boots, glorious boots!

[Great Pebble]

I managed to put paid to a pair in a weekend and have seen several other pairs go the same way, to the point that due to injuries resulting a (not so) fine body of men of my aquaintance were forbidden to wear them while they were out playing.

That said, I've had quite a few pairs down the years of various marks as they're decent for knocking about town in, I never wear shoes, ever.
Never had a pair for any more than about 8 months before they were totalled.
Generally it's the soles that give, resulting in a necessary binning but the linings are usually on their way out within a couple of weeks.

You're either lucky, or have remarkably unsweaty feet

 

[Ranger Bob]

You're either lucky, or have remarkably unsweaty feet

Probably lucky!

 

[firebreather]

Just a note about magnums.....they are a great boot for the money......but the build quality over the past few years has gone down hill fast, but for the money they are still ok. I have had a few pairs over the years and hammered every pair to destruction. This has varied from 4 years ish to about 6 months for my last pair. For the money british army boots are great but try them on as the fit as with all boots is crucial. if they fit you will have to go far to find a better boot but if they dont they will be the worst boot in the world.

Have fun I have been looking for the perfect boot for nearly 20 years and i am still looking.

Greg

 

[MikeE]

No-one's mentioned Ranger boots. I have a pair (bought before I found Woodlore use them!). They are a bit difficult to size as South African feet seem to measure up differently. Mine are RB5's with the lining but I'm going to get a pair of RB2's as soon as I can, I love 'em!
Also use Danners, Matterhorns, Lowa and Brasher, each good but with different design criteria. Only boots I could never get on with were those I was issued (except Matty's)

 

[PJMCBear]

To be honest I don't pay much attention to my boots. I have 3 pairs. One a traditional leather walking boot, which I wear during the summer, winter boots are gortex lined high leg boots, similar looking to US jungle boots, but my personal favorite are military issue boots. 100,000 squaddies can't all be wrong and they are very robust. Look at what our troops put them through.

 

[woof]

For me, i have found the altberg field&fell to be just about ideal. I wear them daily at work(dog handler) and they are now replacing my tired and splitting zamberlans, for walking and going out in the woods. Mine have been resoled once, and will likely be done again about the end of the year judging by the amount of wear on the soles.
I also have a pair of their defenders. A good company to deal with, and imo a quality product, but not cheap.

 

[SimonM]

Boot wise I have 4 pairs of "wearers":

• Berghaus fabric boot with goretex liner. About 8 years old, worn almost daily when not in school. Sadly now dieing as the stitching is coming away and the sole worn smooth. These have been replaced with...
  
• Meindle Desert Fox. I bought these as a lightweight summer boot and are now my boot of choice. If you get some find a patch of mud quick as they are a bit bright new!
  
• For winter use I have a pair of Meindle Burma's and find them very comfortable. They have a goretex liner and always kep my feet dry and warm.
  
• My final pair are Matterhorn's and have been with me for about 12 years. I only wear them when its very cold and wet out, as I find them a tad warm for me!

So, I haven't voted as I tick all of them except traditional military (which I have worn, but never got on with, prefering to buy my own and save my feet!)

Simon

 

[andy_e]

If you only have £60 to spend I'd recommend buying a pair of these (you may find a better deal elsewhere) ...

http://www.aakamilitary.com/magnum_classic_boot.cfm

... and a pair or two of these ...

http://www.militarymart.co.uk/prod5.asp?prod_id=8161&id=189

With that combination you've got waterproof and quick drying when you need it and cool for summer use. If you get a size too big you can wear the MVP socks over a pair of decent wool socks for winter use too.

Edit: just spotted the date of original post hehe - it's still good advice IMHO

 

[ANDYRAF]

I have a pair of matterhorns for winter (9years old). I use standard military issue the rest of the time, only problem I've had with those is that the soles wear out to quick, just when you get them really comfy.

 

[Lurch]

Seriously people, Magnums blow chunks. They look the part and are comfy but if you wear them more than once a blue moon they will be dead within months.
Avoid at all costs.

 

[crazydave]

magnums seem to come in batches as they gave them to the police who seemed to be happy with them and troops used to wear them as a light camp boot in the same way we sling on a set of trainers. generally they are pretty awfull though.

matterhorns are excellent as are the lowas both goretex and both available as surplus through ebay for around 30 quid plus postage. buy a size bigger and drop some insoles in them to take the size away and you''ll get more life out of them. or unless you wreck them you can sell them on again as there is always a market for them.

just type in goretex boot with the size you want and see what turns up - I've just picked up a set of nearly new gortex civvy miendls for 15 quid and some pro desert boots for 18. my lowas which are now in a barracks somewhere cost me 25. my two pairs of mattys were issued and are just starting to wear out at the heel thanks to biking but I can always resole them

junglies or desert boots make a good all rounder if you add the goretex liners and if your feet grow just stop wearing the liner. at 15 mum kept buying me size 9's sayin g I'd grow into them but I've settled as a small 8 for the past 20 years or 264 in QM language

what size are you now?

 

[Tiley]

Although I've voted for modern army boots, there wasn't a chance to tick the box for Lundhags, which are not 'army', nor 'trad leather walking'. They get my vote because they are outrageously comfortable, light in weight and very durable. Lowa ones are like concrete clogs in comparison.

 

[mace242]

I have a cheap pair of gelert leather walking boots. They were a total bargain and have been going for over two years. They are totally waterproof (though I do have a good gleaning routine and that'll help), really comfy, and take a battering well. They were a present but cost less than £50. If you see them grab a pair.

 

[hammock monkey]

just take the cash you have to the best outdoor shops around, look for the person there that actually goes out (wierd tan, craggy face etc).

tell them you have £X to spend right now (that bit is v important) and explain what they need to do. Try on every single pair properly (wear thin + outer socks) and ignore the tag.

If you get the wrong pair this time (most things out there are ok really if they fit) you only have a year before you can do the same again, but get it right next time hopefully.

I like meindl but only because they work for me, establish a relationship with someone you can trust in the shop and they should steer you right - hopefully!

or trainers and waterproof socks (only if you need em - very sweaty!) are awesome. Heavy boots are best avoided.

lighter the better in my book - applies to everything

 

[crazydave]

Although I've voted for modern army boots, there wasn't a chance to tick the box for Lundhags, which are not 'army', nor 'trad leather walking'. They get my vote because they are outrageously comfortable, light in weight and very durable. Lowa ones are like concrete clogs in comparison.

interesting I used them in norway as all their mil boots are set up for ski's they were good for cold and wet as the leather was sealed but boiled your feet in summer.

 

[alanssaab]

german para boots for me everytime , you can get a new pair posted from germany for around 45 / 55 quid they last forever , i also use them for my work , i went for a bit of a hike with some friends down lochwinnoch way last year , they all had expensive boots £100 + , i was the only one with dry feet at the end of the day , bloody boggy terrain

 

[fishy1]

just take the cash you have to the best outdoor shops around, look for the person there that actually goes out (wierd tan, craggy face etc).

tell them you have £X to spend right now (that bit is v important) and explain what they need to do. Try on every single pair properly (wear thin + outer socks) and ignore the tag.

If you get the wrong pair this time (most things out there are ok really if they fit) you only have a year before you can do the same again, but get it right next time hopefully.

I like meindl but only because they work for me, establish a relationship with someone you can trust in the shop and they should steer you right - hopefully!

or trainers and waterproof socks (only if you need em - very sweaty!) are awesome. Heavy boots are best avoided.

lighter the better in my book - applies to everything

I think lightness in boots is overrated, if too light, you just end up with something that wont last. Although having said that I bought a pair of la sportiva's that are about 1.5kg the pair.

Personally, I would go into the outdoor shop, try on every boot to see what you like, then get looking at ones in your price range and slightly above, find the ones that are best, note down the name and size etc, then go home and look on the internet for the same boot, prices are often 30% less on the net which makes it a very good resource.

Some might say you should go to the shop, but I say, as an also skint youngster, that you should get the best value you can now. If you care about your local shop, go back when you are older and do have money to burn.

 

[Graham_S]

I use fabric trail boots for most of my bushcrafting.
Karrimor KSB with an eVent lining. very comfortable, very waterproof.
I live in trail boots of one kind or another check the sales. try tk maxx too I got a pair of TNF goretex boots there for half retail.
if you're traveling any distance lighter weight boots are a bonus 1kg on the foot=5kg on the back

 

[John Fenna]

I do a lot of boot reviewing for magazines and have come to the definative answer for the question"which boots are best"

The ones that fit!

It matters not one whit what style or materials the boots are made of, whether they are expensive or cheap, fabric or leather, military or civvi - if they do not fit you well they are rubbish.
The most expensive and highly featured boot you can imagine, if it fits poorly, is worse than an Aldis special that fits well.
Sherpas have worked on Everest in tennis shoes with no ill effect, people are reported to have lost toes to gangrene in Britain to blisters from "good" boots.
Fit is everything IMHO.

 

[Bernie Garland]

Well i purchased a pair of aldi tentex with vibram soles £12.99 and the fit out of the box i couldn't believe,had them for just over a month now and were them everday and have done some walking in them,they are now like slippers and would recommend them to anyone,they replaced a pair of berghas which i had for four years,hope these last as long.

Bernie