most I can do if I still want to be able to return them online, but they rub in awkward places no doubt due to using the orthotics.

I'm keen to continue using the full leather boot as the primary reason for wearing the boots is to keep my feet dry in muddy and wet conditions. Especially at this time of year - there's always a bog or marsh to be crossed and Gore-tex boots/shoes never seem to be up to the job for me.

The final issue is the soles. It seems all higher end boots such as Mammut, Berghaus etc. have Vibram soles. The issue I have with Vibram soles is that the last two pairs of walking shoes I've had had Vibram soles, and they were lethal on wet rock. Actually dangerous. Now reading up on Vibram soles it seems there are many different kinds with different properties. So maybe some are hard-wearing but not particularly grippy, but some will be spot on? However, when looking on outdoors shop websites most of the time the description just says "Vibram sole" - so no idea what kind of sole it is, and I'm loathe to get another pair of boots with Vibram soles for obvious reasons. However, on some pairs - such as these Mammuts - it says "Vibram MT Traction". Finally - something I can research to see if it's suitable! But seemingly not, all my Googling yields only adverts to a handful of boots that have this particular sole. Kind of weird that you can't find out what soles are in most of the shoes, and the ones you can, you can't find a single review or piece of details about the sole anyway.

I was originally looking to spend £50-60 on a pair, then it went up to £70-80 when I realised that the cheaper ones weren't suitable, now I'm looking at spending even more if I can just find the right boot! It'd be nice to buy some with free delivery and free returns given how awkward the fitting is for me.

Any ideas? :D
 
I can't wear boots anymore because of my orthosis, but I've worn nothing but Merrells for the last few years. I bought a pair of hiking boots in New Zealand 25 odd years ago that then walked all over the world with me. They do all come with Vibram soles, but (like everyone apparently) I know no details more than that. I've spoken to their customer services department a couple of times over the years and found them nothing bu helpful. I can't guarantee what they'd be like these days though. Good luck. I really miss my walking days.
 
Fearless Fish said:
Hi chaps - I know there's some keen ramblers on here, and quite a few people that love nothing more than technical details so figured I'd take a shot and ask for some advice on walking boots.

Now, the first issue is that due to some chronic foot injuries (combinations of bursitis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, heel spur) I now wear orthotics which makes it difficult to find a boot that fits comfortably. Also they need to not rub on the heel area which is quite tricky since the orthotics raise the heel by at least a centimetre.

Now I've always previously worn simple, cheap Hi-Tech waterproof leather boots and they've been spot on. Waterproof, comfy and fit well. However, the two Hi-Tec boots available to buy at the moment (Eurotrek and Summit) I just can't seem to get away with using my orthotics. I've bought a pair of each online and tested them walking to the shops and back, which is the most I can do if I still want to be able to return them online, but they rub in awkward places no doubt due to using the orthotics.

I'm keen to continue using the full leather boot as the primary reason for wearing the boots is to keep my feet dry in muddy and wet conditions. Especially at this time of year - there's always a bog or marsh to be crossed and Gore-tex boots/shoes never seem to be up to the job for me.

The final issue is the soles. It seems all higher end boots such as Mammut, Berghaus etc. have Vibram soles. The issue I have with Vibram soles is that the last two pairs of walking shoes I've had had Vibram soles, and they were lethal on wet rock. Actually dangerous. Now reading up on Vibram soles it seems there are many different kinds with different properties. So maybe some are hard-wearing but not particularly grippy, but some will be spot on? However, when looking on outdoors shop websites most of the time the description just says "Vibram sole" - so no idea what kind of sole it is, and I'm loathe to get another pair of boots with Vibram soles for obvious reasons. However, on some pairs - such as these Mammuts - it says "Vibram MT Traction". Finally - something I can research to see if it's suitable! But seemingly not, all my Googling yields only adverts to a handful of boots that have this particular sole. Kind of weird that you can't find out what soles are in most of the shoes, and the ones you can, you can't find a single review or piece of details about the sole anyway.

I was originally looking to spend £50-60 on a pair, then it went up to £70-80 when I realised that the cheaper ones weren't suitable, now I'm looking at spending even more if I can just find the right boot! It'd be nice to buy some with free delivery and free returns given how awkward the fitting is for me. Over

Any ideas? :D
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You have to get exact fitting leather boots or they will cause a lot of problems. I have (expensive) Scarpa SL boots that are now nearly 20 years old, have done about half the Munroes in them, and are still like new. The vibram soles are excellent. They have doubled in price since I got them though.

I also use a cheap pair of Karrimor soft upper boots for summer/moorland walking. They are cheap, lose their waterproofing quickly, but are very comfortable for about £35.
 
bear66 said:
You have to get exact fitting leather boots or they will cause a lot of problems. I have (expensive) Scarpa SL boots that are now nearly 20 years old, have done about half the Munroes in them, and are still like new. The vibram soles are excellent. They have doubled in price since I got them though.

I also use a cheap pair of Karrimor soft upper boots for summer/moorland walking. They are cheap, lose their waterproofing quickly, but are very comfortable for about £35.
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Thanks for the reply bear. I've had two pairs of Hi-Tecs and between them they've lasted 10 years which I think is brilliant considering they cost £40-45 each. The current pair are still watertight too but are still in need of replacing. But like you say, I wonder if the rigidity of the leather might have contributed somewhat to my issues in the first place? Though you do need a rigid boot when climbing the fells.

What would be the equivalent of your Scarpa SL boots nowadays?
 
Oh and for summer/moorland walking I'm going to wear a light pair of trail shoes - possibly combined with gaiters when needed - as shoes are easier on my injuries than boots.
 
Fearless Fish said:
Thanks for the reply bear. I've had two pairs of Hi-Tecs and between them they've lasted 10 years which I think is brilliant considering they cost £40-45 each. The current pair are still watertight too but are still in need of replacing. But like you say, I wonder if the rigidity of the leather might have contributed somewhat to my issues in the first place? Though you do need a rigid boot when climbing the fells.

What would be the equivalent of your Scarpa SL boots nowadays?
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They still exist but, just checking, £206 is the cheapest price (£260 full price). They are relatively supple for a mountain boot but can also take a crampon.
 
This is a difficult one to answer well, but I'll have a go!

This is quite a good link

Best walking boots reviewed by experts in 2023 | Countryfile.com

From easy strolls to long-distance hikes, here BBC Countryfile Magazine's team of experts test seven of the best walking boots.
www.countryfile.com

The first thing to say is don't buy online unless you've actually tried them on in a shop. That might sound obvious but many people take a punt and are left dissatisfied, I have been one of those in the past

I have exclusively worn merrell boots for years as they are lightweight, very waterproof and very comfy. They have vibram soles which I like. I've been well in up to my knees plenty of times this year with no water ingress, I do wear decent gaiters as well though. I've done some pretty decent hikes in them in all weathers: helvellyn, skiddaw, sca fell, simonside, etc, so some moderate ones, not just flat and dry

I have the Norsehund mid gore-tex which I don't think they do anymore, but these are the closest on their website

www.merrell.com

Moab 2 Mid GORE-TEX®

Official Merrell Site - Shop mens Merrell Moab 2 Mid GORE-TEX hiking boots, made with GORE-TEX waterproof technology, supportive footbed, & Vibram traction
www.merrell.com www.merrell.com

If you prefer full leather boots then I have to recommend Altbergs on the advice of my hiking pal, he swears by them and wears nothing else (on his feet, we're not naturist hikers!). They do bespoke fittings but these are not cheap, however with good care they will last a lifetime and you send them to be resoled when necessary. If not fully bespoke they also do 5 different width fittings and half sizes. I would recommend popping down to their shop in Richmond, they are great and will really give you good advice, but like I say, not cheap. The old adage of if you buy cheap, you buy twice is never more relevant than with walking boots

Boots | Alt-Berg

www.altberg.co.uk

I suppose it really boils down to the terrain you'll be walking on and how much you want to spend really. If you're doing serious stuff requiring crampons you'll need B1, B2 or B3 boots so they are compatible with C1, C2 or C3 crampons. Standard boots are B0 and not crampon compatible
 
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I've got some Merrel Eries and they are extremely comfy and waterproof. The mesh parts are fairly easy to clean too.
Merrel seem true to size for me as well, but you must try walking boots on for sure.
 
I've had two pairs of Salomen boots - currently Salomen Quest GTX after the 10 yo pair had worn a bit and one had a leak through a slash sustained climbing over a wall with a spike hidden on the far side - I dread to think what might have happened had I not had decent footwear on at the time.

I found I needed a half size bigger for a decent walking sock with Salomen.
 
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Fearless Fish said:
Hi chaps - I know there's some keen ramblers on here, and quite a few people that love nothing more than technical details so figured I'd take a shot and ask for some advice on walking boots.

Now, the first issue is that due to some chronic foot injuries (combinations of bursitis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, heel spur) I now wear orthotics which makes it difficult to find a boot that fits comfortably. Also they need to not rub on the heel area which is quite tricky since the orthotics raise the heel by at least a centimetre.

Now I've always previously worn simple, cheap Hi-Tech waterproof leather boots and they've been spot on. Waterproof, comfy and fit well. However, the two Hi-Tec boots available to buy at the moment (Eurotrek and Summit) I just can't seem to get away with using my orthotics. I've bought a pair of each online and tested them walking to the shops and back, which is the most I can do if I still want to be able to return them online, but they rub in awkward places no doubt due to using the orthotics.

I'm keen to continue using the full leather boot as the primary reason for wearing the boots is to keep my feet dry in muddy and wet conditions. Especially at this time of year - there's always a bog or marsh to be crossed and Gore-tex boots/shoes never seem to be up to the job for me.

The final issue is the soles. It seems all higher end boots such as Mammut, Berghaus etc. have Vibram soles. The issue I have with Vibram soles is that the last two pairs of walking shoes I've had had Vibram soles, and they were lethal on wet rock. Actually dangerous. Now reading up on Vibram soles it seems there are many different kinds with different properties. So maybe some are hard-wearing but not particularly grippy, but some will be spot on? However, when looking on outdoors shop websites most of the time the description just says "Vibram sole" - so no idea what kind of sole it is, and I'm loathe to get another pair of boots with Vibram soles for obvious reasons. However, on some pairs - such as these Mammuts - it says "Vibram MT Traction". Finally - something I can research to see if it's suitable! But seemingly not, all my Googling yields only adverts to a handful of boots that have this particular sole. Kind of weird that you can't find out what soles are in most of the shoes, and the ones you can, you can't find a single review or piece of details about the sole anyway.

I was originally looking to spend £50-60 on a pair, then it went up to £70-80 when I realised that the cheaper ones weren't suitable, now I'm looking at spending even more if I can just find the right boot! It'd be nice to buy some with free delivery and free returns given how awkward the fitting is for me.

Any ideas? :D
Click to expand...
I've ordered a pair of Altberg boots from their factory in Richmond. They measure you up for proper fitting, but they're not cheap £170+

Boots | Alt-Berg

www.altberg.co.uk

However they're taking a long time due to large back orders, covid shut downs and now Christmas so I had to get a pair of "cheap" boots to tide me over as my others were shot.

Ended up getting these which have been absolutely brilliant. I looked at the HiTech ones you mentioned but these had better reviews for the same price range. I went up a size which were spot on with hiking socks.
I won't get my Altberg boots until January now, but if I'd had these before splashing out £200 for the Altberg boots I don't think I would have bothered.



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Totally agree with the comments on here re trying them on before buying. The only boots I've ever bought off the internet were a replacement pair for boots I had already so I knew they would be OK. My shoe size is 8 but the boots I wear are 9.5 (nowt worse than toe strike). That said I have some Dr. Vasili orthotics that I have fitted on top of the normal insole which I guess acts as volume adjustment.
Plus I would always go with Goretex. To my shame I don't really look after boots nowadays but provided the GTX lining is intact they remain water proof. Depending where you walk most I'd stick with leather, I have had Cordura (fabric) boots in the past but I do a lot of 'off piste' walking on the NYM and heather, particularly burnt swiddens, plays havoc with them.
 
Artie Fufkin said:
If you prefer full leather boots then I have to recommend Altbergs on the advice of my hiking pal, he swears by them and wears nothing else (on his feet, we're not naturist hikers!). They do bespoke fittings but these are not cheap, however with good care they will last a lifetime and you send them to be resoled when necessary. If not fully bespoke they also do 5 different width fittings and half sizes. I would recommend popping down to their shop in Richmond, they are great and will really give you good advice, but like I say, not cheap. The old adage of if you buy cheap, you buy twice is never more relevant than with walking boots
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Great minds (y)

Actually, it was a tongue in cheek saying wouldn't have splashed out on Altbergs if I'd had my others sooner. They are really excellent boots for the price but Altbergs are the dogs nads.
 
Konrad_the_Barbarian said:
Great minds (y)

Actually, it was a tongue in cheek saying wouldn't have splashed out on Altbergs if I'd had my others sooner. They are really excellent boots for the price but Altbergs are the dogs nads.
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As I say it's my pal who recommends them so highly, but quite a few members of our hiking group swear by them too.

Personally, I find them a touch heavy, I prefer a lighter boot but that comes with compromises. My merrells are still waterproof after 6 years, but eventually that will deteriorate and then I'll have to spend another £130 or so to replace if like for like, whereas a pair of £200 altbergs will last forever, plus some additional cost for resoling, but that will be once every 8-10 years or so at a guess

He's actually waiting to have them done currently, but as you say, there's a back log at present. We did the Breamish valley Hillfort trail a couple of weeks ago and on the very steep decent, he totally slipped down and ended up on his backside so vouched to buy a pair of interim boots until he gets his Altbergs done

It was pay back for simonside 2 weeks before that when he stepped in a 2 inch deep puddle and was fine, I put my foot in his steps and went in with my right leg up to my knee. Gaiters saved the day though and thankfully didn't get wet, but the boot needed a good clean! So we're 1-1 so far on mishaps 😁
 
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Thanks for the advice chaps. I've been buying online but only places with free delivery and free returns so I can obviously return them without loss if I find they're not suitable during my walk to the shops! However, that has limited me to Go-Outdoors and Millets!

Any further advice on Vibram soles? Like I said, I've had two pairs of Vibram walking shoes and they were both lethal on wet rock. I've been unable to find out which Vibram soles might be suitable for me (since some must be as they get as many glowing reviews as they do bad!)

Going to a specialist place like you've recommended in Richmond might be an idea - though not sure when I'll be able to do that with current conditions :mad: I'll at least be able to speak to some experts and get some advice re: my orthotics too. Speaking of which, has anyone suffered injuries like mine (had issues for 3.5 years now and unlikely to fully heal) and had to use orthotics? I'm guessing there might be a better custom-made orthotic that would be more suitable for hiking and have less impact on fitting boots too.
 
Konrad_the_Barbarian said:
I've ordered a pair of Altberg boots from their factory in Richmond. They measure you up for proper fitting, but they're not cheap £170+

Boots | Alt-Berg

www.altberg.co.uk

However they're taking a long time due to large back orders, covid shut downs and now Christmas so I had to get a pair of "cheap" boots to tide me over as my others were shot.

Ended up getting these which have been absolutely brilliant. I looked at the HiTech ones you mentioned but these had better reviews for the same price range. I went up a size which were spot on with hiking socks.
I won't get my Altberg boots until January now, but if I'd had these before splashing out £200 for the Altberg boots I don't think I would have bothered.



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Hello Konrad.
Those Alt-berg boots are excellent. Bought a pair two years ago and not looked back. Before that I had a pair of German Ex-Para boots which lasted over ten years. (y)
 
Fearless Fish said:
Thanks for the advice chaps. I've been buying online but only places with free delivery and free returns so I can obviously return them without loss if I find they're not suitable during my walk to the shops! However, that has limited me to Go-Outdoors and Millets!

Any further advice on Vibram soles? Like I said, I've had two pairs of Vibram walking shoes and they were both lethal on wet rock. I've been unable to find out which Vibram soles might be suitable for me (since some must be as they get as many glowing reviews as they do bad!)

Going to a specialist place like you've recommended in Richmond might be an idea - though not sure when I'll be able to do that with current conditions :mad: I'll at least be able to speak to some experts and get some advice re: my orthotics too. Speaking of which, has anyone suffered injuries like mine (had issues for 3.5 years now and unlikely to fully heal) and had to use orthotics? I'm guessing there might be a better custom-made orthotic that would be more suitable for hiking and have less impact on fitting boots too.
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I have 3 pairs of merrell shoes with vibram soles and yes, they are poor in the wet, I only use them as day to day shoes. However the boots as linked above have the vibram traction soles and I've not had many slips on wet rock, at least no more than I would expect on wet rock.

Haven't got the foggiest idea what the real difference between the soles are from a technical point of view, but vibram traction seem fine. Plus, it seems as you have discovered yourself, many boots on the market have this type of sole
 
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Fearless Fish said:
Going to a specialist place like you've recommended in Richmond might be an idea - though not sure when I'll be able to do that with current conditions
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Give them a call and see if you can book a slot. The main problem will be if you need to have some custom made. I ordered mine just before the November lockdown, but they couldn't guarantee when I'd get them. Anyway they called me last week to say they would not be ready until mid January. They were supposed to be for Christmas from the missus :LOL:
 
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