Toughest boots bar none?

[greensurfingbear]

I'd encourage you to take a look at the Scarpa SL Active boot.
Read some reviews online and if you like the sound of them, try some on - if you've got a local Cotswolds they stock them.
They're heavy and expensive but very tough.
If you can find the older model, the SL M3, they were even tougher I think...

I've got a pair. Quite impressed with them


Orric

 

[woodstock]

I love Muck Boots an all rounder,

 

[dave89]

I have some Dickies work boots to take the dog in theyve lasted about a year up to now, and only cost me £15 off the interweb

 

[British Red]

The very toughest boots are Sicilian. No-one has ever needed a second pair

 

[WULF]

The very toughest boots are Sicilian. No-one has ever needed a second pair

A bit heavy going though Red and take a bit of breaking in

 

[British Red]

A bit heavy going though Red and take a bit of breaking in

Very waterproof though. All users are required to perform their own test!

 

[Joonsy]

Most dog walkers put more miles in a year than hikers ever do.

When Skadi was fitter I used to put in two miles per walk, twice a day on the fells.

Add it up, that's nearly 1500 miles a year.

yes and a good many dog walkers only pay attention to their footwear if they think about taking up 'hiking'

 

[WULF]

Very waterproof though. All users are required to perform their own test!

a two footed hop test is advisable lol

 

[galopede]

Great fan of William Lennon here. Have three pairs now and they'll see me out!

http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/categories/town-country.html

Gareth

 

[ozzy1977]

Clogs and para boot hybrid http://www.clogs.co.uk/recon paras.htm

 

[decorum]

>>> I appear to be extremely hard on footwear, >>><<< start coming apart after 18 months.

A couple of potentially daft questions ... What do you actually mean by coming apart? The stitching, soles, eyelets, the leather cracking, or a combination? And what do you do to keep them in good condition?

If you're very active and living in them 18 months could be seen as good service . In the past I've had boots fall apart after 6 months of hard use. Not because they were cheap / low quality or because I didn't try to look after them ~ they just got used so often and for so long, that they couldn't dry properly and the leather gave out . I learned to have more than one pair of good* (and comfortable!) boots and to rotate them .




* Where 'good' equals a good fit rather than a good name or higher price

 

[big_swede]

Try alternating two pairs, let the shoes rest every other day. Will easily give you 4 times the lifespan IME.

 

[chimpy leon]

A couple of potentially daft questions ... What do you actually mean by coming apart? The stitching, soles, eyelets, the leather cracking, or a combination? And what do you do to keep them in good condition?

If you're very active and living in them 18 months could be seen as good service . In the past I've had boots fall apart after 6 months of hard use. Not because they were cheap / low quality or because I didn't try to look after them ~ they just got used so often and for so long, that they couldn't dry properly and the leather gave out . I learned to have more than one pair of good* (and comfortable!) boots and to rotate them .




* Where 'good' equals a good fit rather than a good name or higher price

The boots in question (Caterpillars) get regularly cleaned and waxed with granger g-wax. I have been alternating them with wellies, which I was in most of this winter because of the constant rain we had. They are starting to crack on the upper part of the soles. The leather remains in good nick though.

I walk in total about 1.5 to 2 hours per day over rough terrain with the dogs. So as someone suggested, a pair of trainers wont cut it.

The only reason for me starting this thread was to see what people would recommend and whether there was a definative pair of boots that could outlast the rest.

 

[chimpy leon]

Great fan of William Lennon here. Have three pairs now and they'll see me out!

http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/categories/town-country.html

Gareth

I forgot about William Lennon. Those zug grain field boots look and sound well up to the job.

 

[ozzy1977]

Altberg defenders are worth a look.

 

[Teepee]

I'll add another recommendation for Scarpa SL's. I have the older style, in the wide fit bought 10 years ago. Still going strong and more waterproof than when I first bought them. I must have done over 2000 miles in them in mountain terrain. The sole is 3/4 worn down but can be replaced.

If I was buying again, for a bomber pair of boots that are good to walk long distances in, it would be the Scarpa SL's or Altbergs.

I regularly rinse the boots inside and out with clean water to fetch the salt and chemicals out of the leather. Every 2 or 3 rinses, they get treated with leather conditioner.

The new SL's have won best in tests in the mags for performance in 3/4 season boots. I'm told though, that the new sole unit can't be replaced.

 

[VanDeRooster]

The "new" SL can be resoled, we use Lancashire Sports Repairs at work.


Sent from my &#63743; iPad Mini RD

 

[Teepee]

The "new" SL can be resoled, we use Lancashire Sports Repairs at work.


Sent from my &#63743; iPad Mini RD

That's great news. Your resoling the new Actives?
I was told by a retailer a couple of weeks ago they had changed the upper sole to PU, so the glue wouldn't stick for long.

 

[VanDeRooster]

I'll ring Scarpa tomorrow and double check. I was chatting to them a few moths ago and it wasn't mentioned. To make a boot that can't be resoled would be very odd.


Sent from my &#63743; iPad Mini RD

 

[Teepee]

I'll ring Scarpa tomorrow and double check. I was chatting to them a few moths ago and it wasn't mentioned. To make a boot that can't be resoled would be very odd.


Sent from my &#63743; iPad Mini RD

Good stuff. Could you let us know what they say please?

That info has stopped me buying a new pair of Actives.