looking for my first pair of boots.

[wozza]

Hi everyone im looking for my first pair of boots, they will (hopefully) be used for hikeing, bushcrafting....ect....

my limit is about £100

im looking for something that comes about 6" above the heel.
i have no idea on this side of things so please point me in the right direction.

thanks james

 

[KAE1]

I'd very strongly recommend Berghaus Explorers. Now on my second pair - first pair lasted 4-5 years of pretty hard abuse.
You will probably start the debate of waterproof liner or not. Basically those without are less waterproof but more breatheable and dry much quicker.
Make sure that they fit properly - different makes have different widths, for many people once they fit a make/model that fits their feet they stick with it.

 

[Jim_aramis]

I've been using a pair of Berghaus explorer for about the past 5 years and found them to be great for the price and re-proofing them is never a problem.

I no longer use them on the hills as I found the grip poor to the point of dangerous on wet rocks. My current Scarpa virtually stick to the rocks in all weather.

They are now my lowland around the camp boot.

 

[wozza]

thanks guys

i was thinking more along the line of some thing like this just a little cheeper.

http://www.shocktroop.com/st/control/product?category_id=10141&product_id=10224

 

[Sickboy]

Fabric/leather mix boot's are nice and light and will mould to your feet quicker than full leather but won't last as long or give you the same amount of support, hence fabric boot's being on average higher than leather around the calf.
Try some army surplus stores, most have a good range of both civilian and military boot's.
Proper outdoor stores will have a larger range though, and in my experience offer better fitting advice. Just head down and look about, leave the wallet at home, ask for advice and try on a few pairs.
As for waterproof liner's, all my boot's have a goretex lining or similar, not through choice, just the way boot's are made today, if you wear the same pair of boot's for days on end then leather end's up permanetly soaked with sweat as they won't dry out over night, goretex is better as the felt liner wick's the wetness away but this only works for a while, cordura linings are the best in my view, but are getting rarer every season, one problem being is that theres sod all padding to it, so they better fit right
Keep an eye out for sale stuff aswell, if you've small or big feet you can pick up some proper bargains like i just have http://www.go-country.co.uk/shop/fo...indl-dovre-extreme-walking-boot/prod_403.html .

Obviously all the above may be total swill :sulkoff:

 

[crazyclimber]

I'd echo that and say go to a decent walking or outdoors shop, have a look at what you like, and try plenty on. Very very important to get something that fits well if you're going to be using them for any length of time (which I assume you will be).
For summer / autumn hiking and bushcraft I currently use Dolomite trekking boots. Can't remember how much I paid for them two or three years ago, but it was somewhere around £50 or £60 in a sale at a local outdoors shop. Tried others on first, but these fitted the best and they're what I wanted - goretex / fabric upper, waterproof (in as much as a boot can be), breathable (ditto), light, grippy, comfortable and high enough on the leg to provide some ankle protection. Still going strong - look similar (slightly lower on the leg) to the Meindl ones in your link - recommended if you find someone that stocks them

 

[tommy the cat]

Wozza where are you?
Have you got a good ex army gear outlet near to you?
I have and they have got some really nice new full grain leather with goretext lining for about £40 .... look really nice and after a bit of breaking in would be lovely. Probably a bit warm but as winter is on the way......
Dave
Got Karremor Ksb in the sales currntly about £50 which I find a nice boot which have never let water in (one has an annoying squeak though!

 

[wozza]

im in bideford, devon, i have an army surplus near me and is quite good i get most of my stuff from there but the boot range is lacking what im looking for they only seem to have old second hand army boots that look like they will rub like a b**ch. ill go there and see if they have a cataloug of some kind maybe soem out back.

 

[Sickboy]

Maybe http://www.tauntonleisure.com/index.php down your way, plus a few indipendant shop's no doubt, have a look in trail mag for the dealer lists for your local ones

 

[tommy the cat]

As said my mate who has an army stall has new boots cant remember the make but he sells alot and wears them himself (Iraq and Afghan) anyway as said will find some info if you want and you can check them out at your end. I no what you mean about ex army boots!!!
Although I used to wear ex para boots as a lad and wore them religiously, bit to high up the leg for me know though.Danners? Looking at them in Canada in the fall bit too warm for most seasons here. dave

 

[maddave]

Alt Berg boots in yorkshire are excellent. Their all leather peacekeeper boot is £109 and will last you forever. Have a look at their site

http://www.altberg.co.uk/Web/military.jsp

Or the British army Pro Boot which is a bit cheaper. See here

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr477.html

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

British Army Pro boot for me, as im cheap

But they are comfy, waterproof and good quality

 

[pothunter]

Hi Wozza

Whatever you decide upon some rules apply:
Buy in the afternoon so as to allow you feet to swell ( natural occurance during the day)
Walk to the shop or at least a K briskly increases blood flow (see above)
Wear socks you would normally wear with boots
Oil or proof as necessary prior to use

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs but you stated that this is your first pair.

Happy tramping, Pothunter.

 

[wozza]

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs but you stated that this is your first pair.


Na you not, i am fairly new to actually doing bushcraft i have been reading alot and i grew up in the woods so im fairly familla with it all but any all advice is welcome

 

[locum76]

go to tkmaxx and get yerself a pair of boots at half the usual price. they usually have a good range of karrimor and occasionally some berghaus and the like. admittedly this will involve going into some suburban drive through shopping heckhole but, to me at least, its worth it to save 50 quid.