Ive had a couple pairs of walking boots in the past and none of them have survived more than 6-8 3 day hikes and I’m sick of replacing them. What are some points to look for in good walking boots, where should I look to buy them from in the UK, how much should I look to be spending as a rough guide?
They’re generally good but you have to be selective if longevity and quality is a priority. They have a plant in the US and one in China. If you get a model built in China it’s going to be noticably lower quality than the American ones. I bought my redwings years ago so I don’t remember how to tell which models come from which country
You never go wrong with Hanwag pure leather boots. They are properly stiched and are designed to have theirs soles changed when woren down. When the leather is well taken care of they are completely waterproof and will actually last you a lifetime.
Damn i just realized that they now also produce goretex shoes. AWOID GORETEX BY ALL COST goretex is essentially a scam and it doesn’t work or last. It’s a terrible terrible product. My girlfriend and I have had collectively over 10 different pairs of shoes with goretex and none of them were waterproof. Even just wet grass made all of them soaked.
I wear a logger style boot with a thick leather upper and replacable sole. My first pair lasted 20 years and would have lasted longer but I got sloppy with caring for them after a series of very wet work days. The leather upper split right where my motorcycle clutch lever would hit and the moisture finished the job.
The secret to BIFL for leather is preventative maintenance. Proper waterproofing and cleaning aren’t optional. I keep a shoe brush near my closet and take care to knock off the daily dust before putting them away.
Buying a hard leather work boot is like entering a marriage. They take forever to break in but a properly cared for broken-in pair is worth the trouble.
I’d go to a renowned outdoor store, let them take a peek at you feet and have them recommend a model/make. If you want BIFL make sure the soles are replaceable. I love my leather+goretex memoryfoam Meindls
What would you class as “renowned” because I’ve tried trespass and go-outdoors but neither one have been very much help for me. Perhaps it was lack of knowledge on either mine or the clerks part but they’ve never seemed to be too sure of what they’re selling.
What you’re saying about replaceable soles is absolutely one of the most common (and probably best) pieces of advice I’ve recieved here and will absolutely make sure I do pick up something repairable in that aspect! Thanks for your input on that!
I’m not based in the UK, so I don’t know :( . Locally, bigger ‘outdoor’ stores have a clerk who is ‘the shoe guy/gal’, they can get your feet scanned and pick a shoe model that is right for your feet shape. Bever Outdoor // Outdoor XL would be options here.
My Zamberlan leather boots are going strong after about 10 years. Wouldn’t recommend anything but leather for walking in the peak district. Gore tex will let water in.
I have actual BIFL boots, but for hiking I settled on a pair of Danner 8" TFX GTX back in 2014. They still get plenty of use after years of backcountry expeditions.
I hear good things about Danner, but i absolutely hate them. I have had 3 pairs. First pair was decent, but every step I took they squeaked. Second pair… yup squeaky. Third pair not only squeaks, but the sizing seems off and they hurt my feet (after walking in them for three days my feet hurt for about two weeks after). Dinner’s solution was to buy new insoles for my brand new boots or get their leather conditioner for old leather. They kept completely ignoring that the boots were brand new and any time I mentioned their money back guarantee they ignored it.
I just recently went on a search for the perfect BIFL Barefoot-style hiking boot, as I find those to be the most comfortable. The most promising boot was the Jim Green Barefoot Ranger. The quality was excellent, and due to it having entirely stich-down construction, it would be trivial for a cobbler to replace the sole. Unfortunately my feet are very wide, so even with the Barefoot version having a wider than normal design, it was ultimately uncomfortable, and I had to send them back.
For people with normal feet, though, It would be a great BIFL hiking/walking boot if you like the zero-drop barefoot style, as would Jim Green’s non-barefoot boots. They tend to have the best price for the quality of materials as well.
There are many more options available in normal, non-barefoot styles of boot. As others have said, look for stitch-down or goodyear welt construction, and if well cared for, the leather parts of the boot should last a decade or more.
Thanks for mentioning this. I’ve had problems with boots because I seem to need zero drop. Otherwise I get pains in my arches after I’ve worn them.
I’ve settled on Lem’s, and while they’re great. The super wide toe box might be worth looking at for you. I’ve been really impressed with how durable they are, and they have a waterproof goretex lining, but the sole isn’t stitch down. Whenever the sole wears out I’ll probably try the Jim greens, because of the stitch down sole.
Lem’s were on my shortlist to try, but I was able to snag some Vivobarefoot FG Tracker’s off ebay for an amazing price, and I’ve been super happy with them.
I did read of some Lem’s owners successfully resoling they’re boulder boots. Apparently it’s possible to sand down the soft outer sole flat, and then glue on a new sole to that. Might be worth asking a local cobbler about before buying a new pair when yours are getting on in years ^^
was scrolling down to see if anybody had mentioned them yet, but yeah when they have stock they seem to really know their stuff when it comes to footwear. the youtube channel is very informative
Will definitely be checking them out! One thing for sure is I want to be more informed when making my choice this time around. Anywhere I can learn more is a huge bonus!
I don’t backpack just casual hiking occasionally, hunting, walking around while four wheeling.
I currently have a pair of Asolo boots. They’re great for my narrow foot and arch support is good. They have held up quite well for occasional hikes over the past … 15+ years?
Some of their boots can be resoled. At least one of their models has leather uppers. I imagine most are waterproof.
I feel like hiking boots follow the “get what you pay for” heuristic for the most part.
Hopefully others have more recent knowledge and better advice than me, though.
I’ve had at least one trespass, a couple of karrimore, and I think I’ve had one or two smaller brands but I can’t remember what they were off the top of my head.
I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than £75 a pop on any pair of boots I’ve owned so perhaps I’ve had it coming for a while!
I’ll be sure to check them out so I appreciate the recommendation!
I have no specific recommendations for brands but you’ll want to make sure to get a pair of boots with a goodyear welt. They’re easy to re-sole. I don’t care for buying animal products but I’m not sure that you could avoid buying leather if longevity and repairability is one of your top priorities. I’d be more than happy to be proven wrong on that last bit
For a boot to be long lasting, it has to be repairable, e.g. a Goodyear or storm welt or stitch down. Glued together shoes will never be BIFL because the soles are a wear item, particularly for hiking, because the rubber is often softer to better grip trails, but that trades off for less durability.
Anything with foam in it is a no-go because foam breaks down over time. For waterproofing, there’s a few different types. Rubberized boots are truly waterproof, and fairly durable, but they don’t breath at all, so you probably don’t want that for hiking. Performance waterproof boots will often have a gortex lining, so the leather can get wet, but that water doesn’t penetrate. That works really well, but the membranes break down over time, so they aren’t perfect. The last option is if the leather itself is waterproofed. This also makes it much less breathable, but it is more durable, and you can “repair” it by making sure to keep up with conditioners, etc.
I think if I were in your place, I’d look for leather boots with a storm welt, and then I’d wax all around the base and over the toe area. That will get those areas mostly waterproof, but you could leave the top of the upper unwaxed so it stays breathable. You’d have that area covered by your pants, or ideally gaiters, so water can’t get in.
Add comment